Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Gamespot Madden preview

im also concerned about the "presentation" that they added. Barely spoken of in the reviews and the videos I have seen are not even trying to replicate a TV style broadcast just madden 08 with a new score overlay and play selection screen. am i missing something?

It's all about head to head and online. Every feature touted seems to be shying away from the Franchise/TV presentation mode. But at least we'll have NFL network color commentary. And before it's brought up, the telestrator isn't high end presentation. It's just to diagram the play for the whole "rewind" thing. Been playing Madden and football long enough to not really need that feature......I'm really starting to feel left out just like I did leading up to APF. I'm waiting to see if they've at least got some nice NFL network logos panning across the screen before a replay. Some type of presentation. It seems that they're putting all of that in the playcall interface. Who knows? Maybe they'll redo the player intros or have playoff atmosphere and Super Bowl worthy atmosphere and presentation. I'm begging here for myself and all the Franchise-only guys.......

[Nza]

Re: Gamespot Madden preview

If they can truly develop a system that adjusts the game and makes it challenging for everyone, that could possibly be the best offline feature added since franchise mode. Keeping the game competitive against CPU AI is my #1 concern when playing Madden, I'm constantly adjusting settings etc so I don't go 16-0 every year.

Unfortunately a lot of these media sites simply regurgitate EA PR speak and jump to conclusions before they even try stuff out first hand. To say it will do this and will do that is premature - what EA say a feature will do and what it actually does are often two different things.

[Radioactiveman]

Re: Gamespot Madden preview

[*]Manual Catch Fixed: Issues stemming from the introduction of the "spectacular catch" in Madden 08 and its impact on manual catching have been fixed. Expect the manual catch to return to its Madden 07 form.[/LIST]

That's so EA...break something one year then come back the next year and fix what they broke...then sell it as a new feature. Classic. Makes me wonder whose making the decisions over there:

I can see the decision makers huddling around asking themselves..."should we implament some sort of pocket passing? Maybe fix the sticky blocking? Fix the goofy tackling annimations? Fix the in game freezing? Nah...let's change the pass catch annimations, call it "spectacular catch" and sell that off as a new feature.....but won't that break manual catching? Who cares, we have to change something..." I can hear it now.

One step forward, two steps back...same story different year.

[Radioactiveman]

Re: Gamespot Madden preview

looks good but can someone explain to me why they keep the same ****ing tackling animations..they are horrible!!!

Bad decision makers...the things they choose to work on, tweak, and change boggles the mind. It's so funny, they'd get way more traction, much favorable reviews, and happier customers if they fixed the little things like tackle annimations but they won't do it.

I'm starting to think the whole engine needs to be retooled to make those kinds of on the field interactions more genuine and they don't want to invest in a complete overhaul...they'll add a couple stupid bells and whistles, patch last years gameplay and shove it out the door like they have been doing for years. With no competition, they can pretty much do what they want, put the NFL logo on the cover and watch it fly off the shelves...kind of sad really.

[allBthere]

Re: Gamespot Madden preview

none of this matters to me if you can still do a 20-25 yard drop back and throw a cross-field touchdown bomb with anything other than a rare, once in a lifetime play.

also, lol at rewinding

[Radioactiveman]

Re: Gamespot Madden preview

[QUOTE=allBthere;2038346867]none of this matters to me if you can still do a 20-25 yard drop back and throw a cross-field touchdown bomb...QUOTE]

...while sprinting backwards with your eyes closed and three defenders in your face and have the pass be right on the money!!!!

[ewto16]

Re: Gamespot Madden preview

I'm happy about that too but even more happy about this:

"Revamped Sim Engine: The simulation engine in Madden 09 has been reworked to produce more-realistic results in franchise mode. Gone are the days of multiple 2,000-yard rushers in a single season, and simulation score results will more accurately mimic scores in the NFL."

They say this every single year. Every single year, the sim engine sucks. Maybe this means they actually fixed it so simmed CPU INTs don't count 2 for 1 anymore.

[Shockgeez04]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

who knows what they were thinking with the whole rewinding thing, i don't see how its gonna help casual gamers out, sets a bad example of making it OK to just throwaway a few plays a game, most times a good game comes down to mistakes and turnovers as the difference

[Kodos]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

Yep. Rewind is beyond stupid. Yay! I just made a big play. Now my opponent can rewind it!

[SageInfinite]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

At least we can turn it off, but why would they even waste time on this. SMH @ EA/Tiburon.

[Ram209]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

"Madden 09 won't expect you to remember this analytic advice for the next applicable instance, either. Instead, the game will provide you with the ability to "rewind" the last play and attempt to correct the error immediately. Because this will clearly be a powerful tool, use of the rewind feature is limited to three per game by default and can be adjusted in the settings for more or fewer depending on your personal preference. In addition to giving you a second opportunity to cash in on a big play, rewind can be used on defense to negate your opponent's home-run ball. It's your choice whether to use rewinds to jump to capitalize on early opportunities or save them to put away your opponent in the fourth quarter. Unranked online games will offer three rewinds per player by default, but the feature will not be available during ranked matches."

You have got to be kidding me!!!! So let me get this straight I am playing a friend online and its tied 21-21 30 seconds left he scores to take the lead, BUT wait I choose to rewind the play so its a do-over WTF!!!! Please someone tell me Im missing something here

[mdgoalie37]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

For some reason the link won't open the page, did anyone see a mention of the accelerated clock in the article? I am glad that in-game saves made it.

Don't get too riled up over this rewind thing, it can be turned off - heck, golf games have had mulligan features since day 1.

[coogrfan]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

At least we can turn it off, but why would they even waste time on this. SMH @ EA/Tiburon.

Because they are trying to make the game more accessible to less experienced gamers?

It's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. If you don't like it, turn it off.

[SageInfinite]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

Because they are trying to make the game more accessible to less experienced gamers?

I figured that's what the lower difficulty levels were for. Plus they've also added the Madden IQ feature. It's just a waste of time IMO.

[bkrich83]

Re: Madden NFL 09 Updated Impressions: GameSpot

I'll be honest while I am pretty excited for NCAA to hit shelves, I really could care less when or if I get Madden.