What Madden Got Right... - cwash020's Blog

cwash020's Blog

What Madden Got Right...

Posted on September 25, 2009 at 10:18 AM.

(8)

There is always a lot of Madden hate around this time of the year. And I sometimes indulge in it as well. But I wanted to take the opportunity to praise EA for what it got right in this year's version of Madden:

1) QB Throwing Animations - yes, some of them are generic. But I have used the Colts in my first franchise and I never get tired of seeing P. Mannings textbook high delivery. Big Ben and Romo's came out pretty good as well.

2) In-Game Cutscenes - while the referee shots can get a bit redundant, overall the cutscenes fit in well with game situations and dont feel out of place. Shaking the opposing coaches hand and talking to press after the game is a neat touch as well (even though it's been done before)

3) Passing Game Improvements - WR Routes are a bit more crisp, and its great to be able to use a passing pocket for the first time this generation. HB Screens work if used in the right situations. Overall, much improved passing in Madden 10.

4) Balance - All I had to do this year is cut the game on, change the difficulty to All Pro and play. I didnt have to change the sliders to "enhance" the experience. That's a rarity nowadays. (Though I will admit there are times where I want to increase both defensive and offensive line blocking attributes)

5) Speed - People either seem to love or hate the slower speed. I love it as I feel like player movements are more realistic. You also have more time as a RB to survey the field for openings when the ball is handed off to you. And you will need all the time in the world cause the offensive line blocking is mediocre at best.

All that being said, there is still one nagging issue that takes precedent over all of the above. The LB "Superman Snag" where the linebacker vertically jumps in a split second to intercept a bullet pass from the QB has got to be dealt with. It is unrealistic and happens far too often. Yes, some linebackers are fully capable of intercepting balls, but at least add an animation where they tip the ball first, then catch it (similar to 2K5, or APF 2K8). I swear there are more interceptions by LB's in this game than DB's.

Comments

# 1 Antwuan @ Sep 25

I thought it was going to be an all good post... haha

I agree with you, especially about the passing pocket!

# 2 cwash020 @ Sep 25

haha...my bad. I am so irritated with the LB picks I couldnt help but to throw it in there.

# 3 TreyIM2 @ Sep 25

YES, those damn LB picks are skrait ridiculous. I realized that mostly when playing this one Madden moment where the Lions are down by 8 and have to score and covert 2 to tie up with the Skins. Talk about frustration!!! The Skins LBs are horrible and the way they come up with INTs is sickening. Their awareness, hands, and quickness is unbelievable. Is there a reaction time rating, too, because that would definitely be up there. And this is on All Pro. I don't eff with All Madden because that's just a outrageously cheap and "dumb" level. All Pro is just right where I can win many and lose a few, with a good CPU challenge.

# 4 JkA3 @ Sep 25

The LB superman snag doesn't happen. You guys are crazy.

---SIKE---

Those annimations kill me. Sometimes, I want to throw the controller.

great blog

# 5 cwash020 @ Sep 25

Yep, one of those interceptions cost me a game against my buddy last night...freakin' Terrell Suggs.

# 6 bigsmallwood @ Sep 25

LBs are supermen in this game! It is near impossible to float a pass over their heads!

# 7 stlstudios189 @ Sep 25

good post

# 8 GlennN @ Sep 26

I agree with everything but number 2. Take a game with no in-game save and add repetitive cut scenes you cannot forward through and you have a nightmare for a busy life. At least let us bypass the cut scenes (or, even better, add an in-game save).

I also agree about the blocking issues. Still have some problems on both offensive and efensive lines to fix, but the pocket is nice.

The scouting I find incredibly tedious. Have to pull up each player to see combine data, deciding who to scout? Couldn't just list that information so we could scroll through? No list of already scouted players to avoid having to go through each position? Your scouting information vanishes during the draft? Sheesh, who designed this process and what were they thinking?