Madden NFL 09 Reviews

• Pretty bad for 20 years

  
  By AGGRIP6HBRRNQ on 2008-08-13
  I'm reviewing this game knowing that they've been making Madden for 20 years. With that about of time and experience, some of what is on display here is inexcusable.
  
  Graphics: I'm not sure what everyone's talking about, but this is the same engine we've seen for the last several years.
  (A)The new weather effects are decent but nothing spectacular. You will not see field degredation beyond footprints, and the snow still seems fake to me.
  (B) The grass is much different. On replays, though, it doesn't look nearly as good as it does from the default isometric angle. But if you buy games based on grass improvements, by all means spring for this one.
  
  Audio:
  (A) The commentary is as awful as it has ever been in Madden in the last 10 years. Hammond, the play by play guy, sounds so fake it is hilarious. You will laugh at his comments, especially when he feigns emotion at a big tackle. Collinsworth, god bless him, tries his heart out to be natural, and he definitely puts in a great performance. The problem is that the designers didn't properly do the commentary system. In better games, like MLB 08, the commentary is fluid, taking into account player names, their past performance in the game or series, etc. Here, Collinsworth's comments -- I think every single one of them, actually -- is removed from the specifics of your game.
  
  For example, if there's a big sack, Collinsworth won't talk about your team's defensive line performance in the game, or the quarterback's history of spending too much time in the pocket, or even question your long term strategy of passing too much. Instead, he'll just issue a canned comment like "That's really why the d-line is important" or whatever. It SOUNDS natural but it's so hollow and disconnected from your game. Also, there are prolonged periods (like 40 seconds) where Collinsworth won't say anything. He'll miss entire plays. The commentators will even not notice if you've kicked a dramatic OT winning field goal. They will simply say "The kick is up and good. And that's the end of our game." They then send you to John Madden to literally say "Well that was close! Thanks for joining us! Kthx bye!!"
  This kind of commentary does not belong in a next gen game with 20 years of experience.
  
  (B) The backtrack feature, where Collinsworth uses a telestrator to point out play problems, is broken. Sometimes on the PS3 it simply does not work (Collinsworth says nothing). Other times, he will recommend you do something worse than you did [e.g. throw into quadruple coverage instead of double coverage??].
  
  Gameplay:
  (A)Glaring issues: Why exactly do play actions still not work against the PC? Why are QB sneaks still money yards? Why is bootlegging so effective? Why are slant patterns so effective?
  (B) At least tackling is more fluid. Fewer canned animations. More freedom.
  (C)Replay challenges are broken. Sometimes you cannot challenge plays. Sometimes the booth or you will review something, clearly it will be incomplete, but they will rule it a catch. It is remarkable, considering NFL 2k5 did this right three years ago on a smaller budget with A LOT LESS than 20 years of experience.
  (D) No changes to superstar or franchise. $60 gets you new grass but no improvement to these critical modes?
  (E) The much vaunted game that adapts to you is fundamentally a bad idea. People don't play games so that all their games are always close and hard to win. This is why Oblivion failed -- the player loses incentive to get better if all it does is make the AI cheat more to counter him.
  Problem #1 - Madden test is broken. Pass defense drill is much harder than the others, which are very very easy.
  Problem #2 - you can't use sliders to adjust the difficulty with it. Big problem for those who like to customize the difficulty.
  Problem #3 - the game just cheats to 'adapt.' If you pass well, expect your wide outs to just drop balls for no reason. If you run well, expect your all star back to suddenly fumble a ton. It's not a feature, it's a problem, and it's comical that EA is advertising it as a big improvement.
  (F) Online leagues are not good. It's more like an online round robin, not organized well at all. And there's even some lag to boot.
  (G) Madden moments lets you relive key moments from last season...with 2008-2009 rosters and no special presentation. Snore.
  (H) In multiplayer, on the couch, when you're trash talking and having fun, you can still have a good time. But then again, you can do that with Madden 08. Or 07. Or 06. Or 05.
  
  
  

• Several steps in the right direction but nowhere near where it should be

  
  By AY2MW9P28HQ5G on 2008-08-27
  Madden development has been coasting ever since EA bought the rights to the NFL - that's pretty much understood at this point. But they've now been coasting long enough that the cumulative effect is it is a better game than it was three years ago. The presentation quality is still not as polished or deep as NFL 2K5, but it's gotten better. There are definitely some critical gameplay issues, some of which are new.
  
  PROS:
  * Nicer graphics and more variety in the animations
  * Much more interesting camera angles both during plays and in between
  * Resuming a franchise is a single menu option rather than a manual file loading process
  * Finally have gotten back real play by play commentary
  
  CONS:
  * The ability to challenge plays seems to have been removed
  * Often the clock will continue to run after the ball carrier has run out of bounds
  * The half time and post game recaps are nothing close to NFL 2K5's TV show presentation quality - I usually skip the replays because you have to navigate through them rather than enjoy a polished recap
  
  So they've made several steps in the right direction but some critical missteps as well. All in all expectations are pretty low at this point for Madden, so any improvements were welcome. Since EA charges full price for these annual releases of the game build it's hard to justify buying this one. It's a fun rental, and if they continue to flesh out the presentation elements and fix the glitches it may be worth purchasing next year.
  
  

• A huge disappointment

  
  By A1AO4W9VLDI8IZ on 2008-08-18
  Each year EA releases a new iteration of Madden, building on the previous year's game. I don't mind buying the game each year if the game is solid and a couple new features are added. Madden 09 is a great example of how a monopoly and lack of competition leads to mediocrity. Some key features are completely gone from the game. The accel clock option is gone, so ball control offense or realistic stats are only possible if you are willing to sit and do nothing for 20 seconds on each play. When playing on grass in the rain player uniforms get very dirty, but the field looks pristine throughout the game, though on replays the field deterioration is visible. Franchise mode has regressed, with player progression completely broken. Online play again suffers from critical glitches, from disconnects on last second field goals to a bug that allows a direct snap to the wide receiver, and automatic 5 yards on each play. Smaller problems include terrible camera angles in certain situations (on field goals the ball is often obscured by the scoreboard) and odd AI strategy. Although EA has eliminated some of the problems with last year's game, they have also introduced enough bugs and missing features to make Madden 09 a complete waste of time and money.
  
  

• What the heck? Such a disappointment.

  
  By A1APYQBXK1X155 on 2008-08-21
  I didn't buy Madden 08, so i don't know what kind of 'progression' can be seen from the last incarnation. But, i was a diehard Madden player for years before 08. I bought 09 on day one. My first reaction was "WTF?"
  
  I really don't understand this. If one had never played a Madden game before, this one might be a reasonable game. But, the designers have a terribly flawed scheme: They Make Changes Simply for the Sake of Making Changes. The design does not Evolve or Progress. It's just different each time, just so that they can market a 'new experience.' But, hey, here are the fundamentals of good design:
  
  If something works, continue it. REFINE IT. Don't scrap it and do something different, and likely ILLOGICAL. There was a point when the menu systems and playcalling scheme were ideal. A few years ago. Things WORKED. In 09, they just don't make sense. Design is convoluted and arbitrary. SIMPLICITY, folks.
  
  Secondarily, i was shocked to see the game animations and graphics. I have not made a direct comparison to any previous edition. But, what i see in 09 simply seems like the same or a step BACK from what i expected or what i was used to. I'm sure there are some technical advantages in the current game, and perhaps the detail and resolution is enhanced. But, the animations don't look more realistic. They seem more cartoonish. I expected an evolution toward realism, but 09 is a terrible disappointment in that respect.
  
  I have a new 58" 1080p plasma, and i was expecting to be blown away by the game image quality when i started up 09. My previous gaming experience was on a 360 and PS2, on a OLD rear projection tv. But, 09 does not impress in any aesthetic criteria. Maybe i'm expecting too much? Seriously, on the day i first ran 09, i was wishing i could go back to Madden 07. THAT is a significant indictment of 09.
  
  I was so looking forward to 09, as i had skipped last year due to the framerate and other issues. And, with the new hi-def tv, i thought i'd be in gaming heaven with 09. But, i am totally disappointed. I believe this has put me off the franchise entirely. I certainly will not ever buy a game sight-unseen, based only on its heritage. I should have taken some time and read the reviews.....
  
  

• Honest Assesment from longtime fan

  
  By A1FW17M0WN4IKX on 2008-08-17
  Let me start by saying I've played and owned every Madden game for the last 7 years. I consider myself a big fan of the game and the sport. With that said, I'm going to highly recommend you on staying away from this years version. Although it seems like it was an honest effort by EA to make this game stand out against the rest of the Madden's, truth be told, this version is UNPLAYABLE. I've owned the game since it came out and my game has frozen IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME over 50% of the time. I'm sorry, I can't rate any game over a 1 if you can't even play it. Also, the AI for the passing game is ridiculous. Even on the lowest level, every QB completes about 95% of his passes. Incomplete passes do not exist. It's either a pick or a complete pass.
  
  Pros - Graphics are much improved over last years version. Online leagues are a good step. The announcers are a huge step up from last year as well
  Cons - Constant freezing in in-game play. QB's complete about 95% of the their passes.
  
  
• Good, but far from great.
  By A2UOHALGF2X77Q on 2008-08-25
  Maybe my hopes were too high since this is the first Madden game I bought since getting a PS3, but I'm not just not overly impressed by anything in this game. The Graphics are very good, not great. The animations and physics especially on pass plays IMO are no better than Madden on the PS2. Gameplay is nothing special either. Is it a bad game? No. It's just a decent game that leaves a whole lot more to be desired.
  
  
• Next-Gen Nonsense
  By A1KN5VJWOXSZDI on 2008-08-12
  If you're used to the PS2-style Madden games (like I was), PLEASE do yourself a favor and pass on this horror show. The animations are extremely awkward; the user picks, user catches, and stick moves that made the PS2 versions of Madden so much fun are now gone. The presentation is overwelming at times, and the entire game feels watered down to cater to the unskilled masses.
  
  I'm really, really angry that I got conned into buying a next-gen version of Madden after I saw how atrocious 2006 was.
  
  
• So unrealistic it may make you angry.
  By A273RFICM58S1N on 2008-09-05
  It truly is a sad day for NFL video game fans. Way back in the day we used to have options. Tecmo and Super Tecmo Bowl for a quick and fun arcade experience, and games like Madden on the Sega Genesis for a more realistic approach.
  
  With Madden 09 the only licensed NFL game in the world, you no longer have those options. For someone looking for a realistic and fun experience, over the years Madden has mostly satisfied that itch.
  
  The problem is, in 09 EA focused almost exclusively in it's new animation system (that started w/ FIFA). The producers and developers will often been seen online congratulating themselves on how amazing their animation system works.
  
  While it is true that the animations are better than ever, the problem is how this affects gameplay. This "branching animation system" means that players are no longer "cylinders" that you move around on the field with animations attached to them. In the words of EA, now when you press a direction on the controller you input a command to the player and the dynamic animation will decide what happens next in order to be more natural looking and have less of that "floating" feel of the former maddens.
  
  They are correct, it does indeed look more natural. Unfortunately all players share the same system. This will result in Peyton Manning shucking players to the ground in the same fashion that Lawrence Maroney stiff arms. (Despite Manning having a stiff arm rating that is 70 points lower than Maroney)
  
  The problem is another player comes in to tackle, you press the stiff arm button, the new animation system decides on the fly which stiff arm animation is suitable for the interaction, and boom. Peyton Manning is doing hip throws like Reggie White tossing around weak offensive lineman.
  
  This problem affects not just stiff arms but every animation in the game, tackling, passing, running. Every player animates the same way, negating their stats and turning Brett Farve into the next Marshall Faulk.
  
  Inside linebackers will leap 42" into the air and intercept passes with their backs turned.
  
  Essentially the only stat that matters is as usual the speed rating. To make matters worse there are dozens of freezing issues, crash bugs, franchise bugs, clipping issues etc...
  
  Once I had to watch a replay 10x over because I was amazed that the football had literally passed right through the chest of my TE to appear on the other side, and get intercepted. A condescending Chris Collinsworth can not wait to do an "EA BACTRAX" on that play and explain what I did wrong.
  
  The problem is I didn't do anything wrong, the football phased through the TE like Martian Manhunter.
  
  Clearly EA recognized that the game is cheap and broken, so they included the ability to "rewind" and erase any play. You can of course turn this feature off but you have to wonder why would they make a feature that allows you to reverse time in a realistic sports game?
  
  Clearly the answer is people realized that Madden 09 is no longer a fun game, its frustrating and cheap. The Offensive line can not block the CPU pass rush and even an All Pro Left Tackle will get beat for 3+ sacks per game on All pro or All madden.
  
  There is nothing you can do about it either. If you hold in running backs or TEs to block, they will simply miss the blocking assignment about 60% of the time.
  
  in the real NFL if you miss a blocking assignment even 2 times a game, chances are you will get cut. In madden 09 the best blocking RBs in the game will miss 2x PER DRIVE!
  
  
• Wish I had Madden 08 PS2 back
  By A1ZEFU09PN1BEB on 2008-08-13
  I haven't had a Madden game since March when my PS2 gave out. I was playing Madden 08, so I was really looking forward to getting Madden 09 today, the first one for my new PS3. I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. All the menus are very annoying and cluttered. I hate having to hold L2 while cycling thru all the player positions when looking at the rosters. The 1st thing I did was turn off the absolutely annoying Chris Collinsworth commentary and find out how to disable that stupid "Rewind" feature. Worst idea in Madden history. I also hate the playcalling screen. I don't care about all that junk on the right. I would rather have the full screen be for playcalling. I do like the fact that you can see the outside of the stadium during the introduction to the games. I don't like that you don't start each franchise with training camp. The gameplay itself is fair. I don't see anything spectacular. Short yardage is no challenge because as I've read before, QB sneak works everytime. Also, the 2nd game I played in Franchise was @Washington: there was smoke coming out of their breaths because it was COLD IN DC IN SEPTEMBER?!? Horrible job with that. Overall I wish I had Madden 08 for the PS2 back.
  
  
• Very Disappointed
  By A3ZYF974JCLG on 2008-08-20
  I've been buying Madden games for PS2 since 2002. I played Madden 08 for PS2 last year after playing college football for PS3, which I hated. I didn't even bother buying the Madden game for PS3. I bought this game, and it sucks. The gameplay is choppy, and the menu's are confusing. It took me forever to figure out how to load two profiles at once. What happened to playing with historic teams? It seems that the franchise has gone downhill. Having R2 for running doesn't make any sense either. You, also, cannot switch around the controls. They've worked for a lot of years, and many people, myself included, are used to them. Maybe having the NFL license is a bad thing for EA Sports. Everything used to be so easy on the PS2 games. I would go out and buy the PS2 game, but I don't want to give EA Sports any more of my money. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I don't like the play calling either. It doesn't make sense to me to change a product so much after it has worked throughout the last 20 years. None of my friends used to complain about Madden. 3 people I know currently have the game, and they are also complaining about the same garbage.
  
  
• It's Still The Same Game - More EA Gimmicks
  By AE4G85QH81AVP on 2008-09-29
  I wrote a review of Madden 08 on here last year so I'd thought I'd follow it up with a review of this years edition. Or should I say Madden 2000.9?
  
  Now before you pass this off as a Madden-bashing review let me give you my qualifications. I bought every version of Madden from the Genesis all the way to Madden 05 on the PS2 (which I happen to believe is still the best version of Madden ever made) and then Madden 08 last year on the PS3. I have been a Madden fan since the first day I could get my hands on a three button Genesis controller and threw a pass to an open receiver in the window based passing back then.
  
  So first lets start off with some nitpicking and EA's famous saying, "If it's in the game, it's in the game."
  
  Here is what is not in the game:
  
  *Once again, EA bought up the ESPN license a few years ago and they have yet to implement any ESPN presentation into the game like 2KSports did so well before EA got the exclusive license. The absence of any ESPN presentation in EA's flagship game certainly solidifies that EA's agreement with ESPN was an anti-competitive move.
  
  *No on-field referees or chain gang on the sidelines. Two staples of football once again ommitted from the game. Sure they added unnecessary security guards and even more players and non-player personell on the sidelines, but the most important staples of the game are not there, even though they were there in versions prior to the current gen systems.
  
  *Instant Replay challenges of sideline catches are still ridiculous. Every year whenever I challenge a sideline catch and a receiver has one foot clearly out, the call goes against me.
  
  *Sideline animations - Yes there is a two feet in animation when you throw to a receiver near the sideline but if a WR's route takes him towards the sideline and you throw towards that receiver his animation more often than not will take him out of bounds and result in an incompletion. Unacceptable.
  
  *Clock stopping on defensive penalties within 2 minutes of the half or 5 minutes at the end of game. I drove to my opponents 20 yard line with 20 seconds left, got an encroachment call on the defense, accepted the penalty and figuring the clock was stopped, I took my time selecting the next play, only to have the clock run out as I broke the huddle. Unless there is some new NFL rule regarding clock stoppage, this is a severe oversight.
  
  *Stable playing surface. Where did EA get the playing surface model from? The old Veterans stadium? When viewing replays from the game, you can clearly see players feet sink below the playing surface on a dry gameday.
  
  *NFL ice-capades. This is definitely still in the game, even with today's precision controllers. If you jump just a little with a DE pre-snap without encroaching, good luck getting him back even close to his original starting point. This is frustrating to say the least.
  
  This so far might sound like petty griping but here is the thing, this Madden franchise has been around for 20 years now, it is the #1 selling football game and the only game on the market. These little details should have been long since addressed, yet they continue to resurface with every version of Madden.
  
  EA is great at repackaging Madden every year with a new gimmick to make it look fresh. Anyone remember QB vision a few years ago? This year Madden IQ is the latest and greatest invention. What this IQ system does is evaluate your skill level and adjust the AI sliders accordingly to tailor the game for your set skill level. However this system completely replaces all the specific AI sliders that were available to players to adjust freely. There are some very general sliders that can still be adjusted but nothing like in years past.
  
  I would be all for this IQ system if there was a way to turn it off and adjust multiple sliders to the specific way a player wants the game to run. Look, anyone who has played Madden for any extended amount of time knows exactly where they stand as far as skills in the game they don't need the game to tell them where they stand. Other human players will be sure to remind you of that.
  
  What is the most irritating of this new system is you cannot adjust any sliders for an overcompensated AI. In the past I was able to tune down the AI QB accuracy and AI WR catching, especially when the AI's second string QB would complete 20 straight passes on me. The ability to adjust the sliders allowed for a more realistic simulation of the game.
  
  Not anymore, unless you dumb down the generic sliders all the way, be prepared for the opposing AI QB to march down the field with Joe Montanaesque accuracy against every nickel and dime coverage you have in the playbook.
  
  Now for the good:
  
  The graphics are a nice improvement from last year. The stadium models are clean and the lighting effects are top notch. Though I think the player models seem a little more "stiff" from last year and it really often looks and feels like the players are running in mud compared to last year.
  
  The branch animations have improved fairly well. Last year this feature was very impressive and this years crop of new animations improves on it. Well done!
  
  The commentary is vastly improved. Gone is the radio announcer who I felt sounded like he was yelling into a tin can. And in his place is a new broadcast crew featuring Chris Collinsworth. As much as I despise Collinsworth on TV, he does an excellent job as color commentator in this years Madden.
  
  The players models are properly proportioned for each postion.
  
  There really is not a lot of good to report over last years version and that is unfortunately how little EA has went to inmprove the overall game experience. Madden 05 was the last year that EA truly innovated their game and brought a deeper experience to it's faithful fans. Is it any coincidence that was one the last years the 2K sports NFL game was around to push the EA team?
  
  Next year, EA is going to have to show me something good in order for me to dole out any more money, paying for the same repackaged game. I've learned my lesson, 20 something years later....
  
  
  
  
• Yeah, it's Madden.
  By AM9SVF7W2617G on 2008-08-13
  There's not much to say when you review this game. If you've played the past iterations of Madden you know what you're in for this year. They have added some new features though.
  
  First and foremost they introduced their new "My Skill" adjusting difficulty level. When you first jump into the game they'll have you do a few drills to set your initial skill level. These are four drills focusing on rushing, passing, rush defense, and pass defense and from those they will adjust your sliders for in game difficulty. It sounds really good in theory, except that the offensive drills are really really easy, and the defensive drills are significantly harder. From the people I've talked to almost universally people will score in the All-Madden range on offense and down around the pro range for defense. My recommendation is to purposely fail the tests and start initially with all your skills at rookie and let it adjust from there. The first few games will be jokes but then you won't be stuck running for a yard per carry against an All-Madden defense you aren't used too.
  
  Second they added a Backtrack and Replay feature. Backtrack is a feature that after certain game changing plays they'll go back and diagnose what went wrong. I really like this and it's easy to skip if you don't. The Replay feature will let you go back and retry the last play, just a do over. You get a certain number of these per game. I don't think it's a bad deal, I choose not to use them but I can imagine that it's good for maintaining your sanity when you throw that really bad pass that shouldn't have been thrown.
  
  Those are the two big additions to the game. The rest of it's just further polishing of the game as it was.
  
  The graphics are pretty great. I haven't noticed any slowdown during gameplay yet and just a little bit when they are doing stadium flybys and such. They added a lot of little details, like the nets behind the field goal, and overall it's really just a beautiful game. The continue to improve the player animations and they are really good this year.
  
  For commentary this year they switched out the commentators and now you have Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth. Tom Hammond has the personality of a dead fish but Collinsworth isn't too bad. Sometimes the things that they'll say don't really apply to the play that just happened, and that can get pretty annoying. Overall though I think it's an improvement over the commentary of last year. Madden still provides a little post game and halftime commentary.
  
  As far as game stability that's really the only thing keeping me from giving this game 5 stars. I've crashed 3 times already at different points in the game and started to think maybe my disc was bad. A little research has shown me that a lot of people are having crashing problems. It's pretty bad after I have a good game and have the game crash before I can make it back to the menu and save.
  
  Overall though, other then a few issues I think this years version of Madden is great and you can't do much wrong picking it up.
  
  
• With no competition, Madden has gone downhill
  By AFXYLKX6HB5Q1 on 2008-08-13
  Ever since Madden bought out the NFL and became the single NFL game available, the Madden makers have greatly decreased the entertainment level of this game. I thought this year would be better than last with the "My Skill" difficulty setting, based upon the users ability, but I was sorely disappointed. Madden used to be my all time favorite game to play with friends, but now it's gotten worse and worse. Although I still enjoy playing it, shouldn't a game become improved and better with time? PS2 Madden was 10x better than this. The last good Madden may have, unfortunately, died with the 2007 season.
  
  
• This Game is BY far the WORSE MADDEN of all time...
  By ATCKSA6RACXYD on 2008-08-30
  The game is not fun,
  The game play is horrible at best
  AI is very stupid (WR's running sight seeing routes)
  AI is too smart (DB jumping routes before the play is developed)
  Franchise Mode is a mess- (forcing you to now buy NFL Coach)
  Graphics are nice but Id rather have GOOD GAME play then nice Graphics..
  The game play, the realism is just pathetic- Its unreal how horrible it is-
  In Franchise mode there is no player progression or at least its hard at best to get your players to improve with out having to play every single game- If this game is promoting REALISM- Players should get better if they play well during the Reg. and Pre seasons- the old Madden(s) did this well- WHAT HAPPENED?-
  
  I've played every Madden that has been out since '95 and Ive enjoyed them all for some reason or another- not prompting to go out and quickly sell it- But I have to say that this Madden '09 is to buggy and really frustrating to enjoy. - I'm putting it up on Ebay and Craigslist now I need to recoup some lost money and lost time on this pretender of a game.
  
  UPDATE: This has to be the WORSE thing about this version of Madden!!!
  
  This game FREEZES constantly making it unplayable- especially in Franchise mode- when you simulate PRESEASON Games...then when you restart the game and go back and try to "Sim" past the game it Freeze's again-all the hard work you did building your new Franchise is ruined. I think EA is aware of this as the message boards at their own Website suggest- But this has been going on for awhile so when is there going to be a new patch to alleviate this problem?-- yet another reason to sell this game-
  
  I will never purchase the Madden series again until I have read all of the complaints about it.
  
  
  
  
• Best Madden in years!
  By A34ZKPPWGBOSQJ on 2008-08-12
  I have been buying Madden games yearly for about 10 years now, and it was getting to the point where the changes were just not worth the money. This year i was really looking forward to playing this game because it had a lot of features. The one that really stood out was the REWIND feature. If you mess up on defense, you get an option to rewind the play and start over!
  
  The graphics are amazing, even though i hate the fact it can only go 720p. This game is a really nice improvement from the last couple years and definetly worth buying.
  
  
• More of the same
  By A185GVCGMWD2Y3 on 2008-08-12
  Better graphics, some improvements, the IQ thing helps beginners, pretty much the same game as last year. Still needs work. playing online I see a lot of players doing same thing, run there QB around in the backfield almost in circles, forever, and somehow always hit the open man even if he's across field and triple covered. The defensive pressure is a joke, you better blitz every play or the QB will have all day...
  
  I am surprised there wasn't like 15 fabulous reviews weeks before release date, I guess Amazon finally cleaned up there forums
  
  
• A Major Upgrade Over 2008!!!
  By A1JBP1MKGLWDRP on 2008-08-13
  Madden 2008 was a vast dissapointment, last year. It was such a dissapointment that I said that I would not buy another one for PS3, until they made a better version. When it came time for 2009 to come out, I was not enthused due to last year's dissapointment. Well, a GameStop rep told me that it would really be good. I downloaded the demo and I was impressed. It is a big step up from last year. There are a lot more moves. The graphics are a lot better. The commentary is very realistic. They don't say the same stuff over and over again. Also, the players run a lot faster than last year. That is important. You gotta be able to have the ability to "take it to the house". Also, the players hold onto the football better. On 2008, the players fumbled all of the time. There isn't that much fumbling in the world. There are many other features, but it would take me forever to mention them. Overall, the game is a must-buy. For those who were dissapointed in 2008, don't worry!! Madden 2009 makes up for it. For owners, be sure to download the cover of Brett Favre in a Jets uniform on GameStop.com!!!
  
  
• DARNIT! WHY ISN'T THIS GAME NEAR PERFECT?!
  By A3R3I38IZI0618 on 2008-08-13
  I'm tired of throwing my money for the same game year to year. The new PS3 version is good, not great. The graphics seem better as far as stadiums, players, crowds...however...
  
  #2 pet peeve the interface menus, the scoreboard, info boxes, pop ups stats, etc. all look like old non-streamlined graphics, near crappy grapics.
  
  #1 pet peeve the frame rate is slow as heck, real jumpy, not smooth as I expected that is clearly noticable. I'm like what is this? Geez! I haven't even gone online yet!
  
  I must admit I am [...] about that kind of thing, but like madden for even PC 2007 were gorgeous the menus, the interface, the music as far as football music classics NFL films music, whey the step down in a HIGE 20th anniversary year?
  
  I think what EA continues to screw up is this they have certain parts of each version that are more brilliant than the others why not copy the good stuff carry it over tweak everything until the game is near a 10. You don't have to come out with entirely different everything everytime. Stop working on 1000 man hours of new TD celebrations for the kids, tweak the good stuff this game should be a 9 or better everytime. This game is a 7/8 at best.
  
  I hope my favorite NBA LIVE franchise steps up, but Madden gets so much more attention, and this is what they spit out, my hopes aren't up. Really disappointed. Rent it die hards before you throw your money at it!
  
  
• Kinda of sucks
  By A3HK0S177FIZJA on 2008-08-15
  I have been a Madden fan since it came out some twenty years ago. This one kind of sucks compared to last years. The graphics are great, but there is no control on the camera. You can switch between classic and action, but even in classic view it does its little action view of the line. You have to constantly press the r1 button to get the camera to settle down. There are way too many cut scenes, your players dancing on the screen and stuff. The plays are the same as last year but going through them and selecting your play is a little more difficult and tedious. Time is of the essence, you have to call audibles, move players around, and such. I don't have time to keep stopping the camera. It also seems that at no matter what difficulty I set it, my receivers keep dropping balls, I have opposing lineman in my backfield as soon as I hike the ball. The computer players seem to catch every ball thrown to them. I have no problem sopping the run, but stopping the pass is tough. Will update later when I finish another few games.
  
  
• A Few Dropped Passes Shy of a First Down
  By ABX32NIYMWL1Q on 2008-08-24
  Madden '09, the 20th anniversary, pays homage to the series by bringing its namesake back into the picture--not in his traditional position in the booth, mind you, but as a guy who takes a backseat to the rest of the game. This isn't my issue, my issues lie with the game itself.
  
  This version of Madden, possibly more so than any other, has a very opinionated group of reviewers that seem to be split right down the middle. You either love it, or you hate it. It really depends on what you like. Oddly enough, this version seems to try and cater to the new player, but after twenty years, I think they would have more success catering to those who already know how to play. There aren't too many new players coming to Madden.
  
  Madden '09 really has an identity crisis; it is more of a two-faced game than anything:
  
  - The graphics are a mixed bag. They can look impressive at times, and in other instances, they look odd or goofy. I prefer the graphics in NFL Head Coach, believe it or not. In Madden some of the colors and schemes are definitely incorrect, and that's a big visual distraction.
  - Superstar mode is another confused child, but it really should be a lot better. The drills are difficult to complete much less get decent at, and AFAIK there is no way to practice them outside of the superstar mode. Aside from that, there really is no player progression, at least during the season. An overhaul is required here.
  - Franchise Mode is extremely bland and uninteresting. There is nothing new or even remotely intriguing here, and it immediately turned me off of this mode entirely. If you are a big Franchise mode player, I would recommend avoiding this game entirely.
  - The Madden Test system is a novel idea and approach to video games, but the reality is an adaptive video game is not yet marketable. It doesn't really adapt, it just attempts to determine your skill level with poorly designed tests. The system is very unbalanced, and having a decent game at any position for some reason simply means the game is too easy for you. Not every game has to go into overtime or be won by a field goal.
  - I'm not a big online player, so I can't comment on the online leagues. From what I have heard, they are not very appealing.
  - The gameplay is very hit or miss just like the rest of the game.
  
  For me, the gameplay has a much too arcade-like feel to it. For those of you who have played NFL 2K5, you'll note that Madden is basically the exact opposite of that. I prefer that style, so I am turned off by Madden's gameplay. The presentation of Madden is also lacking. The commentary is better and beats that old radio guy, but it is very generalized and detached. Again, 2K5 did an amazing job with their presentation, and it boggles my mind why EA can't even come close to it after twenty years.
  
  Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to bash EA or Madden. However, I do believe that after 20 years, their product ought to be a lot better than it is. This does not warrant a $60 price tag once--much less every August. ESPN 2K5 is my favorite football game of all time, and to me it still outdoes all these next-gen titles.
  
  This will be the last time EA gets my money for Madden until they get things right. Madden '09 never really held my attention, and it will be going back to the store shortly. But it's really a matter of opinion and your tastes. It depends which of those faces of Madden that you can stand. Either you'll love it or hate--for me, two stars of disgust and shame for what should have been a great title.
  
  
• looks nice, but fails big...again
  By A1XS7ZXXTS1MW4 on 2008-08-13
  I keep hoping every year that EA will get this right or at least better. About the only possitive for this game is the graphics. Game play is not bad, but come on can't they give the o-line some intelligents??? And once again the ratings are WAY too high. Where this game fails big time is in the dynasty mode and the joke of a draft that they have. There is a really limited number of players to choose from. Then the fun comes with the drafting AI for the computer controled teams. 13 of the first 15 picks were QBs, so if you need one you better hope you had a bad year. With the number 7 pick the Atlanta Falcons took a...QB??? WTF??? By the 3rd round there were no more QBs or HBs and only a few WRs but you could still get a CB who was rated as a top 5 pick. A trading up in the draft is so easy, I traded up from number 21 to number 2 and it only cost me a forth round pick. If you are looking at just playing individual games then this is not too bad but if you are someone who wants more then look at Head Coach 09 or wait till year.
  
  
• better than last years, still room for improvement.
  By A2EUOONMSGN0B6 on 2008-08-15
  its still hard to control your receiver once the ball is in the air and it seems like it takes awile for rb's and wr's to pick up speed. I noticed they have taken some offensive plays away also, It would be nice in practice mode if you could switch offensive playbooks to test them all out. The game is better than 08 so its making progress on the ps3.
  
  
• Madden Has Been Re-Born
  By AGGR5QGS0SIQD on 2008-08-15
  First off, I'd like to state that this game isn't just a port over like last year's version. What we have here is a legitimate next-generation football game that sets the bar high for all sports titles.
  
  Let's talk about the good things in this year's installment of Madden. Foremost, the visuals are absolutely stunning this year. From the menu screens to on-the-field action, you will be amazed by the attention to detail. The all new tackling engine added many more realistic tackles and the overall player animation are greatly improved. The new, improved graphics definitely take full advantage of the PS3's capabilities. Also, the new commentary is fantastic. Tom Hammond is a bit monotone, but Chris Colinsworth delivers one of the best performances by a commentator in a sports game. Colinsworth handles the EA Backtrack feature which is great. Backtrack happens after a sack, interception, etc. and Colinsworth breaks down exactly why the previous play failed, different options that would've allowed the play to succeed, overlays of the offensive and defensive play chosen for that particular moment, and other things that will better allow you to see what you did wrong on offense. Finally, the ability to audible at the line without giving away that you changed the play. An all new audible system allows you to change your play completely without tipping off the defense. The offense can call an audible and absolutely nothing changes from the original formation you chose. It is certainly a grand addition that was needed for many seasons.
  
  Now for the sub-par stuff from Madden 09. For those who like to mimic an actual football season, you'll be saddened to know that the Franchise and Superstar modes were virtually untouched. The menus were polished up, but there aren't any new features and some of the nagging flaws from years past remain, such as lack of player progression. Another issue is with the Madden IQ system that allows the game to "adapt to the individual player". The concept is awesome, but the system is broken as the testing is far too easy. By that I mean that a person that is new to the Madden series could pick up a controller and do very, very well on the IQ test; which then sets the difficulty levels to All-Madden and such. Like I said, the concept is phenomenal, and with some tweaking from EA, the Madden IQ system definitely has some potential in the future of sports games. Lastly, the online leagues and all the hype that came along with it. Basically, the online league feature is very disappointing. There is no stat tracking and you cannot have any CPU controlled teams. Like the IQ system, the online league feature has a ton of potential to be one of the best features of the Madden series.
  
  As you could see, the good stuff outweighs the bad; and even the not-so-good parts of the game are just a few fixes away from being fantastic. Overall, the game is much improved on year's past and doesn't feel like a "re-furbished" game. Instead, Madden 09 plays and looks like it was completely rebuilt for the better. Definitely recommend for die hard Madden fans as well as the casual gamer, or even the beginning football gamer.
  
  
• Best football game yet.
  By ARFNQVHWARONM on 2008-08-18
  This game is pretty amazing so far. I've only played about half of a season on franchise mode, so I haven't messed with everything in the game yet.
  
  The graphics are very impressive and they've added some great new player animations especially stuff players do immediately after the play.
  
  The new adaptive difficulty level is interesting. I didn't think I'd like it at first, but I definately do, and it's updated after every game as you improve. I also enjoy the rewind feature, which gives you a mulligan on any play of your choosing, but be careful you can only do it once per play (you can pick how many per game or disable it), and I've had the play go worse the second time around.
  
  I could not figure out how to load 2 profiles to play game against someone else with their profile active and mine.
  
  No more player intros in the pregame, the players all come out of the tunnel together. I liked the intros, but I could see how some wouldn't.
  
  
  
  
• Thoroughly impressed!
  By A1WWGLU3COINYG on 2008-08-18
  This game is thoroughly amazing! Everything from the graphics and sound to the gameplay is vastly improved over last year! The addition of smart difficulty levels where you go through training process and the game adjusts itself your ability is very nice as well.
  
  The audio commentary is 10,000 times better than it was last year. I have to admit I had almost given up on the Madden franchise and wasn't going to purchase this game but I'm glad I did! Thanks for getting it right Electronic Arts
  
  
• Can you say CRASH
  By A14SXL892GM4LC on 2008-08-21
  EA has done it again. Takes your money for an inferior product. If you don't mind the system crashing frequently it's a great game. If you don't mind losing your progress, buy it. If you don't mind a software company who doesn't have any care in the world about it's customers, have at it. The game itself is fun but the buttons don't respond quickly. There is a new play that drives everyone on line crazy: HB DIRECT SNAP (TB playbook). BEWARE online gamers. EA has corrected the DC glitch and pause glitch (maybe?) but they have added new glitches. Oh, and have mentioned the games constantly crashes your system? So either live with the old glitches of 08 or buy this piece of parc and live with the new glitches. EA has yet to come out with a glitch free game of Madden.
  
  
• Love It!
  By A56GSOE070ACN on 2008-08-22
  I love to play this game with the surround sound on. The graphics have improved. They have added a Virtual Trainer for passing, rushing, blocking and so forth - which was interesting. The announcers could use some work. I quite often wonder where they came up with some of the comments that are made. Overall, the game has improved for the better and I am happy with the release.
  
  
• Madden 09 PS3
  By A29O4B8YRY87JD on 2008-08-24
  first off where the heck are the ref's ! Has anyone noticed that there are no Ref's on the field during the game ? Anyway , Have to say that the graphics are clearly better than PS2. Ps3 graphics of the players are much more life - like. Ps2 players were for the most part Cartoonish in their appearance. The snow graphics are clearly better , at least the snow does stick and the surroundings of the stadium have the snow piled up on the sidelines. Would like to see the snow accumulate though. maybe they will have that added next year. Don't mind Hammond and Collinsworth , it was nice for a change from Madden and Michaels. Hammond and Collinsworth aren't great but I'm sure they will replaced in a few years too.Seems as though the CPU never Challenges a play. Only time you see the head coach is when there is a challenge, as long as your the one who calls for it. Quartebacks of the CPU seem to complete every 9 out of 10 passes.Don't know why the CPU players seem to run out of bounds so often when they are NOT forced out by another player. Had to get used to the controls after being used to PS2 conrtols for so long. But no game is ever perfect but Madden 09 PS3 is pretty good to have !
  
  
• Inexcusable
  By A1DHCE4CARK9MN on 2008-09-26
  I'm sure this game would be fun if I could get through a game without the thing freezing up. I bought it the day it released and have MAYBE finished 3 to 4 games. The freeze issue has frustrated me to the point that I can't bear to put the game in my PS3. Oh and it may be a coincidence, but another reviewer mentioned this as well, but the day after I bought Madden 09 and played that night, my PS3 crashed and had to be sent to Sony to be repaired. (Blu-Ray drive went kaput)
  I'm not a Madden vet by any means. This is the first one I've purchased since probably the days of Sega Genisis and what I played of the game I liked. I expected a huge learning curve and I'm fine with that as I haven't played this series in probably over a decade and the difficulty level adjusting to your skill level seemed to be comparable and fair. But like I said, no point in really playing if there is a very good chance you're not going to get through a whole game. I find this fact inexcusable.
  
  
• Finally
  By AVSMKPJPFSFVW on 2008-08-12
  I just got the game and played it for the first time. So far, it looks awesome!!!
  
  

• Madden NFL 09: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
• Madden NFL 09 Limited Edition Bundle: Prima Official Game Guide
• The Madden Phenomenon

• PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller
• PlayStation 3 80GB
• NCAA Football 09
• Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
• NBA Live 09