“Joe Montana Or Ryan Leaf” - Review Of EA Sports Madden 10
Gadgets By S.Cadet on September 2, 2009 at 7:30 pm
The hype over Madden 10 has settled and it’s time to look at it with a clear head. Many critics of the series (myself included) said Madden is more or less the same year after year. That’s arguably true for previous iterations. But Madden 10 introduces a bunch of tweaks and features that separate it from the old games as the franchise steps in a new direction.
Let’s start with the brand new stuff. The much ballyhooed Pro-TAK feature is a buzz word for new gang tackles. It’s a well made addition and looks great when you bombard the offense in the backfield and in short yardage situations. On the other side of the ball you have “Fight For Every Yard.” Players can use the controls on the right analog stick to break through tackles depending on the ball carrier’s stats. It serves as a nice counter in one-on-one occasions. While players break tackles on all difficulties it happens far too much on anything under All Pro. The game is also slower on default. I never liked Madden’s break neck speed so it’s a nice touch. The new pace reminds me of the good ‘ol days of NFL 2K5, but you can turn it off if you choose.
EA also added the “Eat the Clock” feature which cuts the down time between play calls and the moment teams set up at the line. It makes the game go by quicker and forces players to have better clock management skills. It’s also it harder to call audibles if you took too long to call a play in the first place. It’s an optional setting unless you play on All-Madden. These additions along with revamped stats for quarterbacks and nice visuals are the most noticeable on the field.
The franchise mode is pretty standard fair. You go through pre, regular and post season (if you make it) and manage your squad each year. It has a decent setup but it took a step backwards when it comes to player progression. I had an injury scare with Brandon Jacobs early in the year. Ahmad Bradshaw is only a 73 so I searched for some kind of practice mode to get his stats up. No dice. Instead, EA opted to incorporate the Madden Shop when it comes to player development and other features. You buy stat boosts and instant injury removal perks among others for $1-$2 each or buy them all in a pack for $10. If the Madden shop isn’t your thing the game will simulate a player’s progress with a potential rating ranging from A-F. The higher the grade the better he’ll get by season’s end.
Hardcore fans might get a kick out of the new online modes. The new online franchise mode lets you and some friends do an online draft, play weekly games and manage your team from your computer. Keep in mind that online franchises are free in new copies of the game. If you’re one of those that buy a used copy at the end of the season you’re S.O.L unless you cop it from the Madden Shop. The new online co op mode forces you to play from a certain position and limits your view of the field. It’s like playing a cooperative superstar mode if that makes any sense. Online play has some hiccups but it’s not too bad. Of course you can still play against your friends at home the old fashioned way.
Most Madden heads probably made up their minds when they bought the game at launch. But it’s a pretty good football game for those on the fence. It has its quirks and I could do without the Madden Shop. Nevertheless, everything comes together and makes Madden 10 one of the better games in series history.
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15 Comments
I agree with all of the positives you pointed out, but I’d like to post the gripes I have with the game. They may be the difference between somebody buying the game or saving their money.
(1) They bring out the chains too damn much…5-6 times a game is TOO much
(2) Glitches (throwing the ball through a player or a player running through another player)
(3) The commentary is ass…bring back Pat and John!
That’s all I can think of right now, I’ll be back with more!
My gripes:
1. The wildcat is soo frickin annoying. I dont know how many people choose that online and pick Pittsburgh any Willie fuckin Parker breaks 12 tackles for a long run
2. Way to many Ints and broken tackles
3. accelerated is dumb too. Pick a play and it gives you 6 sec to audible but it takes you 3 to hike the fuckin ball
they dont measure too much. 5 to 6 is normal for most nfl games.
and as far as pat and john. come on now. why dont you ask for more impossibilities like dandy don and howard. they only upgrade from this point would be to add the espn crew(but they change year to year), add al michaels to collinsworth, or shell out the cash to pick up joe buck and troy aikman.
how does p feel about the new look?
and accelerated is perfect if you play at least a 10-15 minute game. you can actually put together gameplans that way without having your score in the 80’s
1. The wildcat is soo frickin annoying. I dont know how many people choose that online and pick Pittsburgh any Willie fuckin Parker breaks 12 tackles for a long run
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It’s annoying when the commentators say, “they’re in the wildcat formation”. COVER BLOWN!
they dont measure too much. 5 to 6 is normal for most nfl games.
and as far as pat and john. come on now. why dont you ask for more impossibilities like dandy don and howard. they only upgrade from this point would be to add the espn crew(but they change year to year), add al michaels to collinsworth, or shell out the cash to pick up joe buck and troy aikman.
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My number may be off a little, but the situations when the chains are brought out is crazy. Like when you clearly see the guy got the 1st down, they still bring out the chains. The commentator comment was made in jest.
Mad Men (AMC) > Madden 10.
Nahhhh I like eat the clock. I’m tired of cats running like 10 audibles with 6 hot routes on top of that before the snap. Then again I don’t play random people anymore so that’s not really a problem. Still whenever I play my friends we usually leave it on and play longer quarters.
The commentary has been terrible for awhile so it’s like beating a dead horse now. Then again that doesn’t mean EA shouldn’t improve it. I’m surprised how much I like this version of Madden considering I used to hate on the franchise so hard.
Steelers, snitches.
You say “Nevertheless, everything comes together and makes Madden 10 one of the better games in series history.” the Madden series is only 16 years old. Why do you endorse buying when it’s only one of the best? I haven’t bought a Madden game since 04 because they haven’t even tried to update that much in the gameplay. The one thing they did update people have mixed reviews about (the accelerated feature.) The graphics are only minimally better, and they tried so hard to make the players look nice that they glitch when in close contact. Yes I’ve played every madden since 04 extensively but I still enjoy the gameplay most in that one.
Don’t waste your money on the game. If people would stop endorsing Madden, just because it’s Madden, and start forcing them to try hard for our money maybe the game will take a real leap from year to year and they will do something I’ll pay another 60 dollars for.
New layout just fucked my head up haha. I was reading the review and comments when all the sudden I saw Darius Sinclair and I’m like DAMN! I know that aggin he posts on TSS, then I had a mental pause and went…”oh”
@ Rick
It’s one of the best because the little things make it a much better game overall. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on this because IMO Madden has been up and down since ‘05 (when NFL 2k5 was a much better game mind you.) I didn’t really like ‘04 so I guess it’s just different strokes for different folks.
And no one is endorsing Madden because it’s Madden. I used to be a 2k head and I haven’t liked a Madden game as much as this one in awhile. Despite the few snafus it’s still a good game of football. I like that it’s slowed down finally and people can’t pull off wonder audibles with eat the clock.
And honestly not to come to Madden’s defense but how much can they really change year to year? Pro sports don’t change drastically each season outside of rosters and maybe some rule changes so I don’t get why people expect wildly different games. Yes they should expect improved games but not ones with extremely drastic changes. Example: NBA 2k always had incremental improvements each year and the games got BETTER (save for 2k4 and 2k5). They weren’t so different from one another but the changes, to me, warranted an almost yearly cop considering it’s the best sports series out IMO. On the other hand Madden has been hit or miss (QB Cone, “Superstar” perks, etc.) but I say 10 is one of the better ones because it’s fun to play now and it’s on the right track to become a better game next year.
Mr. Cadet knows who runs shit in Madden. Don’t ever bring those terrible Giants to see big brother Peyton again.
Anyone who wants to get schooled by the BEARS on Madden for PS3, add me, my tag is ” rosadoseason “
Big brother Peyton still didn’t get that ring as quick as Elisha Manning. Son like I said before the game doesn’t serve an accurate depiction of Eli’s skill haha.