What Madden is missing... A look at the last 5 years - TreFacTor's Blog

TreFacTor's Blog

What Madden is missing... A look at the last 5 years

Posted on October 10, 2009 at 06:18 PM.

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Why is Madden ten such a disappointment? Is it the lack luster presentation that is nice to look at, but is out classed by a game made 5 years ago (NFL 2K5)? Is it that it is riddled with bugs and glitches? It could be a culmination of all of those things, but I believe that it is the outdated physics, graphics, and collision detection that EA continues to use.

While Madden 10 looks very good graphically it still suffers stiffness in animations. The players still come to the line and move like robots, I guess I'm trying to say that nothing in Madden 10 feels natural. The developement team stated pre-release that this was going to be the best Madden ever! "If you see it on Sunday, it's in Madden 10". Well that was one of the biggest lies I have ever heard.

What really kills Madden 10 is the micro transactions of features or cheats that were in previous versions of the game that EA ripped out of this years game. I'm not a game developer so I can't say that these features wouldn't fit, or there wasn't enough time, all I know is that if they could be implemented last gen, why are they not in the next gen. This is not the first time EA has done this, but it is the first time EA has ransomed them to their fans.

So what is missing? I have tried to make a comprehensive list, but anyone who doesn't work for EA would be hard pressed to keep up with the additions and subtractions when all the fans want is simulation football. Why can't EA get it right? The penalties, franchise mode, Superstar mode? They have the foundation albeit shaky, so why can't they put a complete game together.

This has to be the worst year for EA releases, from Madden 10, NBA live 10, Need For Speed Shift.... all plagued with bugs and glitches, just go to the respective forums of the games, and you will see page after page of warranted complaints. It is my opinion that EA should take next year off, and redo these games, buy a new engine, get the physics correct and make a stellar showing in 2012 or having the exclusive license may not be enough to sell syrup covered $H!T and call it pancakes.

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Madden 10 gamespot review 7.5

Additions: Protak, pittiful presentation attempt, online franchise, QB specific mechanics, Pocket awareness

Subtractions: Manual endzone celbrations, Uniform wear, Madden IQ analysis, pre game prep, player progression, lead blocking control, scouting, progressive weather and lighting, Weapons feature.

-- Giancarlo Varanini--"A number of features make Madden NFL 10 a more realistic and enjoyable portrayal of football, but a few problems--both old and new--continue to trouble the series."

madden 09 gamespot review 8.0

Additions:Online leagues, madden IQ, EA backtrack, Virtual Madden, "hit stick 2.0",Manual endzone celbrations, Uniform wear, Madden IQ analysis, pre game prep, player progression, lead blocking control, scouting, progressive weather and lighting

Subtractions:
--Aaron Thomas--"A few key gameplay additions and enhancements make this year's Madden great despite some unseemly flaws. Slants and crossing routes are exceedingly difficult to defend against."

madden 08 gamespot review 8.5

Additions: Weapons feature,owner mode in franchise mode, better animations, high low hit stick

subtractions:
--Alex Navarro--"Madden NFL 08 is a significant step forward for the series, bringing to the table features that are legitimately game-changing."

madden 07 gamespot review 7.9

Additions:highlight stick, lead-blocker controls,superstar mode,jump the snap,

Subtractions:create a team

--Alex Navarro --"Madden NFL 07 is a marked improvement over the previous 360 version, but some design quirks and missing features prevent it from being the system's first great."

* Game still lacks features available in other console versions of Madden
* some bugs and fit-and-finish issues that hamper the experience
* defensive-back AI is terribly easy to exploit on the default difficulty
* some animations look rather awkward.

madden 06 gamespot review 7.4 (next gen)

Additions:Graphical leap, quarterback-vision-cone,

Subtractions:Many of the nifty gameplay and game mode innovations that the Madden series has introduced in recent iterations are either gone or have been stripped down, Defensive playmaker controls,no formation shifts, no minicamp mode, no practice mode, no minigames, no create-a-player, and no superstar mode,John Madden

--Alex Navarro--"The next-generation of football gaming kicks off with mixed results in Madden NFL 06, a game that's pretty to look at, but has less to it than you'd probably expect."

# Many of the unique gameplay features of the last couple of Madden games are missing
# Lots of missing modes--all you get is a husk of a franchise mode and online play
# Some unsightly animation and graphical hang-ups that stick out all the more on a next-gen console

madden 05 gamespot review 9.0

Additions:hit stick,defensive hot route system,lock a corner on to a specific receiver, thus preventing mismatches

subtractions:

--Alex Navarro--"Madden NFL 2005 is still Madden. That is to say, it's another superb game of football that continues Madden's long legacy as one of the best in the business."

Comments

# 1 superstarshad @ Oct 10

They will never change Madden's outdated game engine. I read an interview a couple of days ago about the developers at Infinity Ward wanting to make a modern war game a couple of years back, but they were met with heavy resistance from the higher ups at Activision. The higher ups felt like to step out and do a modern warfare game would be too risky, and fans only wanted the world war 2 games. I believe the same thing is happening at EA Sports. The higher ups may feel consumers are speaking with their wallets year in and out. Why change Maddens, NHL 93 outdated gameplay engine. I probably won't purchase another Madden until 2014. I've been playing since 1992, It's time to move on and try something else.

# 2 TreFacTor @ Oct 10

If it weren't for the fact that it's the only NFL game around, I could totally agree, the only thing I can hold out hope for is that EA and the Madden developers actually listen to the sales figures and realize that Madden fans are not satisfied with their offerings of Madden for the next generation consoles. I have heard people say this time and time again, "If it was included in the PS2, why isn't it included in the next gen consoles which are more powerful, and have more space?" Only EA can answer that question. The game has failed to sell well on all platforms, and the issues that are being reported across the PS3 and Xbox 360 platform are things that are noticeable with only a few hours of gameplay.

What really dumbfounds me is that every review I have read for the game fails to mention one bug or glitch. They must have similar beliefs in what is acceptable. How EA is releasing games recently with a lack of testing is unbelievable. The same issues the Demo had, shipped with the game. If anyone comes along with even the slightest promise of a better game (See also Back Breaker), then Madden may have run it's course.