For football fans who are also video game fans, there is only one name when it comes to the NFL: Madden. Madden NFL comes out every year, with updated rosters, visuals, interface and play mechanics. I have some serious issues with a few aspects of the way the Madden machine is run, but generally the game is solid each year. I recently picked up the latest installment, and I have so far been very impressed. The graphics are really crisp, and player animations are top notch. Calling plays feels realistic, and it’s rare that a huge breakaway play will upset the true-to-life grind of seeking the next first down. Commentary from the booth is helpful, and there’s even an instant-replay feature where the announcer shows where you goofed. Another feature I’m liking is the new “Madden IQ” system, which continuously automatically adjusts the difficulty of the game based on the gamer’s skill. I usually play as the Bucs (not that I’m a huge fan, but more out of loyalty to the many FSU alums who move on to play for Tampa), and this year the Bucs are great–much better than last year’s (underrated) stated skill level.
So things I don’t like about Madden are generalized to the franchise. Specifically, the game is basically the same from year to year, and the only reason to release a new one is because the year is part of the title; e.g., Madden 2007, Madden 2008, Madden 2009… And because there’s a new Madden every year, guess what? If you buy Madden 09 in mid-2008 and pay $60 for it brand new, you can expect to sell it for about $15 used when the year actually rolls over. This is just wrong. Any item can of course depreciate in value over time, but a drop of over 75% within six months is atrocious for a game that realistically could have a playable life of well over a year. Good games like Super Mario Bros. or Legend of Zelda, or even more recent games like Gears of War or Halo are still played long after they are released. And while most video games take three to four years to develop, EA, the game’s publisher, somehow manages to pop out yearly sports games like Tic Tacs. The only reason for rushing these games to market is because a) people are dumb enough to buy the newest one each year (regardless of lack of any substantial changes), and b) EA is savy enough to realize this.
With that said, I still must admit that I have really enjoyed playing Madden 09. For anyone who is a football fan and a gamer, I recommend Madden 09–it’s pretty much the best thing out there (probably because EA has the exclusive license to make NFL games), and it’s (reportedly) better than the little brother NCAA 2009. You can read more reviews of Madden 09 here.
Posted by Micah McMillan 
