http://www.nlgaming.com/nl/asp/id_1297/nl/reviewDisp.htm
82 out of 100
Mostly, the score was hit by the fact that it was missing modes that the current version has but it still plays great just like a Madden game does! You cant hold the fat man down!
82 out of 100
Mostly, the score was hit by the fact that it was missing modes that the current version has but it still plays great just like a Madden game does! You cant hold the fat man down!
But there are a couple of small changes on the controller thanks in part to new button placements. But they make the game actually easier to play than the Xbox version. Having two triggers AND two shoulder buttons lets you have more control over your passing. You can scramble for example with the right trigger, and buy time to then throw the ball to your receiver on the right button. And it's really easy to do. It's much less confusing to throw to a "RB" receiver than to remember which button is white, and which button is black. Trust me on this, it's easier. The new button placement also makes it easy to run your defense; being able to know which button shiftaus your linebackers and which one shifts the defensive line. Now some slight control changes for you from the Xbox edition. The right trigger is now the speed burst, and the A button with the ball carrier jukes. Stiff arms are now the left trigger. It's nice not having to reach down and find a button to hit for a simple stiff arm. Nothing is funnier in this game than watching Payton Manning actually start changing calls at the line and point to soft zone spots or a potential blitzer to pick up. But while you can do all that on offense, as well as set up hot routes for receivers, the defense can match you this year. You can setup 4 different coverages by hitting the A button and moving the left stick to the desired position. You can press or pull back, show your blitz or re-align.
One other thing I want to mention in the game that I truly like, and that is the new and improved playcalling system. This new system gives you so much more control over what you can and who you're looking for to make the play. On both offense and defense you can call plays by formation or type, and you can ask both your coach and Madden for help picking a play. But it's on offense that you can do more than that. On offense you can also call plays that feature a specific player. When you bring this up and pick the player you want to focus on, it will bring up every play that features him as the primary ballcarrier/receiver. Some players have a ton of plays that feature them. On the Ravens, which I use primarily, Jamal has 127 different plays you can run on him!! Every possible running option you can give him is there, including dump-offs and screen passes. It's the biggest playbook I've ever seen. Much credit to EA for stocking teams books with stuff. And of course as part of your game setup you can change any teams playbooks to use whatever you want from another team or a generic book.
But there are subtle changes in the way even your own computer teammates play. For example, you now actually have kick and punt coverage! Yeah, guys will downfield and actually block for you! It's amazing! I've been able to actually return punts, which you simply can't do on the Xbox version unless you always go into block punt formation. And your offensive line will pull and push to keep the pocket open for you as long as they can. Now of course the Indianapolis Colts O-line is going to be pretty strong, and the Houston Texans isn't; and that plays into the game. But as you can see from the various gameplay videos on the site, the computer AI will play better in the trenches. But as a trade-off they might also bite on a bad play just like in real life. It's nice that when you call a TE Leak play, where the Tight End blocks and then releases into the secondary without trying to draw an coverage (or leaking as the play is called), it actually works. It's nice to call a screen pass when you know the opponent is blitzing and the lead blockers actually block for you! And it's nice to run outside the tackles and have one of your guys lead block for you. I am very impressed with the AI this time around.