Madden 09 News Post

Madden 09 Demo Released, Impressions Here

07:03 AM - July 31, 2008 by TJdaSportsGuy

The official Madden NFL 09 demo has been released. Please post your impressions here.

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Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 88 - View All

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Member Comments

# 261 Vince @ 08/01/08 02:16 AM

yeah, just give me a quarter man geez. I can't even play on D!!!

# 262 mrprice33 @ 08/01/08 02:57 AM

they should let us edit sliders like on the nba live demo...

oh wait...

/throws helmet sticker on keyboard

# 263 unisol_us @ 08/01/08 03:05 AM

Well I finally played the demo. Took the IQ test got All pro pass and run offense and Pro and rookie Defense.

I just bought a PS3 in May and I had no idea what to expect when I played sports games on next gen. All of my past Madden games have been on the PC, but i have played the ps2 version alot. From the VERY limited knowledge of Madden on next gen I was very skeptical about the quality of the EA sports games. All I really can remember from the previous next gen Maddens is the horrible PA announcer. With that being said, I must say I think this game should bring me many hours of relaxation(or anger if I keep losing online) I tried the NCAA demo and for some reason, I did not really take the time to figure out why, I just did not get a good vibe from it. But when I played this game the fun factor just felt alive.

I really don't nit pick video games(I'll leave that to others) what I really want is to spend an hour or two having fun and this game will do that for me. If there were more presentation added, then this game would be pretty solid! If the game had more presentation factors between plays and other things to look at while playing it would slow the whole "FEEL" of the game down just a little bit without having to really slow anything down if that makes any sense.

I think with this new developer community interaction feature,

next year's game will be even better. I for one will enjoy playing this game with a franchise and I will also enjoy getting my butt kicked online by some 13 year old. Oh and yea by the way there is Head Coach also. This truly is a great time to be a sports video game fan. Like the old days when SEGA first came out.

# 264 kellkasey @ 08/01/08 03:58 AM

I feel like the players are HUGE and the playing surface is MINIATURE.

I feel like I'm playing in some sort of Thunderdome and the year is 2020. Anyone else feel like you're playing with large robots as opposed to humans?

It just feels very futuristic and arcade-like. Graphics and animations all over the place. Not a big fan of the new play-calling screen/layout. I love the quick subs/quick formations idea but the futuristic look of the screen (colors and template) doesnt work for me.

Camera angle when passing is odd. Can't get used to it yet.

# 265 Miles_Yuhas @ 08/01/08 04:17 AM

As we already know, the amount we get to play in the demo is a joke, but from what you can the adjusting Madden IQ is an amazing feature and I think will keep the gameplay vs. the CPU from getting stale.

The graphics are amazing.

# 266 ITSFAVRENOTFARVE @ 08/01/08 05:34 AM

I played the demo (My Madden IQ was 666). Looking forward to the final version

# 267 adembroski @ 08/01/08 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITSFAVRENOTFARVE


	I played the demo (My Madden IQ was 666). Looking forward to the final version

... I, I dunno, drop a pass next time... I don't think I'd want that score. Happen to be an ASU or Duke fan?

Anyways; my impressions.

I've put in a good hour with it. Nice thing about the demo is it gives you a pretty damn good taste of offense since you can basically play indefinitely.

I severely dislike the Madden IQ system. The drills are not sufficient to judge anyone's skill level, the skill levels are way to broad to accurately tune the game. Difficulty takes precedent over realism, and that truly sucks. Now, when I acquire an elite group of wide receivers and a great quarterback, I'm going to be penalized for good team management? I'm not sure I'm down with that. If I have a **** team, I'll have my skill level lowered to off set that. This is not cool. So, I'm pretty sure I'll toss the Madden IQ settings out the window and customize as best I can.

As for the game... graphically, it's a mixed bag. The stadium seems really small to me. The player models are outstanding. Grass texture is nice, but it's too busy. It doesn't seem to lose detail at a distance and thus it's constantly this weird mix of black and green and it kind of annoys me to an extent.

Blocking is a mixed bag. I've seen really nice protection, and I've seen disorganized clumps of players gathered in front of the quarterback. In the running game it's a bit better, but there always seems to be someone breaking free. One might attribute this to the Patriots defensive playbook (which looks great from the perspective of the opposing QB) and it's myriad of looks and blitz schemes.

In the passing game, I found my biggest gripe. The Superman DBs are back with a vengeance. 5-9 cornerbacks who are able to leap Plaxico Burress in a single bound. And of course, Plaxico decides (perhaps wisely, considering the otherworldly athletic prowess of the DBs) he's best off laying out for passes in traffic rather than going up for them. I can't seem to figure out the logic in how a computer controlled receiver decides how to go for a ball.

For the 20th year in a row, EA has neglected to incorporate physics 101, as the ball still travels in a perfect arch, coming down at the mirror angle as it left the QBs hand (or kickers foot, which is an even bigger issue). This allows cornerbacks who are beaten by 2 yards on fade routes to simply leap in the air and tip the ball away. Drives me nuts, but... the CPU Knockdown slider should take care of it... oh, wait... ****.

Excuse me, I really don't wanna be snide. Consider that directed at David Ortiz.

A LOT of tipped balls at the line. Maybe more realistic than I've experienced with the franchise, but I guess I don't have a real firm grip on how often this happens in real life. I know I experienced about 5, but I don't know if I ran 120 plays or 500 plays to be honest. So it could have been overdone, could have been just right. Wasn't too few, I know that.

The selling point--- control. I don't know. I'm going to have to get used to the game before i can even start to think about that. Honestly, at this point, I can't tell the difference because the game is just moving too fast for me to react to the fact that I'm being tackled and make a move. I know the tackles are FAR more context sensitive. I was really impressed with this--- if I got tackled immediately after hitting spin, the resulting animation would make it clear the computer knew I hit that button. Meaning even in failure, you can see what you were trying to do. Doesn't have a direct impact on game play, but it makes you feel a lot more in control.

I need to run more to get accustom too it. I haven't run much at all. I'm not really in love with the Giants playbook (feels way too much like the Notre Dame playbook, and I was hoping for something a bit different to play around with).

Anyways, there ya go. Some impressions. Compared to the demos and short time I had with previous NextGen Maddens, this is no doubt the best... I mean NO DOUBT, but my reference point is PC and PS2, and I'm not sure it's there.

# 268 jyoung @ 08/01/08 06:40 AM

I scored a TD with about 0:27 left.

Then I kicked the extra point, lined up for an onside kick, recovered it, and was greeted with the following message:

"YOU HAVE FAILED THE CHALLENGE! RETRY?"

Nice to see that EA can't even put a demo out without having some bugs in it.

# 269 Rimfro @ 08/01/08 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maukey


	Exactly. He's not referring to one on one coverage, he's saying he hates the way a CB 15 yards down field running stride for stride with a reciever on a fly route can magically turn around and persue the ball the moment u throw it in the flat to a HB on that exact same side. Been a problem with Madden for years. But, in defense of EA, it only plagues the upper difficulties to make it challenging, and I think it's tied to the defense awareness. So adjusting that slider may help. EA's gonna have to take a look at 2K football and see what they did to remedy this.

I love how some of you 2k5 fanboys have put this game on a pedestal, its not the perfect football experience that you all make it out to be. The best thing about that game was the fact that it was only $20. It had iffy animation, a lot of pass plays ended in jump balls. You had to charge jukes and spin moves. The presentation was sick, but that game is old news. If you want to play an old, budget football title, be my guest, but quit whining about Madden and comparing it to some out dated, non-conformists football dream. If 2k5 is so great, why aren't you playing it instead of posting on here about how "bad" Madden is? I have been let down the last few years by Madden, but with the scale of these stadiums and the animation in this title, I couldn't help but get a little giddy. Oh yeah, Madden 05 was leaps and bounds more fun to play than 2k5. I had both, but I couldn't get a single football fan I know to play it.

First person football? What a joke. The secondary coverage in that game is a joke, as well as the player models. They all had arms down to their ankles and were lankier than Wilt the Stilt. I won't get into how lame the quarterback play was, the a.i. didn't realize that Vick was a mobile QB. And the much touted Cribs feature? I'm not into doll houses, so the only person who got any use out of that was my little sister, she said it was an awesome football feature, and truly showed how sim 2k5 was.

Madden looks to be back on track, so if you don't want to play, don't, but please quit shoving this 2k did this and 2k did that garbage down my throat. You 2k5 fans should have a convention.

# 270 -DaVe- @ 08/01/08 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimfro


	I love how some of you 2k5 fanboys have put this game on a pedestal, its not the perfect football experience that you all make it out to be. The best thing about that game was the fact that it was only $20. It had iffy animation, a lot of pass plays ended in jump balls. You had to charge jukes and spin moves. The presentation was sick, but that game is old news. If you want to play an old, budget football title, be my guest, but quit whining about Madden and comparing it to some out dated, non-conformists football dream. If 2k5 is so great, why aren't you playing it instead of posting on here about how "bad" Madden is? I have been let down the last few years by Madden, but with the scale of these stadiums and the animation in this title, I couldn't help but get a little giddy. Oh yeah, Madden 05 was leaps and bounds more fun to play than 2k5. I had both, but I couldn't get a single football fan I know to play it. First person football? What a joke. The secondary coverage in that game is a joke, as well as the player models. They all had arms down to their ankles and were lankier than Wilt the Stilt. I won't get into how lame the quarterback play was, the a.i. didn't realize that Vick was a mobile QB. And the much touted Cribs feature? I'm not into doll houses, so the only person who got any use out of that was my little sister, she said it was an awesome football feature, and truly showed how sim 2k5 was. Madden looks to be back on track, so if you don't want to play, don't, but please quit shoving this 2k did this and 2k did that garbage down my throat. You 2k5 fans should have a convention.

Ok now this^ is coming from a true Madden "fanboy". You had more fun with Madden 05 good for you(alot of kids enjoyed dropping back 50 yards and throwing bombs to the receivers) but you're asinine if you think it's a better football game than 2k5. Seriously. 2k5 was leaps and bounds better than Madden 05. It's not even close IMO ....Hell Madden 09 still looks like it hasn't out done 2k5 in some areas. When I see refs in a Madden game instead of ghosts , that's when I'll start to realize that Madden is coming along...
And countless other things that I don't feel like typing up right now

# 271 countryboy @ 08/01/08 09:57 AM

guys knock off the 2K vs Madden talk. This is a demo impressions thread.

# 272 noplace @ 08/01/08 10:00 AM

Same old Madden with better environment, tacke animations...Not impressed after playing the demo but its not like they gave us alot to go on...No comentary, 1 drive, etc....

# 273 Likwidkewl @ 08/01/08 10:14 AM

Is no one else bothered by the slight white outline around all the players? I am assuming it is a lighting effect, but it's driving me crazy. It looks like the models were cut out with scissors, but some white outline was left around the edges then they were pasted into the environment. I am hoping it is just due to the lighting in that stadium.

PS. I noticed the same thing on both the 360 and the PS3 demos. I am not talking about the PS3's specific issue with shiny graphics.

# 274 green94 @ 08/01/08 10:17 AM

Played a few games last night, Loving it. I tried running backwards and making off balanced throws, and similar to NFL2k5, the QB actually had to come set before he threw - NICE!

Another funny thing, I scored with 1 second left and they let me kick the extra point and kickoff, I thought they might let me get a defensive set in, but to no avail.

# 275 Qb @ 08/01/08 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adembroski


	In the passing game, I found my biggest gripe. The Superman DBs are back with a vengeance. 5-9 cornerbacks who are able to leap Plaxico Burress in a single bound. And of course, Plaxico decides (perhaps wisely, considering the otherworldly athletic prowess of the DBs) he's best off laying out for passes in traffic rather than going up for them. I can't seem to figure out the logic in how a computer controlled receiver decides how to go for a ball. The selling point--- control. I don't know. I'm going to have to get used to the game before i can even start to think about that. Honestly, at this point, I can't tell the difference because the game is just moving too fast for me to react to the fact that I'm being tackled and make a move. I know the tackles are FAR more context sensitive. I was really impressed with this--- if I got tackled immediately after hitting spin, the resulting animation would make it clear the computer knew I hit that button. Meaning even in failure, you can see what you were trying to do. Doesn't have a direct impact on game play, but it makes you feel a lot more in control.

This is about how I feel. I rated as All-Pro passing (one more notch & I would've been AM) and I definitely saw the super-DBs that reacted to thrown balls when they really shouldn't have. Overall, and I know that it was the Pats D, I thought that the defense covered too much ground. Perhaps there is something to the idea that the field is too small...

I guess part of it would be what an earlier poster stated about the Madden AI defense always seeming to know what play I called or what I was trying to do. I suppose that could be good for long-term replay value, as it will force the user to call a lot of audibles, hot routes and the like. It just made it very difficult for me to get a read on things since I haven't played any virtual football since the fall (no NCAA 09 for me & Madden was dusty before Thanskgiving)...

As for the player control, I don't see where there has been a major improvement (again my frame of reference isn't that good). Players still feel like they are sliding around; I'm not seeing a lot of momentum/weight or true planting & cutting. Also, although not entirely related to player control, I don't know how many times my receivers ran their pattern out of bounds. They seem to have poor awareness of the sidelines to say the least. Their awareness of defensive players and the ball are also lackluster IMO.

Now don't get me wrong, I did see some goodness as well. The graphics are sweet, animations improved and some of the well-known issues (throwing on run, deep drops, throwing across the field, etc) seem to be better as well. However, the overall feel of gameplay doesn't strike me as a significant upgrade over 08.

I know this is a brief demo and Ian has stated that things were tweaked from the build we are playing to the retail version, but it just doesn't feel 'right' to me. For comparison's sake, the difference between playing the NHL 07 retail version and the NHL 08 demo was night & day. I immediately could see improvement in many areas (control, positioning, framerate) that assured me the game was going to be better. Maybe it's an unfair comparison, but that's what I was hoping for with the Madden demo.

Anyways, as I said to a fellow OSer over Xbox Live last night, take my impressions with a grain of salt as I'm starting to realize that I'm not a big football gaming type anymore. I didn't even buy NCAA for the first time in years, which was mostly decided even before all the negative post-release buzz, that just sealed it. I'll probably still get Madden (I have since the original Genesis incarnation), but right now it's more of a 50/50 than I was expecting prior to playing the demo...

# 276 Goffs @ 08/01/08 10:29 AM

im bored of the demo...no substance at all...maybe because im a defensive guy i lost interest after i scored a touchdown (even though its my beloved G-men)

god next time they release a demo make it 4 quarts a min or 2 long....like NCAA!! now that demo i played alot...

# 277 bigfnjoe96 @ 08/01/08 10:40 AM

Not having the DEMO be 4 2 minute quarters really doesn't make sense to me. Especially if you are promoting 85 NEW Features. From the time I spent with the DEMO I found it to be OK.

I didn't play 08 so I'm not sure about this-1, but for those who did is the DEMO running in 60 FPS? because it didn't seem that way...

# 278 TJdaSportsGuy @ 08/01/08 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96


	I didn't play 08 so I'm not sure about this-1, but for those who did is the DEMO running in 60 FPS? because it didn't seem that way...

LOL, that's easy. Yes, it is. Go back to Madden 07 for proof. Feels like it's moving in slow motion.

# 279 bigfnjoe96 @ 08/01/08 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJdaSportsGuy


	LOL, that's easy. Yes, it is. Go back to Madden 07 for proof. Feels like it's moving in slow motion.

Thanks TJ. In reference to speed it definitely ran smoothly, but for some reason on my set it didn't have that 3D type LOOK/POP like some other sport titles.

# 280 ab2c4 @ 08/01/08 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callmetaternuts


	DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNN If only you knew.......

If I only knew what? Are you talking about adjusting the sliders, or what?

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