Madden NFL 10 Review
Despite being called Madden NFL 10, this edition of Madden is actually the 21st installment of the EA Sports franchise, and it has been developed by EA Tiburon. In something of a first for the series, two athletes are also featured on the box art and it's not the only thing that's new this time around.
After receiving criticism last year for the game being stale, EA Tiburon have added a host of new features, as well as attempting to improve on what's already existing in the game. This means that the Superstar Mode and Franchise Mode have been given a fresh paint of coat, as well as a few other amendments. This doesn't necessarily mean it's been changed for the good though. While letting players create their own Superstar to be drafted into the NFL, it just feels really detached. It does give the experience of playing as a solo NFL player, but since quite a lot of the action is skipped, there is very little match commentary and quite a lot of the time, the player's character might not even be directly involved. If for example, the player chooses to be a Quarter Back, there's a good chance that the coach will choose to use running plays, which effectively means the player does nothing. It is possible to call audibles as the Quarter Back, but in other positions it can feel really isolated. It may be a true experience of what it's like to be a player in the NFL, but that doesn't mean it's fun. Especially if the coach just doesn't pick the player to take part in plays. An entire match can effectively be skipped, despite the player wishing to play.
The Franchise Mode is exactly what the doctor ordered though. It has been revised further to make it a much truer simulation of the NFL season, with new and improved signing decisions, as well as player progression and regression. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once all of the different areas are understood it can be a lot of fun. It is possible to ignore most of it and just play though the season, but that takes away from the fun of truly creating a dynasty. It can also be enjoyed online, with up to 32 other players. This includes live draft picks, as well as message boards for the league. In an innovative move, this also doesn't have to be accessed through the game, as players can see things on the go via the web. However, this comes at an additional costs so it may not be for everyone.
The actual gameplay of Madden can't be faulted on the offensive side, at least. Playing as the Quarter Back is an enjoyable experience, as is the level of control a Quarter Back has on the influence of plays. The only gripe about the audible system is that sometimes it can be a bit slow, and when there is a play timer counting down, it can get a little frustrating. The actual controls are very responsive though, as playing at the Quarter Back revolves around selecting a receiver by pressing the corresponding button. It's a method that's been used in Madden games for a long time now, and it's one that works. Playing as a Running Back is also enjoyable, as the game has made it much harder to make lengthy running plays. This means it's a lot more satisfying if the player manages to break though the defensive line to get a good gain.
