Madden 09 Discussion

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:55 am

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:06 am

I am getting burned on the play-fakes and I just love Collinsworth's insightful 'Backtrack'.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:07 am

Why do the players in madden and ncaa run like 2k? What was the point for this? It seems awkward like it did in 2k.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:43 am

Why are the announcers bringing back memories of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana? Good god they are horrible.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:25 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Why are the announcers bringing back memories of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana? Good god they are horrible.

I never had problems with the radio guy but people kept bitching at EA to drop him. As the saying goes be careful what you ask for cause you might just get it.

And it looks like they did.

jcalvert · Post by **jcalvert** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:43 am

wco81 wrote:I think Amazon gave you a $10 gift card or certificate if you "preordered" from them. Toys R Us the same deal.

If you were a Prime subscriber (I am not sure if the deal was for non Prime subscribers), Amazon had a great deal for the CE. $89.99 for the collectors edition + free next day (release-date) delivery + no sales tax + $10 gift card (Amazon said they would email info on this one later).

If Amazon is going to offer free release-date delivery for all their games (or even just major releases), I am going to start using them for game purchases.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:06 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Why are the announcers bringing back memories of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana? Good god they are horrible.

I hear what you're saying. How many times does Hammond have to let us know "This game is brought to you by EA Sports".

I think since this is their first year, Hammond and Collinsworth don't have the stockpile of audio that Herbstriet and Corso have.

Collinsworth does sound smooth though.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:17 am

The commentary at this point is not really bothering me. I guess after the crappy radio announcer, I have a much better tolerance for Hammond and Collinsworth. EA is moving in the right direction with the presentation IMO.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:19 am

Murph wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:Why are the announcers bringing back memories of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana? Good god they are horrible.
I hear what you're saying. How many times does Hammond have to let us know "This game is brought to you by EA Sports".

I think since this is their first year, Hammond and Collinsworth don't have the stockpile of audio that Herbstriet and Corso have.

Collinsworth does sound smooth though.

I don't buy that because the first year of NCAA 2002 (PS2) the audio sounded tight and polished between the three.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:41 am

Never thought I'd say this, but it's not a bad game. I couldn't fight the good fight anymore and traded in a few games for the collector's edition. Go Steelers!

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:09 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Why are the announcers bringing back memories of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana? Good god they are horrible.

I agree that Hammond is robotic and reminiscent of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana but Collinsworth is very, very good. It pains me to say that because I hate the guy but I have to give him props for his line delivery.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:26 am

ScoopBrady wrote:I agree that Hammond is robotic and reminiscent of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana but Collinsworth is very, very good. It pains me to say that because I hate the guy but I have to give him props for his line delivery.

Yeah he may be pretty smooth, but if I hear that a QBs arm doesn't have to move faster to throw the ball harder ONE MORE TIME, I'm seriously gonna go Munoz his leg (haha to Bengals injury references).

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:43 am

What is this "backtracker"?

I haven't played Madden, so I'm unsure what that feature is all about.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:44 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
ScoopBrady wrote:I agree that Hammond is robotic and reminiscent of Sports Talk Football w/ Joe Montana but Collinsworth is very, very good. It pains me to say that because I hate the guy but I have to give him props for his line delivery.
Yeah he may be pretty smooth, but if I hear that a QBs arm doesn't have to move faster to throw the ball harder ONE MORE TIME, I'm seriously gonna go Munoz his leg (haha to Bengals injury references).

Yep...Its smooth but after a while some of it does get repetitive...I dont need to hear the same Steven Jackson ass kiss anymore.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:47 am

MizzouRah wrote:What is this "backtracker"?

I haven't played Madden, so I'm unsure what that feature is all about.

Unless you have the game mode on "Hardcore", when you screw up, Collinsworth will try and show you why. It does a replay with a little telestrator line to open receivers, etc. On Hardcore it doesn't appear at all, though.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:19 pm

TCrouch wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:What is this "backtracker"?

I haven't played Madden, so I'm unsure what that feature is all about.
Unless you have the game mode on "Hardcore", when you screw up, Collinsworth will try and show you why. It does a replay with a little telestrator line to open receivers, etc. On Hardcore it doesn't appear at all, though.

Very intriguing. Is it done well? Does it occur on big plays against your defense?

I SUCK at football games now since I have no extra time to learn the play books and tweak the extra 2 million pre-snap options, etc...

I gladly welcome a feature that helps me learn and educates me on how and why I should change/do something.

I just assumed the 'Backtracker' was the name for the 'rewind' feature.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:24 pm

Doesn't work particularly well in the ones I noticed. I threw an interception in the end zone simply because I held the button too long, allowing the defender to hop up and pick it off.

Collinsworth comes on, chastising me and telling me to throw the hitch on the other side of the field...into double bracketed coverage.

Gimmick more than anything else, in my opinion. You'll learn more simply by clicking RS back at the playcall screen and going through the replay yourself. That's what I do when I'm baffled.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:30 pm

Thanks TC!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:01 pm

I enjoy the 'Backtracker' in that it dissects the plays and shows the player what they should have done in certain circumstances. When you throw an INT for example, Collinsworth will break it down for you, where the user went wrong and what they could have done better. If you're more on the advanced side, the BackTrack will give more of a technical information such as the play calls that should have been made, etc. A useful feature for me.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:16 pm

Have played about a half dozen online games.

Man coverage is busted, too easy to beat. No pass rush either. You have to try to keep the fast QBs in the pocket but even if you do, guys are getting open because QB has time and the coverage is weak.

The blitz schemes which worked last year have been neutered. Not talking about nano blitzes where you exploit the AI by manually moving LBs into A and B gaps presnap but just simple combinations or DL and LB movements using the left and right shoulder buttons.

They changed the control scheme for features like defensive hot routes from last gen just for the sake of changing them. Then you have the coverage audible for lining up defenders to receivers.

It used to be triangle and left on the D-pad/left stick. If that is still in the game, it's some other combo. When WRs and RBs are motioned the defender doesn't line up, even in man coverage (not sure if man lock is in this year's game).

As a result, blitzes leave players wide open, where in previous years you could bring up the safety who was covering a RB motioned to the line. Now, maybe it's more realistic to have uncovered players in blitzes with man coverage but it's just too easy in this game.

And the more aggressive blitz plays (2 or more blitzers) go with man coverage. This is for the 3-4 and Multiple D playbooks. The zone blitz schemes aren't effective so far.

In Madden 05, the defense was enhanced by warping defenders who closed the distance they were beat by. In Madden 08 (current gen), defense was amped up to break on the ball before the WR even broke or knew the ball was coming.

So in Madden 09, the defenders are dumbed down and more passive again (similar to how they slowed down Madden 06 because of complaints about warping defenders in Madden 06).

Finally, they made the ball carriers more capable of breaking tackles. Not just RBs and WRs but punt returners too. Either truck defenders if you have a big player or juke or spin out of tackles. The net effect is that you see ball carriers pinball between defenders (again the action is similar to Madden 06). Run Commit is more a necessity than in previous years.

Short yardage is automatic, especially the QB sneak. At least the OL is holding their primary blocks or getting some push.

Scoring will be up.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:59 pm

TCrouch wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:What is this "backtracker"?

I haven't played Madden, so I'm unsure what that feature is all about.
Unless you have the game mode on "Hardcore", when you screw up, Collinsworth will try and show you why. It does a replay with a little telestrator line to open receivers, etc. On Hardcore it doesn't appear at all, though.

Interesting, thanks!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:02 pm

I actually LOVE how it's easier to break tackles this year. In the past you saw too many open field tackles against elite backs/receivers. Now it's actually a challenge to bring down the fast and strong. You can actually get some YAC this year, which has been missing in years past.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:15 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I actually LOVE how it's easier to break tackles this year. In the past you saw too many open field tackles against elite backs/receivers. Now it's actually a challenge to bring down the fast and strong. You can actually get some YAC this year, which has been missing in years past.

Yep. FBs and TEs actually shake off lame tackle attempts and keep on chuggin'.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:26 pm

GTHobbes wrote:Never thought I'd say this, but it's not a bad game. I couldn't fight the good fight anymore and traded in a few games for the collector's edition. Go Steelers!

Heh, good on you. I've only played a couple games myself and my own experience has been more positive than negative although I'm sure there will be quirks along the way.

Here's hoping that you're not beset with buyer's remorse in a week

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:50 pm

I'm actually pleasently surprised by the XBox version. They added a number of useful features without messing with the existing game too much. It is more than a roster update with things like QB avoidance, combo moves, supersim, and saving custom audibles on the fly.