The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Easy to Read

[jeetaa6]

I just took a look at the 360 Impressions thread and there were 101 pages of random thoughts! Useful, but out of hand at this point to read.

So...in the interest of summarizing I thought it would be good to start a thread (maybe to be "stickied") using a simple to read format (bullets) of what we have experienced with Madden 08 / 360 thus far (I have not gone through a draft, or even finished a season...so I can't speak to those points).
But others can.

NOTES:

1. I HAVE NO AGENDA HERE (2K VS. MADDEN VS. NCAA)
2. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO GIVE EACH OTHER CRAP ABOUT PERSONAL OPINIONS! JUST STATE WHAT YOU PERSONALLY LIKE ABOUT THE GAME VS. DON'T LIKE VS. DOWNRIGHT UGLY, PLEASE! There are no right or wrong answers, per se.

I'll start...let's all begin with Age, Offline vs. Online MOSTLY, Difficulty setting.
Age: 42
Offline vs. Online: Offline
Difficulty: Pro

The Good

• Graphics are incredible
• Game animations
• Fantasy draft in Franchise mode is back
• Hit Stick 2.0 animations are a blast
• Sideline catches
• Better AI overall
• Player Introductions
• Player Weapons
• Player editing is back
• Ability to put any number on any player ie. TE can be number 3 if we want.
• Player reactions
• Kickoffs, field goals, and extra points happen immediately (we don't have to watch the kicker get ready). Moves things along nice.
• Can choose any playbook for any game
• Ask Madden function still available when choosing plays
• Scouting functionality
• Player shadowing
• Hot Routes for receivers
• Lead blocking functionality still there
• Annual HOF inductions
• Create Team
• Relocate Team
• Punt returns

The Bad

• AI comeback capability unrealistic
• Loading times seem long
• No offensive line assignments (block in, out, left, right)
• Radio announcer
• Sideline players graphics
• No FG nets
• Replay angles on some challenges are WAY too far from the play
• Collision animations-when a guy goes flying backwards during an attempted gang tackle. VERY unrealistic and unsettling.
• No Smart Routes to the first down markers (unless I'm missing that)
• Some of the hard hits where the defender just shoulders the runner down w/out hardly moving and ends up just standing there straight up (hard to explain)
• Only one camera angle
• No ability to set Replay Frequency
• No sliders to set Fumble, Interception, or Injury frequency
• The onfield sound (tackling especially) seems lacking
• Menu transition is choppy
• Listening to Marshall Faulk is pretty much unbearable
• No ability to set Marshall Faulk "on" or "off". Must skip through and sometimes that's just not fast enough!
• Blocking on many plays is not good/realistic/existent/practical/solid
• CPU snaps the ball way to early compared to the time needed to read and react with this new system
• Can't seem to get D line pressure on the QB
• Tutorial videos are too small to really see when shown
• Player uniforms don't seem to change as much as they should in bad weather
• Lack of ESPN presentation in the game (yes, I know...next year)
• The CPU teams want WAY too much on the Trading Block listings ie. they want a CB rated 90 or DT rated 90 for Kelly Holcomb-something like that

The Ugly

• I'll repeat the collision animation / "magic player deflecting" here where guys bounce off other players VERY unrealistically.
• On one play last night, I was totally focusing on my left WR matchup when I snapped the ball and my QB was IMMEDIATELY sacked. Viewed the replay and saw that my QB was IN FRONT OF the line of scrimmage when the play began.
• Ability for DBs and LBs to defend passes WITHOUT LOOKING

[djordan]

good post.....

[gobucks]

Good post..I will correct one thing though there IS a slider for INT> frequency.

[Pared]

Didn't you notice when you change a player's number a few glitches occur? If you didn't, more power to you; I won't list them.

Enjoy the game.

[mdgoalie37]

Quote: Originally Posted by gobucks

Good post..I will correct one thing though there IS a slider for INT> frequency.

Well it's there, but how much does it actually work? Sorry but if I turn a slider to 0 to me that means that I should see a pick 1 out of 100 or more passes, not 3 - 7 per 30 attempts.

[Bleak05]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeetaa6

[*]Blocking on many plays is not good/realistic/existent/practical/solid[*]CPU snaps the ball way to early compared to the time needed to read and react with this new system[*]Can't seem to get D line pressure on the QB[*]Tutorial videos are too small to really see when shown 90 for Kelly Holcomb-something like that[/list]The Ugly I'll repeat the collision animation / "magic player deflecting" here where guys bounce off other players VERY unrealistically. Ability for DBs and LBs to defend passes WITHOUT LOOKING

Those are all excellent points. I am enjoying the game but some of these things are quite annoying.

[DC]

No smart routes to the first down marker blows me forreal.....

[opd897]

Quote: Originally Posted by gobucks

Good post..I will correct one thing though there IS a slider for INT> frequency.

Correct, there is one, it just doesn't work.