Madden NFL 11: The How and Why's of Hit Sticking

[RaychelSnr]

The Madden series is one that originally helped to define the term "video game stats." So it should come as no surprise that Madden 11's short-lived shelf life is already being badgered by a near-unanimous questioning of "where's the defense?"

For football fans trying to reconcile themselves to another "offense-heavy" version of Madden, it feels like forever -- not six years ago -- when Ray Lewis first jumped off the cover of Madden NFL 2005, sprinted through the A gap and finally showed armchair quarterbacks what it was like to "Fear the D."

Line shifts, defensive hot routes and the brand-new "Hit Stick" were some of the key features that helped distance Madden NFL 2005 from the sideline-rollouts and 70-yard streak passes of Madden NFL 2004. After all, let's not forget that Madden 04 is most-remembered for the "god status" it ascribed to cover athlete Michael Vick and his unstoppable, scramble-based offense.

But while the marketing of Madden NFL 2005 heavily emphasized the game's new defensive features, it's the balanced gameplay for which Madden NFL 2005 has become fondly remembered -- a balance that, thus far, remains nonexistent in Madden NFL 2011.

Read More - Madden NFL 11: The How and Why's of Hit Sticking

[BezO]

Quote:

The Hit Stick is now something defenders should attempt when the ball carrier has already been slowed or staggered by a teammate's initial tackle. In other words, the player needs to become an easy, stationary target not unlike the wild elk hunted by Jared Allen in the offseason.

Ha! Good luck engaging.

Not that I liked the hit stick's effectiveness before, but lowering it was just one more thing that tipped the see saw all the way to the offense. This is one of the most lop sided Maddens I can remember. Maybe EA thinks gamers only want to have fun half the time.

[rooney8]

Do casual fans actually enjoy not being able to do anything on Defense?

[archibalduk]

Well I could possibly what you could term a "casual" fan in that I have no tactical knowledge and at the moment rely solely on GameFlow (although I'd really love to get my teeth into learning the tactics/plays) - and other than a brief phase of playing Madden 2001, Madden 11 is my first real NFL game. I can tell you that I REALLY DON'T like not being able to do anything on defence! Although I am enjoying the game, I really do feel limited when playing on the defence - and I'm starting to get the impression I should have saved the money and picked up an older version of the game.

Another thing is that the manual neglects explaining much about defence. Although the menu mentions that pressing the right stick down whilst engaged performs a power move and left/right perform a finesse move, looking at the control settings from the ingame menus it doesn't state that the right analogue stick performs any defensive moves. It's very confusing for newcomers to the series like myself. On the other hand, there's plenty of explanation of the offensive right analogue stick - why not put that much detail in explaining the hit stick?!

[RUFFNREADY]

I gues we all have to wait for madden 12.

[josef]

Saints with no hit-stickers!? Ouch.. Where's Vilma at least? I sort of miss the easier hit stick tackles.. Me and my buddies would always cringe and/or go nuts when we connected or got handed a hit-stick smack down. I understand they are trying to make it more risk/reward but I also like to have fun. Defense just feels a little blah. Still loving the game though.

[7stringking]

IDK...I think this year's madden is better than that one back on PS2..in many ways

[Nerox23]

After watching that video im getting suh on my team in franchise mode