Madden NFL 10

EA Sports has brought us this seasons offering in the Madden NFL series and along with keeping some of the features found in 09, Madden NFL 10 also drafts in new ones. Once again, EA Tiburon is behind the development, and coming off a successful Tiger Woods PGA Tour season, let’s see if they can emulate that success on the field.

The first difference you’ll notice is the look of the players. Whereas previous versions have gone for the more realistic approach, Madden NFL 10 has gone for a more characterised-approached that emphasises the body-shapes of the players. So whether they’re a linebacker, quarterback, lineman, wide receiver/defensive back, or strong safety/running back; each will have their own unique look that highlights their “personality”.
Each of the 32 NFL stadiums have also been faithfully recreated; each with their own unique characteristics such as the pirate ship at Tampa Bay. The sense of scale is increased to help create a more stylised world.

Wii gamers (and outsiders) who are not familiar with previous versions might be forgiven to assume that the only reason why this game looks cartoon-like when compared to its HD console counterparts, is because that’s all the Wii can handle. Not strictly true. Last year’s offering was a step in a more traditional direction; both in content and visuals. I get the feeling that EA are just up for change. This year, I sense that the aesthetic look of Madden NFL 10 is just one little thing that EA Tiburon are trying out because they can.

American Football is one of those sports that may seem a bit intimidating if you’re not a fan of it. It may not be as visually-simplistic as Basketball, but don’t let the “turn-based” nature of play (or the various set pieces) put you off. Even if you’re not a fan of American Football, with a little patience, you can get a lot of enjoyment out of this game. As with a lot of EA’s recent releases, the All-Play mentality is still optional; allowing more casual gamers to enjoy the fun without worrying about all the advanced controls.

It’s pretty clear that this year’s Madden NFL is attempting to draw in interest from gamers who don’t usually associate themselves with such a franchise, for whatever reason(s). Emphasis has been put on multiplayer experiences; allowing up to four people to play together in Madden Showdown. Featuring a choice of game changers that gives way to a set of custom rules, players can take part in 5-on-5 or the usual 11-on-11 matches. As if a bunch of friends playing a sports title won’t get competitive enough, now you can make predictions on the game in a series of stat-related categories; like the winning team or who makes the most rushing attempts, and win yourself showdown points. A simple concept, but one that actually enhances your Madden NFL enjoyment; even if it’s just a bit of fun on the side.

Road To The Superbowl is one area that feels weak. The option to go 5-on-5 or the more traditional 11-on-11 is present, as is the duration of your campaign (half season, full season, or play-off mode). That’s about it. There’s nothing in the area of player transfers, or detailed statistics; things that a player-manager should have at their disposal. Friends can join in on your season, which should seem like a bonus, but I feel a campaign like this is best enjoyed on your own. Especially when your friends get benched for less-than impressive performances.

With the inclusion of All-Play which offers simplified controls, it makes me wonder what the point of the Huddle-Up mode is. All player 2 has, is the control of a cursor that allows them to knock down the players that are in front of them using the A button. All in all, player 2 does so little during the course of the match; they’re bound to lose interest sooner or later, unless they want very little to do in the first place.

Call Your Shot plays make a welcomed return, with the ability to make them whether you’re in possession or not. If you’re on defense, you can drag your players to cover different zones and change up the plays in any way you see fit. Even if you don’t use this feature a lot, it’s nice that it’s there because it make excellent use of the Wii Remote. It’s as close as you’re going to get to being on the sideline, drawing up all these mad crazy plays on a board; surrounded by players with vacant looks in their eyes.

EA Tiburon has made excellent use of the infra-red pointer on the Wii Remote. Asides from the Call Your Shot element, it’s also used as one of the passing methods. You have the choice of “point and pass” where you point the Wii Remote at your receivers and press the A button to throw it to them, or “directional passing” in which you hold down the designated d-pad button and swing the Wii Remote forward. I personally prefer the “point and pass” as it feels more responsive.
Motion controls haven’t been eradicated, although there’s not much of it. Power moves like jumping, head-lowering, spinning, and stiff arms are triggered by shaking the Wii Remote, with more specific ones assigned to buttons.

There’s not much to soak in within the sound design of Madden NFL 10. Power moves are sometimes accompanied by bone-crushing arcade-style sound effects. The soundtrack is your typical mixture of Rap, and Rock chart singles; with a few tracks that are exclusive to EA. And yes, there is a little something from Rage Against The Machine.
Commentary is provided by Cris Colinsworth and Tom Hammand; but unfortunately like many sports games, the relevance of what comes out of their mouth is questionable at times. Not their fault, but rather the programmers. No-one expects to be criticised for courageously reaching a first-down that was risky and against all odds.
Another small minor aspect of the game that doesn’t make sense is the selection of post-Touchdown celebrations. After reaching the end zone, a selection of circular buttons will appear and you have a limited time to point your Wii Remote on-screen and choose an act of showmanship. Thing is, there’s no way of knowing what icon does what since they’re all represented by the logo of your team. Other than physically choosing which icon, it’s pretty much random.

Online matches make a return, although not much has changed since 09. Asides from the cheat codes, you can also unlock the Superstar, and Franchise modes.
Minigames are broken down to three main categories; Mini Camp, Multiplayer, and Competition. Mini Camp is pretty good if you want practice your drills, and I would even say it’s crucial if you want to be prepared. The other two just seem a bit arbitrary.

Overall, Madden NFL 10 is a solid American Football game that feels like a jack-of-all-trades. The only area I can think of where it seems to excel is in the multiplayer. That’s not to say you won’t have fun playing on your own; but the Road To The Superbowl just isn’t nourishing enough as a career mode. It seems, for the hardcore NFL fan, a lot of things were achieved with Madden NFL 09 and this year sees the developers going through a slight experimental phase. Some interesting concepts have appeared, but it also seems that some have disappeared.
If you’re after something that’s more tried-and-tested; last year’s edition is probably your safest bet. If you’re after something that still offers the hardcore something, but also draws in the more casual gamer, then Madden NFL 10 is definitely worth a purchase.

+ Very good use of the Wii Remote (in particularly the IR pointer)
+ Fun multiplayer game
+ Online matches will ensure replay value

- The stylistic look will divide gamers
- Road To The Superbowl seems too diluted for a career mode
- Gamers looking for a more traditional approach would probably prefer Madden NFL 09
- Too arcade-like in nature for a sports-sim

Score – 8/10