Madden NFL 09 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Madden 2009 could be the perfect game, but sadly it is still plagued by issues that've existed for the better part of a decade.

I have to begin by admitting that EA has done an admirable job with the overall gameplay and franchise mode despite the flaws. The commentary however stinks. Cris Collinsworth is terribly annoying and Tom Hammond is droll at best. I never thought I would desperately miss John Madden's syllogisms this badly.

As for the gameplay itself, running the ball is still too difficult with halfbacks and too easy with quarterbacks. Receivers can run way out of bounds and return to make the catch, with no penalty being called or issues. You can constantly convert on 4th down, literally 99% of the time if it's within 2-3 yds. Offensive Linemen frequently give up on blocks. Quarterbacks constantly fumble on QB sneaks. There is no long distance passing game either, no matter who your QB or WR is. TE's are still too good. The receiver spotlight feature almost never works. The CPU never seems to miss a field goal. Kicks are almost never blocked, I've only seen one in over 40 games. The volume of problems such as these turns what would be an easy 98 overall rating into a 75 or 80.

The new "fairness feature" is also very controversial. It essential puts a beginner with the Falcons on even footing with an expert player using the all-time 72 Dolphins. The expert player's teammates will randomly fumble, drop passes etc to compensate for the beginner's lack of skill. This is personally offensive to me and robs skilled players of a true advantage. The idea was obviously designed to get more beginners to purchase the game, marketing at its worst.

Franchise mode is apparently unchanged from 2008, but is still excellent. The graphics are good, but not revolutionary. Manual juking and catching is well done. The lead blocking option is also very functional and pretty easy to use. Special Teams are well handled but it's impossible to return kicks for touchdowns. One glaring issue is that kick power is diluted. Kickers with 99 kick power will often come up short on 50 yarders. Edit: I'm referring to ALL-MADDEN level of difficulty in this review.

Overall, this is a good game that falls short because of simple oversights. If enough patches are issued, it could become great.

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Product Description:
Madden NFL 2009 Collector's Edition includes both Madden NFL 2009 - With the best gameplay, deepest online experience and most features ever - and NFL Head 2009, offering absolute control of your favorite franchise plus the ability to create custom playbooks for Madden. Madden NFL 09 delivers its most complete NFL football package ever. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or picking up the game for the first time, players of all skill levels will enjoy a unique, yet challenging experience with the innovative Adaptive Difficulty Engine, which tailors the game to match your playing style. Instantly improve your game with the all-new virtual Training Center or incorporate feedback with EA SPORTS BackTrack, allowing you to learn from your mistakes on the fly. With a new broadcast presentation and online leagues, plus more than 85 new features and enhancements, Madden NFL 09 is the most authentic and adaptable game in sports video game history. An all-new Adaptive Difficulty Engine assesses your proficiency in the core skills areas of football. An innovative, Virtual Training Center allows you to fine-tune your game in a holographic environment, while EA SPORTS BackTrack provides customized feedback, giving you a chance to learn from your mistakes. Take what you've learned and run the play again with EA SPORTS Rewind. Set your sights on the Vince Lombardi Trophy in an all-new network-television-style broadcast as Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond call the action from the booth. A more immersive and visually stunning presentation package also includes a new Options OnDemand Picture-in-Picture playcall window giving you access to a wealth of stats, customized tips, and in-game options--all at your fingertips without having to pause the game. Make a run for the post-season for the first time online. Featuring trades and statistical tracking for Online Leagues, up to 32 teams can battle it out using all-new flex scheduling. Wi

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