Madden '09
Well, the game looks incredible. I was disappointed when I reached the 20 yard-line and heard the announcers comment on how I reached the 50 yard-line. But anyway, besides the lack of QB vision (they removed it), the flow was great, and the graphics are great. What do you guys think?
posted by Fancy Pants @ 8:44 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I'm coming around
So, I started a franchise with the birds. Some observations:
Good stuff:
I'm starting to come around to the game play. As Marr stated, it seems jerky or slow compared to PS2 madden 08, but I think this is actually intentional. Your players actually have momentum now; you can't just stop on a dime and turn around like you could before. To make up for this the distance you can be from the ball carrier and still start to tackle is much larger. No more will your safety pass shoulder to shoulder by the ball carrier and not even put his arm out.
Its easier for RBs and big WRs to break tackles. Also, gang tackling is much more effective (or perhaps truly exists for the first time). Also, when the ballcarrier is in the process of breaking free from a defender, he's not immune-to-being-tackled-until-the-animation-is-over like he used to be. Marion Barber will run up the middle, hit Stewart Bradley and start to struggle away only to be wrapped up by Dawkins with Bradley's arms still around his legs.
The players seem more realistically athletic rather than disobeying physics athletic. When you're running full speed, you can't jump very high because of how your legs are moving, but you can jump really high if you're standing still or jogging slowly. Its the same in madden. If a WR is running a post and you lead him with a high pass, he's not going to get a hand on it. But if you loft it and he has a little extra time, or he ran a button hook or something, he'll slow down and really go up for it.
Bad stuff:
Guys break more tackles regardless of the situation they're in. It seems like you're no more likely to break a tackle if you're sprinting straight ahead or turned around, catching a pass off balance. B West will break one tackle, be spinning around on one foot and easily stiff arm a second defender ... seems kind of ridiculous.
Offensive players are allergic to tackling. If you get an interception, especially with a return guy like Ed Reed or Lito Sheppard, you will most likely break at least 3 tackles before you are taken down. Happily, this seems to be the case for both sides, not just the PCs players.
The computer is AMAZING at throwing the ball. Even a bad QB will light you up. I played as NE against Miami, and John Beck went 17-20 against one of the best Ds in the league. Apparently EA is working on a patch to fix this.
The D-linemen seem even more impotent than they were in 08. Its incredibly difficult to get good pressure, even with a blitzer. Of course, the pressure doesn't matter since the QB always hits a receiver.
TEs are, yes that's right, EVEN MORE LUDICROUSLY DOMINANT than they were in 08. I just played Dallas and tooled all over their amazing linebackers with LJ Smith. As soon as you see your TE in man coverage, you know he will get open.
There are still major flaws with your O-line, not just picking up blitzing LBs, but simply blocking the D-lineman directly in front of them. I've had the most problems with Runyan, who has on multiple occasions doubled the DT for no reason and let the DE have a free shot at McNabb.
EA hasn't fixed the trading algorithm. I wanted to shore up the Eagles defense, so I traded away my 1, 2, and 4 round picks, SS Quentin Mikell, LT Tra Thomas and DE Juqua Thomas for the two most physically dominant young players in the league: Laron Landry and Patrick Willis. Juqua and Quentin weren't starters for me (Chris Clemons is a better pass rusher) and Tra Thomas only has 1 year left on his contract. Meanwhile Landry and Willis are both in the top 3 at their positions, are 24 years old, and have great contracts (Landry is a cut/resign).
i haven't been able to play much at all but i'm encouraged by what you're saying. i think those positives outweigh the negatives, especially if we're playing each other.
i was wondering, has anyone tried uploading a franchise onto the new online format? if we can't do that, then we're kind of screwed.
Post a Comment
<< Home