Madden NFL 09

Firstly, Madden 08 is a much better version for the PSP than this one. If you already have Madden 08 but curious about this version, do yourself a favor, rent it and try it out first before paying for what amounts to roster updates. The gameplay is sterile, repetitive, and robotic.

There were other reviews giving this thing five stars and I really could not in good conscience allow the rating to be that skewed. It really is that bad and this is my very first review.

I've been a big fan of Madden football for years and (even though I say I won't do it) I buy the latest edition every year! This is the first time I've owned/played a PSP, and I am very impressed with this game on this platform.

Right up front, I have to confess I am not an avid gamer, in fact I am in my late 40s and I find it difficultto play almost all the games available today because my reflexes are not fast enough and my manual dexterity is not great either. That having been said, this is a game that I have been able to play in previous versions and each year I look forward to the newer advances with each newer version. Surprisingly, this is the 20th anniversary of Madden NFL games...time flies, huh?

Anyway, since your reading this review, it's for the Sony PSP version and I have already recv'd mine and played a couple games. The most striking & noticeable difference is the play selection interface...it's changed in a way that really benefits PSP gamers over any other format. The use of the toggle has been amplified and play selection is quicker and slightly more intuitive. Also, when you're on defense the view perspective is changed to 180* from previous versions whereas the camera angle is now behind the defense (duh!). I still have yet to figure out the quarterback passing command, it's different now..I'm going to Gamestop to peruse a Madden NFL 09 guidebook to see if I can figure it out because right now my QB (Rothlesberger) is just throwin it wherever. Lastly, I have to state my dislike of the music...the first thing I did upon opening & installing was to delete every single music track, they really are bad!

I find it telling that 6 days after the date that this game was released, no one has reviewed it yet.
Let me be totally honest right at the gates; American football is not one of my favorite sims. It's also very hard to make a good sport sim of a game that is so complex, random, and political.
This game in particular had negative strikes from me for being published by the same company that put out the trash that was "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". Sometimes it seems the pocketbook is the ONLY thing this company looks at.
I've been playing EA games since the 90's when they were a small company producing games that had secret "boobs" codes. My, how times have changed.
Anyway, on to the game. For what it is, it's decent. If you have any Madden games from the past 5 years or so, it's only marginally better.
As far as PSP is concerned, this is without a doubt the best Madden yet.
Then why only 3 stars? Because, if you own 06 or 07, you only get a slightly better game. This one adds better music tracks, the Madden advice option, and green symbols when you have an open receiver. You also get advertisements from real life companies such as Under Armor and Snickers. Yuck.
My advice is: if you've never bought a Madden football game, get this. If you love the Madden franchise, and can't miss an installment, get this. If you have one or two (on any system) at least wait another year or so before purchasing another Madden. It's just not worth it to keep putting out 40-50 bucks for what really amounts to licensed updates.

Yes...I've been playing Madden since the Sega Genesis days just like most of you here. I've noticed EA doesn't like to deviate too far from the original gameplay format, therefore adding a handful of new (but seldom used) features every release. Most of these "advancements" disappear as quickly as they were introduced the following year.

This year EA has again brought Madden consumers something new... the "Defensive Camera" angle. Just one of the poorly-thought-out, unnecessary features that has contributed to the decreasing fun factor of this year's release.

Why, after 20 years of playing a game from a certain viewpoint, was this new angle introduced? As helpful as it sounds to have this "Defensive Angle" as an option...it is honestly more cumbersome than ever before.

This new feature makes manual pass coverage nearly impossible. The opposing wide receivers run towards you then disappear off screen as my safeties are left to fend for themselves downfield.

Meanwhile, I'm switching to a defensive lineman and trying to look past the many players obstructing my view to see if I can sack the quarterback or at least apply some pressure. Trying to tip the ball at the line is not an option because visibility is zero.

Granted (and thank goodness) this "Defensive Angle" can be shut off, but why was this even applied to the game in the first place? My guess is it will be gone by Madden 2010.

Let's move on.

After playing and mastering the controls to Madden 08 for the past 365 days, why pull the rug out from underneath players by completely overhauling the entire control setup?

I'm giving a stiff-arm all the way down the field thinking I'm in sprint mode. Huh? Oh, someone over at EA thought it would be a great idea to move everything around on the PSP control buttons for no apparent reason other than to agitate loyal & longtime fans of the game. Thanks so much for this and for having no way to alter these controls to put them back to last year's version.

I, for one, don't feel like re-learning everything I have come to know almost religiously for the past year.

Other features include a "Rookie Mode" that is so dumbed down I don't even think Rex Grossman would want to use it. The "All New Play Calling System" isn't as hard to grow accustomed to as the new altered button controls but still is irritatingly pointless. "Intelligent Coach Tips" are now featured...yeah...we really needed those.

Some of the more helpful features include "New Player Indicators" that let wide receivers identify themselves as being open or not.

I have already resorted back to my copy of Madden 08...the best PSP version so far.

Brett Favre might have an uphill battle against him this season after signing with the Jets but, after trying all day to like this game I had to check the cover of the case to make sure I wasn't displayed on the front. I'm the one who feels jinxed.

UPDATE:

After yet another and desperate attempt to like this game, I tried to play a few online games with the Madden community. What a mistake.

There is NOTINNG more pointless than engaging in online Madden gameplay because every time you're winning your opponent will quit. Now if your opponent forfeits a game shouldn't that mean you get the win? Nope...not in the world of Madden. After seven online games (that should have been wins) my record is still 0-0 because my opponent ditched in the middle of the game leaving me with the message, "Online Connection To Your Opponent Has Been Lost...End Game."

Thanks EA...for adding yet another aggravating feature to this poorly thrown together & overpriced game. I have put my copy up for auction on eBay and you will never see another dollar from me.