Review By GamerHusbands Staff: Joe(JDsBlackBox), Bob(FullTil101), and Alfred(GHR Maverick)
We’re trying a different approach to the Madden 10 review. We all have different opinions and different likes and dis-likes. Make sure and leave a comment telling us what you think about this format. Click on the jump to read the full review.
-The GamerHusbands
Joe(JD) – Madden 10 is another improvement over it’s predecessor. This year’s version is the best looking to date, as it should be. Gameplay is vastly improved by having the game speed default to “slow”, compared to “normal” in previous versions. The slower speed makes it easier to hit the hole, juke, etc. It also means your WR’s take a little longer to develop their pass pattern, leaving you feel like your QB is about to get flattened. (I’ve had three QB injuries in the 10 or so games I’ve played vs actual people.) Another improvement I’ve noticed is in the ambience. After you throw a pick, or miss a 3rd down conversion, you’ll see you QB or coach yelling at another player, etc. Crowd chatter is much improved, too.
Chatter that hasn’t improved however comes from the booth. Collinsworth an his forgettable partner are just as nonsensical as ever, telling you how awesome you’re running game has been all game after only one carry. I also noticed some graphical ‘screen tearing’ issues in certain stadiums that make it look like it’s raining at quick glance. Some other minor nit-picks are no more “tournament’” style leagues where you only play against friends. If there is a way to do that with the current online franchises, I haven’t found it. And my biggest problem, once again, is NO SPECTATOR MODE. How easy would it be? Sure the replays and video sharing/website integration are nice, but sometimes I want to watch Tilt get demolished first hand. Get it in the game already, cause it ain’t.
Overall – the game is an improvement, but could have been much more. Score - 7.8 / 10
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Bob(FullTilt) – This year is no different, I picked it up on Day 1 and started playing some games. The thing I noticed first was how rusty I was. I couldn’t throw down field without an incompletion or a pick. After a bit I realized they completely changed the throwing mechanic. If you listen to the experts of the game you’ll find out how much the game has really changed. The throwing mechanic is different, the running backs are controlled off the right stick, a slew of things are different but it’s not as noticeable as you might think. Madden is Madden and you can hop right back in and start playing with some friends. That’s where Madden really shines, it is great competition between you and your friends. It’s bragging rights and arguments. It’s fun!
The graphics are better than 2009, the players have more detail to them and the animations are nicer on a whole. They’ve improved the tackling mechanic and it looks more real than previous years. Every year they seem to implement just enough to make a noticeable difference and once again I’m happy with the changes.
The one part of the game that is broken are the online leagues. I had great hopes for this but EA let me down. The biggest disappointment is that they make you play the NFL schedule. You can’t have a league with just you and your 10 friends without playing mostly computer matchups. That is not fun. Last year they had leagues where only a few teams had to play. This was a huge oversight and gives them something simple to add for next year.
I think the lack of competition has hurt Madden since they secured the NFL License. The NFL 2K series pushed the boundaries every year and Madden was forced to stay on top of their game. Now that they are the only game in town it’s easy for them to add a few things each year and pump out a less than perfect offering. This was a great effort with lots of changes but the oversights make me think they hold back things (tournaments in addition to leagues is one glaring example) so they can list it as a new feature the following year.
Overall this is another great year with Madden.
Score: 9/10
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Imitating the feel of the NFL is the goal of the Madden, and Madden does this in a few ways. The Pre-Game Show, The Post Game Show, and half time shows. These are more of the crust around the pie. They add to the overall experience without being the most integral point. The Pre-game show, being the least interesting, does little to generate excitement about the matchup. It’s bland and seems contrived. It does have an announcer speaking in an ambiguously about the upcoming game. It’s a video games, so I don’t expect an in depth discussion, but previous football games have succeeded with lesser tool sets. The Halftime Report and The Postgame Show features highlights from the game, and are also stats heavy. ESPN watchers will be pleased with the setup, due to it’s familiarity. Animations also feel ripped directly from circa 1995. Watching a QB call the offensive coordinator after a mistake is laugh worthy. They look more like Buzz Lighyear in pads than their real life counterparts. Ray Lewis doing his gameday dance looked more like Johhny 5 from Short Circuit doing the funky chicken. Also, watching the referees pull the chains out is a redundant experience. Do the refs have to have a mini conference every time someone scores a touchdown? There is only one animation per situation. After a few games, these unskippable scenes lose their luster.
After attempting to send my wide receiver long, and failing, I realized one of best tweaks to the game. No more sending the QB 20 yards back and throwing it 40 more yards to an open receiver with consistency. If the receive isn’t the team’s weapons. As a Titans fan, my receiving core is void of any superstar, but I have two great tight ends, Algee Crumpler and Bo Scaife. Gang tackles inches the game closer to reality. Elusive running backs feel more like the aggressor instead of the pig running from the butcher. I feel challenged when a linebacker is trying to catch Chris Johnson, of the Titans.”Trying,” being the operative word.
The best part of the game is playing the defense. Most games make defense feel like a chore, but now the linemen’s moves are mapped to the right analog stick. Genius! Controlling Jevon Kearse is a battle in the trenches. If the Offensive linemen pushes me left, do a spin move to the right, blow past the running back and hit-stick the quarterback harder than a Mack Truck. Using the right analog stick feels natural and intuitive. Why didn’t they do this years ago? Football video games tend to bore on defense, but now I look forward to crunching quarterback, or dropping my linebackers in to coverage. Defense is like a mathematical calculation, but it’s exciting and fresh.
Although it seems like I have some glaring complaints about the game, the positives outweigh the negatives. The excellent gameply is wrapped in a package of horrid animations, bland commentating, and overall lack of effort outside of the gridiron. I’m tempted to throw in a copy of NFL 2k5 to compare presentations, but I don’t want to sound like a crazed 2k fan. Programming personality is a feat that has yet to be reached, but has been attempted. Competition breeds innovation, and being the only team on the field causes Madden 10 to be more of a field goal, than a touchdown.
Tags: Reviews
First! :p
This is cool! We need a TeeTocks/Weasel Country Rock Band review.
I would but I choose not to use dirty words.
Madden 10 having ‘slow’ as the default option is garbage. Thank God I can change it, so far I’m not much into the gameplay and lovin’ the graphics…hopefully in time I’ll come around.
I miss NFL 2k5
scott come on country rockband me and you. we’ll get a lil mud on the tires and scoot our boots and have some good times when we pop a top and get whiskey on our minds while we’re on the road again
I just wanted to add since I played co-op last night with Weasel, that it’s broken. Co-op is impossible to play because the camera lags when you switch players on D. So if you start as a LB, pass gets thrown and you quickly hit ‘B’ to switch player, the camera stays on the LB for a while and you have no idea what is going on until the receiver is in the end zone. Basically the only way to play it is to stay on one defender. This is opposite to the way I normally play.
I did get two co-op achievements thanks to Weasel’s awesome receiving skills.