Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

[tarek]

Every year I feel the lure of HC09. I feel it pull at my heart strings while i pick flaw after flaw in the latest Madden. Now I sit after completing my first draft in Madden 17 and yearn for the drafts of HC09. Like an old flame who still holds your heart, do you go back, will the attraction be the same? Is it real love or just nostalgia?

I sometimes find my folder full of HC09 notes, manifestos and spreadsheets of dedication that have never been replicated on any other game. I flick through them, the memories flooding back, like letting Dane Morrow fall to you in the 20s, another save following the career of Mike Zazzali, all these wonderful stories and paths.

So, has anyone recently fallen back in love? Should I dust off the PS3 and give it another go? Will it be as glorious as I remember? Or will it break my heart?

I'm conflicted.

[tosa]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

I had been having the same thoughts and decided to dust this off and get back into it... I really like the way next gen Madden plays and looks but it lacks the depth off the field I am looking for and I get bored very quickly. The graphics on this game are still good enough to keep me interested I think. I hope Madden catches up next year with injury system, coaching staffs, playbook knowledge, etc.

[tarek]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

I had been having the same thoughts and decided to dust this off and get back into it... I really like the way next gen Madden plays and looks but it lacks the depth off the field I am looking for and I get bored very quickly. The graphics on this game are still good enough to keep me interested I think. I hope Madden catches up next year with injury system, coaching staffs, playbook knowledge, etc.

I fear Madden is forever playing catch up. All those little things from HC09 are still relevant and current, and frankly I don't see why they can't be implemented. Like the injury, playbook and coaching staff. What are they really? At their essence they are simply mechanisms to temporarily boost player ratings. That's it. RB has 75 Ball Carrier Vision, but is in a new system and he's never played, make his BCV 70. His physical stats stay the same, so if still has a chance to juke people or run over them. But say he's been with that coach and system for years, he knows it like the back of his hand, well bump his BCV up to 80.

Is it really anything much more than that?

I might go back and start up HC09 again. Live those days again for a little while. I just fear the quality of the game engine, it was pretty outdated back then, but now it might look downright ancient.

[tosa]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

I agree, I wish they had given this game a real chance and invested in it over say 3-5 years. If they had updated the graphics and game play as well as some kind of online offering, I believe it would have been better received. A PC version of the game with community ability to mod it would have been then most amazing thing.....I digress. Now I just wish they would make this backwards compatible with XBOX One so I could totally retire the 360.

[tarek]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

I'm the same, I wish there was backward compatibility. Or even just a re-release of an updated game. A new Head Coach game would be absolutely amazing, and like you said all it really needs is a new skin update to the GUI, refining some of the features, and an updated game engine (even if it's based on the madden engine that would be fine).

This game and NCAA14 are the only games that have made me resist throwing out my old console. I haven't fired the games up yet, but I keep it there just in case.

I wonder if anyone in the OS community has asked EA straight out if there will ever be another HC game, and if not, why?

[gausec]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

I actually just jumped back into it. I think Head Coach is one of the better games made. I tried to go with a very sim playstyle and did not allow potential to make me deter drafting a player or not. I am 3-0 with the Jets playing Brady was a battle he literally ran out of time with first and goal at my 3, I also had 2 Kick returns so what a win!

[Toastandtoaster]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

This game is very good. Come ac as often as our possibly can. Even more than that.

Sent from my Coolpad 3622A using Operation Sports mobile app

[kwpit79]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

What I loved most about this game was the trading system, especially within the draft. You had to quickly come to a middle ground with the AI GM or risk being able to trade up/back. In Madden you can just sit there and try every combination known to man to cheese the system.

The only thing I wish HC'09 did was randomize the names/draft classes so you didn't know which one you had unless you scouted. Instead of 4 15-year classes give me a randomized 60 different classes with randomized names. I would've played this game forever.

[Toastandtoaster]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

The only issue with the random draft classes over the years is that there is no realism to it. First round guys are 80 ovr and plus. Everyone else sucks and will just stack the FA pool. This way there is true sleepers and gives a better experience. Yeah through hard work and lots of time one can cheat and stack high potential guys but that doesn't mean they will ever hit it if your team plays poorly due to bad coaching. I've drafted great numbers of players, CBs especially, with pot at high 70s that hit their potential soon and are solid players for me. Never piling on stats but play well in their role. I would rather have realistic drafts and control myself by not cheating than random drafts and far less realism.

Sent from my Coolpad 3622A using Operation Sports mobile app

[bblack1207]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

Well worth it. I keep it loaded in the 360 to play in my spare time. Nothing like it. I always felt it was the best. They still have not found anything comparable on system or pc. I am a strategy and coaching guy so this fits me perfectly. Still going through different career paths and always finding something new. Although the graphics are Old School it still amazes me some of the things I see a player do in a game.
To answer your question, I say "Go Back Home." Fire that baby back up.


"Get In Where You Fit In."

[tarek]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

Well worth it. I keep it loaded in the 360 to play in my spare time. Nothing like it. I always felt it was the best. They still have not found anything comparable on system or pc. I am a strategy and coaching guy so this fits me perfectly. Still going through different career paths and always finding something new. Although the graphics are Old School it still amazes me some of the things I see a player do in a game.
To answer your question, I say "Go Back Home." Fire that baby back up.


"Get In Where You Fit In."

I'm taken the plunge. I'm in year 2 of my raiders career and it is an utter blast. Yeah the game engine looks old and not in HD, but it's so much fun. Watching mcfadden break off a big run is really immersive. watching the run game get shut down and watching the jamarcus russell show as i lose spectacularly whilst he throws 3 picks is great.

Like you I love the strategy and GM type aspects, and you're right, no other game has come close to this. I just hope EA decides to reboot the franchise, maybe a HC19 10th anniversary game.

[Back9cgs]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

This is still a game I can go back to after 6 months away and blow through 5 years with a new franchise. It really is a gem. I would love to see an anniversary version of this come out for the PC!

[Mike3207]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

Do a similar thing that happened with Skyrim-release an version with mod compatibilty.

You'd really need something that would significantly make the AI better. If EA can't do it, some enterprising modder could. EA would need a comparable website to Bethesda.net though.

I don't see it happening, but it would reawaken my interest in the game if it could happen.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

So I dusted off this gem last night. I fired up a fresh Titans Career creating myself as a Commander head coach. I went ahead and used Adam's sliders (they are excellent IMO) and drafted Chris Johnson with my first round pick (loved that guy), took Desean Jackson in the 2nd round and grabbed Mario Manningham in the 3rd. I resigned Albert Haynesworth to a 5 year deal, snagged Donte Stallworth in free agency as well as Gay at CB. I picked up a nice RG from the Colts in free agency as well. I also took a shot on Justin Forsett and Pierre Garcon as undrafted free agents.

I love the depth and immersion in this game. It truly is the very best franchise mode ever for a football game.

The graphics on the field are obviously dated....but actually not bad at all and switching camera angles keeps it fresh.

The strategy and depth of all of it is so freaking addicting. It is a nice departure from Madden and it really allows you to build a team, practice, create plays (love doing that), the injury system is amazing. The trades and draft presentation is awesome. It really is a gem of a game.

We are back at it.....and i am thinking of actually doing a Dynasty thread for it.

We played pre-season game 1 and beat the Rams 24-13. Chris Johnson and Chris Henry were great on the ground. Vinsanity (Vince Young who will be fun to coach and groom) was solid as well in his pre-season debut. The defense is swarming. A blitzing type of style and it is fun to create some zone blitz plays as well to add to the playbook.

Head Coach 09 is a fantastic game.

[Madden08PCgmr]

Re: Is it worth coming back to HC09 after next-gen Madden?

Do the editors for 360 work on this?

The only version of HC I played was the one with Cowher on the cover, which was editable with the PC editors.