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Is Madden NFL 10 better than NFL 2K5, and does it really even matter?
It’s almost comical that this is even a serious question, especially considering there’s a gap of almost five years between the two titles. Even more comical could be the fact that the exact same question has been plaguing me since Madden NFL 10 showed up several weeks ago. Therefore, in a sense I’ve had roughly two weeks to figure out this answer. I’ve had two weeks to label NFL 10 as “the best football game in five years”, or decide to hold off on the accolades for yet another year. So what’s my initial impression after two weeks of constant evaluation? Yes, Madden NFL 10 is a huge step in the right direction, but labeling it as essentially the greatest football game to date isn’t something I’m willing to do, at least not yet.
Part of this reasoning initially has to do with the fact that on the surface there’s plenty to love about Madden’s new direction, but exactly how deep the makeover goes is very hard to determine in such a small amount of time. For starters, presentation has all but been reworked. Pre-game intros are varied enough that you likely won’t see the same scenario repeated very often, and depending on the city, team, or current week in the season, the commentary team will discuss various topics that are fairly specific to that time frame. One week you may see a head coach comparison, while the next may highlight the upcoming battle between two of the league’s hottest quarterbacks. There’s also plenty of history and team-specific dialogue to go around; it’s pretty impressive that each team appears to have their own history lesson or that smaller details like Ray Lewis’ trademark intro dance has been included. Scenarios like these go a long way towards making each matchup seem much more dynamic and less scripted as the season progresses.
(Opening Cinematic for Madden NFL 10)
Also new is a weekly interactive show called The Extra Point; this broadcast-style video presentation will help fill you in on the happenings from around the league before and after each game. The real-life broadcast crew of Fran Charles and Alex Flanagan will also be there during halftime to help add excitement by providing scores, stats, and by highlighting individual players who are excelling at the moment. Those familiar with NCAA Football 10’s Road to Glory mode will find The Extra Point to be similar in style, with the only downside being Madden’s video crew never cut away to actual gameplay footage during the show, and instead only talk about certain players or close games that are occurring around the league. Actually watching Brady Quinn throw the game-winning touchdown to secure the upset over conference rival Pittsburgh would’ve gone a long way towards the legitimacy of this new feature. But as it stands, those who compare it to NFL 2K5’s stellar presentation will sadly find that it pales in comparison, even with the near five-year gap in development.
Luckily, there are plenty of upgrades in other areas that will please the hardcore crowd. For starters, the game is much more customizable now. With separate sliders for both game and individual player speed, it won’t take long to find a style that fits you perfectly. Both are fairly self explanatory; game speed affects the overall quickness of player animations, while the individual player slider allows you to widen the quickness gap between faster and less athletic players. Doing so will ensure that each team’s playmakers stand out in certain aspects of the game; nothing is more refreshing than seeing your standout return man torch the opposition for six, or watching as your dynamic wide receiver exploits a rookie cornerback. This combined with the newly revamped rating system creates a noticeable separation in abilities, which is something we haven’t seen properly executed in the series until now.
There are also hundreds of new player animations (1,000 to be exact), that include everything from tipped passes to signature quarterback throwing styles to nine-man gang tackles. A true Online Franchise with up to 32 players also makes an appearance this year, complete with message boards, live drafts, player transactions, and real schedules – all of which are accessible from the web or iPhone to help ensure participation from any location. The only downside is the absence of slider sets and lack of customizable rosters in Online Franchises; this means no equipment editing and no cutting back on the number of interceptions.
(Video of Signature Throwing Styles for all starting Quarterbacks)
As previously stated, we’ve only had the opportunity to evaluate Madden NFL 10 for a few weeks, so determining just how in depth the new features and gameplay additions actually are will take more time to uncover. Specific areas such as wide receiver/defensive back jostling and offensive/defensive line interaction were in need of serious refinement, and while it’s clear that meaningful strides have been made this year, we won’t be able to provide our in depth analysis until the full review. Lastly, those who participated in our User Q & A will find the answers to their questions below, and likewise please check back on August 10th for the official review.
User Q & A from July 15th
1) How does heavy rain or snow affect the player’s performance?
Answer: Both heavy rain and snow cause numerous on-field problems. Players will slip when dropping back, making sharp turns and cuts, and lose the ball more frequently. The commentary team will even chime in occasionally to highlight these mishaps.
2) Does presentation in Franchise Mode keep things fresh every week?
Answer: Yes, but most of the new additions to presentation will occur before, during halftime, and after the game in Franchise mode. You will see multiple intros for each team, not to mention the commentary team will highlight different players or coaches for discussion. The pre-game cutscenes also occasionally step outside of the stadium to highlight tailgaters and provide historical information. There are also new camera angles and cutscenes that occur throughout the actual game, but these are much less varied than the pre-game intros. Luckily, game-specific commentary and milestone updates help each matchup standout from the other.
3) Can everything about players be edited, including their potential rating?
Answer: Unfortunately, player potential, physical appearance (height, weight, hair, no tattoo options, face type, etc.) and age cannot be edited for existing players. You can create players from scratch obviously, and adjust their rating for nearly any category you can think of, except for potential. I believe you are automatically granted a potential rating after creation, but I’ve yet to determine the factors that play into this.
4) Can QB’s be placed in the wildcat formation to take the snap?
Answer: Yes, but with only a small snag. You cannot set your custom formations before the game, as there’s no coaching menu for that. This has to be done on the fly while picking plays during the actual game.
5) How is a line interaction? More specifically, how does the game handle and include the 3-4 defensive schemes?
Answer: The 3-4 defensive scheme is in the game, however, just how effective it can be vs. your opponents offensive line has yet to be fully determined. The good news is that the offensive line now forms a pocket around the quarterback, which is much more realistic, and definitely allows the defense a greater chance at getting the sack. With that in mind, gameplay sliders and player ratings can play a huge part in how well the center or tackles can handle the defense’s pressure. Some games I seem to get a fair amount of penetration, while other times not so much. The better ends in the league do get double teamed frequently, but that doesn’t always translate to penetration on the other side of the line. Hopefully, I can figure out why this is happening by adjusting sliders ,etc.
6) Is create-a-stadium in the game? Can you create one from scratch in your current city, or do you have to relocate the team first?
Answer: Create-a-Stadium is in the game, just not from scratch. The only way to physically create a custom stadium from the ground up is to relocate your current team, or create a new one. You can upgrade your existing stadium throughout Franchise Mode, but none of it is visual.
7) What is Madden Shop?
Answer: There are around 25 items for purchase in the Madden Shop, which is essentially a shortcut to all the DLC available for the game this year. Some of the key items include Hometown Hero (keeps player out of retirement for one more year), Play through the Pain (one player recovers from injury, despite its severity), and Dig Deep (all players receive a 10% stat boost).
8) Is commentary game-specific? Do the announcers highlight players who are playing poorly or exceptional throughout the game?
Answer: Yes, the commentary team does a surprisingly solid job of singling out players who are either underperforming or having a great game. This combined with stat overlays for that individual player makes it even more realistic.
9) Has anything been added to Superstar Mode?
Answer: Sadly, nothing of note. The on-field atmosphere is still leaps and bounds above what NCAA’s Road to Glory mode offers, but the overall stigma feels almost untouched. You no longer have the preseason workouts and training camp, so that may or may not be a concern for you. The IQ test still exists, but that’s about it.
10) Do all QB’s have their signature throwing styles? Do second year players like Dennis Dixon have correct their correct style and stance?
Answer: All starting QB’s have a signature throwing style, but how correct they are will require serious inspection. Second year players like Dennis Dixon have generic stances and throwing styles, however you can edit and select different styles from a list. Unfortunately, you may not find an exact match, but at least the option exists.
11) Is there a true Super Bowl celebration?
Answer: There is in fact a Super Bowl celebration, but considering it lasts around 10 seconds, I’m not sure labeling it as true would be suitable. There are multiple trophy celebrations, complete with confetti and camera flashes. It’s nice, but it feels too short considering the time commitment it takes to play and win the Super Bowl. It’s just not much of a fair trade off in my opinion. Some people may love it, though.
We are just 17 Doug Williams/Jason Campbell days away from launch...I can smell the soup, it's gonna be Mmm,Mmm good!
I like the Skins and Jason Campbell....adn I was looking for a new team to use since the Bucs aren't that good this year. We might have a winner :)
Thanks for the info. I can't believe EA can't match the awsome halftime shows from NFL 2k5.....five years later. Astonishing.
Can we edit players without losing their draft history (year they were drafted and in what round and pick number). When we edited players last year, their draft history would change to Free Agent everytime.