Madden NFL 09

Description

Are you ready for some football? Of course you are, if you're a pigskin fan, but if you've been following any of the coverage or attention that's been paid to Madden NFL 09, you've been seeing a larger spotlight on the PS3 and 360 versions, which have been hyped as the evolution of the sport. In the meantime, the focus on the PS2 version has shifted to a much more casual, beginner friendly title. This year's game solidified this new direction for the game with fewer gameplay improvements and more handholding elements, which will truly disillusion veterans of the title on the older console.

One of the new extras added to this year's game is the inclusion of Family Play, a mode that derives its basic mechanics from the Wii's All-Play mode to simplify gameplay for newcomers to the game. Essentially, what this feature does is boil the complexity of the Madden controls down to a few basic inputs, meaning that anyone can leap into a game and gain a certain amount of success. That means that you no longer have to worry about offensive or defensive line shifts, audibles or formations. Instead, the game will offer basic diagrams with a handful of plays on either side of the ball, as well as a suggested play for you to run based on the gameplay situation. It's helpful if you don't know anything about offensive or defensive packages, and it can make the playing field a bit more even if you're going up against another player that has more experience with the title, but you'll also find some odd choices here and there, such as suggesting a pass play on first and goal with one or two yards to go. But overall, if you're trying to keep up with a friend who's played a lot of Madden before, this is a decent way to get into the game.