News Post

Why All-Pro Football Still Trumps Madden

11:26 AM - September 8, 2009 by RaychelSnr

Like a lot of sports fans, I have spent time getting to know the “popular girl” of sports gaming, EA’s Madden 10.

What probably separates my experience from most is that, as someone who has yet to buy an EA football game this generation, I’m usually content with a rental of the latest Madden or NCAA Football. I'm usually content because a weekend of play tends to be enough time for me to realize that the game is still way behind my old flame, All-Pro Football 2K8, in the one area that matters most: gameplay.

This time around I spent more than one weekend with the game, but now that I have had some time to get a feel for the game, here are some reasons why I feel Madden 10 still can't match up to the standards set by my reigning king of gameplay, All-Pro Football 2K8.

Read More - Why All-Pro Football Still Trumps Madden

Game: All-Pro Football 2K8Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 57 - View All

Member Comments

# 21 CreatineKasey @ 09/08/09 04:52 PM

I think stik skillz needs a mountain dew eh phobia?

# 22 sambowie @ 09/08/09 05:07 PM

Love APF but there should of been enough customization that users could create all the NFL teams along with their current rosters and allow other users to download them. For example, they should have set up a system where you could design (or copy) a logo on your computer and have them placed on the helmet. They also could have provided a stadium creation tool. It would have been a great way to get around the no-NFL-license problem if the community was involved.

Maybe we'll see another APF, but with 2K hemorrhaging money it's unlikely.

# 23 BroMontana82 @ 09/08/09 05:15 PM

my biggest concern with madden other than the obvious things like the blocking, stat glitches etc. is the fact that sliders aren't nearly as effective as they should be...especially penalty sliders.

# 24 Rocky @ 09/08/09 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportyguyfl31


	As much as I enjoyed my run with APF, I simply cannot agree. APF has a ton of holes. Run a base 3-2-5 with the following personnel each and every single down. Ronnie Lott and Joey Browner at the 2nd string FS and SS spots Lem Barney and Terry Mcdaniel at the corners Eugene Robinson as your deep safety Run coverage DL of choice, or a LB, depending on your preference Stop everything. What you really have, is a 3-4, for all practical purposes, but this set up is superior to the base 3-4 in the game, in virtually every way. You will never have to get out of this formation, as Joey Browner, and Ronnie, are basically playing outside linebacker, and the run blocking AI, will not consistantly pick them up.

Apparently, you don't even need to do that for Madden's run blocking AI to get messed up.

# 25 lasthour @ 09/08/09 07:12 PM

Both games have flaws. No one is denying this. Both games are good games also.

Tell me which game digs a little deeper and actually represents the actually abilities of a NFL player and separates them from one another better? If you study these games, I do not see how you can come away saying Madden has an edge on 2k's football games all around.

# 26 jyoung @ 09/08/09 07:13 PM

The fade is definitely an easy route to complete in APF because of some animation issues, but it's still stoppable if you shade your defender to the outside and leave safety help over the top.

As for the 3-2 defense with all those safeties playing up front, no league would ever allow anyone to run that kind of defense since so many guys are playing out of position.

When you are playing these games with good sportsmanship in league matches instead of going against random cheesers in ranked matches, I think All Pro Football just gives you a better game of football than Madden.

Both games are fun, and both games have their share of issues, but Madden just has too many "WTF" moments over the course of a game, whereas All Pro Football generally gives you a straight game of football from start to finish with a lot fewer reminders that you are playing a video game instead of the real thing.

I like both games, and I play both of them in leagues, but if you asked me to pick one, it'd be APF.

# 27 marcoyk @ 09/08/09 07:50 PM

Nice article. Makes me want to give APF 2K8 a try!

# 28 CreatineKasey @ 09/08/09 08:19 PM

Grunt, yeah I am a defensive minded player also. With that, I still feel like when someone beat me with a quick snap fade situation its cheap points. My defensive stats were definitely inflated at times because of this.

wEEman I agree. If I had to pick one game to play for hte next 5 years, it'd be APF no question.

# 29 NoDakHusker @ 09/08/09 09:11 PM

APF 2k8 has great gameplay, but lack of franchise mode keeps it's replayability lower than madden. madden has made great improvements this year. it has its problems, but overall i am actually content with madden this gen. for once.

# 30 Spanky @ 09/08/09 09:37 PM

Really a senseless and pointless comparison. I don't care how great All-Pro plays. Playing with fake teams is no fun. The reason most people play sports games is to simulate real life teams and leagues. Madden was garbage on next-gen until this year but I'll take a garbage game that's fully licensed over a fantastic game without the NFL license.

# 31 seriousluboy83 @ 09/08/09 09:39 PM

Thank-you for shedding some light cause some ppl consistantly are oblivious to the obvious that Madden is still stiffing ppl...Now with that being said we all need to find ways to help improve this game or else we'll keep wasting 60 ya digg

# 32 Antwuan @ 09/08/09 09:40 PM

I don't know. I have had SO MANY dropped passes it is ridiculous, and I have had good pressure on the QB from beating an offensive lineman. I also rather enjoy the "coverage sacks". They do happen.

The blocking things, I agree on, though. It's funny though, because the blocking only seems severely broken when the HUM has the ball. hmmm.

I also think they should have added the logic for Intentional grounding, and fumbles (when the duck goes backward (when hit on a screen play). That would have added the icing to the cake of the new pass system.

# 33 speedkills @ 09/08/09 09:45 PM

You couldn't do franchise mode in APF 2K8 because it was based on legends from different eras. And VC wouldn't release another non-licensed football game for "the fans" because it's not financially feasible. APF 2K8 as solid a game as it was had poor sales figures. Our only hope is the NFL no longer offering an exclusive license. I mean even if 2K Sports secured the NFL license and EA was left out in the cold it would still be a bad thing. The more NFL games competing for our dollar the better.

I actually like Madden 10 but agree that it still can't match 2K in gameplay and presentation. But EA took significant strides this year and hope they continue to improve.

# 34 spankdatazz22 @ 09/08/09 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spanky


	Really a senseless and pointless comparison. I don't care how great All-Pro plays. Playing with fake teams is no fun. The reason most people play sports games is to simulate real life teams and leagues. Madden was garbage on next-gen until this year but I'll take a garbage game that's fully licensed over a fantastic game without the NFL license.

# 35 Skyliner80 @ 09/08/09 11:39 PM

Funny. The same people that say they would never play games with no license are the same people that won't buy a shoe because they have no Nike swoosh. I think it's very close minded. You mean to tell me that you would buy a turd that says "NFL" on it? Gimme a break.

Look I was raised watching the NFL but if there is a game that simulates real football on TV , I could care less if the teams playing were the NY/NJ Knights vs. Orlando Thunder. People just are too lazy to be creative nowadays. These are the same folks who will never give the CFL or any other league a chance which is unfortunate (but that's another topic).

Anyway, on the subject. Look, I'm enjoying Madden 10 right now, it's easily the best Madden on Next Gen, but I also have APF 2k8. I don't compare the two but I do know that All-Pro, being the rushed project that it was, still has things that the Madden series could use. The game itself is charming but also lacking. I swear, if they combined both games...you'd have the perfect football game..but alas, that horse is dead.

# 36 Skyliner80 @ 09/08/09 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22

That broadcast view presentation and camera angles....+1 2K.

# 37 Eddie1967 @ 09/08/09 11:41 PM

Very good comparison. Sadly I bought into the hype that was madden 10 and have already traded the game in. All Pro did so many things right even if it wasn't perfect. Madden still has a very long way to go. Who cares if Madden has the real teams if it plays nothing like NFL.

# 38 boxboy99 @ 09/08/09 11:48 PM

Good write up! I didn't really get into 2K football until 08 and feel like I missed the party. I have felt that 2K's offering was superior to EA's football offering. I surely would of played more APF if I wasn't in a very active NCAA dynasty with a group of close friends. The last couple years I wanted to quit playing with my friends because I was disgusted with how horrible EA football was compared to APF. I have 3 main things I love about APF,

1) decent learning curve, I have played football games since I got gamestar football on Comadore 64 when I was 5 years old, and I can say the nuances of the game are amazing. Analog running, kicking (someone posted kicking was not automatic in Madden? I would say I am sure I wouldn't miss on APF if I ever mastered the mechanic, but a brain dead zombie and make every kick on Madden/NCAA under 49 yards etc. etc.

2) Physics Physics Physics - The game respects physics, EA does not. Most the stuff in APF is realistic looking, I cring when playing Madden and I see a warp interception or when a running back is almost leveled to their back only to some how warp forward for 3 yards. The physics make Madden fell unreal sometimes and that takes away a ton from the game. I think EA's issue is two fold a) ratings mean more than physics... the game depends on dice rolls more than what is really physcially possible and there are not enough situations where there is a neutral outcome. b) Branching Animations look unnatural.

3) Watching a replay amazes me, if you want a low quality video like the youtube clip above it is hard to tell if it is APF or the real thing. Madden you can always tell it looks way too scripted like a game.

Now what really keep me away from playing 2k online was the learning curve and poor defensive AI. I wanted to throw my controller when I played online because the guy was throwing fades all day. Also as mentioned the defense played to heavy. I would get so frustrated playing the computer because I would routinely over/under purse a play but then I realized I am playing with actually analog running and needed to adjust I just never got to master it. Obviously since i was playing offline not having a Franchise killed me, what was I playing for if I was 3-5 in a season and my gold rb was done for the year so I have no shot at making the playoffs? I'd love a new 2k game with better defensive AI and less weight on defense with a franchise mode. Still I am finding Madden 10s cpu AI is weak so playing with the right people is key.

# 39 wick3dsoxfan @ 09/09/09 12:09 AM

I hated, I mean hated All Pro Football. I got the game for free and still got rid of it. I loved NFL 2K5 but All Pro Football was a huge disappointment. So far this year Madden is a great game and not just another roster update.

# 40 acarrero @ 09/09/09 01:28 AM

Not convinced by the footage. I only bothered to see the Moreno run and the play where three hogs miss a speedy Colts LB who simply makes a play. Madden should be better, but it's still as good or better than any football game out there. Actually, NCAA is better because of how you can play defense from the defense's perspective by locking into one player, can't understand why they didn't include this in Madden.

« Previous 123 4 5 Next »

More Links

Why All-Pro Football Still Trumps Madden