Madden NFL 15 Retrospective: Best of the Worst

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

Go to surfshark.com/softdrink for 4 extra months of Surfshark

[@TheChrisPhoenix]

#CampbellFor2036

[@CamronWells-ps6dh]

Thank for the video

[@RiseOfTheKumquat67]

SDTV in 10 years: "Was Madden 25 the best game of the pre-Money Vacuum era?"

[@matthewlaird4009]

Or the "...pre pay to advance week era"

[@bonesjackson81]

Nah. Of The pre flag football era.

[@BrendanKenneally-m3z]

​@@bonesjackson81 bud, let me tell I laughed so gard at your joke my wife left me, the kids hate me, im considered a national security threat an am on the run from the fbi

[@RomnysGonzalez]

Having actual real footage of the players while doing presentation of that player is pretty neat too

[@biglive3169]

bingo

[@mylesWrxd]

don’t know why they removed it , just the little things like that

[@chiefhawk5975]

I do have nostalgia for the pre-Mahomes era. Which might seem weird to say since I'm a fan of the Chiefs, but I did love the Alex Smith era in KC. Another reason would be because my dad was still alive and I miss talking football with him. He passed in 2016, a little less than a year before we drafted Mahomes. There's so much I wish I could talk to him about.

[@Crussell04]

pre mahomes era is better

[@Frosty1026]

@@Crussell04 I think chiefs fans love the multiple super bowls 😂😂😂

[@jaredbarhorst248]

Im sorry brother. He is with you.

[@JGMGamer07]

These graphics man and it's a decade old

[@YourFunkLord]

I miss turning off the Off-sides and put my defensive player behind the QB 😂

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

We like freedom in a video game, who knew?!

[@John_R_Jackson_III]

For me personally Madden 25 was the best of the Xbox One/Ps4 generation. Having NCAA 14 & Madden 25 was the craziest combo especially when you imported your road to glory player into Madden.

[@chilipepper2855]

​@@aadetale25 feels the best imo

[@Tumbo8]

Thats not true they revamped true step and made is as realistic of movement as many football game ever made on the next gen version of m25​@@aadetale

[@BoleDaPole]

25 was alright. Had a really good intro though with Ray Lewis.

[@iBMcFly]

@@aadetale25 is the best, Madden 17 is good though.

[@yeetnasty7703]

@@BoleDaPole madden 13 had Ray Lewis’s intro, not madden 25

[@ST0NE_206]

kinda wild that the quality of the game of Madden significantly devolved with every console generation upgrade

[@nolanmorton6762]

The snow looks so much better in this than madden and cfb25

[@macrobov]

I don't know if you know this or not, but the NFL used to charge its players who wanted to wear pink for its breast cancer awareness campaign. It was a despicable policy, and it's the reason the NFL doesn't do that anymore.

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

There's a better way to do it now for sure. They need to carefully vet any foundations they support and go from there.

[@applescruff1969]

Seeing RGIII in a Washington uniform gives me quite the nostalgia. I remember everyone thinking he was going to turn the team around. It sucks that it didn't happen.

[@christopherhollinger2145]

@applescruff1969 thanks to Dan Snyder and his father they ruined that kid

[@angusbeef637]

You think a single racist has seen that “End Racism” thing and been like maybe I should reconsider my beliefs 😭

[@flyersfan28-2]

Imagine someone looking at that and being like “hmm… maybe it IS wrong!! I never looked at it this way!” 💀

[@babypluto3679]

@@flyersfan28-2”Oh man…I’ve got some calls to make” 😂😂😂

[@looneytune6062]

Yeah it changed my life tbh

[@terrencetrent2330]

😂😂😂😂

[@warriorgrl3076]

you’re missing the point... Human Rights are not “political”, it’s basic human decency. you people that think that “Politics” (AKA just asking for basic respect and acceptance) “ruin” sports, are so annoying

[@redjed100]

10:02 As someone who lost his mother to breast cancer, I wouldn’t say that breast cancer awareness and research can end breast cancer, either. At least not before 2050.

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

I’m sorry to hear that man. My mother had breast cancer as well. I think it’s a better cause than what they’re currently doing at least. I think they should pick one cause per month if the goal is to raise awareness.

[@Lubey4U]

Are you saying 2050 because you also noticed that they stop doing october pink at some point in madden 15 franchise?! In my game it stopped happening in like 2037.. I laughed and celebrated beating cancer. Then it started again some seasons later. Which.. I guess it came back?

[@jasonpdsi]

@@SOFTDRINKTV If you're talking about raising awareness, then you have a point about the End Racism logo. I mean, it's 2024. I think we're all aware of racism. I like your idea of having a cause a month.

[@zaynightwing]

@@jasonpdsithe fact that the end racism end zone gets talked about, clearly means that it did its job of raising awareness

[@SoSikWitIt]

@@zaynightwing its a cashgrab how can u end racism u cant control how people think

[@GreeneryForTheScenery]

I remember buying this game playing on the couch with friends thinking of how the graphics were decent, replayed 15 recently and actually threw a deep ball that landed in the bucket like in ncaa 14. The series went from a chess match depending on defensive calls vs offensive routes, to now when you play madden feels like the game plays itself. Back then on the couch dreaming about where the game would be in the future..I’ve since quit madden because it’s not fun to press buttons and have nothing happen.

[@positivelycurvedpikachu]

well said FIFA suffered the same thing, the game feels like it plays itself

[@swxggy-_-8977]

The lighting in Madden 15 was great, as well as this being the last Madden with the 2011 uniforms. Madden 15 definitely has some good things going for it.

[@xASK4MERCY]

Most people say Madden 16, not 15

[@acestation6074]

Yea 15 definitely gives off an old school retro feel to it. Those 2011 looking uniforms tucked in jerseys with the white socks showing, even the helmets man this is a one of its kind type of game

[@CommanderTK9091]

man its so funny how these games were heavily critisized back then and now we look back on them and think they're massive upgrades over what we have now. thanks EA/NFL

[@CeleryX5]

Someone else on one of SoftDrinkTV's other videos said it best: "You know modern Madden is bad when people are getting nostalgic over the mid 2010s era of Madden."

[@overnightavenger1470]

The hit sticks in madden 15 the real boom tech

[@dumpylol]

I remember getting this right after I got the Xbox One in 2014, loads of amazing memories with my brother playing Madden 15

[@402verse]

Same dumpy

[@Marlo_189]

To me it was madden 15 and 17 I swear when madden 18 released everything went downhill for the franchise

[@Yooper906eh]

3:09 2 girls 1 copy of Madden 08 is crazy

[@FG_Plays16]

I’ve been a fan for like 4 years now and the consistency is crazy. Another W for sdtv

[@galagize9233]

these graphics are impressive for a decade ago

[@aarongameros3939]

Madden 15 is my favorite madden to this day. The huge leap in graphics from madden 25 had me in awe and we were also in the midst of the golden era of football. The rosters were amazing and the ultimate team was peak.

[@EarvGotti]

Bro in Madden 15 you could literally user the whole field with one player...

[@The765Das]

the Mr. Beast swipe was pretty good lol

[@No-rl9wn]

Helmets, Visors, and Jerseys look clean as fuck in all the older games, even the player builds are better than today’s.

[@Disturbed29]

This was the first Madden since 07 that I really went HARD in, I played the hell out of this game. For that reason it'll always be one of my favorites, regardless of how good/bad it actually was. Also the first and only time I ever got sucked into MUT, and while it was fun...yeah, never again.

[@russkimc]

"I can argue that you have brain damage" lmaooo

[@Mainsterr]

The Eagles playbook on this game was absolutely GOAT'd

[@ricovargas9775]

I still play this version.

[@carterragle5355]

9:18 this lineup graphic is the best one out of all the ones madden had after it

[@dariusdafigga]

I actually bought Madden 15 last year just to be able to build a superteam with some of the HoF players that were in the league during that era It is true that the game has little to offer outside of that since the other game modes rely on servers, but some things he forgot to mention were that you can actually see HoF players, coaches & their playbooks in franchise. You can even see the images of the coaches & players when looking at their legacy scores, which I really love and this has been missing in Madden since before 19 for absolutely no reason One thing no one mentions also is realistic player height depiction on the field! For example, Michael Vick (6’0) standing in the huddle with lineman or megatron (6’5) should be noticeably shorter than them and he is! As far as I know, this hasn’t been in any since after this one even though it was in every madden before this and it really makes no sense

[@mylesWrxd]

I never noticed height difference until you mention it.

[@femursTibula]

I played 15 on the PS3 version, and seeing the PS4 version shocked me

[@TheOmengod]

The running in Madden has been so bad for so long; feels like you have no control.

[@xrenegade8361]

wtf why did i see this when it was posted 5 seconds ago LMAO, love your videos keep it up

[@2villainy]

@@xrenegade8361 I think you're able to see it the very second it's posted

[@zelactika]

why is this game actually beautiful 😭 the snow is amazing

[@jameshawkeye8430]

Funny thing is when Madden 15 came out i was still in my late 20's and at first I didn't enjoy playing it at all. Truly thought it was boring but now that im in my upper 30's my opinion has changed on it. To where i actually enjoy playing Madden 15 now. It's interesting that with getting older my opinion has changed on video games in general

[@sarahrafa6677]

The older games were better than the new ones I wish Madden franchise is still better than what we have now I just love the older Maddens than the new ones cause the old ones are realistic fun to play and less glitches only

[@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane]

It was my first PS4 game I got when I got a PS4 for Christmas 2015. It was a very disappointing gift I got, but it started to grow on me over the years, esp. during the current state of Madden.

[@bobbylee7917]

SOFTDRINK watched your whole channel. My love for sports games have returned. I've bought so many 05 sports titles on ebay Thank you

[@danl1545]

I randomly have nba2k14 and madden 15 and i’m so happy they are some of the better ones out there of this later generation

[@LilHim0]

The goat back with another retrospective

[@Mainsterr]

11:08 thats why we love your content homie never sell out 💯

[@TanstA]

I remember being able to man up two cbs to an outside WR before they put those wack dual animations in that you had to sit and watch play out.

[@JohnsFrusciante]

BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE, honestly after replaying all the maddens I own (04-25) There’s best games of certain generations, madden 15 was honestly sick. I’m happy you share similar ideology about that, it would’ve sucked to see soft drink sh*t on my favourite madden game lol

[@paulrTX]

Great review 👍🏻 This is the last Madden game I actually bought (I still have it on disc), and this video gives me such mixed feelings. On the one hand, it gives me a feeling of nostalgia and makes me want to play it again on my old Xbox. On the other, it makes me realize that it's been a full decade since then, and Madden has only gotten worse with time. I do recall this game being received relatively poorly back when it came out due to its being so barebones, especially when compared to the 2000s era. I think it's safe to say that MUT has ruined this franchise, since it's now essentially a digital card gambling game for kids with some scripted gameplay and animations in the background. EA is not even trying anymore. They're just doing the absolute bare minimum to keep the NFL license.

[@MuttonSourdoughify]

That presidential campaign announcement around the 14:00 mark was comedy gold 😂

[@PatG129]

Made a franchise on this game after watching this vid and honestly it’s refreshing gameplay. I can win an all madden Super Bowl with EASE in todays games but this game I actually felt like the cpu is a challenge and it’s more of a simulation. I’m 0-1 and looking forward to keep playing! Great vid.

[@texascavaliermc]

Are you using sliders or default?

[@MWReesetheFan1994]

I disagree, I think Madden 17 was the best of this era. It’s like a good balance of M15 (LOB) and M16 (Aggressive catch).

[@JVPlayz96]

Yeah I agree, I preferred 17 to 15

[@MWReesetheFan1994]

@@JVPlayz96 Not to mention Franchise in M17 had that practice squad feature. I really storing and stealing UDFA from other teams. That was the last playable before it fell off a Cliff.

[@Douglass10]

Nah 15 was really good. Once OBJ got in the league and did that one hand catch madden started to allow everyone to do it. I recall someone aggressive catching me with Dri Archer it was a terrible era.

[@x_HuLiMaKaFLip_x]

I see the change over the course of the years. Keep sticking it to EA, young man ✊🏽

[@averyy1x]

My favorite part about this game were the qb intros on the first drive of the game they were cinematic!

[@therealSamG]

2 Girls 1 Madden 08 is wild.

[@SockCuckle]

I remember playing a lot of franchise in this game. It used to crash all of the time in the middle of a game and would lose all stats while playing 15 min quarters

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

Damn didn’t happen to me replaying it. Maybe they had bad servers back then if you had an online franchise?

[@vengeance1701]

They've made you wiser. You've realized that attacking the people trying to make money aren't the problem. It's the people in charge that incentivize that behavior.

[@interceptingfist5682]

Is it just me or do the graphics at times look better than today's Madden?

[@MrCheques90]

Bro went full mask off with this lmao As always, love your stuff man

[@someperson3883]

Asking which is the best madden of the Xbox One/PS4 Era is like asking what team was better: The 2008 Lions or 2017 Browns?

[@lovelyusadotcom]

I remember laughing with my friends about how the end zone and helmets still said "end racism" while we were years into our Madden 20 franchise.. lol..

[@R_C4RD_]

I Miss Being Able To Use Legends In Superstar Mode And Rewrite Their Careers

[@ceddygwap2795]

I remember buying this a bottle of henny and rolling a blunt the memories 😢

[@texascavaliermc]

I think you should do a video on each of MLB The Show, just like how you did Madden. Example: which was the best of the PS2 era, PS3, PS4, etc.

[@TheASHTON33]

Boss this channel is definitely the best. Making me feel young again with every video

[@SadDolphinsFan1]

Lets go SOFTDRINKTV post

[@limeflashlight4101]

This video made me sad. Rip 2014😢 i really wish i could go back

[@limeflashlight4101]

Nothing even happened to me in 2014. If I could just live 2014 with an external version of myself, and play madden 15 every day, I think I could live my current life perfectly

[@theroastertaker3039]

I remember playing franchise in Madden 15 and I made a WR. The QB I played for put up 5600 yards and was in a literal yards race with an Oakland QB.

[@HomemadeSubmarine]

The funny thing for me with this retrospective is that this is the last Madden I got. Whenever I'd get an NLF itch I'd just go back to it every now & then with a couple Franchises I've caught up to the contemporary year. It still has really frustrating animation based out comes (especially with missed pass coverage) but it's always felt several steps above the recent games physics wise. Players even just run way more realistically to me. No ones picking up a franchise in this today but I'll drop a few cheese tips. If you line up in cover zero against the CPU, they almost always check to a pass; this means you can switch to cover 3 or 4 to bait a pick or simply know they're running it. Sign the slowest, but highest rated FA CBs to deals with no bonus; in one trade send three to a division rival for two firsts & a second. You'll rob them of picks & be able to burn them deep. Never draft Linebacker in the first four rounds. 20 year old, 90 Speed/Acc LBs with size end up undrafted every year. Since you can upgrade dev traits, just spend their xp on that until it's maxed, lowball them in free agency, & now you have a 21 year old super athlete who'll earn xp like crazy on a league minimum 7 year deal.

[@mylesWrxd]

🙏

[@Ray_Getard1]

EA: End racism. My bitch ass: Hell naw!

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

In fairness I think part of the problem with breast cancer awareness was that like charity watch such found that they weren't putting enough of the money into breast cancer research. It's kind of like how when the breaking bad website save Walter White used to link to a very well-known cancer awareness program that ended up being criticized for having absurd administrative and salary cost and almost no money going to treatment or research

[@MakotoItsukiYT]

Hey softdrink i also notice when the snow game clip with the jets popped up it had heavy snow on the field a weather feature we have yet to see return today in the new gen console era of madden just thought i'd point that out cuz its a minor detail but still a realistic one

[@thisguyzack9922]

I like that title change is honestly better😂

[@BJ-jh5is]

I know I’m late but considering you did a video on retro bowl I think you’d love hoop land soft drink it’s such a goated mobile game and is super deep for a franchise I’m already in my 6th year just a suggestion for a video but I know you’re working on a lot

[@jazzcovell]

THANK YOU FOREVER SDTV

[@yukikimura8204]

Man just imagine the challenge of recreating a madden moment of the 28-3 comeback. Why did Madden Moments have to die.

[@TheRokunana]

So many other game series are currently revolutionizing their respective genres or are considered games of the generation. It's too bad that a lack of competition is what's stopping us from getting the next best football video game.

[@texmexman1]

It was arguably the last madden in the right direction. Some might say 18, but 15 is the best we've had since 12

[@beardownstudios]

I actually am playing this game right now and have been laying it for the past month and All though it could be better, it’s better than current maddens and it still has solid depth.

[@MurielDexter]

Franchise mode needs many additions

[@blkmamba31]

Madden 15 was the last time I had fun playing Madden

[@TopShelfAAA]

What ever happened to pink gear in Madden for breast cancer awareness month? That is only one of the numerous set of issues that push madden from a real "authentic" nfs experience. No different feeling for holiday games (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween etc.). Just look at some of the stats and pregame from this era, it actually pisses me off how far this game has fallen. As someone who first played Madden through Madden 08 on my Wii, I think that I had a better time playing that (janky controls and all) then I do playing madden 25 on ps5 now. Anyways, those are just some of my points I think you could use. Have a good one :)!!!

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

PS2 era was the best I can't remember what game it was but you could make your own routes, plays, formations and playbook

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

PS2 era was 100% the best for Madden

[@showgamez5257]

got me contemplating downloading Madden 15 lol

[@CommunistBlocSU]

I don't expect Madden to ever be good again. Madden isn't made for diehard Madden fans or fans of simulation NFL football. EA is catering to the casual crowd. And the sloppy animation based gameplay is the result. All EA cares about is UT and everything else is ignored.

[@ClasherG1416]

I tried out a lot of different maddens and found that I literally can’t play any madden except for Madden 25 (OG). That was my first madden.

[@thexmaster2608]

Great vid!! ever thought about covering the madden wii titles? I had madden 09 for the wii and it was so much more different than any other version out there.

[@dylanst.martin2058]

We need to start an online petition and movement because this is ridiculous

[@BxrOnLockout]

Swerve catching was so op online in 15

[@hardcoreskater4life1]

Have you done a video covering if Madden is better on the PlayStation or Xbox?

[@thatmobi]

Honestly I never liked Madden 15 for some reason, though I should comeback and give a verdict for a fair run lol. Also would you ever review a wrestling game?

[@aydenhurt1474]

Makes you wonder how much lower this company can go

[@TRGYTGG]

yeah I agree, i played 25 with my friend the other day. I threw a lob but somehow my player got sucked into the turf and spun upside down.

[@itsjohnnyr8560]

The WR exploit made this game fun but also made your team OP fast

[@Bigplay24APD233]

YOU'RE SO RIGHT, ABOUT THE LAST 6 MADDENS. I STILL ENJOY PLAYING 15,16,17,& 18. THE PLAYER WERE BIGGER. THE LIGHT IS BRIGHTER , I MISS THE PINK GLOVES AND THE DIRTY UNIFORMS, COLORS OF THE FIELDS ,UNIFORMS AND FANS. I ALSO MISS THE SHADOWS ON THE FIELD MOVE DURING THE GAME. THE HIGHTLIGHTS AT HALFTIME WITH DIFFERENT CAMERA ANGLES OF THE BIG PLAYS. , WHAT HAPPEN ?? I DON'T KNOW BUT IF IT DON'T CHANGE IN THE NEXT YEAR I'M DONE WITH EA

[@Metelius]

I want soft drink to do videos on the WWE games. They're just as bad the 2K license has ruined it over time and the new myfaction mode is a money pit.

[@thomaspayne2859]

EA should make you CEO of madden game development

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

I’d rather help another company dethrone EA tbh

[@Jamelk1]

Reason NFL stopped the BCA thing is because it was a big thing going on in the early 2010s that the Susan donation thing wasn’t all going to what they said it was going too. I thought the NFL was just being the No Fun League but this one isn’t on the NFL

[@Thee_It]

In madden 12 you can simulate a full season, while when i play the old madden 25 i can only sim the next week and i hate how it is like that

[@0125DJ1989]

PS4 era had decent Maddens. 15, 17 and 19 were decent. I think 17 was the best. The warp tackling was my biggest issue.

[@xASK4MERCY]

17 was on frostbite. Madden 16 was better than 15

[@waynesalter3383]

@@xASK4MERCY17 was on the ignite engine. 18 was on the frostbite

[@xASK4MERCY]

@@waynesalter3383 oh okay, every body complains about 17 issues so I figured it was on frostbite

[@0125DJ1989]

@ 16 was horrible just because of the aggressive catch and the QB throwing mechanics.

[@xASK4MERCY]

@0125DJ1989 I never played 15, but thanks for letting me know, and I didn't play 17,18,19.

[@Lithixleo342]

I miss madden 15 it was the first game I got with my Xbox One at Christmas in 2014 I only played play now so until about madden 17 I didn’t know what ultimate team was and thank god i didn’t , and thank god I will never spend a dime on madden

[@defjam20102]

It’s sad that if madden 15 got re-released as madden 26, people would think we got a huge upgrade lol

[@ZeagulZRacing]

One of the best things you could still do in this game was be an nfl legend like in madden 25 (2013)