This year EA has promised monumental changes to the game of Madden, boasting that there will be a total of 85 new features in Madden '09. While I’m not sure that anyone actually knows the list of the full 85 “new features” I do know the ones that will make the biggest impact and I’m going to count them down from 10 to one.

#10. Importing created plays from NFL Head Coach - This seems like a feature that will help to sell large quantities of NFL Head Coach and the Madden 20th edition. I just wish that they would have included the feature in the regular version of Madden, instead of creating an unfair advantage to reward gamers that spent the cash to pick up both titles.

Importing created plays offers gamers the opportunity to truly go in and try to out scheme their opponent. Using this feature back in NFL Fever I realized the sense of pride that can come from watching your own creation work exactly as you imagined. It allows each gamer to truly put his or her own special touch on a team, and bring you that extra sense of accomplishment knowing that you aren’t just out playing your opponent, but you’re out coaching them as well.

While this feature is something that I look forward to I can also see the negative side to it. Now players will be able to spend time in the lab going to work to create their perfect money plays that may take advantage of flaws that people will find in the game. We all know holes in the game will surface, and giving people the ability to create their own plays will increase a player's ability to take advantage of those weak points in the game. When you give this feature to online gamers that already have questionable tactics I fear that this may just open Pandora’s box. But in all other aspects this is a great new feature for '09.

#9. Weather - While weather has been in Madden for years this year EA has stepped it up and taken it to the next level. At this point everyone can see for themselves from the videos that the snow and the new improved weather effects will be visually stunning.

I’m already looking forward to testing out these weather effects by recreating the Raiders in the tuck rule game and hopefully avenging the blunder in the blizzard.

The jury is still out though because how much will weather actually affect gameplay? It’s a positive sign to hear that they’re still tweaking the game to see more slipping and sliding of players in the snow. Hopefully we’ll actually get to see the weather take shape in the games and the new and improved weather won’t just be pretty snow flakes and making snow angels for touchdown celebrations.

#8. Rewind – When I first heard about the new rewind feature I thought it was an absolute joke. The idea that EA would waste time on this, while leaving out great features like accelerated clock out made me question their dedication and sanity. However after getting a chance to check out the videos and see what they’ve done, I’m impressed. It’s not a feature that I can see myself using too much personally, but I think it’s a very good feature to go along with their Beginner, Pro, and Hardcore settings. Rewind should be a great learning tool for beginners. EA did a phenomenal job bringing a true broadcast feel to the breakdown of the play, showing exactly what went wrong and how things could have gone better. I hope that EA leaves the replays in even at the Hardcore level, where you won’t actually be using the rewind feature, because Just adding the constructive criticism replay can add a lot to the broadcast feel of the game.

In a final note about this feature, thank you EA for not putting this online. The last thing I’d want to see is me making a spectacular play, and all of a sudden seeing it called back for a mulligan from the opposing player.

Madden Producers claim to have made 85 additions to this years Madden NFL Football.

#7. New and Improved Stat System for Franchise Mode - Since I haven’t seen the visual proof that this is improved I’m just going to have to take EA’s word for it at this point. Stats are a big deal to many of the gamers playing in franchise mode -- which I know represents a high percentage of Madden gamers. Personally I’m tired of hearing people complain about the unrealistic statistics so if for nothing other than selfish reasons I’m putting the new stat system at number seven. If you’re playing a franchise mode, producing properly proportioned stats are important since it adds to the realism of the experience. Even with golden gameplay, poor stats can still manage to subtract from the experience -- except for Bears fans who can look across the stat column to see someone like Cedric Benson nearing the 2,000 yard mark.

#6. New Animations – I'm thinking that in order for EA to reach 85 new features in Madden '09 they had to split up all the different animations like bobbled balls and new juke moves. I’m going to lump them all together to be the sixth best new feature in the game.

One thing that EA really talked a lot about in their animations podcast was the different feel that you’d get from playing as different players. The example of this they gave would be Reggie Bush’s ability to pull off some explosive moves that you won’t see guys the size of Jerome Bettis able to do. However on the flip side you will get to see bruisers of Bettis’ size consistently falling forward after getting hit, picking up those extra yards, while Bush is going the other way and laying on his back. I’m hoping it lives up to half the hype they were giving it. At this point I’m not full on drinking the Kool-Aid. I’d like to, but it’s something I’ll have to feel for myself before I’m a believer.

The animation that has me excited for '09 is the bobbled catches and it's for two reasons. One, I think they’re more likely than the running animations to be as good as described. Two, I can’t wait to see some skinny receivers like Randy Moss go over the middle and bobble the ball so that I can use my safety to lay him out like a cheap suit. The thought alone of delivering those bone crushing hits to defenseless receivers is enough to give me a nice warm feeling inside.

So those were five of the top 10 new features hitting Madden '09. Continue to check the Operation Sports home page to see which features crack the top five!

Update: Five through to one has now been posted.