Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

I'm 2-0 so far but just by the skin of my teeth. I too am thinking of dialing down the difficulty until I can at least get the hang of things. Right now I can't run the ball at all.

The backtrack feature is pretty cool where Collinsworth breaks down the play.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;464006]I'm 2-0 so far but just by the skin of my teeth. I too am thinking of dialing down the difficulty until I can at least get the hang of things. Right now I can't run the ball at all.

The backtrack feature is pretty cool where Collinsworth breaks down the play.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, running the ball is tough. If I can't get Clinton on the edge, I never get any yards.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

For everyone who started franchises with the Skins what sort of roster moves did you make?

I traded Collins and Betts to the Bears for Matt Forte and a 4th round pick. I then signed DJ Shockley to be my #3 QB. So far, those are the only moves I've made.

I'm also conisdering a few other franchises, but I haven't really settled on anything to this point. I'm looking at the Saints or reclamation projects like the Raiders, 9'ers, Lions or Fins.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

I never make any free agent pickups or trades in my first season, I always like to play through with the team as it is, unless I have injuries.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;464023]I never make any free agent pickups or trades in my first season, I always like to play through with the team as it is, unless I have injuries.[/QUOTE]

I ALWAYS trade Ladell Betts and whatever backup QB Redskins fans think should compete for the starting job...lol or starting QB's over 35 that aren't legends

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

Madden iq sux. The test averaged out close to all pro except running the ball and pass d. For the record I'm a good runner, but instinctively preform the move I like instead of what they tell me to. I like it that way and don't wish to add a hesitation to my gameplay waiting for my opponent to tell me how to beat it.

I avg over 8 yds/carry against cpu and 3 online opponents yesterday, but passing was so much easier I was usually over 300yds in the air.

First game I beat cpu in avg game against cboys play it now style.

Moved to online

Second game I played a guy who had the steelers. I picked him off 3x (2x user picks, which almost never used to happen) and was up 28-3 in Q1 and he quit.

Third game guy plays with raiders. JC has 350yds through air, CP 90yds on the ground to his 178yds offense. I threw 3 picks, and he returned a kick after I made my field goal. I got beat 28-3.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

The Madden IQ is a great idea in theory, but it clearly needs work. The drills are so easy that it doesn't give you an accurate idea of your skills at all.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

I think I traded poor old brunell every year

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[quote=Dirtbag359;463912]- The rewind system is awesome when you're learning the game. The chance to retry a play after you mess up really seems like it will help with my learning curve. Good thing it's not available on online mode though.
[/quote]


So they're like mulligans? :D

Cool. No one should ever lose a game. :D

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[quote=EternalEnigma21;464030]Madden iq sux. The test averaged out close to all pro except running the ball and pass d. For the record I'm a good runner, but instinctively preform the move I like instead of what they tell me to. I like it that way and don't wish to add a hesitation to my gameplay waiting for my opponent to tell me how to beat it.

I avg over 8 yds/carry against cpu and 3 online opponents yesterday, but passing was so much easier I was usually over 300yds in the air.

First game I beat cpu in avg game against cboys play it now style.

Moved to online

Second game I played a guy who had the steelers. I picked him off 3x (2x user picks, which almost never used to happen) and was up 28-3 in Q1 and he quit.

Third game guy plays with raiders. JC has 350yds through air, CP 90yds on the ground to his 178yds offense. I threw 3 picks, and he returned a kick after I made my field goal. I got beat 28-3.[/quote]

In recent years I totally gave up on clicking on my corners when the ball was in the air to try to make a play. But so far it seems in '09 you can actually make plays with your DBs. I'm really liking that.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[quote=Buster;464063]So they're like mulligans? :D

Cool. No one should ever lose a game. :D[/quote]

Not so fast, just because you got a mulligan doesn't mean that your next attempt will be successfull. Plus you only get one mulligan per play. I prefer not to you them, but the play breakdowns are helpfull.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;464036]The Madden IQ is a great idea in theory, but it clearly needs work. The drills are so easy that it doesn't give you an accurate idea of your skills at all.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. I've been inconsistent in my games. I beat the Giants 13-10, Beat the saints 42-17, then I played the Cardinals and was down 21 to 0 and turned the game off after I threw my 4th pick in as many series.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

Anyone else notice santana moss sucks? he doesn't burn anyone, even if he's in the slot playing against a nickel cb running a streak in single coverage... dude's always got a step on him... and when I hit him in the hands he drops the ball .

I seriously don't think ive completed a pass to him since i bought the gd game. I've completed passes to sellers and even lorenzo alexander, but moss can't catch a cold. im gonna wind up trading him in my franchise

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

the madden iq definitely isnt perfect as mentioned above. i got all-madden for passing in the test, yet in 2 games ive played ive thrown more ints than tds, and yet my skill either stays the same or goes up a little. doesnt make sense. the passing is what im struggling with the most

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=EternalEnigma21;464229]Anyone else notice santana moss sucks? he doesn't burn anyone, even if he's in the slot playing against a nickel cb running a streak in single coverage... dude's always got a step on him... and when I hit him in the hands he drops the ball .

I seriously don't think ive completed a pass to him since i bought the gd game. I've completed passes to sellers and even lorenzo alexander, but moss can't catch a cold. im gonna wind up trading him in my franchise[/QUOTE]

I've been burning people like crazy with SM and DT. Even Randle El has been pretty impressive. Didn't get too much out of Kelly yet... Anyone else notice that Colt Brennan is retardedly good.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=BleedBurgundy;464247]I've been burning people like crazy with SM and DT. Even Randle El has been pretty impressive. Didn't get too much out of Kelly yet... Anyone else notice that Colt Brennan is retardedly good.[/QUOTE]

I was about to say the same thing about Moss and Thomas. I've been lighting people up with them. I'm disappointed with Portis though. I have trouble getting any big carries.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

On another note, did anyone else notice the players intoductions were gone and also Justin Tryon is spelled Tyron?

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=Smooter;464257]I was about to say the same thing about Moss and Thomas. I've been lighting people up with them. I'm disappointed with Portis though. I have trouble getting any big carries.[/QUOTE]

yeah, I MIGHT break a 10 yard run ONCE per game. I'm averaging something like only 60 yards rushing per game. Seems like the oline is getting blown up on just about every snap. I wonder if that has to do with the whole "my skill" thing? Unfortunately, I maxed out the meter on "Running Offense" in the skills test so the game is most likely making it friggin impossible to run.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=Big C;464237]the madden iq definitely isnt perfect as mentioned above. i got all-madden for passing in the test, yet in 2 games ive played ive thrown more ints than tds, and yet my skill either stays the same or goes up a little. doesnt make sense. the passing is what im struggling with the most[/QUOTE]

That's because the game jacks up the difficulty to counteract whatever you're good at. So, if you get all madden for passing offense, when you play games it's going to be effing impossible to throw. At least, that's my theory...

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

I just turned the skill thing off and put it on pro and jacked the computer up 84-17. I should probably move up some.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[quote=Smooter;464259]On another note, did anyone else notice the players intoductions were gone and also Justin Tryon is spelled Tyron?[/quote]


I thought that his name was spelled wrong on the game. Of coarse instead of questioning it, I figured "The guys at Madden get paid to get this type of stuff right, so it must be correct". Then I come across this comment, I will never second guess myself against the Madden "Geek Squad" again.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

Maybe the guy who makes up the redskins' jerseys is wrong.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[QUOTE=Angry;464287]I thought that his name was spelled wrong on the game. Of coarse instead of questioning it, I figured "The guys at Madden get paid to get this type of stuff right, so it must be correct". Then I come across this comment, I will never second guess myself against the Madden "Geek Squad" again.[/QUOTE]

Well they did misspell Favre's name in the game, and he's on the cover.

[url=http://www.konsolekingz.com/blog/?p=1695]Brett Favre name spelled wrong in Madden NFL 09 | Konsole Kingz: where video games and hip-hop combine[/url]

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

ive been playing madden since 1994 and ill have to tell you this is absolutely the most difficult i have ever found running the ball to be. But passing well....wow...kelley is a beast in this game. I have been tinkering with the secondary as well and i have made some changes you fellow redskin fans should entertain. I play smoot and rogers at cb....moved landry to ss and play springs at the fs. I signed i think its ty law to be my nickle back in my franchise...so far so good. 3-0 at this point.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

I did a fantasy draft franchise on my system...

I wound up with Laron Landry and Roy Williams at safety, Deangelo Hall, Ty Law, and Ken Lucas as my first 3 cbs.. the secondary is pretty beast.

also on the D line I got Amobi Okoye, who is an absolute beast. the dude is faster than a lot of linebackers and bursts through the line like a freight train. I'm not gonna get into the rest, because I've set up some of my online to try to draft a few of these guys who are very versatile... we'll talk after the online draft :)

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

The thing about running in this game is, you're hit as soon as you get the ball. I may have had 10 runs in 5 games where portis wasn't hit 2 yards deep in the backfield. Either our line is just miserable or it's EA's method of increasing the difficulty. It's to the point that I'm basically running a Mike Martz offense (All passing, all the time). I have a friend that plays with the Steelers and he said he experiences the same thing. But I know they have a suspect line... Anybody CONSISTENTLY cranking out good number in the rushing game?

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[quote=BleedBurgundy;464765]The thing about running in this game is, you're hit as soon as you get the ball. I may have had 10 runs in 5 games where portis wasn't hit 2 yards deep in the backfield. Either our line is just miserable or it's EA's method of increasing the difficulty. It's to the point that I'm basically running a Mike Martz offense (All passing, all the time). I have a friend that plays with the Steelers and he said he experiences the same thing. But I know they have a suspect line... Anybody CONSISTENTLY cranking out good number in the rushing game?[/quote]

I was having this problem too until someone clued me in on a little tip. Don't hit the sprint button when you get the handoff. Your OL won't have time to set up their blocks. Once I laid off the sprint button my running game instantly became a hell of a lot more productive. Stay away from the sprint button until you clear the line.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

I'm going to give that a shot.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[quote=BleedBurgundy;464777]I'm going to give that a shot.[/quote]

It will seriously help. I was banging my head against the wall and ready to put Madden on the shelf until I found that tip on a Madden forum.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

[quote=Mattyk72;464776]I was having this problem too until someone clued me in on a little tip. Don't hit the sprint button when you get the handoff. Your OL won't have time to set up their blocks. Once I laid off the sprint button my running game instantly became a hell of a lot more productive. Stay away from the sprint button until you clear the line.[/quote]


sounds like i might have to give that a try. i was running that same offense someone else mentioned...all passing no running. LOL

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

running the ball is easier if you set up your blocks and if you get in open space its much easier to break tackles. highlight stick works great, with recievers as well.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

Holy shit I just played my fiance (who has never played Madden before) I play somewhere between pro and all pro right now and we set hers to rookie. She ended up beating me 45-7. It was the biggest joke ever. I couldn't run, pass, defend. nothing! She was getting all kind of lob passes and was sacking my quarterback like crazy with while she was playing cover defense. I will never play another human. Anyone else have this kind of experience?

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

haven't tried that yet... if my wife beat me she'd never let me live it down... can't risk it.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

Alirght since it's been about a week or two I thought I'd add a few more thoughts about the game (bad things will start out with a "-" sign good things will start out with a "+" sign. Not all of these are on the games. Some of these are based on my experience playing against immature idiots that don't understand that Madden is just a game.

- The commentary might be better then whoever that radio announcer was. And the backtrack is pretty cool. However Collinsoworth role playing between snaps is ANNOYING. Stuff like "thats the type of thing where you go back to the huddle and say [I]uh guys a little help here[/I]" or "that the type of thing where the QB looks around at the line in the huddle and says [I]you want to earn your paycheck today[/I]." Also hate it when they announce to my opponent that I'm using press or loose coverage. Let them figure it out for themselves.

- Online lag is costly sometimes especially during play action and I have a great internet connection (sometimes with download rates over 1 mb per second) here so in this case the blame is either on XBOX Live or EA's server. I have been sacked way to many times from lag in the game. The online menu is especially slower to. Plus why the hell can't I change to a wider angled camera view during online play?

- I wish there was some sort of control where people couldn't go for it on 4th down in the 1st quarter while they're in their own territory. If they get it it's annoying if they turn the ball over on downs they quit. Either way I loose.

+ Making the QB's having to set their feet and throw is awesome. No more will I have to suffer while playing the idiot that thinks that a money move for NFL QB's is running outside the pocket (or 20 yards backward) and throwing 60 yards downfield off their backfoot.

- The FB Dive is still way to much of a money play on "X" and short plays. I got a glimpse of it when I watched Madden Nation (gag) but I thought they would have improved it by now. I have stoped it once but it took a lot of resources that left my secondary wide open.

-+ The short throws are way to easy sometimes while the deep throws are a little to hard. Which is kind of a good thing but I would be more comfortable with it if I could see the Wide Recievers attempting to block out or post up in certain situations (within the rules of course) while going for the deep ball. I have been able to get the ball downfield but its mainly when people send all out blitzes without safety support on the deep ball. Post and bannana routes can also be effective against the right coverages.


+ The running game through the Half back seems pretty realistic as you have to mix up your runs to be effective though sometimes its a little to hard. However the fatigue near the end of the game is top notch.

- Sometimes shit comes up and I have to quit a game early. Don't send me a message afterwards saying "iooooooser" (and yes thats looser with an I). In this particular situation it was 4 in the morning and the guy had two straight delay of game penalites in an unranked game. Not to mention he used up almost all of his pauses by the middle of the 3rd Quarter. Anyway Madden is suppose to be fun and its annoying when people take it way to seriously.

- Just because my favorite team is the Redskins and I have them set as my default team doesn't mean I want to play the Cowboys everytime. Stop pairing me off with Cowboy fans and stop selecting the Cowboys when they're not selected as your favorite team.

+ The replays with the NFL Film music is great.

+ The soundtrack has a nice mix of rock and quality rap plus the sound quality is way better then it was on PS2 where I thought most of the songs sounded terrible before hearing them on an actual stereo. Though I wish you could upload you're own stadium and menu music.

- The fact that I have to buy Head Coach to create plays is BS.

I know theres a lot of negative stuff here but this game has come a long way. It really feels like football, for example I can't get 5 sacks a game anymore but I appreciate having a quality pass rusher like Jason Taylor. Theres a noticable difference in QB quality. Virtually every running play can be stopped and at the same time every running play can be effective so long as you mix it up and use it in the right situation. Driving down the field is also a challenge but it's not impossible like it was in other defensive orriented Madden games.

Either way I recomend Madden to anyone on the fence, especially 2K fans.

Re: Madden '09 Info and Reviews
 

the other night i played a friend who used to slaughter me. we picked random teams and I beat him 15-7. the 7 was a pick six from the endzone, that would've been a td for me if the button had registered the first time i hit it... 14pt swing. the most astounding thing was the yardage...
mine was 288 total offense
his was -10 total offense

obtw we picked random teams. I was jacksonville and he was philly.