Madden NFL 09 All-Play (Wii) Review
I’m an AFL fan through-and-through, and I have about as much knowledge of American Football as I do advanced algebra. I know some of the basics of the game, such as how the Quarterback is generally one of the most important players who is responsible for making most of the plays. I also know that the general idea is to pass the ball around to teammates as you make your way to the touchdown line, all the time trying to avoid the brutal tackles from the opposing team. Apart from this vague idea, I am really behind the eight-ball when it comes to American Football rules. However, when Madden 09 arrived, I thought it was about time that I become accustomed to the rules. How was my experience with this mysterious, foreign sport? Read on to find out.
The first thing I will point out is that this is the first Madden, or any American Football title for that matter, that I have ever played. Therefore, my experience with the game is in no way influenced by my exposure to previous versions of Madden or any other American Football games from other developers. I was also quick to notice that the 09 version sports EA’s new All-Play tag, which to me seems to be a huge indication that this game will be accessible to the casual gaming audience who have so thoroughly embraced the Wii. In any case, the game offers both a fully-fledged NFL experience, as well as offering a dumbed-down experience for those who like to keep things simple.
On beginning the game, you can create your own team made up from any players in the league or you can simply select from one of the already existing teams. I choose the latter option as I had no idea who was good or who was the NFL equivalent of the Melbourne Demons. After picking a team, you can jump straight into the season or you can choose to do a little training. Choosing to train will increase the skill of your team members while skipping training will make things more difficult for you in the season.
The franchise mode, where you pick or create your team, is the main mode in the game. You begin this mode by picking a team and having a training run. After this, you enter the pre-season, which gives you a chance to make any last minute changes to your side. There is also a NFL superstar mode which lets you begin with a rookie from the actual 2008 draft and earn recognition as a player who is making their way up in the American Football world. Also on offer is party mode, which offers you the chance to play a five-on-five version of the sport. Finally on offer is a selection of mini-games and even trivia if you ever feel the need to increase your knowledge of the history of NFL. Playing the actual game (as in, the sport!) is a pretty complicated task, mainly due to the fact that most Australians won’t be accustomed to the sport. Controlling your players and the game is a mixture of Wii-remote and Nunchuk movements as well as button pressing. There’s quite a bit to get used to, such as snapping the ball, passing, tackling, breaking tackles, kicking (or punting), swatting, switching players, intercepting, and more. It does take a while to get used to, and it’s probably a good idea to pay attention in the training mode to help you get the hang of things.
The game also comes with a new play-calling feature whereby using the Wii-remote, you can select a path on the playing field in which you want a certain team member to run. You can also call a selection of pre-determined plays from a book, which range from easy to more advanced plays. Thankfully, the game offers you coaching tips in the form of feedback to help you learn from your mistakes. This not only helps you become a more efficient and skilled football player, but it helps you learn some of the finer points of the game. The many different play times can be very overwhelming in the beginning, especially when you’re not used to the sport. With practice, though, you’ll soon find yourself becoming more natural in your plays. Like any new sport, it does take time before you can appreciate and work within the various rules of the game.
Whether you enjoy Madden NFL 09 will depend on a number of different things. If you really do not like the sport, then you probably won’t enjoy the game that much. If you’re unfamiliar with the sport, but still curious, then it is well worth a look. I won’t deny that it is very confusing at first, but there’s a lot depth to the game and the Wii-specific controls work nicely. Multiplayer is also good fun if you have a couple of enthusiastic friends to play with. The game also offers online multiplayer, which is an added bonus for two reasons. Firstly, it allows you to play against other players when you can’t find someone to play with locally. Secondly, it is a good way to improve your skills by playing against people who might be more familiar with the game. Finding players to play with was a little difficult, so you might need to convince some friends to get a copy of the game which may make online play easier.
Graphically, the game looks pretty good for a Wii game (it’s sad that I have to say that). Character models are good and animations are generally pretty smooth and realistic. The game also runs smoothly despite the frantic action often taking place. Sound is also good, with a varied soundtrack with music from various genres. The commentary is solid and doesn’t get too repetitive. There’s plenty of fun to be had with Madden, particularly if you take the time to get used to the game. There’s quite a few different modes of play, and with the ability to start a whole new franchise from the ground up means you have plenty of work ahead of you. NFL is certainly an interesting sport that is both brain and brawn. It doesn’t have the flow and beauty of AFL (bias anyone?) but with friends it is a great deal of fun. It’s not easy to just pick up and play, and you may be initially frustrated with what might be a very foreign experience. Give it time though, and you will appreciate both the sport and the quality of the title.
