Madden Review and...

I can respect that, unlike some people that just say "Madden sucks, no thanks" a month before the damn game is released.

I spent my money on Sega football and gave it a good 2 week run and an honest/objective look before deciding to preorder Madden.

 

Actually, if you read the IGN review and the interview they had on the online leagues, it stated you can only use the rosters EA puts out for play and there will be no in league trades, drafts, or injuries at this point. You can still set up a season and playoffs and have stat tracking, but the big thing is the online gameplay which they said is smooth with no apparent slowdown. If that is true this may be the game to get.

 

You'll be surprised, Madden and NCAA typically are a bit different each year, they aren't THAT alike.

 

Yep. NCAA is usually based on the previous year's Madden engine with a few extra inhancements. The games are similar, but easily different enough that if you don't like NCAA you won't necessarily not like Madden.

 

according to this there will be no trades, injuries or drafts

http://sports.ign.com/articles/536/536230p2.html

 

How is the running game in Madden? In NCAA is ok at times but it really frustrates me when there is this gaping hole in the middle but as soon you get in it the defensive linemen roll off the offensive linemen instantly and tackle you for no gain.

 

Yeh, that is starting to get really annoying, especially when people blitz from the outside, you should be able to run for a big gain up the middle, but some DL jumps off and tackles you out of the blue.

 

I guess we'll find out what's what come next Monday/Tuesday. I'd have to say that for the money ESPN is probably the better game. I really like how far the franchise has come. I'm sure Madden will have it's little quirks in the beginning just like ESPN...only time will tell.

 

ESPN got a few higher scores in a few categories, but only by 2 at most.

It isn't an average at IGN though, it is just a score.

 

If you're registered at Operation Sports, you can read this impressions thread. Terry Crouch (an admin there, who I know personally and have raced PC games with in the past) has the game and has been answering questions. He's always been very objective and non-fanboyish and I respect his opinions as a reviewer, (unlike pretty much any print review of late).

Link to the thread

Here are some of his replies (from page 3):

 

That looks pretty good. I think I am more interested in Madden at this point, but a lot has to do with Madden and NCAA both being EA and not wanting to mix it up between the two seasons, controls wise.

 

It's not real hard to switch back and forth between NCAA's and ESPN's game controls but I would just like to see why people say Madden is this godly football game. I'll probably be disappointed but atleast according to IGN Madden gave the colts some pretty good player ratings...

 

The controls are very different. Not just the speed burst and switching players buttons, but all of the coverage shifts you do each play, knowing where your plays are in the playbook, just little stuff like that makes it hard to switch between the two.

NCAA and Madden will be similar, but Madden is going to have way more stuff to learn on the controller though (tons of new defensive coverage audibles on the fly... like only pressing with certain DB's and not all of them, or switching from man to zone on the fly, or assigning a double team on the fly, etc etc), making it even harder to switch between Madden and ESPN. I think they have more defensive audibles now than the offense does (hot routes included).

 

may be worth a rent but this suums it up best


"If you average them Espn is equal to 9.4, Madden 8.6."

 

Please... LOL I switch back in forth between the 2 every day. I can't ever decide which one to play. Playbooks??? Once you learn one NCAA playbook you've learned them all. ESPN definitely has the upperhand when it comes to play variation and having unique playbooks for each team.

 

Well they also didn't have to make one for 150 teams in ESPN NFL.

 

Why is there only one defensive playbook?

 

I agree with MP switching back and forth isnt hard because they maddened the controls in ESPN.
I use control version A dont know if that matters.


All those things sound great though.I really hope its all true. Ive heard that kind of stuff about 1000 games though and when the masses get a hold of them it turns out to be something completely different.

Every online computer game Ive ever played has come out with the Beta testers saying its the best thing since cheese wiz and then it always turns out to be crap.

 

There's a Madden-esque control scheme for ESPN? Which one is it and can you use it online? =P~

 

Why were some things in bold?