Have you ever sat and watched people, watching sports? Jumping up and down spitting at the TV, screaming with pure joy when their team scores. That is exactly what you will look like when you play Madden 2010. Your cat will run for its life, your girlfriend will sigh and shake their head but you just wont care, all that matters will be laid out in the field in front of you and what a pretty field it is.
EA have worked hard to make you spend your hard-earned pennies on another football game to add to your collection. Is it really worth forking out the 40 quid for a similar game? Yes and no. Sure, you get the updated rosters but what you want is new game modes, sharpened graphics and most importantly, bigger and better gameplay.
Madden 10 delivers a fast and frantic football experience. Their impressive physics engine is back, supported by the all new Pro Tak animation technology displaying massed carnage on and off the ball. Watching players getting floored by a 300 pound American monster never fails to draw a smile to my face, unless their sacking my quarterback that is. With 22 players all trying to knock each other into next week the engine does get put under some pressure and it does stand up to it. Only on a few incidents did it let me down and remove me from my little bubble of realism.
Realism is key to your Madden experience. You want to feel the pressure as you’re pushing for that key first down and I can honestly say that EA have nailed it. The graphics are superb; the sunlight reflecting off the helmets, the wear and tear on the field. It is quite possibly the best looking sports game I have played. Add in some crisp crunching audio and intuitive commentary to bolster the effect and you have something special. Listening to the commentary is key to improving, unlike most sport games they actually give you tips rather than mocking your lack of ability. Looks like EA have learned a lot since the days where I used to turn off the commentary on PGA tour (they were cruel, cruel people).
Madden can be a tough little game for new players, I was one back in the day and after missing out on the last game I am back there again. I had to relearn how to read the pitch and hit the right passes; I threw a ridiculous amount of interceptions in my first few games as will you. EA have included a clever feature called Madden IQ that will set the difficulty in relation to your skill level. You take command of the player in a TRON like virtual reality arena where you will be tested in the four main gameplay categories: rushing, passing, pass defence and rush defence. My personal weakness is passing, I know thats a pretty big weakness but now with Madden IQ I can get a little help while I improve.
The Ask Madden feature is a complete godsend, click this option and you will greeted with 3 plays specifically chosen for your situation. Do not be afraid to let John Madden gently hold your hand and lead you through the maze that is an American football playbook because it will take you ages to work it out. Even after many years playing Madden games I only dip into the playbook when and where I have to and trust me, it’s a scary experience.
Ultimately Madden is for the die hard fans of the sport and EA have added so many little things to make them smile. From simple little sideline animations to watching the chain gang rushing out to see if you have your first down. The game even has a halftime show with a real presenter. In Franchise mode you get to see all the scores from around the league and the key stats from the big players. Sadly realism brings one of its nasty little friends, advertising. Snickers sponsor the game and you will see their logo plastered everywhere. Just wait until you see the puns: CHEWS WISELY, CHOMPETITION. These may be funny once but quickly leave bad taste in your mouth. That has to be the biggest problem with Madden 10, the shameless advertising and money grabbing tactics used by EA.
With the shipped game you get to play Franchise mode, Superstar mode and online ranked, unranked and co-op. Does not seem too bad until you find out that there are two game modes that are only available when you purchase them from the Madden store. Pick a Superstar mode lets you play as any NFL star not just your created player; why is this not in the game? Why do you have to pay 160 MP for this? Surprisingly enough it does not end there. Online Franchise, AFC Legacy Pack and the most horrifying of all, twenty plus DLC packs that you can use to improve your franchise mode. I know you don’t have to buy them but just having them there is bad enough. It feels like EA have shipped half a game and have left it up to you to buy the other half.
It is a worrying time for gamers if EA and other developers continue down this road. I am a fan of DLC but not when theres more game modes to buy than there is shipped. If Madden had a few more game modes that are as supported as Franchise mode then it would not be so bad. Superstar mode is more basic than when I played it in Madden 08 which seems a surprising step back by EA. I used to love this mode but now it feels so hollow compared to Franchise mode.
Even with all its faults Madden 10 is possibly the best game of the series so far, it contains all the in-depth intricacies of the sport to keep all the die-hard fans happy and is easy enough for new players to get to grips with. It’s an impressive feat to walk that thin line but EA have managed it. It’s a shame that the advertising and exploitative marketplace content sours the experience. If you manage to avoid the Madden store and ignore the adverts then you are guaranteed a good time. Never played a Madden game? Then dont be scared to pick this up, give it some time and I guarantee you will learn to love it.
VideogameUK verdict: 8.5/10
