Madden NFL 11 Reviewed

Push-Start have a look at EA’s latest instalment in the Madden NFL series – and if a written review isn’t what you’re after, fear not, a video review will be following!

EA’s sports titles have always been amazing, almost without exception, and it has to be said that first impressions of this game do not disappoint at all. With a comfortable control system that is fairly easy to pick up, Madden NFL 11 is a game that gets very addictive, very quickly. This year, they have managed to improve the gameplay so that the game feels like it move on much more easily.

The “GameFlow” addition to the game helps to speed the gameplay up immensely, although purists may prefer to choose their moves and blocks themselves. “GameFlow” is a similar feature to “Ask Madden”, where the console will select the most appropriate move in the circumstances. As well as the move being selected, you are given a small box that outlines the features of the play – for example, if you go for a rush, the box will tell you the ideal area to aim for in order to gain the maximum yardage.

The Artificial intelligence has been greatly improved, so the rest of your team will respond in ways that they actually would in NFL, making a welcome change from you having to do literally everything yourself, trying to simultaneously control your whole team. The online play is impressive, with the game using the EA code system. Me and site owner Daniel Pepper can’t stop playing it, with the series standing at 3 – 1 to yours truly at the moment – check Twitter for any developments in that rivalry! Same screen multiplayer utilises a feature where you can bluff a play, so that you’re opponent sees the runs of a fictional play, but you can also view the play that you wish to do, meaning that tactics really do come into this.

It goes without saying that the game, once again, has phenomenal graphics, which make every successful pass and every sack so much more satisfying!

The game, though, is not for the impatient – such is the nature of NFL that the game can feel very stop-start at times, but this is something that NFL fans will appreciate and understand. The fact that the players control their own speed can become frustrating, but probably benefits the game in the long term. All in all, the game is a real winner, one for NFL enthusiasts and occasional watchers to really get their teeth into!