Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

[DaveDQ]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Did we just not notice this stuff last gen, Dave? I mean for the most part youtube, etc... all the scrutiny wasn't there, but I DO feel that ps2 Madden played better, at least up until 10, and I don't think that I have that impression from features, etc...but maybe because they were more engaging, I gave on field play a pass.

I played Madden 98 and had a lot of fun with it, but I played it so much that I started to want more from it. Then came 2000 and I won't get into that, but I stopped playing Madden. I didn't play another Madden until 2004 (I think when Vick was on the cover) and it was on the Xbox. I returned it because I didn't like the speed and animations.

I personally have never been a big fan of what is Madden. 2010 really impressed me and gave me the sense that they were making progress. With 2011, I feel everything came to a halt.

[nld230]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Finally got a chance to download and play a few games today.

First play on offense, my friend sees he has a horrible defensive set and tries to audible. Trying to take advantage, I quick snapped the ball. Game freeze. It only happened once, but my first experience was a bad one.

Another of my fears is confirmed. Passing and Running is a bit too easy, even on All-Madden difficulty. However, I am confident that I will be able to adjust sliders so the CPU can score.

I like the sprint button being taken out. And it seems like the removal of the hit stick was a good idea, too.

Didn't see any variation in the kicking meter. That's disappointing. Probably no missed kicks, although Vinatieri is a pretty good kicker. I'd have to playe with a bad kicker to get a good grip on it.

I LOVE how the camera zooms back far enough so you can see the sideline when passing.

Gotta say, I was buying regardless. But if the freezing issue makes it into the retail version, there is no excuse. They hardly did anything to franchise or the gameplay, so the bugs should have been tested an fixed.

One thing I read about, however, was that in co-op play you could assign captains to each squad. However, I didn't notice it in the demo. Any idea?

[instantpop]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Well, haven't read all the pages in here, but I've got to assume from the last couple that the thoughts of the community are similar to mine. Get it right on the field before you worry about showing me a crummy model of Peyton Manning getting off a bus. It adds nothing to the game, nothing to the atmosphere, and in many ways makes the experience even less immersive than intended because it's not executed well at all. It looks terrible and doesn't get me pumped up to play the game - which it should.

They are trying so desperately to mimic an NFL broadcast that they've gotten away from what made playing Madden fun in the first place - actually playing FOOTBALL. If the core experience isn't there, what makes you think I'm going to want to sit through bad pre-game presentations (seriously, what was that, like 20 seconds of Peyton throwing the same pass over and over again before anything happened)? If you're going to try and build pre-game hype with presentation and glossy graphics, the subject of that hype better be waiting for me when I finally get there. Currently, it's not even close.

Still far too many stiff animations in the game. The cut-scenes are not only pointless but are also terrible. I don't get it. They remove the play calling screens (I know you can turn them back on) in favor of Gameflow to speed up the game, yet still slow things down with bad animations of coaches patrolling the sidelines and stiff robots moving back to the huddle. And then, peppered within all of that bland presentation, is the same old 10 seconds of gameplay that has the football going through DB's heads and the back of WR's helmets.

I get a feeling of controlled violence that still feels visceral when I watch the NFL on a Sunday afternoon. Amidst all the broadcast polish, there's a toughness and grit that shines through during the game. That's what Ian and Co. need to focus on finding. It's not about giant team logos slamming in the dirt before the game or some random dudes throwing bean bags in the parking lot - it's about PLAYING THE GAME - to put a turn on a Herm Edwards phrase. And right now, nothing about the game makes me want to play it at all.

EDIT: Anybody remember this? When Madden gets here, let me know and I'll start paying attention again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ajP...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3h4v3NWiuY

[NDIrish98]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

my impressions after playing the demo, didn't like it at all. played about a half and shut it off. i went back to play NCAA right after and, to me, there is no comparison. Madden just doesnt feel like football the way NCAA does to me. a lot of it had to do w/ the player models and just some small graphical glitches that just didn't let me get into the game. don't get me wrong, i'm sure the final build will more than likely play a little better, but as for now, i just didn't come away as impressed as i was after playing NCAA. hopefully the final build will be better.

[stealthieOne]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Finally got a chance to download and play a few games today.

First play on offense, my friend sees he has a horrible defensive set and tries to audible. Trying to take advantage, I quick snapped the ball. Game freeze. It only happened once, but my first experience was a bad one.

Another of my fears is confirmed. Passing and Running is a bit too easy, even on All-Madden difficulty. However, I am confident that I will be able to adjust sliders so the CPU can score.

I like the sprint button being taken out. And it seems like the removal of the hit stick was a good idea, too.

Didn't see any variation in the kicking meter. That's disappointing. Probably no missed kicks, although Vinatieri is a pretty good kicker. I'd have to playe with a bad kicker to get a good grip on it.

I LOVE how the camera zooms back far enough so you can see the sideline when passing.

Gotta say, I was buying regardless. But if the freezing issue makes it into the retail version, there is no excuse. They hardly did anything to franchise or the gameplay, so the bugs should have been tested an fixed.

One thing I read about, however, was that in co-op play you could assign captains to each squad. However, I didn't notice it in the demo. Any idea?

no hit stick? so what does the right stick do on defense? i thought there was a hit stick

[rickypro]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Please take out the fight for the fumble when someone falls on the ball without anyone else around!

[xylocaine]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Please take out the fight for the fumble when someone falls on the ball without anyone else around!

You can turn off fight for fumble for single player but I have a feeling that in ranked games online it will be on by default

[PolkHigh33]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

no hit stick? so what does the right stick do on defense? i thought there was a hit stick

It's the hit stick .. it's there but you need to use at the right time or you will botch it, badly .. hahaha ..

Nothing more satisfying than laying a receiver out coming across the middle ..

[madcowboy]

Question? What happened to the Defensive Hot routes that were brought into madden 05, where you could assign corners and safety's individually? For example (PS2) you could press triangle, then the circle (for the reciever he is covering), then down on the right analog stick. That player would be playing bump and run and you could set your other corner to play off by performing up on the analog stick according to who he is covering. You could also shade the reciever's inside as well as outside. Why in the heck did that go away? Its still too much time to select your defensive backfield player before you can hot route him. I dont understand why EA is not building on technology that was present years ago.

[Miden]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

I played a couple of games of the demo and I have to say I didn't find it all that impressive. Gameflow just seemed to take a lot out of the game for me, and is a wasted feature in my opinion. Graphics were nice, and presentation was improved, but I haven't really seen anything that would justify a $60 purchase from me.

As it stands right now I'll stick to playing NCAA 11, and If I get an itch for Madden then I'll go pick up a used copy of Madden 10.

[poopie]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Why do the DB's and WR's give up on the play so easy. there are often times when the ball is right there. for them to make a play off a deflection and they stand there and do nothing.and i also hate the play when the WR;s make a one handed catch over the middle falls on the ground does'nt get touched by anyone but the play is dead. That's the little things that MADDEN just cant get right.But their worried about who's getting off the bus and other useless crap

[poopie]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Why do the DB's and WR's give up on the play so easy. there are often times when the ball is right there. for them to make a play off a deflection and they stand there and do nothing.and i also hate the play when the WR;s make a one handed catch over the middle falls on the ground does'nt get touched by anyone but the play is dead. That's the little things that MADDEN just cant get right.But their worried about who's getting off the bus and other useless crap

And does the stiff arm serve any purpose at all Seems like all u do is get drag down by your stiff arm

[blklightning]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

what is with all the dropped interceptions? the game should punish you for making stupid throws. and reward you when your opponent makes stupid throws. this has been a problem for a long time with madden. nearly every throw in this game is an automatic mulligan.

and please don't mention sliders; they're useless for online. and besides, i shouldn't have to adjust the game myself in order to get it to play correctly.

[kbshowtime]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

This is happening way too easily and too often for my liking:

<EMBED height=385 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=480 src=http://www.youtube.com/v/C8ZxaoHduSk&hl=en_US&fs=1 allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>

One thng I do is put the game threshold on 85 and very slow to avoid the huge gaps between WR and CB. Just like Madden 10 with the threshold on anything under 75 your going to see WR wide open running for the quick 6(TD) resulting in balloon scores. Try the game at 95 and very slow you shouldnt see that again. Im have a blast with the demo and my scores are around 17-10 and Im using the Jets on all-maddden with the cpu all tune to 30 in settings.

[blklightning]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

This is happening way too easily and too often for my liking.

i can see wayne beating cromartie one on one like that. it's his pursuit after the catch that seems way off. maybe that's what you're referring to?

edit:

what difficulty was that on?