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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

# 61 texbuk84 @ 09/09/09 06:20 PM

like brett said " The best there is the best there was and the best their ever will be".

# 62 Only1LT @ 09/09/09 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lasthour


	Hey LB could 2k release 2k5 on xbox live, in high defintion. And maybe with some sort of patched updated version also?

Sounds great, but it will never happen lol.

# 63 jyoung @ 09/09/09 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	As for the OP, again, good post, but one thin I must say as a negative though are your vidz. They are way too short, start sometimes too late to capture the essence of what you are pointing out, and should have been shown at regular and then slow-mo to get the point across better. I had to rewind them about 5 times each to really see what was wrong in the vid. The other vidz by other people that you linked to were good though.

I think this is more of a problem with the Madden replay system.

The replays in the game can only store a small amount of data, so a lot of times, important parts from the beginning of a play get cut off due to its length.

Maybe they made it that way so you'd have less of a chance of seeing some of the ludicrous things that happen on a typical TD run.

Here's a better example of the way the game's elusiveness rating governs broken tackles instead of weight, physics and momentum:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdgp2


	EA Sports: Madden NFL 10 Video Highlight

I have seen similar things done by other finesse backs like Moreno, Sproles, McFadden, et al. who aren't that big and strong but happen to have high elusiveness ratings.

The Moreno run in the OP was probably similar to this but all you got was the tail-end of him breaking through the last gang tackle and getting into the open field.

# 64 sportyguyfl31 @ 09/09/09 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunt


	So, you have one gold and I believe 3 silvers on your defense. You should have a dominant defense. I love safeties because they are hybrid players that can play in and out of the box. Now, you have a strong defense and a weaker offense . Sound pretty balance to me. So, you never lost a game with this team?

I never used any of the dime and nickle defenses as a base D in APF but played against good players who used those set ups, and it is very very effective.

I loved playing APF just as much as the next person here.

My favorite part of the game was the drop back passing, but I honestly cannot possibly see myself going back to playing that game regularly, other then for an occasional lobby match cameo.

I havent felt one single impulse to play that game for about 8 weeks.

There are a ton of flaws in that game, and I'm really stunned that everyone in this thread are flat ignoring them.

For every shortcoming that you can make about Madden's blocking, you can do the same for APF in a whole array of scenarios.

People want to rave about APF's route running, yet ignore that a career possession receiver like Dwight Clark, plays like Randy Moss.

People seem to want to ignore the various animations that casue DBs to freeze, or take pass defenders straight out of plays, or balls morphing through defenders because a reciever or QB has some magical intagibles attribute like clutch, or mr. 3rd down.

I know I'm not the only one, who remembers how defending the run in man coverage consistantly, was an adventure, since your LBs were prone to just stand around and let blockers slam into them, and that defenders ran right to the man they were "assigned" to, rather then diagnose the play and attack the LOS.

I just dont get it. APF was a "good" game, that was basically thrown together.

The fact that it lasted as long as it did had as much to do with a lack of an alternative to play that made any sense, as anything else.

This year, that changed..and to me, both NCAA and Madden are just overall better games

# 65 bluewave @ 09/09/09 11:28 PM

Well written article and an enjoyable read. You brought up excellent points.

# 66 slickdtc @ 09/10/09 12:54 AM

If you played Madden 10 and All Pro Football 2k8, you would know which one plays more like professional football. Madden 10 may have the players, teams, and stadiums, but that's about where the realism of football ends. The feel, look, excitement you get from playing All Pro Football 2k8 is all I need to know which game is superior.

I don't see how you can claim Madden 10 as a better game after playing one full game. The same issues that plagued the series the last time I bought a Madden game (Madden 06 for XBOX) are still there; terrible blocking, warping, CPU QB's getting hours in the pocket, etc. It's all still there. I really wonder if the leap from the old gen to this gen is more then just a visual upgrade because it doesn't seem like it.

# 67 slickdtc @ 09/10/09 01:04 AM

The only thing holding APF2k8 back is the lack of a franchise mode and the lack of roster sharing online. Despite this, I really do enjoy the different perspective the game brings; playing with the legends brings me back to the days of Tecmo Super Bowl. Heck, I like seeing all the unique uniforms, team makeups, and stadiums. And I'm having a blast mixing and matching my team, fiddling with all the uniform options, and of course, the gameplay on the field is the defining mark of APF2k8.

They should've added roster sharing and franchise mode to keep the short attention span people entertained, but for the (now) bargain price of $5, I feel like I more then got my money's worth. For the $60 that Madden 10 costs, I feel like I got an upgraded roster, presentation, feature, and visual set while the product on the field remains the same as it was when the NFL exclusivity deal began.

Just having this discussion is all you need to know when analyzing how damaging the NFL deal has been on customer satisfaction.

# 68 snugglyirishman @ 09/10/09 02:05 AM

I agree wholeheartedly about the Run blocking section....it is perhaps the most frustrating thing about the game. While my "superstar" has had some success (racking up 1,080 yards as a rook), there are times where the blockers go right past the guy and leave me out to dry. I thought the battles at the line were something that madden was suppose to fix and that the blocking was suppose to be the most realistic yet....what happened?

# 69 snugglyirishman @ 09/10/09 02:06 AM

# 70 Valdarez @ 09/10/09 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickdtc


	The only thing holding APF2k8 back is the lack of a franchise mode and the lack of roster sharing online.

You can share rosters, as long as you have a way to get them to a card or your hard drive.

How to Transfer Rosters - http://www.2kfootballstrategy.com/mo...ansfer_Rosters

Rosters Available for Download - http://www.2kfootballstrategy.com/mo...download&cid=5

# 71 heat3me @ 09/10/09 08:00 AM

oh yea....so glad sumone else can see how HORRIBLE the blocking is on madden. the game tester need to get their asses beat for lettin every point u made get put into the. little dumb things make madden stupid. idk anout that all pro football stuff tho. madden would b perfect if they could fix everything u stated in this article

# 72 Suave35 @ 09/10/09 10:47 AM

EA gets money every year, the same the same way Jordans sneakers does.The name.Because they been out so long people just trust the name,not the product.Because all the Jordans,didn't look good,but because of the name,they sold.The same with madden,and Live also.Not to mention Madden is the oniy NFL game out! I love 2Ks sports games,the gameplay just feels more real.I just would like for 2K to make another football game,because they Just have a feel for true gameplay,simulation,and player physics.Truley the 2K developers are gifted.Please 2K save us from this Madden curse!

# 73 yamabushi @ 09/10/09 10:50 AM

Spank had it right a couple of pages ago: The fact that M10 is bested in areas of gameplay by a 2 and a 5 yr old game is pathetic.

# 74 Suave35 @ 09/10/09 10:53 AM

Thank you for shedding this light,i've felt this way for years!

# 75 jvaccaro @ 09/10/09 11:10 AM

This article clearly defines a good majority of the flaws in Madden. I'm actually very happy with Madden 10, despite it's issues. IMO, this artilce shouldn't references all-pro football, since that game has issues too, and rather focus it as an effort to help EA's approach.

I hope the EA dev team takes notice of this and prioritizes their needs going forward. Another bug not listed here is the lack of sideline awareness by offensive players. Fix these up, and it will be the best playing NFL game ever.

# 76 Suave35 @ 09/10/09 11:13 AM

And to all the Madden Fanboys,replay all Madden Plays,look at them in slow motion,and look at the player mechanics.they just don't move like real people,from the physics,especially when players change directions.Look also at the QB throwing motions(in slow Motion)Look at the QB realease,then Compare to any 2K game.

# 77 Only1LT @ 09/10/09 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wEEman33


	I think this is more of a problem with the Madden replay system. The replays in the game can only store a small amount of data, so a lot of times, important parts from the beginning of a play get cut off due to its length. Maybe they made it that way so you'd have less of a chance of seeing some of the ludicrous things that happen on a typical TD run. Here's a better example of the way the game's elusiveness rating governs broken tackles instead of weight, physics and momentum: I have seen similar things done by other finesse backs like Moreno, Sproles, McFadden, et al. who aren't that big and strong but happen to have high elusiveness ratings. The Moreno run in the OP was probably similar to this but all you got was the tail-end of him breaking through the last gang tackle and getting into the open field.

LOL. I understand about the replay cutting plays in half. What I was saying is that the plays needed to be shown more than once on each vid, and in slow-mo in particular.

That last vid was funny. Almost every defender that missed the tackle did the exact same animation. I thought I was having deja vu lol.

# 78 walliworld @ 09/10/09 05:09 PM

I agree, Madden will never compare with All Pro or 2K5. BUT, unfortuntately, 2K has not made a game and I like the NFL. So I'm forced to settle for the mediocore that is Madden 10.

I will pray that 2K makes another game SOON!!!

# 79 LBzrule @ 09/10/09 06:41 PM

While I agree, I'm really starting to get into Madden 10 despite some of the issues. I do need to test what I have against other opponents though (my boy sucks lol). I talked with MS and they assured me next week so I can't wait to get back into the swing of things. With a good patch the game will be that much more enjoyable. Tombsong bring your A game. Remember Saturday and Sunday mornins.

# 80 TombSong @ 09/13/09 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBzrule


	While I agree, I'm really starting to get into Madden 10 despite some of the issues. I do need to test what I have against other opponents though (my boy sucks lol). I talked with MS and they assured me next week so I can't wait to get back into the swing of things. With a good patch the game will be that much more enjoyable. Tombsong bring your A game. Remember Saturday and Sunday mornins.

Man, those Sat and Sun were like weekend school for me, LOL.

Looking forward to that again. The guys in the APF league are decent guys also. We are all gonna have big fun as soon as they get some of the issues ironed out in Madden.

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