Madden NFL 09

"Great Game...Takes some getting used to"

Let me just start by saying that this is by far the best madden to date..If I had to recommend any of the years of madden to purchase...THIS WOULD BE THE ONE! The running game takes some getting used to but once you get the feel for the new animations\control options I guarantee you will fall in love with it. I hadn't realized what EA Sports meant by "Total Control Animation" but now I do. Say you are wrapped up by one defender, usually once you get hit, you're going down. Not anymore.........

Gameplay

Now picture this...you are Larry Johnson for example (a beefy back) you get wrapped up by a measly safety as you're trying to break it off for a big gain...you press the stiff arm button and in a flash he pushes the defender to the ground with no remorse violently by his helmet. This is just one scenario. I was running once as willie parker on a counter to the outside. Needless to say the D didn't fall for the misdirection...as I was about to eat turf I cut the left analog stick back the other way, and as I watched this ultra realistic back plant his feet barry sanders style and cut back up field I found myself jumping out of my seat! It was almost like "oh man, I forgot my cookies."

Moving on to the passing game, so far I've managed to bobble a ball with one hand only to turn around and snag it out of the air before it hit the ground, I've had my little brother catch the ball on his helmet with one hand (ala David Tyree In the super bowl)and caught passes that were sure to go out of bounds by the tips of my fingers while dragging my feet inbounds.

To me defense this year is big!!! They play hard and if you can shut someone down on d in this game you could win with just 7 or 10 points on the board. The D-line to me still seems extremely hard to play because no matter who I am I seem to get pancake blocked or just thrown to the ground. Once you use that hit stick on defense though OH BOY are you in for a treat...I kicked a punt to an unsuspecting KC Chief in one game I played and was down the field with a hard hitting safety before the ball touched his hands...he grabbed the ball, and I unloaded a WWE style spear on him causing him to drop it and ask where he was (not really but it would be funny though)

All in all I have to say with the franchise mode still great just the way it is, the superstar mode the same, online leagues are definitely an awesome addition, and the Madden IQ and training which to me could use some work in the next iteration for balancing purposes...the game overall is great!! I don't know about you guys but I still think this is the best one to date!!! This will definitely tide over any football fan until next august.

Overall: 9\10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/25/08

Game Release: Madden NFL 09 (US, 08/12/08)