It happens every August. As break room conversations begin to shift from Game of Thrones spoilers to philosophical discussions about the art of fantasy football, the march toward fall means one thing: football is back.

And nothing signifies the triumphant return to the gridiron more than the release of EA's latest installment in the Madden video game franchise.

What began in 1988 as a primitive cave painting of football simulation has turned into a staple of college dorms, bachelor pads and man caves across the world, and with it, the series turned EA into the preeminent—and sole—provider of digital NFL mayhem.

This year, Madden NFL 16 barrels onto consoles touting the same classic gameplay that has made this franchise the marquee sports title on the market. However, don't let the annual release schedule give you pause; there's more to Madden 16 than a fresh coat of paint and a new cover athlete.

EA has implemented plenty of little gameplay improvements to make the action feel more like an actual NFL game than ever before, and the result is pretty much pig skin nirvana.

That being said, not all of the new toys at your disposal in the game work quite as well in execution. We're here to break down these new gameplay tweaks to find out which ones are ready for action, and which ones should have been left on the practice squad.

New Catching Techniques

Ever since Odell Beckham Jr. turned the NFL itself into a video game with his ludicrous one-handed catch last year for the Giants, fans have been salivating at the thought of bringing that type of cinematic gameplay to their consoles. Well, EA heard your pleas, and in Madden NFL 16, the development team has introduced all new ways for receivers to catch the ball, including:

RAC (Run After Catch): When you use the RAC button (the square button on the PS4) as a receiver, you will automatically turn upfield in an attempt to make a big gain after securing the ball. Though your receiver will catch the ball in stride and use his momentum to carry him for some quick extra yards, this type of catch is also more susceptible to being knocked out of your hands or intercepted. Use it for a big running gain, but use it wisely.

Possession catch: This type of catch is for the more conservative players, as a receiver will automatically go to the ground after catching it to eliminate the threat of an interception or having the ball knocked out of their hands.

It's the safer way to secure the ball, but you'll rob yourself of extra yards. However, if you want to just secure a quick first down or gain a few extra yards to get into field goal range, this is perfect. For receivers coming over the middle on a quick slant, this is key.

Aggressive catch: This is the one highlight fans will be looking for. This catch will allow a receiver to jump to his apex, and snag a ball in midair, just like Beckham. Sure, there's a higher chance of interception or knockout, but this is a lethal weapon if you're looking to out-jump the defender with an elite receiver, especially in the end zone.

These improvements to the catching game are nuanced enough not to have a steep learning curve, but substantial enough that they truly make the game feel more like actual NFL action. They add an extra layer of strategy, as different receivers will be more suited to specific types of catches and different situations will call for specific techniques.

The key is to know your team. When playing as the Eagles, I knew my big weapons were limited, so I used more possession catches to eat up safe yards. However, when controlling Dez Bryant in an exhibition game, I used an aggressive catch to pull down a ball in the end zone, casting nothing but a shadow over the defender.

By eliminating a lot of the "chuck it down the field and hope for the best" strategy from years past, Madden NFL 16 is starting to resemble what you see on TV every Sunday and Monday (and Thursday, if you're into that).

The Run Game

In previous installments, running the ball has been—for the most part—a forgotten option in Madden. This year, however, thanks to improved animation and a new handoff system, running the ball is a formidable weapon to keep defenses on their toes.

For instance, I started my Franchise Mode last night as the Seattle Seahawks, specifically to see how Marshawn Lynch played in this year's version. Well, my first play from scrimmage was a 12-yard run that saw Lynch drag four defenders with him, for a total of eight extra yards after the initial contact. Very Lynch-ian.

Next play? I ran it again, bouncing off my own lineman, changing course and taking the ball to the outside for another seven yards. The next play, a greedy third-straight run, I actually tripped over my own center's foot with nothing but daylight ahead of me. These new running physics can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on the situation, but it's always addictive.

It used to be that running into other players just stopped you dead in your tracks—like hitting a brick wall—but the collision detection this year makes it so the back will actually bounce off people, just like in real life, causing more havoc, more confusion and the chance to gain some extra yards.

Marshawn Lynch dragging three defenders was just a small glimpse at Madden's new gang-tackling animation. Here, multiple defenders can swarm a player, helping to bring them down in chaotic harmony.

The best part is that this relies solely on the game's impressive physics system, so if everyone is swarming the ball-carrier's upper body, his legs will still be trucking along, gaining extra yards. But if one more defender makes a dive downstairs, he'll be stopped in his tracks and crash to the ground based on the direction of the momentum of the hit.

It's like watching a poetic car crash.

Defending The Pass

Defense is always a struggle in Madden, which is why games routinely end up with 40-plus points scored on each side, but this year, the team has added two new ways to defend against the pass that might make defense more tolerable.

Play ball: This has been improved upon from previous years as defensive backs can focus on the ball once it's thrown (by holding onto the triangle button on PS4) in order to jump up for an interception.

The animation and the route taken are automatic, so it's easy to settle into for new players, but it's all or nothing, because if you don't intercept it, chances are you'll be flat on your back, watching the receiver waltz into the end zone. That's why it's important to understand the defense you're in, and what your responsibilities are.

Play receiver: This, like the possession catch, is the much safer bet. By holding the X on PS4, your defender will key-in on the receiver himself, rather than the catch-point of the ball, likely allowing the receiver to catch the ball, but leading to an immediate tackle afterward. If timed properly and under the right circumstances, this can also dislodge the ball from the receiver's hand.

These improvements, frankly, take some getting used to. Everything happens so quickly, so it's important to know your team and to know what your DBs are best at.

Again, while playing as Seattle, with Richard Sherman in the backfield, you're going to want to attempt to intercept the ball, especially big lob passes down the field. However, during quick slant routes with lesser backs, you're better off playing the receiver and going for a quick tackle.

There's an extensive practice mode in this game ... I suggest you use it.

New Throwing Mechanics

In Madden 16, a quarterback can now make "body-relative throws," meaning that the speed and the height can be manipulated, depending on your situation.

High passes can be now thrown for big gains with the proper receiver, so someone like Odell Beckham or Dez Bryant can jump up and grab a properly placed ball in midair. This is, obviously, in conjunction with the new catching mechanics.

A lower throw can be used on slant routes for shorter yardage situations, again, in conjunction with the possession catches.

The problem here is that the passes don't seem to be as effective as advertised, with the low throws, in particular, not really being of much use. Plus, with the additional buttons used for the new catching feature, it makes for some complicated game mechanics when you're using different button combos to pass and to catch.

Maybe a little more practice with the game will help me get all this down, but this seems like one extra wrinkle that the game could have done without. Thankfully, it's not a make or break mechanic, and some players might actually find a way to make this work with their overall strategy. For others, though, it won't be worth a second look.

Verdict

The tweaks this year might seem small, but combined they make for such a better football sim experience. The most impressive part is that they all feed into each other.

The new passing mechanics work with the new catching mechanics and the new DB techniques, and the new running physics and animations flow perfectly with the improved gang tackling.

And these are just the improved gameplay tweaks for Madden. The game also introduced the Draft Champions mode, which we will be detailing this week.

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