Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

[Steve_OS]

Destructoid has posted their hands-on impressions of Madden NFL 11.

"In designing GameFlow, Tiburon looked at NFL game film from the 2009 season to determine each team’s playcalling tendencies. From that data, they created a bank of plays for each offensive situation you might find yourself in. Say you’re playing as the Colts, and it’s 1st-and-10. If you hit A/X to use GameFlow, the computer will pick from a selection of plays that the Colts actually tended to run on 1st-and-10 last year. Of course, if you’re scoffing as you read this, fear not: you can always press X (square on PS3) to delve into your full playbook, just like the old days.

But Madden 11 even takes the extra step of encouraging old-school playcallers to use GameFlow by including a complementary “gameplanning” setup. If you shudder to think of the CPU picking a play for you, then you can go in and customize the banks of plays yourself, so GameFlow will be choosing from your list of plays. For example, if you decide that you don’t like what the Giants called on third-and-short in 2009, then you can set one to fifteen plays that you want GameFlow to pick from in that situation. Since you’re likely to have preferences among that list of plays, gameplanning includes an iTunes-style five-star weighting system -- a play with a 4.5-star rating will be chosen much more often than one with two stars. The same setup applies for defense, only the situations correspond to the formation in which the offense is lined up instead of a particular down and yardage. Best of all, you can use your gameplan online."

Madden NFL 11: Satisfying the hardcore and casual markets

[ch46647]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

"Sprint" button has finally been removed!!! Thank you Ian and the rest of the Madden team!! I have already posted a comment about this on another review and since it is in this review as well it must be true. I would bet anyone familiar with the NHL series is thrilled with this news.(I think it is in FIFA as well but I am not sure) Now all players speed will be dictated by "ratings" and not just have all the ratings fly out the window because you jam "sprint" down the second you get the ball.

This is absolutely HUGE news IMO!!!


EDIT: Now I just want to hear about a new kicking mechanic. Please bring back the old PS2 style kicking meter or anything better then we have now...

[ch46647]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

According to another review there is a NEW kicking meter as well!

[mm boost]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

^^^ go read the thread that has Gamespot's review in it. They do have a new kicking system.

[poster]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

Liking what I am reading. Having everything on the sticks will be nice, and removing turbo is a good idea.

Also one of the people who like the Gameflow idea and being able to pick 15 plays for certain situations is nice. Without seeing it first hand, seems you can "script the first 15 plays" as everything will be organized. You may have to jot the plays down or whatnot, but at times in the past I have had trouble finding certain plays I liked within the constraints of the ticking game clock. This will help that.

Also like hearing that Michael Young has not put in the new and improved lighting system yet. I assume this is similar to what NCAA has which looks nice. Hopefully that means progressive lighting. Not sure if that has been confirmed for NCAA as of yet?

[PlatooN]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

Is removing turbo a good idea? Have you ever seen Chris Johnson take the hand off, look for the hole then hit it? he definitely hits his turbo button.

[coogrfan]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

Is removing turbo a good idea? Have you ever seen Chris Johnson take the hand off, look for the hole then hit it? he definitely hits his turbo button.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that sprint isn't being removed, but rather there will be an "auto-sprint" option.

[ch46647]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

Is removing turbo a good idea? Have you ever seen Chris Johnson take the hand off, look for the hole then hit it? he definitely hits his turbo button.

Then as soon as you push the left analog stick all the way up he should accelerate into the "turbo" speed. Based on his ratings of acceleration and speed he should be able to quickly hit top speed and get in and out of cuts just like he does if you had the turbo button.

[PlatooN]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

I seem to remember reading somewhere that sprint isn't being removed, but rather there will be an "auto-sprint" option.

Then as soon as you push the left analog stick all the way up he should accelerate into the "turbo" speed. Based on his ratings of acceleration and speed he should be able to quickly hit top speed and get in and out of cuts just like he does if you had the turbo button.

Thanks for clearing that up, what you described sounds like a good idea.

[Pringles]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

there is alot of good points in that article but to me the biggest is the fact that each team has its own personality that means no more blah play when you play teams you will actually feel differences when you play other teams
before it was like ok all teams play the same way now they will all have there own unique plays. that is great for replay value it takes the madden logic out of it and leaves it to the actual teams.

so if the redskins fire shannahan the new coaching staff or cordinator will have a different play book.

nice touch ea sports

[TreyIM2]

"Madden 11 also looked better than its predecessor, and art director Mike Young explained that the team hadn’t even put in its improved lighting model yet"

- So will this game look as great as NCAA 11, now??? I was concerned about the fact that they haven't been showing this game with the new lighting like NCAA 11, making me wonder if they were going to use it, at all. IF Madden 11 is to look as gorgeous as NCAA 11 does, I think it was a bad idea that they didn't have this implemented even though I know the Madden teams priorities may be different based on how they are developing their individual games.

[SamitSarkar]

"Sprint" button has finally been removed!!! Thank you Ian and the rest of the Madden team!! I have already posted a comment about this on another review and since it is in this review as well it must be true. I would bet anyone familiar with the NHL series is thrilled with this news.(I think it is in FIFA as well but I am not sure) Now all players speed will be dictated by "ratings" and not just have all the ratings fly out the window because you jam "sprint" down the second you get the ball.

This is absolutely HUGE news IMO!!!


EDIT: Now I just want to hear about a new kicking mechanic. Please bring back the old PS2 style kicking meter or anything better then we have now...

Yep, there is a new kicking meter -- I just elected to leave it out, since my preview was already getting long and it seemed like a minute detail. The meter is like the pitching in MLB The Show or the "easy" hitting in Tiger Woods PGA Tour: it's a horizontal meter across the bottom of the screen where you hit A (X on PS3) to start, hit it again at the far right side for max power, and then hit it again when it's moving left for accuracy.

[rodriggo]

You have to strike a good balance between realism and fun. Games that are too real are not fun.

Taking out the sprint button is just one less control feature that we once had.

Just b/c a game is going to reflect a player's rating doesn't mean the sprint button couldn't also.

Older games, one in particular, used to have a sprint mechanic that was pretty much perfect. Tap repeatedly for speed or hold down for a super boost. It created a dynamic experience that was both simple and complex enough to never get old. Every run felt like a challenge and yet you felt like you had the tools to overcome them if you used them correctly. A great balance of difficulty vs. fun.

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

You have to strike a good balance between realism and fun. Games that are too real are not fun.

Taking out the sprint button is just one less control feature that we once had.

Just b/c a game is going to reflect a player's rating doesn't mean the sprint button couldn't also.

Older games, one in particular, used to have a sprint mechanic that was pretty much perfect. Tap repeatedly for speed or hold down for a super boost. It created a dynamic experience that was both simple and complex enough to never get old. Every run felt like a challenge and yet you felt like you had the tools to overcome them if you used them correctly. A great balance of difficulty vs. fun.

The sprint button is still there, it's an option. The default is no sprint button and left stick up.

[ch46647]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (Destructoid)

You have to strike a good balance between realism and fun. Games that are too real are not fun.

Taking out the sprint button is just one less control feature that we once had.

Just b/c a game is going to reflect a player's rating doesn't mean the sprint button couldn't also.

Older games, one in particular, used to have a sprint mechanic that was pretty much perfect. Tap repeatedly for speed or hold down for a super boost. It created a dynamic experience that was both simple and complex enough to never get old. Every run felt like a challenge and yet you felt like you had the tools to overcome them if you used them correctly. A great balance of difficulty vs. fun.

I understand your concern, NHL 08 was the first game to do this and I was expecting a MAJOR back lash. I was upset that the NHL series took out the sprint button myself, after having it in every other sports game to date.

However, the response to the new controls without the sprint button were incredibly positive. It only took me 4-5 games to completely fall in love with the new controls and getting rid of the "turbo" button. Since then I have really wanted all the sports games to go to analog sensitive running with RATINGS dictating speed and acceleration/de-celeration.

All I am saying is give it a chance. After a couple games you may be left wondering why sports games were even given a "turbo" button to begin with.