From struggles to victory

Over the past few years, the Madden franchise has struggled in bringing a competitive American (or gridiron) football game to consumers. Dating back to the inception of the next-generation consoles, Madden has improved but still not been quite there. Madden 06 provided gamers with a horrible game that they will remember for all the wrong reasons. Madden 07 provided gamers with a year better than 2006 but still nowhere near as good as 2005. Madden 08 cited another improvement in the series but it was not until 2009 that fans got their first well-rounded next-generation football game. Fans of the series will be pleased to hear that they can rejoice and their wallets can weep, as that game has been improved and released as Madden 10. Let me be the first to say that Madden 10 lives up to the hype; its stunning visuals and ferocious gameplay will keep you coming back, hungry for more.

Purrrty

Madden 10 has a refreshing array of beautiful visuals from all angles. The graphics are highly streamlines, as can be seen in the field depth, lighting, player models and a nicer field display. The vibrant colors and beautiful graphics make it easy to distinguish it from Madden 09.

Excellent replayability

Madden will always hold replayability for at least one year, as long as it is at least half decent. It is Madden, and therefore it is not only an upgraded game, but a $60 roster update as well. Whether you have a night with the guys planned to sit around and play some Madden whilst knocking back a few beers, or whether you plan on staying up all night beating a season on franchise mode, this year's Madden delivers on all levels. Thankfully for football fans' sake, I can safely say that Madden 10 is the best next generation Madden that I have played to date.

For those that have played Madden before, you will find it easy to sift through the game menus and playbook. Madden 10 has swift high definition, easy to navigate menus, along with an array of new content for experienced and newcomers to delve through.

Added gaming modes

Madden has added a few modes to its playbook with the inclusions of Online Franchise mode, as well as online co-op. The Online Franchise mode can consistently be a blast, providing real-time drafts, among all the regular inclusions of franchise mode. The free agency system they have implemented needs improving, as it is practically non-existent, and if you leave the draft to the CPU then the results are off, but for a first attempt, it is what you would expect.

The Online co-op leaves fans hungry as it provides a zoomed-in camera view - similar to that of superstar mode. As for actual football playing, fans will be pleased to hear that the game is far more realistic.

The play style that you pick will actually matter, and affect the outcome of the game. Using a balanced attack scheme between rushing and passing is now a viable option instead of just tossing up a Hail Mary pass.

Some shortcomings

Madden's main shortcoming on the gameplay front, I found, was that interceptions happen unrealistically often, but it does not break the game, nor dim the sparkle of all the improvements. It is possible that in the coming weeks we will see an update that will improve the interception rates in online play, but regardless you would not miss it if it did not appear.

Besides having a brand new soundtrack, varying from Black Eyed Peas to Lamb of God, it provides the usual mesh of football lingo in an attack situation. One of the commentators provides accurate and decent information while the other is a little 'in his own world' and annoying, but not enough to have you mute the game.

A must have

In my opinion, Madden 10 is a must have for fans of the series and football loving casual gamers alike. Obviously those that do not like football, will not appreciate Madden for what it is, but sports gamers will be glad to hear that they will be satisfied this year. Madden 10 has injected a terrific and much needed breath of fresh air into the life of the struggling series.