Madden NFL 10

Each new entry in EA’s long-running series of football games has been on an ongoing quest to improve some of its basic gameplay elements while keeping the core experience intact. Such is the case with Madden NFL 10, an entry that aims to bring the well-known Madden formula to a whole new generation of realism.

With its new and more dynamic gameplay, a better physics system, and an overall cleaner and more streamlined presentation, Madden NFL 10 achieves just what it tries to do: being the ultimate virtual football experience — at least, until Madden NFL 11 comes around.

Get Into the Action

Innovation is the name of the game when it comes to Madden NFL 10. A variety of minor but meaningful changes to some of the game’s core mechanics ensure that this entry in the series feels like a definite step above Madden NFL 09.

One of the new features is called the Pro-Tak system, which allows up to nine players to interact with each other during a tackle. The results can look as hectic as they do in real-life situations, which is just what football fans might be looking for.

Fight for the Fumble is another new addition where players have to do a minigame to win control of the ball during a fumble. As good as it sounds, this also breaks the immersion a bit, as it messes with the flow of the game.

Realer than Ever

Animations have been revamped for this new entry in the series. While EA’s Madden NFL and FIFA Series have always been at the top of their game when it comes to the animations and player interaction, NFL 10 goes a step beyond what we’ve seen in the series by delivering the most intuitive and fluid animations I have ever seen in a sports title.

New cutscenes spice up the gameplay in between each play, while the character models and even the spectators look better than ever. The new procedural awareness system also has the players keeping their eyes on the ball at all times, which feels more like the real deal than ever.

Simulation Complete

More creative players will be pleased to see that the creation features in Madden NFL 10 have received a sizable update compared to previous years. That’s not all, however: the game’s franchise mode is now more realistic than ever, with a much more dynamic progression for each player.

Signature quarterbacks have also received new and unique throwing styles matching their real-life counterparts. To make the game feel a bit more realistic, the overall speed of the game has been slightly decreased. This also goes a long way when it comes to truly appreciating the game’s animations and improved visuals.

Overall, if you’re a new player looking to get into this long-running series, Madden NFL 10 is definitely a good place to start.

Pros

• Improved animations
• Better pacing and franchise mode
• Revamped creation tools

Cons

• Not enough new content
• Could use a visual upgrade
• Some new mechanics mess with the pace of the game