Welcome to our preview of Madden NFL 2009. Below are several features that we think are most important in this year's version, as well as a few sub-categories to break it down even further. Just scroll to the section you care most about and enjoy!

 

Accessibility

     Virtual Trainer - This mode was obviously geared towards the newer, less experienced Madden player, but vets will likely find it useful as well. Each of the 12 training drills fall into four main categories - Running, Passing, Run D, and Pass D ' and include everything from Rushing the Passer and Avoiding Blockers, to Tackling and Pocket Presence. You can do these drills as often as you'd like, and include many of the drills found in the Madden Test. These can help raise your Madden IQ drastically if taken seriously. The fact that these play out on a virtual/holographic field really helps keep things fresh and different from past training regiments.

 

     Madden Test - This will be the first thing you see when you boot up your copy of Madden NFL 09, and much like the Virtual Trainer, you will be tested in four main categories. Each category (Passing, Rushing, Pass D, and Run D) is made up of several stages, each of which becomes tougher over time. This is achieved in a number of different ways; more defenders may be added to the secondary while passing, or more blockers may be added to aid the running back during rush defense. The system also occasionally takes away your pre-snap route vision capabilities during passing situations, which definitely makes it tougher to determine which receiver is going to be open on that particular play.

 

Upon finishing each category you will receive a final rank in that department (Rookie, Pro, All-Pro, All-Madden), and you will have the chance to retake the test if you know you can do better. But more importantly, all of your individual ratings are eventually calculated into a final score, or Madden IQ. This will determine the tendencies and overall rating of the computer during matches. So if you score an All-Madden rank in Pass Offense, you can expect the CPU to be equally as good on Pass Defense. This system is designed to eliminate hours and hours of slider tweaking, so keep in mind you will not be able to adjust any slider sets while using your Madden IQ as the difficulty level. The IQ will frequently adjust itself over time, and if everything goes as planned, it will accurately provide you with a comfortable setting after a few matches. As long as you don't expect your initial score to be the perfect setting, you will find using this option much more enjoyable. Of course, you can always default back to the original slider options, but giving the Madden IQ a chance is a must to determine if it's right for you.

 

     Backtrack ' This feature gives you a quick lesson what you should've done in certain situations. Any time a mistake is made, a replay diagram appears on screen with colored overlays that show you how to correct the situation. So instead of Chris Collinsworth saying 'The Corner Blitz forced the QB into a bad decision,' he will now add to it by highlighting the CB's path on screen, and show you the open WR you failed to throw the ball to. This pretty much replicates the diagram breakdowns we have seen on TV for years in the NFL, only now you get quality feedback during games that will actually help you become a better player.

    EA Rewind ' This is likely the most controversial feature added this year. Some will love it, and some will despise it. Here's the good news; this feature can be turned off completely if you have a big problem with it. This feature lets you rewind, or have a do-over, on any play you wish. Did you loose the game by throwing a last second interception? Don't worry, just rewind it. Fumble the ball during that goal-line dive? No problem, just rewind it. See the problem here? I have no doubt many people will abuse it by taking touchdowns away from their opponents. However, the upside to this is that it's not available for Online Games, so the guy who called back your game winning punt return will be inches away from you on the couch. That alone should solve most dilemmas. This can be very helpful during single player, though. You can really learn from your mistakes, especially if you have trouble reading coverage patterns or various blitz types. Having a few rewinds up your sleeve can relieve some of the frustration many casual fans have felt over the years, and will ultimately result in better all around competition.

Presentation

     Enhanced Play Call ' This new feature adds a picture-in-picture window that appears to the right of the play call screen. It works like a tab system, and lets you instantly watch and access instant replays, along with offering gameplay tips and real-time statistics. Button icons have been added to every play in the playbook as well, which lets you choose your plays more discreetly during multiplayer matches.

 

    Commentary System ' Tom Hammond and Chris Collinsworth head the commentary team this year, both of which are solid improvements over the radio announcer from years past. Of course, to say the team is perfect and non-repetitive would be a lie. They still repeat lines too often, but to their credit most of the dialogue seems unscripted, and less targeted to a specific topic. This results in more natural conversation, much like what you would hear in a real broadcast.

 

     New Cameras ' There are now two different cameras to choose from. The Classic Cam is the view from previous versions, which hasn't changed a bit. The ActionCam is brand new, and succeeds by changing angles frequently during intense situations. It starts out slightly lower to the ground, but then fades in or out depending on the situation. This helps capture big hits, breakaway runs, and explosive blocks with more excitement while still keeping all the important action within direct view. We still don't have access to the five or six camera angles found in last generation, but at least this new camera offers some variety. Definitely a step in the right direction.

 Improved Sidelines ' With over a hundred people, players, coaches, security, and media on each sideline (I actually counted), you can expect the stadiums to feel much more lifelike. Of course, all one hundred of them don't exactly move about and react to the action on field, but it does add significantly to the atmosphere. 

 

     Video Highlights ' You can now save up to 10 videos and share them with your friends. You also have the option of picking one of seven different camera angles (video highlights only) to enhance your video. Post these to EA Sportsworld for everyone to enjoy.

Graphics

     New Player Models ' Player models have received a major upgrade, at least in terms of likeness and detail. Most of the players have the correct faces, and look astonishingly accurate when zoomed all the way in. Their overall body scale hasn't changed much, though ' most players' legs are still way too skinny and their feet way too big ' and tattoos are virtually nonexistent. You should also take note that hand warmers are still missing for quarterbacks and even small items like hand towels have yet to be included. There's also no option to change body scale, add tattoos, change hair, etc. for existing players. You can only make equipment changes, which may be a concern for some fans. 

 

     New Weather Effects ' Madden NFL 09 boasts brand new weather effects, citing a feature called 'Movie Weather' as an example. This means you'll notice small touches like rain and snow floating through the air in windy bursts, breathe dissipating as it leaves player's faces in cold environments, and even watch as your jerseys become covered in mud on rainy afternoons. I'm still not convinced, however, that weather is all it can be. Even at the highest possible setting, rain and snow still come down in underwhelming amounts. What should be blizzard-like conditions end up looking like small flurries and rain never reaches the point where it's hard to clearly see your surroundings. This year definitely shows an improvement, but having battles play out in intense rain or snow is something I really want to see, and can hopefully look forward to in the future.

Supporting Features

      Rivalries ' The AI will now bring its 'A' game during all rivalry matches, which will be much more challenging than normal games throughout the season. They will also have a slightly different broadcast presentation, and the announcers will occasionally chime in with banter specific to the two respective teams.

 

     Madden Moments ' With a total of 34 Madden Moments in all ' many of which must be unlocked ' it's safe to say your favorite team will most likely have a magical moment waiting for you to replay. The following are only a few examples of what to look forward to;

 

- Phins Get a Win (Help the Miami Dolphins avoid history by beating the Baltimore Ravens to win their first game of the year)

 

- Mile High Freeze (The Denver Broncos called a timeout in OT, and caused the Oakland Raiders to miss a field goal. Drive the Broncos down the field for the win)

 

- Stop the Stampede (Stop the Buffalo Bills 4^th quarter comeback by playing as the Washington Redskins)

 

- Giant Upset (March the New York Giants down the field and upset the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl)

Gameplay Features

      Total Control Animation System ' This new feature lets you fight for extra yards even when the defense seems to have stopped you dead in your tracks. You can perform any number of spins, jukes, etc. while the defender has you in his grasps, and depending on the skill of your player, you will have a solid chance of breaking free. You can also branch certain animations together, or break free of them altogether if you wish.

 

     User Celebrations ' You can now show off your best moves anytime a touchdown is scored. Celebrations include the Lambeau Leap, Goal Post Dunk, and numerous other generic animations. Just don't expect to see a penalty, though.

 

     Weather Specific Animations ' It seems for the first time that weather will actually play a significant role in the outcome of games. Players will now slip, trip, and slide while playing in rain or snow. This also means more fumbles, interceptions and missed tackles, at least during my testing. There's still no indication as to whether or not teams accustomed to a certain type of climate have an advantage or not. It would be nice to see Seattle play better in Rain, or see Pittsburgh have a slight advantage in snowy conditions, but at this point in time more testing needs to be done to determine if this is true or not. Either way, another nice step forward for Madden this year. 

 

     Return Missed Field Goals ' Just like in this year's NCAA Football, you now have the option of returning missed field goals for a touchdown. I've only been able to execute this successfully once, possibly due to the longer range of NFL kickers. In general, very few kicks end up being short, therefore very few options to return the kick.  

 

     Bobble Catches ' If you've been playing NCAA Football 09 recently, bobble catches are nothing new. Thankfully, those have carried over to Madden this year as well, and to take it a step further, Madden has its own unique set of catches not found anywhere else. My favorite so far is the sideline foot plant bobble catch, especially in the end zone.

 

     Slide Protection ' Another feature found previously in NCAA, this option lets you shift your offensive line in any direction before the snap. You send them left, right, forward (Aggressive), or even backwards (pinch). This is especially useful during run plays, or if you know the defense is blitzing from a certain direction. A long overdue addition to the series, in my opinion.

 

     Bluff Play Art ' Fans of multiplayer will love this new feature. You can now bring up a false play art, or 'Bluff Play Art' before the ball is snapped, and hopefully trick the opposition into believing that's the play you're going to run. This works on both sides of the ball, which adds some serious scheme reading to matches if you want to succeed on a consistent basis.

 

     Smart Routes ' You can now change your receiver's current route to extend all the way to the first down marker. This has been crucial for me so far, especially during time crunches, or on 3^rd down when none of your wideouts will make it to the marker by themselves. I would love to get to the point where some of the more intelligent receivers in the league can make this decision by themselves, but for now you're going to have to coach them through it.

 

     Improved Foot Pinning ' Tired of seeing players turn on a dime anytime they wish? Yeah, me too. Luckily, in this year's version players seem to have actual physics attached to them, and sometimes have trouble making sharp turns. This results in improved foot pinning, meaning their feet actually look as if they are connected to the turf. This is especially noticeable when using cutbacks with your halfback.

 

     New Gameplay Sliders ' A new slider system has been implemented this year, and here's how it looks. There are four main categories that can be adjusted (Passing, Rushing, Pass Defense, and Rush Defense). Each one of these main categories also has three additional sub-categories that can be manipulated. Keep in mind, the main four categories can be adjusted separately from the sub-categories, but at this point I'm just not sure how much they directly affect each other. Here is the full breakdown;

 

1) Passing (0-20)

            a) QB Accuracy (0-100)

            b) Pass Blocking (0-100)

            c)  WR Catching (0-100)

 

2) Rushing (0-20)

            a) Broken Tackles (0-100)

            b) Run Blocking (0-100)

            c) Fumbles (0-100)

 

3) Pass Defense (0-20)

            a) Reaction Time (0-100)

            b) Interceptions (0-100)

            c) Pass Rushing (0-100)

 

4) Rush Defense (0-20)

            a) Reaction Time (0-100)

            b) Block Shedding (0-100)

            c) Tackling (0-100)

 

Facts from my Dynasty and Rookie Draft

     Super Bowl - The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 37 ' 34. Both teams finished with a 13 ' 3 record in the regular season.

 
     Yearly Awards
- Tom Brady won the MVP award

- Darren McFadden won Offensive Player of the Year

- Ronde Barber won Defensive Player of the Year

- Darren McFadden won Offensive Rookie of the Year

- Brandon Flowers won Defensive Rookie of the Year

- Peyton Manning won Best QB

- Darren McFadden won Best RB

- Randy Moss won Best WR

- Leonard Davis won Best OL

- Ty Warren won Best DL

- Stephen Cooper won Best LB

- Ronde Barber won Best DB

- Josh Scobee won Best K

- Andy Reid won Best Coach

 

     Noteworthy Free Agents after First Year

- Chad Johnson

- T.J. Houshmandzadeh

- Michael Strahan

- Mike Peterson

- Travis Henry

- Takeo Spikes

 

     Top 15 picks in Rookie Draft and their rookie ratings

- 1) DEN QB Tim Tebow (92 rating)

- 2) MIA QB Chase Daniel (84 rating)

- 3) BUF LE Tyson Jackson (91 rating)

- 4) DET QB Sam Bradford (82 rating)

- 5) ATL LB Sean Lee (82 rating)

- 6) CIN HB Chris Wells (88 rating)

- 7) SF QB Graham Harrell (79 rating)

- 8) SEA HB Knowshon Moreno (89 rating)

- 9) NYG TE Travis Beckum (80 rating)

- 10) CHI QB Tom Brandstater (80 rating)

- 11) CLE HB Eugene Jarvis (82 rating)

- 12) BAL CB Malcolm Jenkins (86 rating)

- 13) NYJ QB Pat White (78 rating)

- 14) ARI DT Ron Brace (90 rating)

- 15) MIN LB Brian Cushing (79 rating)

 

 Thanks for reading our coverage of Madden NFL 09. Please check back on August 12^th for our full review.