4th and Inches (Part Two)

[Stain]

> This game is 1st and goal and that list is from 2006.

I believe I can confirm backbreaker's observation here. I am nearly 100% positive this is simply a cut and paste, with a few touch ups, from a 2006 loong, LONG article.

[JohnnyNutman]

this was a really good post. i wish all criticism of the game was this articulate.

not to exclude the fact that all the above listed points would really help the game as well.

[shavane]

I'm enjoying madden 10 but there are so many things that can be done better which is really holding the game back in my opinion.

Rocket Catch - EA really needs to improve control for DBs and Wrs as far as attacking the ball in the air. There needs to be more battling for position once the ball is in the air. You should be able to use your body to shield defenders and have better jump ball and fade interactions.

Press Coverage - agree 100% there is a risk reward to playing this style but on 10 its all reward. This really highlights that ratings really don't matter when you have a 70 Cb press a elite Wr. The Wr is at the Cbs mercy because they don't have any swim moves, chops, or jab steps so they just get pressed. Release rtgs and press rtgs should factor into this so teams with weak Cbs can't just press at will for fear of getting beat. Also because they can press for so long Wrs are not able to get seperation when they finally get upfield.

Pass D vs. Run Coverage - This is directly related to poor blocking logic magical defenders, and poor collision detection when engaged in blocking. OL have no idea what they are doing on 10, speedy Cbs from nickel and dime coverages win out over slower lineman because there is no true logic behind blocking, and the lineman don't really get into defenders where they control them or turn them one way or another so defenders can come off of blocks and make tackles.

Excessive dropbacks - this may never get fixed especially with suction blocking on DEs. You know how many good DEs I saw control the line of scrimmage this week in the NFL. Good DEs are a huge part of the defensive end of football, they disrupt offenses and make you scheme around those type of players but on madden good DEs and DTs are pedestrian at best.

No Huddle - Fatigue is great but its ridiculous to a point when 5 plays of no huddle force my Wrs to play Cb after the 1st dead ball.

Challenges - fix it give it more options have some logic to it besides yes or no.

Collision Detection - won't be fixed until they overhaul the madden engine..matter of fact a lot of this issues could be fixed with a next gen system for madden.

Screens - I enjoy the screen game I find that man cov and cov 2 shut down wr screens quite well. Screening to backs is a little more tricky but on the way to the QB especially against speedy backs I check what they are doing and manually attack the screen once I see it developing. This actually feels realistic to me and is how real football is played. If you wanna go balls to the wall after the QB you will get beat on screens.

Forward progress - will never be fixed till they overhaul madden engine. Players are still on skates and animations take over and make players run out of control. Spins, jukes, and breaking out of tackles lack any logic whatsoever so more times then not one the animation and skates take over your at their mercy. We've all lost games because of this.

Def Matchups - Just the fact that we have it is a plus. I use the Eagles and it helps tremendously to have Asante shadowing all the elite Wrs. This should be improved to include Qbs and better options for shutting down some of the elite backs.

I think a huge edition to madden if they fixed the blocking logic and suction blocking would be offenses able to highlight defenders sort of like we can highlight Wrs and Rbs. It happens in the NFL and it happens on madden at least with good OLBers like Ware, Harrison, and Porter they blow up every play and are in the backfield constantly. If you spotlight these players it should somewhat reduce their effectiveness.

[49ers94]

Madden is alway's going to be what is is..point, Blank Period. When another Game Console is released is probably our best bet of getting a more realistic football game. Not saying Madden 10 is horrible, but it's so many damn flaws in this game it just doesn't make any sense to me. How can an successful Franchise ( Madden ) after 20 something yrs of developements, can seem to get the minor things rite, Can't run the damn football to safe my life. i just hope a new development team arrivs in th next 2 yrs, i'm pretty much done with madden, and the real reason why we all buy this damn game is because it's the only damn football game out. 2K PLEASE COME BACK AND SAVE US ALL FROM THE BS.

[j2k9]

Collision detection should be #1 on this list. There's way too much morphing in the game. Players going through players on the field, refs, sideline players, endzone pylons, etc...as it they don't exsist. It's almost 2010 & morphing should be a thing of the past. Also, why put refs on the field if we can just morph right through them? Please EA no more morphing! It's seriously ruins the experience for me! Oh and for the love of God can we please get the players on the sidelines to look like the players on the field? I'm tired of playing the game & trying to avoid looking at the sidelines because they look like Nintendo 64 graphics. Definately kills the immersion feeling. Next year we need the sidelines to look like the do in the cutscenes during gameplay.

[jeebs9]

I totally agree with the forward progress comments. It reminds me of NCAA 08 when you make contact with the defense and the ref would spot the ball where you first made contact. Instead of where you were actually tackled at. Not as bad. But just reminds of that problem...lol

Nice article!

[young_bucs_fan]

lol my gut feeling told me don't buy the game just now...im sure glad games like NFS and Batman and the Show are on the Mantle cuz looks like madden is headed for another rough year of criticism thank god i had will power and held out

[Blackout863]

You forgot 2 things. the unrealistic best of both worlds, swat and midair matrix/david tyree superbowl helmet tackle animation and the removal of the hitstick. they say if u see it on sunday you see it in the game. and from a true fan of the game. i dont see ''hitsticks'' on every play,. i see sound wrap up tackling and thats what i wish would happen. to many times i have played a guy and been hitsticked on every tackle. while it its great when you break a long one cuz a missed tackle it has started to look arcadish.

[ANDROMADA 1]

wow,Lot of things i didnt notice.One biggie is players warping through defenders.This has happened to me on several occasions,I also think the running out of 300 pound Defensive Tackles and ends grasp is Way overblown.That should NEVER happen.Not with Peterson,Jim Brown,O.J. Simpson,I dont care who the runner is.Dt's should be able to breath on a rb and make him go down.Other than that It is stil a fun game.

[TheLateralLine]

Hands down, The best article I've read so far. great job!