Madden NFL 09 Review

[boomhauertjs]

I pretty much agree with everything in this review, though I haven't seen the Robo-QB's yet. My CPU opponents have had pretty realistic completion percentages.
The only thing I'm disappointed in (besides the online leagues) is the length of games to get realistic stats. I wish I could play 5 min quarters and get realistic stats. Oh well, it's still one of the best Maddens in years.

[Hooe]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Review

I would rather they could patch the game than not at all. Think about 2k5 if it could of had patches.

Not to derail the topic, but NFL2K5 did get patched on the XBOX; there was a rather significant bug where the running back would lose rushing yards if an offensive lineman committed a clipping penalty.

[sportyguyfl31]

Good review. I was also shocked that the IGN review was pretty balanced as well.

Much better, more balanced reviews then the sycophantic NCAA reviews.

Didnt really expect much out of online leagues so that doesnt bother me. Everything else seems fairly solid.

[Behindshadows]

Nice review!!! I would have given it at least the same score to a 9. Game is good, but I guess the AI issues and sometimes the accuracy is a drawback, its not a perfect game but its the best Madden to date!

[callmetaternuts]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Review

Pretty good (and damn thorough) review. Im holding my breath on franchise, but at lesat this year, if its not up to par, i can just play Head Coach. Funny how this year was supposed to be THE year for games (NCAA, Madden, HC) and its possible that HC, the bastard child of EA may win out........

[KBomber]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Review

Why does it seem like the bugs get the gloss over treatment on a game where once again, significant options for customization and gameplay enhancement have disappeared?

Great that the game is prettier, but shouldn't features and gameplay provided on inferior systems be the minimum expectation for (to paraphrase...) "the greatest football game of all time"

Just a question, discuss at your leisure

Have fun...............

[Freezer Boy]

Great review, I'll be picking up my collector's edition sometime today at Gamestop.

[Ralph from Guelph]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Review

The only thing that I'll suggest is that in reviewing (to paraphrase...) "the greatest football video game ever", the writer highlights the fact that functionality has once again been removed from this title, in this case the ability to adjust CPU sliders which allow key customization to the gameplay experience. I'm not understanding the concept of how this is acceptable, along with the broken mini-games for determining the skill level of users.

To me these would seem to be major and significant flaws/omissions

Ya think?

[MaxMan1000]

To touch on the crowd graphics that the author talked about... At 60 frames, they had to make sacrifices somewhere, so the crowds took a hit in '08 and obviously again in '09. Even though the stadiums look cooler (because of lighting) you'll notice that when a distance shot comes up, you'll see a lot of the stadium structure fogged. This was smart to do, but it shows kind of a covering up of the fact that the detail had been dropped and distributed more economically than in past seasons. Still, the result is that it actually looks better so it's weird how that worked out.

Not a huge deal, but detail drops are the consequence of going 60 frames. If there was just some way they could give gamers two frame rate options each having it's own level of detail, those would be some next level options.

[Hooe]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Review

The only thing that I'll suggest is that in reviewing (to paraphrase...) "the greatest football video game ever", the writer highlights the fact that functionality has once again been removed from this title, in this case the ability to adjust CPU sliders which allow key customization to the gameplay experience. I'm not understanding the concept of how this is acceptable, along with the broken mini-games for determining the skill level of users.

To me these would seem to be major and significant flaws/omissions

Ya think?

The lack of CPU sliders would in fact be a problem if the Madden IQ feature did not work as advertised. The review states that, although it's kinda wonky in the way it works (the tests in particular don't really convey the difficulty of the game properly), the feature works pretty well.

[Shadymamba]

great review...you made some points that i made...but there are always people here looking for negative geeze....

[DONF]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Review

IMO the demo played and looked better than the retail/final build. The game speed per the demo was just right and the camera angle was closer to the field than the retail version. The running game in the demo seemed realistic where as in the retial version the speed is wayyyy to fast and doesn't allow you to really see what is going on running game wise. The retail version actually plays very close to the NCAA (which was terrible IMO). Oh well, it is what it is.

[greenngold01]

I've been playing this game a bit and he nailed the CPU QB accuracy problem. The offense is going to adapt around you, and while the QB's are very good, you can stop them. You just cant keep using the same three plays. Games have toted this around for years (especially NHL 08) but this is the first game, I feel, that actually punishes you for it. This will obviously be something to complain about for the average EA hating fanboy, but the hardcore are in for a treat

[bravesdawg9]

Seems to me that when you think Madden, you come to expect perfection. There's the mindset that we're only *one year away* to some ultimate experience that is more accurate than real football. Obviously, that's hardly ever gonna be the case. I know I'm not the only one in here that says they'll fix X or tweak Y next year. I think we should take it for what it is, the best available gridiron game. Madden himself didn't simply make up the hysteria---the game earned every fan.

I appreciate the review and it only psyches me up more to get my copy. I simply thought it was digging for weaknesses. I'm simply happy I'll only dust off NCAA '09 for draft classes from now on.

[ab2c4]

I enjoyed reading this review and I thought it was pretty thorough. I am still eagerly awaiting the two patches and free DLC to see if that really helps the game turn into what it should be. From the sounds of it all that needs to be done for this version is add the cpu sliders back in, fix the robo QB accuracy, and fix the cpu players from going out of bounds problem and this will be a fantastic game.