I’ve been playing the Madden series since it started and I can say that Madden NFL 10 is the best Madden I’ve experienced. The new development team is finally going in the right direction with the series. There are still quirks that I will speak later, but as football anything can be no better than this.
Madden NFL 10 will be nice to incorporate both hardcore fans and the game. For the general public, you can just play exhibition games or play through the franchise mode or offline and allow the computer to do most of the work of general manager. For the hardcore, you can handle all control of GM duties or you can choose which ones to allow the computer to do. Just be ready if all you turn on as you will be controlling everything about the team, but I know many hardcore gamers out there who grew up in this situation.
There is no denying Madden NFL 10 is the best looking Madden game to date. Here, stadiums, players, ancillary things like overpasses and game speed are simply superior. You will see more interaction in the frame, as the coach chewing out players for poor work and the players on the bike or on the phone.
One of the biggest problems over the years since the series jumped to the current generation of systems has been the blocking. Although largely fixed this year, yet there are moments where the performance in a block will move the block that he needs to, but suddenly turns and runs to block someone else. This of course leaves open the corridor for entry unless you do some fancy footwork. From the defensive side the problem has been with angles of attack. Many times in previous games the AI would have a parallel route instead of a diagonal to try to cut someone running across the field. Still happens here and there in this game.
Madden Franchise mode is the big attraction here. The mode itself has been refined a bit like a center like system that has a menu to the right and can go much on what happened around the NFL and its own equipment as desired. As mentioned before, you may choose to take GM as a destination for what you want or you can allow the CPU to do everything. If you take the path of the computer, there has been no better AI behind it in recent years. Trades are not so easy to do where I could get a great advantage, as in the previous iterations. The CPU is also very frugal with the salary cap if you select this option.
Madden Franchise mode is available online this year, where you and another 31 people can play through the mode with each of you having a team. There will also be opportunities to manage teams from an iPhone later.
I’ve noticed a great improvement over the pocket. The offensive line seems to be more responsible with maintaining the pocket. This is the first year, I remember my first impulse is not to fall back more or begin to run from side to cause an immediate break in the blockade. Now I feel much safer in the pocket looking at my options before passing. Even with weak quarterbacks, I’ve found that the pocket is safe for them.
You will still see weirdness in the game. Some of the voice recordings by Hammond and Collinsworth may be totally out of context with what is happening, but their banter is certainly better than the radio announcer who had earlier last year.
Madden NFL 10 is an example of a sports game where pluses far outweigh the problems. With the slowdown to a new level of play, this is the high-point of the series. The level graphics, presentation and game play in general make this a game every football fan should have. Franchise mode, both off and online, will keep this game going for a long time. I cannot wait for the online portion for more players, because a full league could be something very special. Do yourself a favor and pick up this game.
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