After five long years, we were finally given a next-gen Madden this year. However, there are still flaws and certain things missing that should have been implemented long ago.
So here are five things to change in Madden NFL 11.
Personally, I don’t like Cris Collinsworth either, but at least he isn’t completely monotone. Either way, Tom Hammond’s game calling is terrible. Half the time I don’t understand him because he is making me fall asleep. The other half of the time he is not making any sense. I’m not trying to be picky here, but the truth of the matter is Hammond does not belong anywhere near this sports game. If he wants to be in Madden 11, he better bring his A game.
For the last few years, we have heard plenty of talk about custom playbooks. But it really comes down to this: We want custom playbooks. In a league that is embracing the Wildcat formation and more and more trick plays, custom playbooks are needed in Madden 11.
If custom playbooks are added, tons of hardcore Madden fans will log many hours creating plays. I know this because I am one of the hardcore fans. I would love nothing more than a flea flicker play where Brian Westbrook tosses the football back to Donovan McNabb, who then throws it in the flats to DeSean Jackson, who then throws a deep ball to Jeremy Maclin for an 80-yard touchdown. Custom playbooks would create endless possibilities in Madden, and endless possibilities means more time spent playing Madden.
But please don’t let us take custom playbooks online (at least not in ranked matches). They are bound to create nothing but havoc.
I love the Tennessee Titans, always have always will. Therefore, I use them almost every time I play Madden 10. I also never play Kerry Collins because I have always been a huge Vince Young fan. Collins is my backup and I’m fine with that -- until I’m trying to fake out my opponent.
When I set up for a fake field goal run play, Collins is the holder since he is the backup QB. Of course if I forget that the backup QB is always the holder, I have to blow a timeout, and I hate wasting them. Why not just give the user the option to select who is the holder? We can choose who is going to be the long snapper, so why can’t we choose the holder or anything else for that matter?
Advanced depth charts would be amazing. A few options stick out in my mind, including the holder mentioned above, as well as the Wildcat QB, Wildcat TE and pretty much anything else associated with the Wildcat formation. But advanced depth charts would also apply to the defense. How about having the ability to select your pass rushers on third downs or being able to choose who you want as your nickel back?
And if the developers put custom playbooks together with advanced depth charts, those unlimited possibilities I was talking about would be multiplied by a factor of 10.
Who would run your Wildcat?
Maddenites across the world have been begging for improved atmosphere since Michael Vick was the most overpowered sports player in history. We want it. We need it.
I’m a franchise guy, so I love taking my team to the playoffs. But when I get there and the game gives me the same feel as a preseason game, I'm inevitably disappointed.
But even regular season games need more atmosphere. There are big rivalries and big games with huge playoff implications every season. So I want to feel like those games mean something.
Another thing that needs to be conveyed is the fact that Sunday nights and Monday nights are huge. I want to hear Cris Collinsworth and whoever -- please let it happen -- replaces Tom Hammond talk about Monday night and have it mean something. I’m ready to feel like I’m playing Monday Night Football, which leads me to number one…
I never thought it would be a possibility since it had yet to happen with an EA game, but telecast integration is more possible than ever thanks to EA’s new title, NCAA Basketball 10. In NCAA Basketball, the developers have included both ESPN and CBS integration. Imagine playing Madden with Fox, CBS, NFL Network, NBC and ESPN integration. I know all of those networks in one game would cost a fortune, but EA could clearly nab at least ESPN and CBS.
Wouldn't this be amazing?
With the new broadcast camera angle that is in the game, it would make telecast integration even better. Simply put, let us play a game that looks like a real telecast.