When buying a Madden game you can be assured of quality: top notch graphics and gameplay are guaranteed. There is only one question – has the new release moved the franchise forward? With Madden NFL 09 the answer is yes. Even better graphics and some interesting additions ensure that you will be delighted with your purchase. Madden NFL 09 is available on all console platforms, but not yet on PC.
The best new feature hits you as soon as you turn on: you are confronted with a Madden IQ test. And no – this is not a return to the school room. A virtual John Madden controls a simulation that enables your tackling, running and passing skills to be assessed and your Madden IQ determined. This ensures that you will be pitched into a game at a suitable level of difficulty. Your Madden IQ will fluctuate, depending upon your performance. Even if you are a series veteran you will find this a useful addition, as it is not always easy to judge your own ability. Newcomers, however, may prefer to manually select rookie level and rely on helpful playbooks combined with Cris Collinsworth’s backtrack analysis for guidance.
Another addition is a Rewind feature – make a mistake and you can immediately go back and try again. Used sparingly this can be an excellent way to improve your performance, but overuse will give a very ‘staccato’ feel to the action.
Responsive controls have always allowed the franchise to deliver free-flowing, realistic football. Madden NFL 09 continues in this vein, but with the bonus of some good gameplay enhancements. For instance, an audible (a tactic that can be used to change a play at the line of scrimmage) can now be quickly called without advertising it by formation alterations. Although the gameplay is very good, it is not yet perfect. There are still some irritations, including the elementary mistakes that are sometimes made by your AI opponents.
The Franchise and Superstar modes are still there – largely unaltered.
There is a pleasant surprise in store for series veterans: the developers have answered your prayers and included online leagues for the first time. A league can accommodate up to thirty two teams, but some self imposed discipline, regarding who plays whom, will be required if league positions are to be meaningful.
The graphics are quite simply superb: Madden NFL 09 has taken the series to a new level of excellence. The player models are lifelike, varied and move in a most realistic manner. In other words it looks and plays like a real football game.
Cris Collinsworth’s informative and well delivered commentary complements the visual excellence.
Madden NFL 09 offers a combination of very good gameplay and stunning graphics that will more than satisfy both series veterans and newcomers. The game is a must have for any serious sports fanatic.