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Best 4th of the July weekend sales at Amazon 2021

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Best 4th of the July weekend sales at Amazon 2021

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Something to celebrate: Amazon just dropped a jaw-dropping array of 4th of July deals! (Photo: Getty Images)

We hold this truth to be self-evident: When it comes to stellar holiday-weekend deals, Amazon rules.

Prime Day might be in the rearview mirror, but never fear. Amazon is having a massive sale to mark the 4th of July, with discounts as deep as those we enjoyed during “Prime Time” last month. We’re talking incredible deals on TVs and tech, amazing markdowns on kitchen items and fabulous fashion finds (new vacation wardrobe, anyone?).

Of course, with Amazon Prime you’ll get so much more — access to new movies and TV shows, discounts at Whole Foods, exclusive sales and two-day shipping on many, many items. Not yet a member? Let’s fix that: Sign up for a free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

Score some steals before they disappear — then get outside for fun in the sun.

Best TV sales

Improve the view: Sony’s got the 4K TV of your dreams, at a fantastic July 4th discount. (Photo: Amazon)

This Sony X80J 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV is the latest from a manufacturer that’s long been at the forefront of top-notch home video. No shocker, then, that the display on this set is dazzlingly vivid and detailed. Originally $1,000, this beauty is available for only $898 for the 4th of July weekend!

Sony’s state-of-the-art Processor X1 is the power behind its true-to-life visuals, while HDR (High Dynamic Range) settings make sure colors stay bright and black levels are dark. Get ready: It’s going to feel like you’re sitting in the middle of all the action.

This 4K TV includes Google TV with instant access to hundreds of popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock and much, much more. It even has built-in Chromecast for slinging videos and music from your phone or tablet to the TV. Also: The remote has a microphone that lets you use Google Assistant for voice search and hands-free navigation. Shoppers are smitten.

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“In one word: Awesome. This is the best TV I’ve seen, for an incredible price and considering its features, it’s a steal,” raved a five-star reviewer. “It can be adjusted to give you absolute black even in a dark room; 4K and HDR are amazing…”

Check out more 4th of July TV sales below:

Insignia NS-32DF310NA19 32-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV, $150 (was $200), amazon.com

Toshiba 32-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, $160 (was $200), amazon.com

Toshiba 43-inch 43C350KU C350 Series LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, $320 (was $370), amazon.com

Insignia 55-inch NS-55F301NA22 F30 Series LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, $400 (was $500), amazon.com

LG OLED55C1PUB C1 Series 55-inch 4K Smart OLED TV, $1,397 (was $1,800), amazon.com

Samsung 65-inch Class QLED Q80A Series 4K Ultra HD Quantum Smart TV, $1,398 (was $1,700), amazon.com

Sony X90J 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV, $1,398 (was $1,600), amazon.com

Vizio 75 inch P-Series 4K Smart TV, $1,480 (was $1,700), amazon.com

Best headphone and earbud sales

Make all your friends jealous — and save $130. (Photo: Amazon)

On sale for $170, from $300, the Beats Solo Pro Headphones sync to just about any smartphone or laptop via Bluetooth, delivering rich audio and sturdy bass. Super sleek, the pro-level headphones come in a cool Light Blue. They’re noise-canceling, so you can block out just about all background and ambient sound to enjoy your favorite music and podcasts…or just a bit of silence.

“These are the best Beats so far…less bass-heavy than previous models. Sound is really crisp,” wrote a delighted five-star reviewer. “Very worth it. The noise canceling feature is so good. You basically cannot hear anything around you!”

The Beats have up to 40 hours of battery life per charge, so you don’t have to be tethered to an outlet all day long. They can pump out a solid stream of music with top-notch audio for nearly two days; most wireless headphones tap out after about 30 hours.

Check out more 4th of July headphone and earbud sales below:

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, $128 (was $300), amazon.com

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $120 (was $200), amazon.com

Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones, $199 (was $350), amazon.com

Apple AirPods (wireless charging case), $160 (was $199), amazon.com

Apple AirPods Max, $490 (was $549), amazon.com

Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones, $10 (was $20), amazon.com

Otium Wireless Earbuds, $23 with on-page coupon (was $46), amazon.com

Beats Ep Wired On-Ear Headphones, $90 (was $130), amazon.com

Best smartphone and tablet sales

The Moto G7 Plus is 40 percent off — down to a mere $150. (Photo: Amazon)

Who said a quality smartphone has to be expensive? Not us! The Motorola Moto G7 Plus — which is on sale for only $150 (was $250) — is equipped with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage (expandable via microSD card). This Android smartphone, instantly upgradable to Android 10, also comes with a 6.2-inch Full HD+ Max Vision display that’s super sharp and bright. The Moto G7 Plus features a 16-megapixel rear shooter with a five-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls and selfies. Need extra security? It has a fingerprint sensor on its back.

“This phone is better than you can imagine…,” raved a savvy Amazon shopper. “Excellent build quality and body materials. The screen is responsive…. The operating system is the same as in Google Pixel, which is much more expensive. This is faster than any (budget) phone. I recommend it — a good buy for your family members who do not need a lot of unnecessary features, and at the same time you will get a very high-quality device.”

Check out more 4th of July smartphone and tablet sales below:

Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB), $299 (was $329), amazon.com

Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB), $699 (was $749), amazon.com

Marvue M10 Tablet, $96 with on-page coupon (was $130), amazon.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, $179 (was $230), amazon.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, $544 (was $650), amazon.com

TCL 10L Unlocked Android Smartphone, $175 (was $250), amazon.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, $317 (was $350), amazon.com

TCL 10 Pro Unlocked Android Smartphone, $300 with on-page coupon (was $400), amazon.com

E-Tronic Edge Phone Armband Sleeve, $11 with on-page coupon (was $13), amazon.com

Best gaming sales

At nearly 80 percent off, this game is worth buying in multiples and saving as gifts. (Photo: Amazon)

Amazon has chopped an incredible $47 off NBA 2K21 for PS4 — it’s down to just 13 bucks this weekend. The game features all 30 NBA teams and players, including Trae Young, Devon Booker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, James Harden and Gordon Hayward.

NBA 2K21 has all the dynamic, vivid gameplay you want, from multi-player online to one-on-one (you versus the game itself). For the first time ever, it features WNBA teams as well, with players like Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, Liz Cambag and Nneka Ogwumike. Right now, the price is more than right…it’s nuts!

“My son loves this game,” shared a delighted parent. “The players are realistic looking and the commentators are hilarious at times. Overall, I think it’s a great game.”

Check out more 4th of July gaming sales below:

BioShock: The Collection, $19 (was $50), amazon.com

NBA 2K21 (Xbox Series X), $20 (was $70), amazon.com

Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4), $20 (was $40), amazon.com

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (PS4), $15 (was $40), amazon.com

Godfall (PS5), $40 (was $70), amazon.com

Luna Gaming Controller, $56 (was $70), amazon.com

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch), $48 (was $60), amazon.com

Runmus Gaming Headset, $16 (was $43), amazon.com

Madden NFL 21: Next Level Edition (Xbox Series X), $40 (was $70), amazon.com

The Falconeer: Day One Edition (Xbox Series X), $23 (was $40), amazon.com

Outriders Day One Edition (PS5), $45 (was $60), amazon.com

Immortals Fenyx Rising (PS5), $25 (was $60), amazon.com

Best smart-home sales

Open your front door using nothing but your fingerprint. (Photo: Amazon)

On sale for $150 with on-page coupon (was $200), the eufy by Anker Security Smart Touch Keyless Entry Door Lock recognizes your fingerprint in less than a second, so you never again have to rummage through your bag or pockets for your keys. You don’t even have to remember a passcode. Your fingerprint does the trick. The brand takes your security seriously: it lets you store your fingerprint locally instead of on the cloud, so your identity stays safe and private.

“The more Eufy products I buy, the more impressed I am with the quality,” says one of many five-star shoppers. “…After installing the lock and setting it up, which has to be one of the easiest setups around, I saved the fingerprints for all the members of my family. The fingerprint reader worked flawlessly every time.”

Check out more 4th of July smart-home sales below:

Kamep Wireless Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Camera, $65 (was $130), amazon.com

TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender (TL-WA855RE), $17 (was $30), amazon.com

Moen 7594BL Arbor One-Handle Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, $289 (was $500), amazon.com

Govee Smart Light Bulbs, $11 with on-page coupon (was $22), amazon.com

Govee 65.6ft Alexa LED Strip Lights, $40 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com

Govee 33ft LED Strip Lights, $18 (was $23), amazon.com

Honeywell Home RCHT8610WF2006/W, T5 Smart Thermostat, $107 (was $151), amazon.com

TanTan Smart Table Lamp, $24 with on-page coupon (was $33), amazon.com

Kasa Smart Plug HS103P4 (four-pack), $25 (was $30), amazon.com

Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200P3 (three-pack), $35 (was $45), amazon.com

Best vacuum sales

Grab this brilliant robovac for nearly 40 percent off — and never vacuum again. (Photo: Amazon)

For 4th of July weekend, the eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim) is on sale for just $140 (was $230). Its slim, 2.85-inch tall body glides under furniture seamlessly for a thorough vacuum each time. It’s versatile too: It can transition from hardwood floors to carpet to tile with ease.

The BoostIQ feature makes it “smart” in more ways than one, helping it to automatically increase suction power as needed, and its high-capacity battery delivers up to 100 minutes of run time on a single charge.

“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect … But this is great! I went from having piles of pet hair on the floor to none at all,” wrote a five-star fan. “It is mind-blowing how eufy finds all of this pet hair and dust. My allergies have been reduced by 90 percent. It has truly changed my life and I didn’t need to spend $800-plus.”

Check out more 4th of July vacuum sales below:

Lefant M210 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $195 (was $400), amazon.com

OKP Life K2 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $124 (was $300), amazon.com

roborock E4 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $210 (was $300), amazon.com

Kenmore 31510 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $150 with on-page coupon (was $259), amazon.com

Goovi Robot Vacuum, $148 (was $210), amazon.com

eufy by Anker, RoboVac L70 Hybrid, $320 (was $550), amazon.com

Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner Machine, $249 (was $300), amazon.com

ThisWorx Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner, $32 with on-page coupon (was $37), amazon.com

Yeedi K650 Robot Vacuum, $160 with on-page coupon (was $180), amazon.com

Best home office sales

Three cheers for the red, white and blue (and orange and pink and every other bold hue). This MacBook Air is $100 off. (Photo: Amazon)

What’s so great about the MacBook Air? Glad you asked! A speedy Apple octa-core M1 processor, 8GB of memory, 256GB of on-board storage and the latest version of macOS Big Sur, that’s what. The Apple MacBook Air — on sale for $899 (was $999) — is a sleek and slim speed demon. It’s also super-lightweight at just under three pounds. Pretty too: You can score one of these in Gold, Silver and Apple’s signature Space Gray.

“…I needed an upgrade from my heavy MacBook Pro… I needed something super light and thin — I can just bring [it] everywhere and slide it in my bag,” shared a satisfied Amazon shopper. “I am obsessed with how fast this MacBook Air is. The battery life is on point. I used it for movies and series at work and it lasted for three days. The processor is so good. I open so many tabs at once and it has not lagged on me.”

Check out more 4th of July home office sales below:

Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager Machine, $240 (was $340), amazon.com

Renpho Neck Shoulder Massager, $30 with on-page coupon (was $50), amazon.com

Vybe Percussion Massage Gun, $150 with on-page coupon (was $200), amazon.com

DamKee Massage Gun, $69 with on-page coupon for Prime members only (was $110), amazon.com

Apple MacBook Pro (M1), $1,199 (was $1,299), amazon.com

Acer Chromebook Spin 311, $261 (was $499), amazon.com

FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair, $125 with on-page coupon (was $160), amazon.com

Truweo Posture Corrector, $12 (was $30), amazon.com

Saiji Laptop Bed Tray Desk, $28 with on-page coupon (was $100), amazon.com

Canon Office and Business MB5120 All-in-One Printer, $250 (was $300), amazon.com

Best kitchen sales

Refresh your kitchen with this luxe Cuisinart set — and save $415. (Photo: Amazon)

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing cookware set, replace old gear and start fresh, or give an incredible gift, this Cuisinart set is perfect. It has everything you need for easy and creative dinner prep: Two sauce pans, two skillets, a stockpot, a sauté pan, and a steamer. Also stunning: The $415 savings (with on-page coupon). This set is stainless steel and oven-safe up to 550 degrees.

“I absolutely LOVE these pots and pans!” a shopper shared. “They are beautiful in appearance, have some weight to them but not too much, and are made extremely well. The handles to the pans are so comfortable, unlike many pans I’ve used before.”

Check out more 4th of July kitchen sales below:

Elite Gourmet EGC-007 Easy Electric Poacher, $16 (was $30), amazon.com

Cuisinart HM-90S Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer, $72 (was $145), amazon.com

Philips Kitchen Appliances Digital Twin TurboStar Airfryer XXL, $300 (was $400), amazon.com

Bayco 9 Pack Glass Meal Prep Containers, $40 (was $50), amazon.com

Gotham Steel Smokeless Grill Indoor Grill, $38 (was $50), amazon.com

Ninja Personal Blender, $49 (was $70), amazon.com

Ozeri ZK14-S Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale, $10 (was $15), amazon.com

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender, $30 (was $45), amazon.com

Bonsenkitchen Handheld Milk Frother, $10 (was $18), amazon.com

Best beauty sales

Your delicate under-eye skin will thank you. (Photo: Amazon)

If the past year hasn’t been kind to your eyes, now you can turn back the clock. This under-eye cream tackles signs of aging and exhaustion (puffiness, wrinkles, dullness — you know the story) and the formula is free of parabens, mineral oil, and fragrances. It’s also allergy-tested and super gentle.

“OMG, this really is amazing!” says a thrilled reviewer. “I have used many eye creams over the last 40 years, and this one works within a few days, and really helps eliminate crows feet around the eye area. I honestly think that it has taken at least five years off my face!…”

Check out more 4th of July beauty sales below:

AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, $38.50 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com

LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream for Face, $25 with on-page coupon (was $30), amazon.com

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30, $11 (was $19), amazon.com

Biolage Hydrasource Shampoo, $25 (was $32), amazon.com

Naturewell Retinol Advanced Moisturizing Cream for Face and Body, $17 (was $23), amazon.com

Anti Aging Serum 3-Pack for Face, $20 (was $25), amazon.com

Belei by Amazon: Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $14 (was $19), amazon.com

Best style sales

Leggings with a pocket for your cards, keys and phone — genius. (Photo: Amazon)

We can’t overstate the importance of a great pair of leggings: They’re perfect for so many occasions and can take you from couch to gym to real world effortlessly. But the super-popular Ewedoos leggings are a cut above. They have a flattering high waist, an oversized pocket (!), and a leg-lengthening ankle crop.

“These leggings are amazing!” a shopper declared. “They are so comfy and soft…. They are also squat proof! They don’t roll at the waistband AT ALL. Stop second guessing and get these!!”

Check out more 4th of July style sales below:

Leggings Depot Leggings, $10 (was $30), amazon.com

Cthh leggings, $16 (was $30), amazon.com

Prettygarden Ladies Basic Crewneck Belted Office Dress, $30 (was $37), amazon.com

a.Jesdani Women’s Button Down, $35 (was $50), amazon.com

Korsis Women’s Summer Casual T Shirt Dress, $32 (was $47), amazon.com

Ewedoos Women’s Yoga Pants, $17 (was $27), amazon.com

Milumia Women’s Boho Button Up Split Floral Print Flowy Party Dress, $32 (was $44), amazon.com

Best health and wellness sales

A six-pack of the good stuff, on sale for only $26. (Photo: Amazon)

If the past year taught us anything, it’s that we can never have too much Purell. The brand’s iconic formula is a must for any household, whether for cleaning hands or wiping down surfaces. This spray — sold as a six pack of large (32 ounce) bottles, kills 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, including cold and flu, strep, norovirus, Listeria, MRSA, VRE, and human coronavirus.

“This is a wonderful cleaning product,” shared a shopper. “…Kills smells like a champ…”

Check out more 4th of July health and wellness sales below:

Wecolor 100 Pcs Disposable 3 Ply Earloop Face Masks, $8 (was $13), amazon.com

Purell TFX Touch-Free Foam Hand Sanitizer Dispenser, $33 (was $109), amazon.com

Microban Professional Sanitizing Spray, $34 (was $38), amazon.com

Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel, $32 (was $37), amazon.com

Lysol Disinfecting Spray, Crisp Linen, $11 (was $16), amazon.com

Lysol, Disinfectant Spray, $7 (was $11), amazon.com

Best mattress and bedding sales

Supportive and soothing, like a good bedmate should be. (Photo: Amazon)

Soft to the touch but firm for the neck, these pillows are made from a plush poly-soybean fiber blend. They’re totally vegan, great for side-sleepers, back-sleepers and stomach-sleepers, and sold as a pair for just $33 ((normally $58)! More than 3,700 five-star reviewers can’t be wrong.

“These pillows are wonderful!” one shopper shared. “I had neck pain every morning from sleeping on pillows with no support. With these, I don’t have to constantly readjust myself to find a comfortable position. They are soft yet firm and provide excellent support.”

Check out more 4th of July bedding sales below:

Smart Queen Cooling Weighted Blanket, $28 (was $60), amazon.com

Queen Mattress Pad Cover Cooling Mattress Topper, $40 (was $60), amazon.com

Utopia Bedding Premium Cotton Blanket, $24 (was $38), amazon.com

LuxClub 6 PC Sheet Set Bamboo Sheets, $35 for queen (was $57), amazon.com

Casper Sleep Pillow for Sleeping, $55 (was $65), amazon.com

Utopia Bedding Gusseted Pillow, $24 (was $31), amazon.com

Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter, $35 (was $57), amazon.com

Best pet sales

Treat your g’boy to a special down-home delight. (Photo: Amazon)

If you’re a pet parent, you know how important it is to ensure that your pups are eating right. While most puppy snacks are loaded with preservatives, dyes and all sorts of nasties, these bites from Amazon in-house brand Wag are made (in the USA) with chicken as the very first ingredient. For the 4th of July, they’re down to $8 from $14, with the on-page coupon.

“My dog is in love with these,” a shopper declared. “Normally she shares her treats when her dog friends come over but not these. If I give them to her friends, she takes them away from them and gobbles them up!”

Check out more 4th of July pet sales below:

Petstages Cat Tracks Cat Toy, $9 (was $25), amazon.com

Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Treats, $6 (was $14), amazon.com

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Brick Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy, $14 (was $25), amazon.com

Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy, $20 (was $30), amazon.com

Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats, $7 (was $12), amazon.com

Potaroma 3 Silvervine Catnip Balls, $11 (was $15), amazon.com

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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aion-rsa · 4 years

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Madden 21’s The Yard Isn’t NFL Blitz But It’s Still Important for Arcade Football

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The Madden franchise and I go way back. I poured a lot of fifth-grade free time into Madden NFL 97 for the Super NES, and I can still hear that edition’s chiptune menu music in my head when I think about the series.

But, I have to be honest. For all the Madden games I’ve owned over the years — give or take 15, by my count — I’d trade them all for a high-quality arcade-style football experience.

Quality is highly subjective when we’re talking about a video game. For you, quality arcade football might be EA Sports BIG’s NFL Street franchise, which released three titles annually between 2004 and 2006 before taking its streetball and going home. Or maybe you checked out 2017’s Kickstarter-funded Mutant Football League from Digital Dreams Entertainment, a way-out-there unlicensed experience featuring monsters with parody names like Bomb Shady, Wham Neutron, Sven Rottenburger, and Baker Minefield on a field riddled with explosives and moving buzzsaws.

Call me old school, but Midway’s NFL Blitz still reigns supreme. It practically invented the concept of arcade football when it was, well, dominating arcades before they fell out of fashion. Blitz was simple, quick, and fun, even when it came to home consoles — sorry if you played it on the original PlayStation instead of Nintendo 64, because the latter was objectively superior.

But, as disgraced baseball slugger Mark McGwire once said, I’m not here to talk about the past. Let’s get back to Madden, in particular Madden NFL 21 and specifically its new arcade-style mode called The Yard. As I touched upon in my review of the game, I was not a huge fan of The Yard or, for that matter, the rest of the game. Compared to the arcade football experiences of the past, The Yard is notably tame.

The Yard ought to be something I really enjoy as someone who’d rather play an arcade experience than a straight simulation of the real thing. For the first time since EA Sports’ lone release of NFL Blitz in 2012 (after acquiring the rights to the series when Midway closed its doors in 2009), I can take control of real players and hurl multiple passes across the field while playing with a little more swagger than the league usually permits with its license. In Office Space, they wanted more flair; I want more swagger. Always.

Honestly, I’m not going to hold my breath for over-the-top late hits to ever return to an NFL game. I get the optics of added brutality in a post-CTE world. But why not have some fun with the tackle animations, without resorting to piledrivers and powerbombs the league most certainly would object to? Let the animators flex a little creative muscle here. And at least include some even sillier touchdown celebrations.

Most of all, I want the substance of an arcade-style football game. I want speed on the field. I want a game of The Yard to feel like it’s flying by at a breakneck pace. The Yard still feels like Madden between the sidelines, for better and worse. It’s the same gameplay, just with fewer players on a smaller field and a few new rules. You’ll still rely on the vast assortment of jukes and tackle-shedding moves. You must also remember to attempt secure catches near the sideline to make a catch in bounds. Nuances like this, in an arcade football setup, are not welcome. If I snag a reception at the sideline or the back of the endzone, just keep me inbounds or have me drop it.

The whole experience of The Yard is too muted. Touchdowns feel like another play that just so happened to result in points. Woo-hoo. Remember when you scored in NFL Blitz, and you got that celebration sound effect, with fireworks streaming around the scoring player who may or may not have been simultaneously on the receiving end of a Hulk Hogan-esque leg drop? There’s none of that.

There’s no commentary to enhance the experience, only the same soundtrack that plays in menus with some sparse crowd noise. Venues are too plain and usually just feel like playing practice mode. The Yard just isn’t an enticing way to play this game.

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Funny thing is that Madden NFL 21 already has an alternative game mode, Superstar KO, which stands up to nearly all those presentation complaints. I’d like to think a merger of these two separate modes into one would be a more engaging arcade experience, at least from a sensory standpoint. All that would be left is to find a way to energize the sluggish-but-realistic speed of The Yard games.

Perhaps achieving a true arcade football gameplay experience was not the goal with The Yard. If I had to pinpoint what the publisher’s endgame was, I’d guess it was to create a gameplay loop that sucks players into the process of slowly upgrading their customizable avatar. There are separate Prototypes to enhance, which are essentially different loadouts, as well as abilities to unlock. More importantly for EA, I would have to think, is that players can work toward unlocking cosmetic upgrades for their avatar using earned or purchased in-game currency. I wouldn’t say Madden NFL 21 is gross with its microtransaction structure in the same way that other games have been in recent years, but clearly that’s still a priority when it comes to The Yard.

But, as down as I am on the current iteration of The Yard, and I wouldn’t suggest you rush to check it out for yourself, I am encouraged to see that there’s at least some attempt at arcade football in a licensed NFL game. It’s understandable that EA Tiburon, which hasn’t flexed its arcade-style football muscles since NFL Street was taken out of the game 14 years ago, isn’t going to win the figurative Super Bowl with its first real attempt at arcade football in Madden. The Yard presents a baseline now. Hopefully, the bar will be raised next year.

And Madden might have competition in that realm by 2021, too. NFL 2K, which rivaled Madden in quality before EA secured the exclusive NFL license 15 years ago, is slated to return next year with what 2K Senior VP of Sports Strategy and Licensing Jason Argent said would be “a good opportunity to service a more casual market.” Argent cited internal research that “there’s an appetite for that.” Clearly, I agree.

There’s no telling what 2K’s return to the football space will mean at this stage, but fingers crossed that it’s something in the arcade arena that either pushes or surpasses The Yard. In the latter years of the Madden vs. 2K gridiron video game showdown, competition bred innovation. If the same thing happens here, even if it only affects a single mode in Madden, that’s a good thing for arcade football fans like me.

The post Madden 21’s The Yard Isn’t NFL Blitz But It’s Still Important for Arcade Football appeared first on Den of Geek.

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