 Madden 10 Wii: The first Madden game I have ever enjoyed!! |
| Review Date: August 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Jefferson, Long Beach, CA USA |
**UPDATE: MANY REVIEWERS ARE SLAMMING THE GAME BECAUSE IT IS MISSING FRANCHISE MODE... however Franchise and Superstar modes are present in the game, but have to be unlocked. I placed the codes to unlock them at the end of my review!**
Before I even begin this review, let me say that I have NEVER had a desire to own a Madden game on any console before. Ever. Until Madden 10. I am not a big sports fanatic, and thus couldn't care less about trades, drafts, seasons, stats... when I sit down in front of my gaming console I want hours of fun and competitive action... not arguing over stats, gloating, bad sportsmanship, etc. So I have never owned a Madden game on any console, and typically dread playing Madden with any of my friends, because I could never compete with them! Until now...
This year, I could tell immediately that Madden 10 was going to be something different. It seemed to be more designed to appeal to me. Dont get me wrong: I am not the WiiFit demographic. I am a hardcore gamer, male, in my 20's. I just don't fit the typical Madden niche. This year's offering, as other reviews have stated (and SLAMMED the game for!) doesn't include a lot of what the hardcore sports fanatics might be looking for: trades, franchise mode (whatever that is!?), create-a-player (which I would have probably liked), etc... hence their unfavorable reviews. However, that said, the game has lots of features that ARE APPEALING, and I am really enjoying the game. Here are the features that attracted me:
1 - "HUDDLE-UP MODE" - this is a Wii-only mode that sounded really fun and interesting. Essentially, it is a 4-player mode where 2 players (opponents) control the game normally.... but 2 other players (each on one team or the other) can aim their remote at the screen and, using the wii pointer/cursor, help their teammate out by clicking on the opponent's players, tackling them! Your "helper" can tackle any opposing player AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE THE BALL... so if my QB is about to get sacked or if I throw a pass to a receiver and he is about to get tackled... no worries! My teammate can take quickly click on the opposing player and take him out! It is ridiculously entertaining! There was screaming and laughing all at the same time. I had 3 friends over (2 are hardcore Madden veterans, and one other Madden newcomer), and they had a blast. We have dubbed this mode "HATER mode". It really is fun.
2 - THE CONTROLS AND PLAYBOOK - As I mentioned, I am new to playing Madden, but I am not new to gaming. The "ALL PLAY" controls are still an option, which have very simple controls for people who may have a harder time playing with the more advanced control scheme. I play with the advanced controls, which work really well. In addition, you can select whether you want the "ALL PLAY" playbook, an Intermediate playbook, or an ADVANCED playbook. This feature is REALLY nice. The All Play playbook is VERY simple... even a child could go in and select an appropriate play. The Advanced playbook looks like a NASA manual to a newcomer like me....way too intimidating! So, I selected the Intermediate playbook, which has lots of options, but far fewer plays than the Advanced. My nephew came over, and when he selected the Advanced playbook, I knew what I was in for... an old fashioned beat down. But surprisingly, I was able to hold my own, since EA did such a wonderful job balancing the game. Typically, with a game like this, a newcomer would have NO CHANCE IN THE WORLD against a seasoned veteran (seems strange calling a 16 year old a "seasoned veteran" at anything...lol)... but this game has done a wonderful job bridging the gap.
3 - "ROAD TO THE SUPERBOWL" - Again... I do not care about stats, trades, franchises... in fact, when I first started the game and it asked me to select my favorite team so it could use that team's colors and logo on my home screen, it took me like 15 minutes to decide on my favorite team, since I didn't have one! So, obviously I would never sit down and actually play through an entire season. I bought this game mostly for playing with other people. So, the "Road to the Superbowl" is a really well done mode of game-play. Essentially, you can go through an entire season... or half a season... or you can jump in at the playoffs... or you can EVEN BEGIN RIGHT AT THE SUPERBOWL. Also, you can start off your "Road to the Superbowl" alone, but other players can jump in at any time. So if I start the playoffs by myself, and one of my buddies comes over the next day, he can jump in with me and join me. You can even have several seasons or "Road to the Superbowl" saves.... so I can have one whole season that I am working on, and then create a new one that starts at the playoffs. This is a really well thought out way of doing things.
4 - ONLINE - I own this game as well as EA's "Grand Slam Tennis"... both games use EA Nation rather than Nintendo's online system. This means NO FRIEND CODES, and it also means that EA maintains the servers, ensuring they have the appropriate updates/maintenance, as well as that there aren't any hackers online. You can invite anyone you play to be added to your friend list, and it even has an instant messenger (I've never used it, but it's there). The online play just plain works. Period. THE ONLY thing that could have been done better is if they had implemented WiiSpeak for voice chat! This game, as well as Grand Slam Tennis SHOULD HAVE HAD VOICE CHAT!!! Other than that, it is perfect.
5 - GRAPHICS - Granted... the game does not look "realistic". But as a Wii owner, I have come to expect less than realistic graphics, and I am OK with that. I would trade fun gameplay for lesser graphics any day! I loved the art style used for Grand Slam Tennis, and this game used a similar "cartoony" style, and it looks great. It is a really good looking game. And the art fits the type of game it is: FUN.
This game is what it is: A really well done, deep, and compelling Football game. I am having a blast with it, and I think EA was smart to change up the formula a bit: it has tapped into a crowd that previously had no interest in the Madden offerings. Here is a quick review of the game overall:
Gameplay: 9/10
Controls: 10/10
Presentation: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Online Play: 9/10 (would be 10/10 if WiiSpeak was included!)
Replay Value: 10/10 (GREAT multiplayer modes for when friends come over!)
Overall: 9/10
Here are the unlock codes that, when entered at the EA Extra's menu, will unlock the hidden modes like Franchise Mode, etc:
Franchise Mode: TEAMPLAYER
Superstar Mode: EGOBOOST
Situation Mode: YOUCALLIT
Super Bowl Stadium: THEBIGSHOW
Pro Bowl Stadium: ALLSTARS
Master Code (unlocks everything): THEWORKS
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Best next-gen version of Madden, albeit the flaws.
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| Review Date: August 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: 1Dub79, Fairburn, Ga. |
Graphics/Visuals
I know this sounds cliche', but this year's version of Madden is better than ever, albeit the flaws. There are many new enhanced graphics and visuals. The experience can be additionally enhanced with a HDTV, such as the LG 37LG30 37-Inch 720p LCD HDTV. Overall, the whole game is a lot more lively and vivid than the last. Many visuals seen on the game are usually seen on Sundays.
The new player models are excellent and the uniforms look superb. On one cutscene, the texture of the uniforms can be seen. In the previous next-gen versions of Madden, many of the player models were kind of bulky looking. Now, the players are built more realistically. New uniform accessories have been added, such as towels, hand warmers, team colored gloves, and team colored cleats. They are not the same boring black and white cleats, which was on the previous versions. For the first time, uniforms can be interchanged, as well.
Seen on Sundays
During the game, many details and animations can be seen on the game, fan interactions, QBs talking on the phone, coaches ranting, players talking on the sidelines, kickers practicing kicks, players riding the exercise bike, referee interactions and chain gains. One of the coolest features is seeing fans leave early, if their team's game has gotten way out of hand. It is also quite funny.
The most exciting feature is the referees interactions on questionable TDs. The two refs will look at each other and talk. Then, they will either throw their hands up or decline the TD. Sometimes, it is a lot of suspense, while waiting to see the decided call. How many times have fans been in suspense, while waiting on the referees in a real game? Some may call some of the new visuals gimmicks, but it is what you see in real football.
The halftime presentation is great. You'll love the different angles, which the highlights are shown. Unlike M09, they show just about every relevant higlight. It is creative. Plus, the commentary during the halftime show is not that bad, either. This new feature is an upgrade over the dull halftime features of last year's version of Madden.
Game Play
The game play is better. First off, the game speed can be adjusted. Many of you played the demo and didn't like the speed of the game. Well, it can go from very slow, slow, normal, fast and very fast. Also, EA has added a new threshold differential. This means setting to the higher the level will give the player less of a disparity between the fast and slow players. A lower setting will increase the disparity.
The player animations and movements are realistically fluid and not robotic, such as the previous versions.
I noticed on some movements, the players use more momentum. Players can't just break out and turn different corners, quickly, like they are on wheels. They actually bend and don't stay upright, while turning a corner. Sometimes, the player may have to make a cut, in order to head up field. The best animations are while going through the hole. Pressing the directinal buttons will make the RB make many different cuts. Time them right and the defender can be juked. Typically, juking could only be done by spinning.
The phyisics has improved. Players fall many different ways. Sometimes, it even seems as if they are going to break out of a tackle, then they start to fall. There have been times when I was on the edge of my seat because I thought my player was breaking the last tackle in order to "take it to the house", but he goes down. That is very realistic.
The Pro-Tak is realistic. The players pile up, when necessary. It is not an every down occurrence. Keep in mind, different modes carry different Pro-Tak results.
The defense is improved. Controlling a player in the secondary is a lot easier. The best defensive experience is at the line of scrimmage. DTs and DEs can penetrate a whoooole lot better than ever before. This makes the players more likely to be more successful in the sack and run-stopping department. In fact, many different moves can be made by using the R3 stick, instead of the R1 button (PS3 version) on the previous Madden games. For example, on last year's version, I could barely penetrate with the best DT in the league (Albert Haynesworth). Now, I can make more impact plays.
The game is very competitive!!! Even this year's version of All-Pro is a lot harder than the previous versions. Players cannot expect to just dominate the game above the Pro level. Many glitches from the previous version have been neutralized, as well. Also, the computer does not make themselves sitting ducks for hit-stick tackles, such as previous versions of Madden. They do more weaving on this game, which is fine.
Another cool feature is the roster update. For those who like to keep REAL rosters updated, don't bother to do it yourself! The automatic roster update does it for you. Players will be automatically added to the teams, which they actually play for. Players who aren't even on the game are added on the roster update. For example, Michael Vick and Brett Favre were not on the original rosters. Well, in the roster update, they were added to their new teams. In addition, the player's ratings will fluctuate, depending on the seasons, which they are having. Players gone for the year will be put on IR. It is just great.
With all being said, you have to have an online account, so you can have access the roster updates. This also means you must have a router. I recommend the [[ASIN:B00004SB92 Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch (BEFSR41)]. Assuming you have the router, you must go to online mode on the main screen. Click on the depth chart, a sign will pop up, which prompts you to update the roster. Agree and the updated roster will load. You can save this and play with updated rosters in exhibition or other modes.
Flaws
There are a few things that disturb me about the game. The first issue is the new running motions of the players. It seems like they run with their heads down. They also look as if they are just struggling to try to run. In addition, every player runs in the same motion. The previous Madden had at least 3 or 4 different running motions.
The next issue is the new "fight for the fumble" feature and the chain gang. "Fight for the fumble" is a joke. It is like a mini game, which you have to press various buttons rapidly in order for possession to be gained. There was a play, which the player fumbled and two of my team members dove on the ball. Clearly, I had possession of the football. Unfortunately, I still had to fight for the football and lost possession of the recovery. Of course, this feature can be turned off. The chain gang will drive you crazy. Every single time you have a nine yard play, the chain gang comes out. I mean, lots of times, you know that you didn't get a first down. What is worse, this feature cannot be skipped.
Some of the cutscenes get repetative. During the game, you will constantly see the same cutscenes, which involve the same position players. For example, when you see the QB talking on the phone, you see the FS over his left shoulder, each time. Then, you will see the triplets sitting down (QB, RB and WR). Then, when a play goes awry, the coach will be ranting at a player who had nothing to do with the play going wrong. For example, if the QB throws a pick, the coach will rant at the OL. Why not the QB? If the QB throws a pick, he yells at the OL or the FB. That makes no sense. They should have had at least 20 cutscenes, which involves different position players.
Depending on what level you play on, you will experience some of the issues, which was on the other Madden games. You will still see makeshift tackling. This goes on during "Pro-Tak" animations. In modes other than Pro, you will NOT see double-hit tackling. In All-Madden, the AI of your teams just goes out of the window, such as OTs ignoring blocking assignments. In addition, many of the issues become more magnified. All-Madden is totally unplayable. I would suggest playing on Pro or Custom and tampering with the settings.
The commentary is just dull and scripted. It would be nice to have a Madden, which has some loud an exciting commentary. For example, if someone makes a spectacular catch, I want the commentator to have excitement in his voice, when the play happens. I compare this to how it feels when watching Sunday Night games on ESPN. Hearing exciting commentary, while watching a game makes it more exciting. The dull commentary takes away from that experience.
Though the half-time presentation is good, the highlights are shown out of order. When watching real football, half-time and post-game shows at least have the highlights shown in sequential. This could have made the half-time presentation more organized.
The Verdict
Everything on the game has been improved in many ways. In fact, it is a complete turnaround from the last version. If it were not for the flaws, which I mentioned, the game would be even more superior. Of course, no game is going to be perfect, no matter what. Many critics need to realize this. Therefore, if you loved M09 (2008 was horrific), you will absolutely love this latest installment of Madden. Keep in mind, this finished product is a lot better than the demo!!!
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