Madden NFL 11 - Playstation 3

There are several people who are veterans of Madden that would argue that this is just a another roster update (although some players like TO are not on their current team) and does not really change from Madden 10. For the more inexperienced Madden crowd this is a great stepping stone. The gameflow setup is really great for those of us that aren't play savy and just want to sling it or go...all...the...way!!!!! The graphics are insane on my ps3 and older plasma, and I could only imagine the clarity if I were to upgrade my tv. I don't use the online feature much but for those online gamers it seems pretty robust and brings global gaming right into your home. The gameplay itself is pretty neat. I am not sure what was in Madden 10 or pervious versions but the use of both analog sticks makes the game that much better. Juking with the ball carrier looks pretty realistic to the real thing and the hits have gotten much bigger, but not to the point of Blitz or anything too over the top. The detail in the fans and stadiums is similar to the Fifa line EA has put out and several other EA sports games. The commentators are pretty good and dont use the same line that often, this will probably change after a few seasons of playing though. Practice/Virtual gameplay are great for the newbie looking to learn the skills necessary to dominate/enjoy the game, although I remember these features being in the older versions via my BestBuy test drives. If you are a die hard Madden fan than this is the game for you as well as if you are still a newbie. However, if you are a purist or are very particular of your video games this may indeed just be another roster update. The only flaw I would like to workout or figure out (could just be my ignorance to this game) is how to update the roster using an official NFL roster or official Madden roster. Similar to the dynamic rosters on NBA Live 10 or MLB the Show 10 where you can just log in via the online feature and have the rosters/players updated for the season you are about to start. Granted the dynamic DNA season in NBA Live is a different setup since you can only play the one season with the trends a players is experiencing. A simple roster update feature in Madden would be great.

I have played the Madden series for quite awhile now. I can say this is the best one yet. I havent played it much yet obviously, but there are some things I really like so far. "User" picks are much easier now. It used to be that every time you try to make a user pick it would just deflect off the defender 8 times out of 10. I played 3 games so far and have had 3 user picks. Another thing I like is the gameflow option. Im sure some people dont like this and bash the game because of it, but I like it. Sometimes it selects some random and rather dumb plays but for the most part it picks the right play in the right situation. As a somewhat experienced Madden player though, you still will want to pick some of your own plays quite a bit. The game is the most lifelike that it has ever been and while I am not completely amazed by the game as I have been playing it for years and knew somewhat what to expect, I am still impressed.

Madden 11 no matter what anyone says is a great game. 1. GAMEFLOW. Gameflow is not as great as i had expected because if u do that online the other persons gameflow will usally tell u what they are likely to do. But overall is fine. 2. GRAPHICS. Graphics are of corse amazing on the playstation3 and Xbox. Looks as close to the real thing ias i believe possible. 3. CONTROLS. The sprint button has been taken out and i still dont know if that is a good thing. It feels more natural for there to be a sprint button but i think it may be better without. 4. ONLINE. Online is very fun. Very easy to do but it took me a little while to find the codes that u need for it. 5. OVERAL. Overal it is a great game, very fun. The only thing i can think of that i dont like is the songs they play in the background but whatever right. Great game Get it if u like football for shere

Gamestop 8.0 The annual arrival of Madden signals the end to the summer sports doldrums. The newest entrant in the long-running franchise doesn't offer a substantially different experience from last year's edition, but a number of small tweaks make this the best game yet in the series. Improved artificial intelligence on both sides of the ball eliminates much of the frustration from previous games, and a streamlined play-calling system keeps everything moving at a steady clip, letting you focus on pulling off spectacular plays rather than futzing around in menus. Commentary has also been improved, largely because the interminably dull Tom Hammond has been replaced by the vibrant Gus Johnson. But there are still a number of issues that keep Madden NFL 11 from cruising through the playoffs. The new Ultimate Madden mode is little more than a novelty and a number of odd quirks during games are real head-scratchers. Even with those problems, though, this is a great replication of the hard-hitting sport. And that's why they're known as the Bungles. * Comment on this video * Watch this video in High Def Gameflow is the most obvious addition to Madden NFL 11. This feature allows you to call your offensive and defensive plays with just one button press, which may sound sacrilegious to those who enjoy choosing the perfect play from a list of hundreds but is a welcome option for those who just want to focus on the action. The game does a good job of picking a reasonable play based on down, distance, and game situation, and there is enough variety in the play calling to ensure your opponent is kept on his heels. Even though gameflow offers an intelligent play most of the time, there are still some issues with this feature. Draws and screens are called on consecutive downs too often, killing the element of surprise, and the computer tends to favor the passing game even when you're tearing things up on the ground. You can always audible out of a bad call if you need to or tweak your game plan beforehand to ensure your favorite plays are called more often, but there is one other hurdle: the wildcat formation. This is as predictable in Madden NFL 11 as it is in real life, and all too often, it results in a wasted down because you can't audible to something worthwhile. Even with these issues, gameflow is a welcome addition to the franchise. The other changes are less noticeable than gameflow, but they have a much larger effect on the action. Artificial intelligence has been greatly improved. In previous games, cornerbacks had trouble covering slant routes, but that's no longer an issue here. On the harder difficulty levels, you need to run a variety of routes to have any sort of success, so you can't just rely on a few money plays to march down the field. The offensive line is also much smarter this time, especially in run blocking. Linemen move with a purpose during plays, making it easy to follow them through a hole and giving you confidence that they'll pick up the linebacker in your path. There are still times when they turn around to block a player who is no longer a threat or simply stand still while you get flattened by a safety, but, for the most part, the improved line play makes running much more enjoyable. It takes more than one man to bring down The Inconvenient Truth. As good as the offensive linemen are on running downs, they can be lousy on passing plays. There are far too many times when your five linemen will remain immobile after the snap of the ball, letting defenders crash into your quarterback like bloodthirsty barbarians. This is especially noticeable while running play action. By the time you fake the ball and get ready to pass, a linebacker will be breathing down your neck, giving you little choice but to throw the ball away and live another day. There are also strange flubs that ruin the illusion that this is real football. Quarterbacks will sometimes throw a cover-your-eyes, Jamarcus Russell-caliber pass on what should be a simple dump off in the flat, and these unfathomable passes occur even when you're standing still without a defender in sight. The ball also does not conform to real-life physics. If a safety knocks the ball away from a receiver, the ball will sometimes bounce wildly between the players, resting on the backs of their necks or helmets, which looks completely ridiculous. None of these issues are problematic enough to destroy the fun, but they are annoying and can lead to bouts of anger if they crop up during an inopportune moment. The improved physics and animation make this the best-looking game yet in the franchise. Nevertheless, for the first time in ages, Madden is behind the competition in this area. The recently released Backbreaker still has the most vicious, realistic-looking hits, but even though Madden NFL 11 is runner-up in this area, it's certainly no slouch. The revamped physics system gives you more subtle control in your offensive repertoire. All of your jukes are mapped to the right stick, and you can twist and contort your body to pull away from a grasping defender. The sprint button has also been disabled (though you can turn it back on in the options menu), which sounds like a strange thing to remove but makes carrying the ball feel more realistic. Your speed is automatically increased if you hit a hole and can pull away from a defender, but for the most part, you just have to focus on evading opponents. You also won't outrun your blockers nearly as often, and it is fun to use them as a shield until you can break free for a touchdown. Last year, Ultimate Team mode was offered as DLC after Madden NFL 10 was released, but it's included in Madden NFL 11 from the get go. In this mode, you create your own team and then receive a collection of random players to fill out your rosters. These players are doled out as if they were football cards, with their pictures on the front and their statistics on the back. You use this collection of athletes against either the computer or friends to earn coins that allow you to buy more players for your team. It's a neat concept, but it's not very interesting in practice. The initial assortment of players is comprised of second-tier talent that won't be recognized by anyone but dedicated NFL fans. And it takes a lot of time to unlock anyone you would actually care about. The best part of the Madden games has you taking control of your favorite franchise with your favorite players and turning them into Super Bowl champions. Ultimate Team takes away that appeal. Even though you unlock household names by winning some games, it's not worth the effort. It's harder to stop a team when you don't film their practices. * Comment on this video * Watch this video in High Def Madden Moments is a much more enjoyable alternative to Ultimate Team. In this mode, you replay dramatic contests from last season. Sometimes, you try to reenact improbable victories; at other times, you have to change history by coming up strong where the real-life team fell short. For NFL fans that lived through these intense situations last season, it's a real rush playing them all over again. Remember when Peyton Manning threw that embarrassing pick six in the Super Bowl? You have a chance to mount a comeback that the reigning MVP could not pull off. But there are still some issues in this mode. The most glaring problem is that you can't restart in the middle of a contest. If you throw a stupid interception or fail to recover a crucial onsides kick, you either have to go through the motions until the clock mercifully runs out or go all the way back to the main menu and reload. More troubling for big-time NFL fans is that the rosters aren't accurate. Even though these moments all took place last season, you have to use this year's rosters. It's downright laughable trying to mount a Rams comeback as Sam Bradford, when the prodigious QB was still in college last year. Despite other modes vying for your time, Madden NFL 11 is still at its best when you're taking on a friend in competitive play. The online action is incredibly intense and downright exhilarating at times. The ebb and flow of professional football is captured beautifully here, and there's nothing like pulling out a last second victory against your gridiron equal. There is a bit of lag, which is particularly noticeable during the kicking game, but it's generally smooth and tons of fun. Cooperative action is a cool gimmick, giving you the ability to team up with up to two other friends on the same side. Each person controls a specific group of players, like linebackers or running backs, and you upgrade your abilities by completing objectives. However, it's strange to lose full control over your team. Playing as the quarterback is still much more interesting than any other position on offense, which only makes cooperative play entertaining for a few games before you just want to disband your loyalty and take your buddies on head-to-head. Obama shows off a jersey he can be proud of. Commentary is greatly improved in this edition mostly because the monotonous Tom Hammond has been relieved of his play-by-play duties by the effervescent Gus Johnson. The excitable commentator does not quite match the overwhelming joy he exhibits in real games, but he still infuses games with much needed energy. His color man is Cris Collinsworth, and though he does repeat himself a bit too often, he provides heady analysis that gives these digital events the feeling of something much larger. Unfortunately, elements of the presentation are not handled nearly as well. In Franchise mode, you can watch a weekly wrap-up show called The Extra Point that goes over the key games from the previous week and previews the upcoming slate of games. But the details are so vague that it's completely worthless. You get a box-score breakdown of the biggest games, but you won't hear any specific details on how the game played out (such as a big comeback or questionable referee call) or get any highlights. Despite the gameplay quirks and presentation hiccups, Madden NFL 11 is still a great football game. The improved AI and enhanced physics system makes the on-field action even better than before, and the realistic commentary makes your quest for victory carry that much more weight. The changes are generally subtle, so casual football fans may not notice all the tweaks to the core gameplay. But for those who live for football and get pumped for granular changes, Madden NFL 11 once again hoists the Lombardi Trophy. IGN 8.0 For years Madden has been building features, gameplay modes and control mechanics for the hardcore football fans of the world. It was trying to emulate even the smallest details of NFL football and EA Sports enjoyed lots of success with its endeavors. But in recent years many newcomers were turned off by the complexities that Madden brought to the table. With that in mind EA created Madden NFL 11, an iteration of the series that is built more with the mainstream fan in mind, while still not losing any of the hardcore-focused accoutrements that have made their way into the package in past years. My biggest concern I have with Madden each and every year is the gameplay. Is it really going to feel and look like the NFL that I know and love? Well, this year's game comes as close as ever to bringing you every spin move and sternum-rupturing tackle that you see on Sundays. Little touches like deemphasizing the suction of the hit stick so that landing big hits actually feels special are great. As is the dual analog stick control scheme which allows you to perform all the jukes, spin moves and stutter steps you could ask for. It also gives players the ability to pivot their upper-body to guard the ball from incoming tacklers. It all looks cool and works well on the field. Madden NFL 11 Video Review While using the right analog stick for more than simple juking is great, the biggest departure for this year's Madden in terms of control is the elimination of turbo (on default settings). At first, it's weird, yes. But before long you'll forget what using a turbo button felt like. Now your player just adjusts his speed accordingly. Rarely did I find myself outrunning my blockers as the AI was usually sharp enough to make its own changes in speed. Another great addition in this year's gameplay is the ability for your AI teammates to actually land successful blocks and hold them long enough for you to utilize them if you can read the defense correctly. You might notice this working almost too well in conjunction with the new right analog control scheme. I had no problems breaking off multiple 300+ yard games on the ground in route to a 15-1 season on the All-Pro difficulty that used to give me trouble in past Madden games. On the defensive side of the ball, EA Sports tried to turn all of the hot routing and assignment changing functionality you're used to into something called the Strategy Pad, but the results are a bit frustrating. You navigate through options with the D-Pad, adding one extra button press to access the aforementioned functions. Anyone playing against a fast-paced offense is going to be a bit handcuffed to make their adjustments in time before the snap. Use that right stick! All-in-all the core gameplay on the field is great and looks fantastic in motion. The players have a nice level of polish and they move with the elegance and power you'd expect from top NFL talent. There are still moments when it's clear that you're playing a videogame, but mentioning them in a negative light would feel almost nitpicky. The replay system has also been re-crafted to better articulate all of the cool animations on the field. Now if only I could save a replay and share it with my friends (or put it on YouTube), then I'd be truly happy. The fact that so much cool stuff happens is great, but I really want to be able to show non-Madden players what I'm yelling about without having to call someone over to my desk or record something on my cell phone. For all of the cool gameplay features that have been developed for this year's game, the most debated will likely be a huge departure for the series called GameFlow. It's an automated play calling feature that shortens a typical gameplay experience to about 30 minutes (where it used be closer to an hour) by theoretically cutting the amount plays from more than 300 to one. I think if you're someone who's new to Madden or if the complexities of figuring out formation types was too much for you in the past, you're going to enjoy the bulk of what GameFlow does for you. On the flipside, if you're a hardcore football fan like me who really knows their X's and O's, chances are you aren't going to use the feature all that much. The AI makes some bone-headed play calls that, while they won't be noticed by casual players looking for a quick game, will likely be lamented by hardcore veterans of the series. Combating the flaws in your team's default play selections is a feature called Gameplanning which lets you assign up to 20 plays to different situations on both offense and defense and then weight them by preference (sort of like how iTunes lets you rate songs). Oddly enough I still found that the artificial intelligence would make a few strange decisions, like picking the deep pass play All Streaks while my team was on the 15 yard line despite it being nowhere in my red zone gameplan. It's these sorts of missteps that will drive football fanatics up the wall, even if they don't happen all that often. So while GameFlow and gameplanning bring both good and bad to the table, I can happily say that Online Team Play is one of the best gameplay modes to make it into a Madden game in a long time. It allows for up to six players (three on one team, three on another or any permutation therein) to link up online and compete against each other or against the CPU. One person assumes the role of the quarterback, another plays the running backs and the third mans the receivers (one player can also decide to roam to any vacant position) with a similar combination being used on defense. The mode does the unthinkable and actually makes playing on a team with your buddies fun. It's unabashed couch play at its finest and lends itself very nicely to smack talking friends on your team. Rivalry Trailer The only negative I can say is that the boosts that are in Online Team Play should have been kept to a simple experience point leveling system. Boosts give veteran players significant attribute boosts which can really ruin the gameplay in my experience. Thankfully a player with a boost looks different than players without a boost in the lobby system, so you can steer clear of them if needed. Online Team Play is a wonderfully fun and addictive casual mode, but it seems to have come at the expense of any innovations to the two franchise modes (online and offline) and the Be An NFL Superstar Mode. Being a lover of Franchise Mode, it really hurts me to have to suffer through the same exact package that was in last year's game. Especially since that was a barebones offering to begin with. EA Sports did take the time to beef up a few of the presentation elements that were missing from last year's game. Gus Johnson has replaced Tom Hammond in the commentator's booth and provides easily the best voice I've ever heard in a Madden game. His intensity brings a lot to the experience, even if the technology running under the hood leaves something to be desired. His speech is still too fragmented, which is probably a symptom of this being his first year on the job. I'm sure they'll expand and give him different ways to describe the same event so you don't get an identical piece of dialogue on every long run. This is certainly an impressive start to Gus's tenure in Madden, I just want more of his awesome intensity. Over the shoulder and sideline catches are great. The other big addition in the way of presentation elements is new Super Bowl celebrations that do a great job of delivering the weight of the event. Winning the biggest game in football no longer feels like any other Sunday. Now Gus delivers team-specific commentary to let you know that what you just accomplished is something special. Oh, and Obama makes an appearance. How cool is that? Closing Comments There's no question that the gameplay in Madden NFL 11 is great at its core, but some of the AI tuning slants the game too heavily in the offense's favor. Both Online Team Play and the inclusion of Gus Johnson are fantastic and add a lot to the package, but I can't help but feel that the moneymakers of old have been cast into the darkness. I think it's clear that this year's Madden is geared toward the mainstream football fan; someone who just wants to come in after playing a game of catch outside and get their hands on some real NFL talent. For that audience Madden NFL 11 delivers. However, if you're the type of player who sits alone in your living room combing the free agent wire for a player to add to your beloved franchise, I think this year's Madden is going to leave something to be desired. IGN Ratings for Madden NFL 11 (X360) Rating Description out of 10 Click here for ratings guide 8.5 Presentation Gus Johnson coupled with the cool new Super Bowl presentation and replay elements help bring the look of this year's broadcast closer to Sunday than ever. 8.5 Graphics Player details are solid and the animation work on the field just keeps getting better and better every year. Moments of slowdown during some graphical transitions are a downer. 8.0 Sound Gus is a great addition, but they need to re-work the technology running under the hood so his dialogue isn't so fragmented. Soundtrack could be more imaginative. 8.5 Gameplay It's a great game of football at its core, some of the AI decisions are more annoying than helpful. The added offensive firepower might please mainstream players, but it will upset hardcore fans. 7.5 Lasting Appeal Madden's typically deep Franchise Mode has been totally left out in the cold. Online Team Play is great, but it's not the rock hard, never-ending activity that Owner and Franchise Mode once were. 8.0 OVERALL Impressive (out of 10) 1UP A- The Madden NFL series is in a tough spot. When developer EA Tiburon changes a small detail here or a gameplay mechanic there, it inevitably enrages one set of diehard fans and gets the other half to hop back on the wagon so to speak. This year's iteration in the more than a decade old series has brought me back into the "drinking the Madden Kool-Aid" fold, because it's improved the things that matter to me. That said, Madden NFL 11 still needs some improvement. The thing that first struck me when I booted up a game was the revamped broadcast presentation. Madden NFL 11 embraces the TV broadcast presentation in a way I haven't seen in years. Since Madden made the jump to Xbox 360 in Madden NFL 2006, the focus on how the game was supposed to be viewed shifted from a clear, Sunday TV perspective to listening to a radio broadcast from the bleachers in the stadium. Since that entry in the series I've felt that Madden's presentation has been lackluster and it under-utilizes the ESPN exclusivity license EA has held for years now. (I've said it once and I'll say it again, NFL 2K5's ESPN broadcast integration is the benchmark I hold all football videogame broadcast presentations up to.) Each game begins with all the animations, network overlays, and music and sound cues football fans have come to love. For the first time in years, that feeling of "am I playing a videogame or watching the real thing?" is back, as Madden NFL 11 emulates what I see on TV pretty damn well. All of the pre-game establishing shots of whatever city you're playing in are great, be it fans posing next to the Jaguar statue outside of EverBank Field or cooks serving up cheesesteak sandwiches in Philly. The problem is, it's the same thing every time...so it's always the same guy making cheesesteaks. Even the dialogue for sponsor messages (such as Old Spice Swagger) are the same every single time. Chris Collinsworth returns for play-by-play duties, with a newcomer to Madden, Gus Johnson, taking over for Tom Hammond in the announcer's booth. Collinsworth's contributions are by no means stellar but anything he says is a cut above Johnson's faux enthusiastic outbursts. I don't know if it's Gus Johnson's unfamiliarity with the pacing of a run in Madden compared to real life that causes this, but things like a breakaway run to the end zone and a PAT being made before the "go all-the way" line is finished being uttered is distracting and should have been re-recorded in a way that allows for any type of play. Gus Johnson also sounds just plain fake in his commentary delivery; he could take some lessons from Pat Summeral, my favorite Madden NFL commentary jockey. That said, this year's commentary is better than the radio presentation of years past. Click the image above to check out all Madden NFL 11 screens. Improvements in the game's presentation aren't the only ways Madden 11 is different from its predecessors, as EA Tiburon has made some big changes in the mechanics department as well. First and foremost, there's no more Turbo button, so all of the speed your favorite players build up while carrying the ball is of their own volition. But even though there's no button to press, weaving in and out of defenders, bouncing off of others, and making it to wide-open space successfully allows for you to build momentum that acts very much like "turbo." I started to think of it like I had to earn my turbo boost rather than just having a finite amount to spend on each play, and I learned to really appreciate it. Not having a turbo button to rely on makes looking for seams and wide-open routes more of a priority rather than just going "all-out Madden" and doing any number of ridiculous moves and actions that would never happen in a real game of gridiron. This little subtraction changes everything. The other change that drastically alters how a game is played is the new GameFlow feature. Sure, it may seem like a re-skinned Ask Madden function, but it really is so much more than that. Instead of being taken directly to an on-screen litany of play-calling menus after every play, you can now simply press a button and have a play called for you (the play is appropriate for the situation you are in). If you get up to the line and you realize that the called play isn't great for what your opponent has matched up against you, you can call a quick audible from a batch of pre-selected plays (which you can personalize to your liking) and switch it up. I really dig GameFlow, and I'm not someone that "Asks Madden" on a regular basis. I've always been one to pick my plays carefully but getting tied up in menus between plays really makes a game drag, especially once you've picked your play and you're just waiting for your opponent to pick theirs. GameFlow keeps the game moving at a steady pace (just as the name would suggest) but at the same time doesn't alienate someone looking for in-depth play calling; a simple button press takes you to the traditional Madden play selection screens. For a first time player, GameFlow is a great way to at least get someone's feet wet in the "whys" of calling plays since there's often an explanation for why a certain type of play is called. Click the image above to check out all Madden NFL 11 screens. Madden NFL 11 has a lot of the building blocks for making a great football game and is certainly a step in the right direction for proving that EA deserves the NFL exclusivity it has. If EA Tiburon can keep their focus and actually work on improving what they've already crafted in this year's iteration, rather than doing what they often do and start revamping everything all over again, the series is in a great position to keep this momentum (without a turbo button). Gametrailers 9.1 While a lot of core players chide the Madden series for its yearly updates and the casual players it attracts, those who actually play it every year know that few games are as complicated or intricate. EA Sports has apparently realized this, because Madden NFL 11 is all about streamlining the experience to make it as accessible as possible. Lowering the barrier of entry is its focus, but does it come at the expense of its depth chart? In the past, games of Madden could take well over 45 minutes to complete. In today's ADD digital age where everything is instantaneous, it's a lot to ask. EA Sports looked at rungs of game data and realized that, despite these lengthy contests, players were only using a handful of plays. The developer has made it a priority to solve both issues with its new GameFlow system. The computer can now call all the plays for you by pressing a single button. It would be ridiculous to assume that a machine could replicate the intricacies of being an NFL coach, so you're given the chance to create a gameplan tailored to each situation. If you like to run on third and medium to keep opponents off-guard, you can set the computer's available plays to ensure that running the ball in that situation is a priority. You can even weight each play to determine how often it's called. It's an arduous process that pays dividends on down the road in the form of much shorter games. They're not quite half the time, as advertised, but even 10 or 15 minutes makes a big difference. Even once you think you have it nailed, you'll need to play several games to make adjustments. Despite the ratings, some plays are called far too often, and the riskier ones always seem to come up when you just need a yard or two. Over time, you can get it where you want it, and you're still given the option of going to the full playbook at any time. You're also fed information on each play through your headset from the defensive or offensive coordinator, but their quips quickly become repetitive and don't offer much insight. We eventually turned the feature off. Another big addition is ultimate team-a feature that was added to last year's game through a downloadable update earlier this year. Basically a collectible card game that imparts elements of fantasy football, you're given a starter deck of players from various teams in the league. You then use these players to take on a computer or human opponent. Win or lose you're rewarded with coins to purchase new cards that yield new players, coaches, uniforms, playbooks, and more. You can even put your unwanted cards up for bid in auctions. It's a cool addition that goes a long way towards familiarizing players with the league as a whole, and the collectible element triggers the completist gene. Cooperative play was added to last year's game for you and a friend, but things have gone a couple steps further in Madden NFL 11 with online team play. Now up to three humans can play on each side, but the catch is that you must select a group of players to control. On offense that means quarterback, wide receivers, and running backs. You then have the ability to switch between any players in that group with the QB calling all the plays. On defense it's broken into defensive linemen, the secondary, and linebackers, who handle the defensive calls. It's fun to coordinate with friends thanks to constant headset communication, but you'll also find that everyone thinks they're open on every single play and it can make decisions a challenge. It's a solid first step towards reaching the 11-on-11 play of FIFA, but Madden-ites will eventually tire of irresponsible teammates who only want to be involved as much as possible. The rest of the suite includes online and offline franchise with all the trimmings, sliders to shape the game to your liking; Madden moments to take control of some of the most interesting situations in NFL history; NFL superstar to take a player from camp to the Hall of Fame; and a robust online environment that ensures you're matched up against the right competition-provided you bought the game new and have the online activation code. Madden NFL 11 has seen a marked improvement in the modes and options available, making for a staggering amount of ways to play and interact. Designing sports games simply doesn't get much better than this. The impact of the Pro-Tak system in last year's game was immense. Utilizing momentum, player ratings, and angle of contact, you could either squeeze out a couple extra yards or get driven back. Now that the locomotion feature from the NCAA Football franchise has been added to the mix, the running and tackling has reached new heights. The turbo button has been turned off by default and all the special moves like jukes, spins, and stiff arms have been mapped to the right analog stick. This two-stick scheme is all you need. The computer does an incredible job of receiving controller input and spitting out realistic on-field results. It will set your running back at a brisk jog at the snap of the ball, but as soon as you see a crease and push the stick forward to explode through it, the computer turns on the juice to get you to the next level. Planting and cutting are also handled so well that once you get the hang of it, the right stick isn't even needed to break off long runs. It's just another way the game has been simplified without sacrificing depth, though running backs still overcome ridiculous odds to break free at times. Passing is basically the same as last year. You must stay in the pocket to complete passes. If you stray outside or drop back too far, your QB goes JV and will miss wide open receivers. Couple this with computer AI that has problems picking up blitzes, and your field general is going to spend a lot of time on his back. Making matters worse, the default injury setting is far too sensitive. We recommend toning it down unless you want to finish a season with a third of your team on IR. Everything else handles basically as it should. The pre-snap options have been mapped to the D pad, making adjustments much easier to manage, and like the design, the gameplay has clearly been molded to be much more accessible so you can concentrate on enjoying the game instead of worrying about tying your fingers in a knot. Interestingly enough, one of the most important changes is that receivers manage the sidelines much better. Which means no more out routes that take receivers off the field at cr

I just got this game yesterday, and so far it is awesome. The graphics are great, the sound is stellar, and the presentation is perfect. I really enjoy the new Game Flow option. Key word- option. You do not have to choose to use game flow. Game flow picks the plays for you, like a coach would. This makes sense, because you play as the team, not the coach. It's fun and it gives you a chance to try new plays that you may not think of using. You have the option to not use this feature if you choose. The controls are easy to pick up and every play feels smooth. I also got a $20 game credit with this purchase :) I really enjoy this game and I'm excited to keep playing.

EA Sports Madden NFL 11 on PS3 is much better than the games I grew up playing. SuperBowl Game features video footage for each team before Game Day Match, Quarterback leads Offense with huddle before each play, Nose Tackle snaps the ball (Press X), Quarterback pass (Press O), Wide Receiver available will catch the ball if open, Defense will cover Wide Receiver, First Down, Second Down and Third Down Coverage, Fourth Down options include Go For It, Punt or Fake Punt, Punt options include Kick or Onside Kick (Press X), Shorter Game Day Match (Onside Kick recommended), Each Half ends with Game Day Match Summary, SuperBowl Game Day Match winner receives a brief SuperBowl Championship Trophy Presentation, brief SuperBowl Championship City Parade and brief White House Meeting with United States President. Highly recommended EA Sports Madden NFL product.

Most Madden hardcore fans have already purchased this and thus to them any review except thier own is likely unessicary. However for a casual fan, or someone new to the series there are several issues with the game that would lead me to strongly recomend buying Madden 10 over this. There are plenty of reviews on gameplay issues both strengths and weaknesses so I will ignore those and focus on the overall cause of people quitting. First and most obvious in both on line and offline mode (though more commonly in off line Franchise mode) the game will Freeze at a loading screen. Saving often will help prevent loss of hours BUT at the end of a game (again specifically in franchise mode)you are unable to save until it loads from the game screen to the menu screen. You will find yourself playing the same game against the same team over and over with NOTHING counting or just simming through it. If you are buying it for Franchise mode you will be sorely dissapointed. The only other glaring problem is on line. Is MUT (Madden Ultimate Team) you play on line. Your opponent can quit at ANY time and neither of you will recieve ANY reward for the game, not coins, not win losses nothing. In ranked regularly ranked matches your oppent has until Half-Time to decide to quit with (again) NO PENALTY and no reward for you. And finally there is NO fairplay on line like in Maddens past. Nothing to prevent your opponent from going for it on 4th and 40 or on-side kicking every kick off So again forgetting all gameplay issues good and bad, new features and old brought back if you are thinking about buying this game for either Franchise mode or On-Line mode I highly recomend buying a previous version or at the very least looking up other reviews on this issues. EA has issued statements saying they are going to be "patching" but what or when is up in the air. Their first patch is scheduled for the start of the football season (though this could be just a updated roster or the patch to thier strategy pad). If you have waited this long I can only say try to wait another year so you won't suffer the frusteration with this game and still can be hopefull for the next.

Well, seeing as how the last madden game I owned was Madden '94, this game is the tits. If you buy every new game that comes out the second it comes out, just stop. Especially these sports games. Not a whole lot changes from year to year but if you wait a COUPLE years it will seem amazing how far they've come. This game is badass. My girlfriend thought I was actually watching a game on tv when she saw it. Although that doesn't really say much because she only has one eye that works and it really doesn't even work that well because I keep poking her in it when I'm not playing this awesome game.