Here it is again, the leaves are turning brown and Madden is on shop shelves willing Americans to spend cash and confusing Brits who wonder why the ball has been sat on. Reviewing a title that is yearly updated is always tricky, but this year Madden does more than under the hood upgrades in an attempt to truly advance the series. A truly ambitious goal given how critically acclaimed Madden 09 was, does it succeed?
The first thing you’ll notice is just how good this game looks. I’m not just talking about presentation or graphics which I’ll get onto later. The speed has been brought down from Madden 09 and combined with increased animations and improved AI (blockers don’t just freak out now) the whole thing looks more like real football than ever before. The drop in speed is far from cosmetic and helps give you that extra half second to find the perfect gap to throw your perfect pass, it gives you that bit extra time to switch players and leap across the receiver to steal the pass and crucially it just makes it more like real football. The realism drive continues with the “Pro Tak” system which revolutionises tackling and in turn defence. To begin with it allows multiple sweaty men to pile up and drag a man to the ground or for one extremely large sweaty men to drag a bunch of other sweaty men up the field. It’s always been one of the big omissions of the series and is crucial an addition as the trick stick was. Blocking also takes on a new dimension thanks to the Pro Tak system allowing momentum to have more of an impact when holding back your opponent. Cue frantic spinning on the right stick as you try to shift your weight and get past the blockers. The final big gameplay change is one that won’t receive much in the way of press, namely a major change in the stats behind every player. Ratings are more stretched out, with average to rotten players now actually having average to rotten stats instead of the usual “average player is still an 80” stats game that blighted previous games. The effect this has on the game is staggering, the greater range of stats allows more realistic match ups and means that whilst your better players have more influence on a game your weaker players now actually drag your team back down and makes your play choices all the more crucial. Again realism is the drive, and never has the game felt more like real football thanks to these changes.
Augmenting these gameplay additions are a mix of new game modes and tweaked old favourites. Franchise mode is back and is largely the same, tweaks in the drafts and player development making for a more realistic experience. The big change is a move away from the idea of training before each game to tweak skills, you now just bounce between games. An omission but once you get past it the mode is just as engaging as ever. Franchise also benefits strongly from the improvements in presentation which is present throughout the game. The detail of the player models have been kicked up a notch and as such the increased cut scenes showing fans, sidelines and various in game actions feel less tacked on and more like they add to the overall TV presentation. Same goes for the stats appearing at the bottom and the slow motion replays pointing out just why you suck, it adds up and sucks you into the overly dramatic TV feel the sport has. Franchise mode goes one step further having weekly faux TV broadcasts giving the low down on the league and your team, slightly cheesy but again goes that little way to making it more realistic. Elsewhere superstar mode has lost the mini camp drills and in it’s place one training spot a week to run one play over and over with no end. A very odd choice indeed as it has no real impact on your stats, it doesn’t detract from the fun of playing though so long as you are in a skill position…no matter what people say it’s not fun playing as a blocker.
New game modes come in the form of online co-op and online franchise. Co-op is exactly how it sounds, you and a buddy playing the game online. Problem is changing player swings the camera over instead of instant-switching making for a confusing and nauseating experience. Online franchise is the real star of this years game though, allowing 32 people to play a full franchise mode online. Trade, drafts and an iPhone app on the way to watch it all unfold. The depth really is incredible and when you have a full league of dedicated people there is nothing in gaming quite like it. Fingers crossed the technology makes it to the other EA Sports games as it really is a marvel that it all works so well.
All in all we have a remarkable package here and it really is a remarkable thing that EA have accomplished. For years now Madden has been not just the top American Football title but the top sports title around and yet again we have an improvement in game modes, gameplay and looks. Online franchise is a massive step forward for sports titles and a real time eater, the improved defending completely changes the complexion of the game and looks wise it’s as close to a TV broadcast as ever before. The one issue that could be levelled that it does nothing to convert those who disliked previous titles, but if you have any interest in the sport then once again EA has made a fantastic reason to part with your cash.
Insert bum joke here.
That receiver is just begging to be passed to.
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September 8th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Heh, I’ve always passed this series off as a quick cash in. Still, don’t think anything remotely sporty is for me.
Someone lent me Madden ‘06 and it confuzzled the hell out of me; mashing random buttons and getting huge achievements for reasons I couldn’t explain. -__-