Madden NFL 11 Review

[Dog]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

the ps3 replays thing really bugs me. it bugged me last year because i would have a nice play and then try to make a highlight but it would get cut short. i lost a lot of good highlights out there


i hope they fix it

[rudyjuly2]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

You nailed my thoughts on the review Jistic.

I think people are going to need to differentiate between comments on the review vs. the game itself. OS has high standards for reviews which is why many people can't wait to read them and trust them. This review did not meet those standards imo.

[GiantBlue76]

"One season later, the Pro-Tak animation system is quickly establishing itself as one of the more unique physics engines. This year’s Madden 11 features a more seasoned version of Pro-Tak that takes into account more timing-based factors for each tackle. There are now many more potential ways a play can unfold after initial ball-carrier contact."

really? I didn't know Pro-Tak was based off physics.....you learn something new everyday.

The review lost all credibility for me once I read this:

"One season later, the Pro-Tak animation system is quickly establishing itself as one of the more unique physics engines. This year’s Madden 11 features a more seasoned version of Pro-Tak that takes into account more timing-based factors for each tackle. There are now many more potential ways a play can unfold after initial ball-carrier contact."

That's terrible. Something that was touted last year as a new innovation that was completely untouched. I'm sorry, but the lack of objectivity in these reviews is ridiculous. In no way, shape or form does this game deserve a 9.

[Tsuki]

its everyone Save 65

[crbuke]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

Much better review than IGN, and I agree with the score too, 9.0 on this site is a big deal, glad to hear you like it so much.

[ryan36]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

Guys, arriving at a number is the HARDEST part of a review. I wouldn't spend too much time on what the score is. We've changed it so many times over the years, trying to get it right/accurate.

There's a lot to consider. What did the game get last year? Is this year better? I think it was our review of the Show 10 that gave it a worse score than last year, even though after the patch it was a better game, in most people's minds.

It can be very tricky...the info to glean from the review is the content itself. From any website.

[haljordan73]

It's absolutely hilarious to me that all these Madden critics come rushing out of the basement to immediately bash this review without having even touched the retail version of the game. Hey, you play and hate it, great, you're entitled to your opinion, until then, I say you're all hat and no cattle.

[quietcool72]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

Also gentlemen , let me add that you can criticize and disagree with this review all you want, constructively...as I feel I have in the post above.

NO "OS is bought off by EA, wow they're sucking up to Ian" type crap. You'll be warned/banned.

I'll see when I play the finished product. I hope it is as good as this site says it is, but as a franchise/online franchise guy, people such as me got put on the back burner for yet another year, in favor of about 2% of the Madden population asking for...co-op play.

As for the Ian thing, I don't know if that's the exact suggestion some have, but lets face it, EA has "un-invited" quite a few former community leaders from their "programs" who have shown "constructive criticism" of their products .. (under the guise of "x person was not 'growing the community'). So there has been a seemingly unspoken level of quid pro quo on the part of EA as it pertains to sites/individuals who might feel some of their games are lacking in a given release cycle.

So, people are left to wonder if you guys would have given Madden a 6.5 or a 7.0 (if it did indeed deserve that), would Mr. Cummings and company still do you guys the favor of posting on your boards, or is there a concern that might happen from a given reviewer? We really can't say.

I'd like to think that's not the case.

(However, last years' NCAA 10 OS review was one such headscratcher for many.)

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

I think this is one of the signs of the apocalypse, IGN being much harder then OS on a Madden game.

OS has been rolling over with their Madden reviews for years now, so this is really no surprise. I understand reviewing the game is somewhat difficult because it has nothing to legitimately compare it to, but on some level I would think a reviewer should be basing their review of what the game should be - not off it's improvements over Tiburon's admittedly disappointing early next gen attempts. When the reviewer states the [player interaction] is excellent, makes glowing comments on Pro-Tak, and the commentary - well, there's really nothing more to be said. They're just not holding the game to much of a standard, if one at all. I've seen tons of people make the argument Pro-Tak isn't even as good as what games were doing 3-5yrs ago, let alone now. Player interaction is improved in the game, but it's far from excellent as the reviewer would have people believe.

I thought there was a small chance that the OS review would be comprehensive enough to look at how the game plays on both sides of the ball at the very least. Instead it seemed like it took EA's talking points/improvements and tried to elaborate on them. Disappointing review, but at this point expected.

[SoulAssassin]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

disappointing that Franchise Mode and Superstar mode still appear to be a bore fest.

We are expected to play online or vs. a friend all the time eh?

[ramenite]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

I'm sorry but this read like an EA press release straight off the sunshine and lollipop express.

This line really cracked me up.



...boasts? BOASTS?!
Sorry that's just really funny.

On other sites I'd expect this. On OS I'd expect Franchise review to be one of if not THE most important aspects of a review. That was our focus here....wasn't it?

This review was a little TOO well written. And although I have no problem with a score, since it's OPINION, this review reeks of any sort of objectivity and to me is an embarrassment for OS.

I'm right with you. It's why I generally read various opinions here about sports games than anywhere else. If I wanted to read fluff for a review, I'd go to IGN.

It's the OS review where I expect to see what franchise simulated stats are like. Is team FA signing/trade logic ok? What ACTUALLY got changed from last year? Did they fix the damn challenges so when the computer catches it out of bounds, it will challenge that and not the spot of the ball?

I dunno....maybe I'm like Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon and just too old for this ****. Noticed the past years, it's more people complaining about dirt on uniforms, facemasks, and stripes on socks, than franchise and AI issues. Maybe sports gamers now are just all fluff and no beef.

If that's the case, get off my lawn, I'm going to fire up some Football Pro.

[PhillyJim76]

It would be very nice if the game could live up to this review.

[haljordan73]

All these franchise comments baffle me, do you people really miss setting hot dog and foam finger prices that badly?

[GiantBlue76]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Review

OS has been rolling over with their Madden reviews for years now, so this is really no surprise. I understand reviewing the game is somewhat difficult because it has nothing to legitimately compare it to, but on some level I would think a reviewer should be basing their review of what the game should be - not off it's improvements over Tiburon's admittedly disappointing early next gen attempts. When the reviewer states the [player interaction] is excellent, makes glowing comments on Pro-Tak, and the commentary - well, there's really nothing more to be said. They're just not holding the game to much of a standard, if one at all. I've seen tons of people make the argument Pro-Tak isn't even as good as what games were doing 3-5yrs ago, let alone now. Player interaction is improved in the game, but it's far from excellent as the reviewer would have people believe.

I thought there was a small chance that the OS review would be comprehensive enough to look at how the game plays on both sides of the ball at the very least. Instead it seemed like it took EA's talking points/improvements and tried to elaborate on them. Disappointing review, but at this point expected.

Well said Spank. When I look at Madden, I compare it to 2k5 and Madden 2005. Both excellent games. It still has not even equaled those games. How can it get a 9? That is just awful.

[uiucjpo]

I'm right with you. It's why I generally read various opinions here about sports games than anywhere else. If I wanted to read fluff for a review, I'd go to IGN.

It's the OS review where I expect to see what franchise simulated stats are like. Is team FA signing/trade logic ok? What ACTUALLY got changed from last year? Did they fix the damn challenges so when the computer catches it out of bounds, it will challenge that and not the spot of the ball?

I dunno....maybe I'm like Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon and just too old for this ****. Noticed the past years, it's more people complaining about dirt on uniforms, facemasks, and stripes on socks, than franchise and AI issues. Maybe sports gamers now are just all fluff and no beef.

If that's the case, get off my lawn, I'm going to fire up some Football Pro.

For my money, Gameshark.com has the most comprehensive reviews out there. As far as I know, they're the only ones that even mentioned the NCAA recruiting bug. The catch is that they take a couple weeks to get the review out.