Although it's cliche, everyone learns that there's no "I" in team. At least that's what Electronic Arts wants us to keep in mind for Madden NFL 10. In addition to a plethora of cool improvements, this year's gridiron game has online co-op, allowing for a whole new dynamic of play, as well as online franchise.
In past Madden games, you had no one to blame but yourself for terrible, season choking losses. With co-op play, now you can chew out your friend or some poor sap that joined your game through Xbox Live/PlayStation Network. Most importantly, it lets you strategize like never before, as you plot your offensive/defensive strategy with a teammate. It also gives you the opportunity to play different positions, so if you want to control a cornerback and shadow the wide receiver while your partner blitzes, have at it.
In addition to co-op, Madden NFL 10 has Online Franchise. You'll participate in leagues with 32 teams, compete using the real NFL schedule and have live drafts. Even better, you can access this content from your console, your computer and even your iPhone (yup, there's an app for that).
Those are but two features that we're thrilled about. There's also a phenomenal Pro-Tak system that makes fighting for every yard extraordinarily difficult. In previous football games, you may have to outwit one or two tacklers. In this year's game, several guys can prevent you from scoring or making the first down. On the flip side, you can also expect your teammates to give you a push. Basically, if it's first and goal at the one-yard line, you'll see this massive pile of bodies jockeying for position. If EA did its homework, that means it's in your best interest to pick a team full of large bodies to push you into the endzone; you can even switch to another player and give the running back a shove.
One thing you should never do is fumble the ball. Previously, the pigskin shot from a player's hands and scooted across the field until someone grabbed it. While that still happens, now you actually have to contend with the infamous pile of bodies that leap on top of it. When that happens, a mini game launches and you'll need to quickly press a button to come out with the ball. Good luck with that.
On that note, you should expect a much slower moving Madden. To make things realistic, EA decreases the speed so guys don't move like The Flash. This should prove useful in the pocket, as you'll be able to breathe a little bit before throwing the ball. The controller will even vibrate when defensive linemen get too close.
We're also impressed with the little things that make the game more authentic. Developer Tiburon animated towels on the players' bodies, the chain gang measures close first down yardage, players who wear gloves in real life have those same gloves in the game and you'll see people in the crowd walking to their seats.
At the same time, we've heard this song and dance before. It seems like EA always conjures up a host of improvements and fails to deliver the next best Madden. But something seems special about this year's effort, like it's less gimmicky and more like actual football. Thus far, we like what we see, and we can't wait for more.
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