Review: Madden 09. Madden is Back!

Reviewing Madden titles is just fun, because you (the reader) probably already know whether you want to play it or not. Written reviews are really just for those few gamers out there who haven’t been ‘in the game’ recently but still have no aversion to it. If you have fond memories of playing Madden as a kid, but haven’t liked the new editions you’re in luck; this year’s doesn’t suck.

A few fundamental issues plagued an otherwise solid Madden 08: kick-offs were over powered, running backs could pick up hards that should have been impossible thanks to the shoddy collision physics, and the color commentary was just lame. These concerns have been resolved, thankfully, and now gameplay feels more realistic and the commentary actually has character. Todd Hammond and Chris Collinsworth take care of the play-by-play commentary and John Madden himself does the halftime reports. Special teams play actually happens this year, with returns to the 30 yard line actually being possible and fairly common. Also, the remapped collision physics make it impossible for a running back to push through multiple linemen if they’re in the middle of an animation. Sorry Vikings fans, you can’t count on Adrian Peterson to get first downs on third and seven anymore.

Along with fixing a few fundamental issues, the good folks at EA Tiburon added a number of features as well. The first thing you’ll notice as you boot this game up is that John Madden, in all his digital glory, is there to greet you. Before you even see a main menu, he puts you through a series of drills to test how well you perform in various circumstances. Your performance on these tests is then used to calculate your ‘Madden IQ’ which is a dynamic value that behaves a lot like your Halo skill level in that it raises when you play well and plummets if you have a few bad games.

Along with the Madden IQ is possibly the coolest addition to the Madden franchise: a difficulty level custom made for your style of play called “my skills.” So, if you’re like me, and you’re great at running the ball but kind of lackluster once you have to throw it, the AI difficulty will compensate for this depending on what play each team is running. This ensures that the game walks that fine line between challenging and fun on every down.

Other additions include Madden Moments, which is a game mode where you relive or rewrite portions of recent NFL history, usually in the form of a high-tension two minute drill or overtime scenario. These bite-sized portions of football are a great way to kill ten minutes without committing to a whole game. Another addition, which hardcore Madden fans will hate, is a rewind button that appears after every play. It works much like the sands of time from Prince of Persia in that, after a poor play, you can set the clock back and try again. Players are given a limited number per game, and these can be disabled as they can change the dynamic of a game to an unreasonable degree.

Other issues appeared when I was on offense. As I previously mentioned, my passing game needs work, but I found some of my trademark stupid passes flying through the hands of defenders and continuing unhindered to the intended target. While I can understand a linebacker not having soft enough hands to catch the ball, it should have been tipped. Other glitches came when playing the various mini-games you might remember from Madden 08. During the QB challenge, a bug sprouted up that made it impossible for me to gain points. Negative points still counted for passes getting tipped or picked, but receptions didn’t tally and the ball spot never moved. Also, blocking animations caused my players to move in impossible ways during the lineman challenge.

Overall, this game is a Madden title, but a pretty, well executed Madden title. That last sentence either read “This is a good looking, quality football game,” or, “While this game is well made, it’s still mediocre” depending on your personal opinion of the franchise. Madden haters seem to have this opinion that a Madden game will come out some day that silences their protests by reaching gaming perfection, sadly Madden 09 isn’t that title. It is, however, a big step in the right direction. So if you have a passive interest in professional football or the Madden franchise, check this game out because you won’t be disappointed.