I Finally got Madden 09 a couple days ago. Its amazing, Finally a truly next gen madden. Almost every aspect is so fun and enjoyable. The gameplay has been vastly improved to have a more random feeling. This ads to an experience that will keep you very entertained and interested. Though Madden isnt perfect though. Online play isnt too good and is quite Laggy. Also they didnt do to much with the franchise mode. Even with these small setbacks the game is beautiful and has amazing commentary by chris colinsworth. If you skipped Madden iin years past this the madden to get.

I Finally got Madden 09 a couple days ago. Its amazing, Finally a truly next gen madden. Almost every aspect is so fun and enjoyable. The gameplay has been vastly improved to have a more random feeling. This ads to an experience that will keep you very entertained and interested. Though Madden isnt perfect though. Online play isnt too good and is quite Laggy. Also they didnt do to much with the franchise mode. Even with these small setbacks the game is beautiful and has amazing commentary by chris colinsworth. If you skipped Madden iin years past this the madden to get.

Try this
Go to player edit.  Edit a player's trucking to 0, STR to 0  stiff arm to 0 ELusiveness .  Make him 5'6" and 160lbs and put him at running back.
Now go into practice mode, play defense against that running back.  Watch that running back PANCAKE your best DL/LBs over and over again.

The gameplay does have a "more random" feeling because it IS random.  Most of the stats are MEANINGLESS, only Speed and throwing power really matter.  There are countless youtube videos showing how awful and unrealistic the gameplay is.

This is all due to their new animation system.  Any player can have any animation.  That means the ZERO trucking/stiff arm player can throw the most vicious body slam based on the branching animation. 

yes at first glance madden looks better.  But after playing it for a while you will realize that EVERY PLAYER ON EVERY TEAM IS THE SAME.  It's been tuned for multiplayer so that anyone can use any team and compete.  Single player is garbage, and if you play franchise mode for 3 years (sim a few to try it out) you will see all of your DBs magically get 95+ speed

The list of problems is too long to post here.