Madden improves gameplay, sells soul
The Madden franchise is almost as old as console gaming. And over the years it has grown up to become a money maker and stand alone franchise every gamer and non-gamer can recognize. With this new installment EA both improves on the slowly stagnating series making it accessible to those new to football games but also sets in motion the possible death of the Madden games forever.
I haven't played a Madden game in about 5 years, so popping this into the disc tray was almost a new experience altogether. The sheer feeling of football overflows from this game. The opening cinematic, loading screens, in-game commentary, and on the field interactions including the new coordinator suggestions all make this feel more like football and less like a game. The graphics are crisp and animations look realistic and similar to gameday movements. Despite some odd clipping (like a receiver walking through a wall never to be seen again after a touchdown) Madden comes as close to playing a TV broadcast of football as I've ever witnessed.
Gameplay is both unchanged for Madden traditionalists and simplified for those seeking an arcade experience. In traditional gameplay you pick a play out of an entire playbook which you yourself can customize. But with the simpler form just gives you a play, "called" down from a offensive/defensive coach explaining why this play and what to look for. Both modes feel fun to play and I really liked the idea of being able to get an in-depth football experience or just playing some football for 15 minutes.
The main problem with Madden 11 is everything that isn't football. There are way too many menu options, from franchise mode to superstar mode (both of which feel nearly the same). Advertisements for spending money on more EA games, add-ons, and more random crap that shouldn't be in a video game this heavily. So much of Madden is covered in systems to get you to play football and spend your money that it almost buries the game itself.
Madden is a great football game. If you've played it before you will enjoy this one too, interested in football and this game couldn't hurt. But from disc in to disc out I felt pelted by ads, by offers, by "just give me your credit card number" type options that I wonder how much of my $60 did they really need.
