Boom!  A Comprehensive Madden NFL 10 Review

(Part Two)

If you've been following along, we're checking out the latest Madden NFL video game for XBox and PlayStation.  As one of the world's most popular video game franchises, Madden NFL games have always had expectations.  How does this one measure up?

Problems and Disappointments

In Part One of this review, we looked at a few problems with the Maden NFL audio, mentioning that Madden's producers always seem more concerned with realistic animation than with the rest of the game.  So what's up with the rest of the game, and what happens when you want to enter franchise mode?

For the uninitiated, franchise mode is the part of the game that allows you to be the general manager of your favorite team, signing players, drafting rookies, and making team decisions for game day.  The franchise mode in recent editions of Madden NFL has been disappointing over their 2004/2005 glory days.  You'll see that EA Sports did a little bit of thinking for this year's franchise mode, but there don't appear to have been any major overhauls.

That's a bit of a shame, because Madden video games have previously been great for "franchise mode" warriors.  The emphasis these days seems to be on realism, but the reality of being an NFL general manager isn't always something you want to indulge in.

Overall Impressions

Overall, this video game is being reviewed as an improvement over last year's Madden, which was not a terrible entry into the franchise.  But since the Madden franchise is one of the most beloved video game franchises around, it takes a lot to impress us.

Problems with the commentary and an over-emphasis on game play still seem to plague the franchise, which doesn't quite seem interested in becoming the comprehensive, complete football game it could be.  Some people who are more interested in the coaching and strategic areas of football might be encouraged to check out the "NFL Head Coach" video game franchise.

If you've loved the latest editions of Madden, however, you shouldn't be disappointed with what you get this year.  You will notice some interesting animations and have some fun with 9-man tackles.  Either way, make sure that you know what you want out of a game before you check out this year's Madden.