Madden NFL 10 Hands-On Preview

[StormJH1]

Pro-Tak, as a pure concept, is the least "gimmicky" thing Madden has done in years. When you reinvent a core element of gameplay and try to make it more like real NFL play, how is that a gimmick?

That said, it's still fair to critique how well it is done. After playing the demo, I thought it was better having Pro-Tak than not having it, but I also wished it could have been more. The physics don't respond to players coming in late to the pile, and there is a noticeable "jumpiness" going in and out of all these new animations. But there's also hope that the retail version might have a few more weeks of polish than either of the demos we saw.

[Spanky]

Quote: Originally Posted by boooey

i agree with ya here.. and the "official" OS review of Madden 09 was also stellar..

You are right about last year's OS review. It was written by Terry Crouch, who gave it an 8.5 and stated "... Madden NFL 2009 is the best version of Madden that I’ve played in a long time.''

Freaking cost me $60 for that pile of rubbish. He listed CPU QB being deadly accurate as a negative. It would have been nice to know before purchasing that EA, in a mind-bogglingly brilliant move, removed CPU sliders.

Overall, OS was gushing all over the place about Madden 09 and I credit a lot of members here for taking them to task after playing that P.O.S.

That said, luckily, Mr. Crouch did not write the preview here, and hopefully he will not be assigned to the review. For all we know, he might have been hired to head up EA's PR department.

It is my sense that this preview has far more credibility than last year's review and the all-out OS love-in with EA.

[Moegames]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy

If you turn fight for the fumble off, do you still get the pileups? And my other question, is the "normal" game speed like last years or is it the slowed down one? I'm guessing its the slowed down one

Thats a good question ..about the pileups...as i absolutely hate the "dance dance revolution" button smashing scheme going on here with the pileups... my own commen sense tells me it'll still be there even if you turn off the button pressing stuff..but i'd love a confirmation on this regardless

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Moegames

Thats a good question ..about the pileups...as i absolutely hate the "dance dance revolution" button smashing scheme going on here with the pileups... my own commen sense tells me it'll still be there even if you turn off the button pressing stuff..but i'd love a confirmation on this regardless

Yeah I think Ian said it would just have the fumble pileups and it would give it to one of the teams, but I would like confirmation.

[TreyIM2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy

Yeah I think Ian said it would just have the fumble pileups and it would give it to one of the teams, but I would like confirmation.

Agreed. I would prefer not to do the button mashing, like I said when Ian first posted on his EA blog that there would be this mini game. I like the drama of waiting to see who will come out with the football just like when I watch a real football game.

Quote: Originally Posted by Spanky

You are right about last year's OS review. It was written by Terry Crouch, who gave it an 8.5 and stated "... Madden NFL 2009 is the best version of Madden that I’ve played in a long time.'' Freaking cost me $60 for that pile of rubbish. He listed CPU QB being deadly accurate as a negative. It would have been nice to know before purchasing that EA, in a mind-bogglingly brilliant move, removed CPU sliders. Overall, OS was gushing all over the place about Madden 09 and I credit a lot of members here for taking them to task after playing that P.O.S. That said, luckily, Mr. Crouch did not write the preview here, and hopefully he will not be assigned to the review. For all we know, he might have been hired to head up EA's PR department. It is my sense that this preview has far more credibility than last year's review and the all-out OS love-in with EA.

Bossman, I actually didn't read that review as I only joined here a few months ago but I will say this like I always say when people get all silly about another person's review - It's a personal opinion. Just like u have yours, reviewers have their own. U bought the game at your own risk, regardless of what a reviewer may have said. U had the option of the demo and/or renting the game, first. Don't bash the reviewer cuz u didn't use your options to check the game out for yourself, first. Bash yourself.

[bomza]

Great article. Some comments..

Quote:

Speaking of fight for fumble, I think it's something a lot of people will eventually turn off, as I've been completely on top of a ball, only to lose the "fight for fumble" and come away pissed off. Sure it happens, but I for one, would rather stick with the old way and turn the feature off.

Amen to that. Thank God we can turn it off.

Quote:

... but I still haven't seen the AI false start.

This most certainly is in NCAA 10 even on Heisman level. Sounds odd it wouldn't have the progressive lighting also, one of the neatest things in NCAA 10. Sad to hear few deflections at the line like in NCAA 10 also.

Quote:

Speaking of instant replay, though, there seems to be an issue replaying touchdowns in this build, as most get cut off as soon as the ball breaks the the goal line. I think it's annoying, but maybe it won't bother some of you. It doesn't happen all the time, but I'd say most of the time it does.

This has got to be related to the ref goal line conferring cut scene. I hate that too. Even if he's only one yard in, I want to see him go in. I think they deliberately cut it at that point in the replay. I twitter'd Ian and he said "Relax and enjoy the suspense." But there is no suspense when you see in real time that he went one yard into the endzone. THAT'S why I think they cut off the replay at the goal line, so as to not mess up their ref cut scene suspense. But f*** suspense. I want my player breaking the goal line in the replay! The other ref cut scenes (back of the endzone, first down) are fine. This one bugs me because I clearly can tell I made it in the endzone whereas the first down marker is not exact anyway, and it's hard to tell in real time if a receiver got both his feet down. If there's a pile of players around when trying to get into the endzone, then I would be for the ref endzone confer cut scene. But not every single time when it's even remotely close. Because most of the time, when that cut scene comes up, it's not close.

Quote:

Another oddity occurs at halftime or when the referee is calling the penalty, as you will sometimes see players walking right through the zebra.

In another thread "Madden 10 referees are ghosts?" I discuss this, and I've noticed in the snow demo your linebacker can't just move back and forth through the ref like in the Gamestop demo. In the snow demo the ref will try to get out of the way, but the player still kinda moves through the ref. Anyway, if what they decided to do with the refs on the field (be full contact refs or be ghosts) is what is in the snow demo, I would be happy with that. It's a good compromise. When the play is dead they can all be ghosts, I don't care.

I was hoping to read something about the controls in your article. Is there still just the one controller config? Thx.

[Mr_EA_Sports]

Nice write up Steve the game sounds absolutely great.

[marcoyk]

Quote:

There are 27 items you can purchase in the Madden shop, but I am not going to go into detail about these right now.

??? I'm a bit curiuos.
Nice write-up.