Madden NFL celebrates its 20th anniversary

By: Josh Jefferson

Posted: 8/25/08

It's that time of the year again. That's right, it's time for another school year to start and with it, another edition of the ongoing Madden series has hit store shelves.

"Madden NFL 09" brings something new to the table that has the potential to change the video game football scene as we know it. This feature is the new ability to rewind a certain number of plays in a given game called EA Backtrack. To keep players from abusing the power, it can only be used a certain number of times, which players choose before the game begins. It takes some getting used to, but the Backtrack feature is well thought out and relieves the frustration when one of those impossible plays that could only happen in Madden occurs.

Also making its first, but hopefully not last appearance, is the Madden IQ system. You are greeted by Madden's best impression of Princess Leia in "A New Hope" asking you not to save the galaxy, but to take a Madden IQ test. The overall difficulty of the game is controlled by determining how good or bad you are at the basics, tailoring the game experience so the computer does not humiliate you nine times out of 10. Tests break down into rush offense, pass offense, pass defense and rush defense. The whole holographic style looks like "Tron" without the light cycles, which isn't a bad thing.

The IQ changes are automatic as the test goes on, so if you do well, you will see the difficulty ramp up (runners use more evasive moves, blockers actually block like they are being paid, etc.) I found myself retaking tests just because I felt my honor had been insulted. The test can be skipped, but the difference between the standard difficulty settings and the test-adjusted settings are noticeable and the test settings are more likely to give you a more even and persistent challenge, as the system is designed to learn from you.

Also making a return are Madden Moments that allow you play through historic or intense NFL contests. The scenarios are of varying toughness based on your skill, IQ rating and the team you control. Suffice to say that after playing the Dolphins vs. Ravens Scenario, I can confirm that the Dolphins, beyond a shadow of a doubt, are awful.

As the whole, there are not any wholesale changes to the in game experience. As with every year, player models have seen an upgrade. This is not to say that the game is without its glitches (clipping and graphical hiccups do happen, but they were infrequent in my play through). The fields have been recreated with an eye toward accuracy. Weather looks great (real time weather is the default setting, so if it's raining outside, it will rain in the game unless you say otherwise). The tackle animations seem a bit more robust than in previous years, giving it a more realistic look and feel. The in-game screen has seen a makeover with all of your controller options on display for quick reference unless hidden by the player.

Also, a new default camera has made its debut. The action camera brings the view closer to the ground just above the QB. When the ball carrier has the ball, it zeros in on him and adds some minor dynamic camera play. For instance, when a receiver breaks away, the camera gets low to the ground and starts to shake, kind of like in "Gears of War," except it stays behind the runner to give an increased sense of speed, and big hits can cause the camera to shake.

Madden has changed for the better. The new IQ system allows even the uninitiated to play the game competently, and a new camera, the game is as good as ever.