Madden '09

I usually buy it every other year. Didn't last year, so I plan on picking up '09, unless I hear it is abysmal, then I'll skip it. Is the demo on the PSN?

Just 8 days left till Madden 09. In the last 4 years I bought Madden games, but traded them in after The Miami Dolphins fired Dave Wannstadt, The Nicktater Saban, and Cam Cameron. After the 3 were ex Miami head coaches, I could not stand the sight of them on the Dolphin sidelines.

As a Wii purchaser that has suffered through the horror known as NCAA Football '09, my understanding is that Madden '09 is much, MUCH better. I'm loathe to give EA more of my money, though. I wish they had some sort of deal for NCAA All-Play sufferers.

So is that it with the demo, you can do the IQ test and play that one and a half minute Madden Moment? That's really a tease, lol. However, it looked pretty good to me. Been maybe 5 years since I bought a Madden, so I will probably bite this year. The reviews I have seen so far have been very favorable.

Not quite sure about the Madden IQ. The first test, Rush Offense? It seemed difficult to NOT score on every play, so that was almost an automatic All-Madden level. But then I was a complete failure when it came to Rush Defense. Perhaps it won't really matter, since the Madden IQ is supposed to be dynamic? And the results of playing full games will be a better criteria than the tests, as far as adjusting the difficulty to suit you.

Bah. I'll rent it. NCAA 09 is still providing me too much joy/frustration. My newest feat? I've played vs. the CPU and actual online humans this past week--probably about 10 games. Here's what I do 90% of the time: drive the ball right down the field to inside the 20, then proceed to throw an INT in the endzone, which 5 times out of 7 is returned all the way for a TD. I was playing a guy online, and he was up 21-3 at one point, and all 3 TDs came from picks returned for TDs. He msgd me and said, "Don't quit" right before I threw a bomb at the end of the first half and made it 21-10. We start the 2nd half, and the connection drops on me, and it says it dropped on his end. So I quit, but I guess I said "Quit and keep stats" because now instead of being 2-0, I'm 2-1 with a 33% DNF percentage. Fuckers.

Also, I've read on the new Madden that they removed the CPU difficulty sliders. Is that Madden IQ supposed to replace it?

I bought Madden for the Wii last year, and it sucked balls. I returned it and bought a used copy for the PS3. The Wii version had a ton of bugs, one especially annoying being that you would snap the ball and instantaneously throw the ball to your 1st receiver. And it would usually happen on a critical 3rd down.

Loved the full demo so much, I had to buy it. Well actually, I traded in two games at Gamestop and paid $19 for it. Well according to the Gamestop computer I traded in two games...

Same here. "My" running ability is All Madden, so when I play a game I get flattened on every running play. Am I really going to have to re-do the IQ test and purposely not score on half the running attempts?

I'm really not sure I like this. Maybe it's because it's so different from NCAA 09, which I've been playing a lot of, but it just feels off to me.

Rasberry Leper, You can turn off the test, by saying you never want to see the question again. If you do, and you pick beginner, make sure you also select advanced playcalling so you can pick all your own plays. When you pick the easiest playcalling option, the plays are selected by the computer.

I know I can turn it off, but isn't this adaptive AI the big new development of the year? Kind of defeats the purpose of even buying it at all. I like the concept, but I'm not digging the execution.

Played a couple games last night with my best friend, and as usual he stomped me with the Raiders. I just don't get it. I hate him so much.

The graphics definitely got a nice bump it seems. I remember not being very impressed at all by 08's level of detail. And the running game is indeed brutal if you do the IQ. I finished my 3rd game of the night with 30 something yards rushing and was thrilled to be in the positive.

Anyone notice that leading the receiver on the passing game doesn't seem to be nearly as accurate as last year though? I was trying a bunch to throw over the shoulder, or out to the finger tips of my receivers, which resulted in lots of great snags last year, but this year is non-stop picks. I had like 7 picks my first game.

Rasberry Leper, To me the crowning achievements of Madden 09 are...the fantastic speed of the players, the fact you can upgrade any player, and this is especially good when you take a solid if unspectacular QB like Chad Pennington and make him a great QB that can make all the throws.

Also, due the fact of how horribly I did in the pass defense test, my defensive backs couldn't get an interception if the quarterback walked up and handed the ball to them. Passes were going right to them and they couldn't catch them.

Got the Wii version of this yesterday. The best Wii football game by far. Call Your Shots mode is pretty damn great.

I haven't read much on this on the web, any word on if there's a huge quality difference b/t PS3 and Xbox version?

I'll be down for a game. I just have to finish giving all my create-a-players emo haircuts and giant swords.

I have both the PS3 and the Xbox 360...which platform should I buy this one on? Any suggestions?

Wait...If you did poorly in the pass defense portion of the exam, wouldn't it stand to reason it would be easier to intercept a pass?

EA's Madden and NCAA series can go fuck themselves, buggy pieces of shit that they are.

Peace out.

Jacob, I'd abuse you. After I dropped fifty points on you, in the first half, you'd be a screaming little girl in need of comfort ... speaking of which, I need to go "comfort" Alicia Scaramone.

I want my motherfucking achievements for getting Cal the "blue chip" recruiting championship and five straight undefeated national championships while playing every game without "fast-forwarding" (on All-Star setting). When they retroactively fix that bug, I'll return to the series.

The adaptive AI is pretty great and all but my big issue with it is that games are too close. Most I've led a game by was 10 points. I miss the opportunity to crush the Lions by 40.

I'm going to try to pick this up today or tomorrow, and I'll match you in suckitude, Jacob.

Shen Annigans, If you want to score more points that's easy...just go to the edit player function and upgrade your QB, and offensive skill players like your WR's,RB's, and TE's to 99 in all abilities...and you can drop 49 points on the computer opponent with ease. Also pick 3 minute quarters so the game isn't a complete bloodbath.

That's great and all, but I'd like to earn that shit. Here the rubberband AI just keeps you from doing just that.

Actually, you're right. I skipped 08, so I don't know how it's been since 07 (which sucked anyway), but I was up by 17 pts in a game by the first half, and then somehow the computer stormed back to make it a game. I guess it's good, cuz it makes you not get lazy, but I do miss the drubbings I used to dish out on the Browns (go stillers).

I've realized that there is no way I'll ever beat a human opponent in this game. I'm awful.

I'm glad that Josh McCown is an interception machine. Put me more at ease but cutting him so I could put Pennington on the Dolphins.

Started the demo last night, but only got through the Madden IQ part before I went to bed. Amazingly enough, I did All-Pro or better on everything except rushing defense. Ironically, that's the best thing I usually do in a game, is stop the run. I got confused with trying to press the right button vs. actually going to make the tackle. As for the pass defense, I knocked down about 50% of the passes. No INTs, but lots of deflections. The short, over the middle stuff is exceedingly difficult to defend. Those are about the only passes I couldn't knock down. My initial IQ was 498.

The thing I don't like about the Madden IQ for rushing is that those helpful signs telling you what button to push don't appear in the actual game, so it's really not a true test of how good you are at running the ball.

My biggest issue is they've still not taken care of the problem of defenders being in front of your face 9/10 times on a punt. It drives me insane.

That's one area where NCAA 09 really outshines Madden. There's actual blocking going on during punt and kick returns.

I thought the Madden IQ tests were ridiculous. Same thing as in the demo, with the full game it was impossible not to score on Rushing Offense. So the IQ wanted it to be All-Madden difficulty for that skill. Yet the IQ test for Rushing Defense was overly complicated, which is usually an area that I do well in.

Ended up just going with the "skip IQ test and don't remind me again". You can still use the My Skill difficulty level - it just starts you off with that 500 IQ, with equal difficulties in all areas. Whether you take the test or not, that initial IQ rating is just a baseline, it constantly adjusts after you play games. And I think the results of your in-game performance are a better jusge of your skills, versus the IQ tests.

The My Skill thing is now starting to piss me off. It seems arbitrary how your graded. I consistently have a great pass game and an OK rush offense, but yet Madden IQ lists me as being a prodigy with the running and yet lacking in the passing game. Lame.

Maybe that's a little high, but for the part I think the game has this aspect down.

Oh yeah, it's a minor thing. I've never played such a realistic season in terms of wins/losses. Playing tough for the last few games to secure a wild card spot was pretty intense. When I didn't get it I was crushed. That's never happened with Madden ever.

I bought this after not having bought a Madden since the '06 game and I love it. I think thats the trick to enjoying it, go about 3 years without playing it.

Always right after I take the ambien! One of these days, Singer...

I'm a broken record here bitching about the Madden IQ. Now I'm crushing opponents with ease. It's hardly a game anymore. The ratings hardly budge now. I'm a fan of the idea and all, but some refinement is needed. The AI has to realize not only is it losing, but it's getting annihilated out there.

What Chewers here are playing this on the PS3? I can't seem to find anyone.

I have it for the PS3.
awacs_cat.