FIFA 17's story mode, The Journey, broke new ground for sports games with its smart balance of in-game action and behind-the-scenes player choices – and now it appears Madden 18 is following suit.
The new NFL game revealed its cover star, Tom Brady, today, in addition to its first teaser trailer – and a quick watch makes it very clear that this year's offering isn't limited to using existing players across the 30 official teams:
"My father used to say: 'when the world knocks you down, get back up again,'" announces a voiceover, as the figure of a young man stares up at the facade of the Indianapolis Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium.
That's it in terms of detail – but with regards to atmosphere, it's near-identical to some brooding moments within Alex Hunter's FIFA 17 story, acted with just the right amount of humility by Adetomiwa Edun.
A year ago many would have scoffed at a story mode within Madden, but after The Journey's success, a tale incorporating the draft, free agency, and any opportunity to put one over the Patriots/Cowboys/team you love to hate would be a welcome expansion for ol' Johnboy's Gridiron series.
Madden 18 is out for PS4 and Xbox on 25 August. Head here for full release details, including all pre-order bonuses.
