Madden 09 demo out

[Da Bucs GM]

I haven't played it yet but heard reactions from those who have played it.

Here are some:

I've only threw like 10 passes and 2 runs before I had to work...but it looks great and plays completly different, even from NCAA 09. The new camera is throwing me off a little but I'm very glad it finally change and I can see everything.

Throwing deep is hard so far, haven't been able to user catch at all. There is definately a pass rush, nearlly all my dropbacks I could see them breaking through. Player movement very nice.

Even though I haven't played too much and you can't play D I get the feeling that if you're good at user D you can shut out guys. The ball doesnt fly like a rocket to the reciever like old Madden's, now you have time to close and break it up especially on deep throws.

It's extremely hard to user catch in this game. Not to mention Spec catch has been toned down extremely. I found myself trying to use the rocket catch and it wasnt working.

Basically, it's back to sim style football for now. That's the way it should be so I'm going to have fun shutting out opponents

This game is absolutely amazing - the best madden Ive ever played. The user catch is toned down but is still implemented, and the graphics are stunning. Bottom line is this game simulates real life football, which is all I ever wanted. The days of bums running back 20 yards and chucking the ball to a big reciever with consistent success are over.

Stratagey is going to be key in this years madden. Your going to be able to to run to consistently win in this game, as passing has become a bit more difficult.

The running controls are fluid and ultra responsive - tackling guys like brian westbrook and reggie bush in space is going to be a terrorr. Cant wait for this game to come out!!

Just something to get you madden fans excited. Go on xboxlive/PSN and get the demo

[kickstand]

Demo's not out yet on PSN.

[Da Bucs GM]

yeah "they" said it will be now at 5 today. But hey I don't have xboxlive or PSN sssssoooooo I really don't care about it. But they said 5pm eastern time

[kickstand]

According to the website, the demo comes out on Aug. 1 so look for it at Midnight folks.

[Da Bucs GM]

Wow aug 1 already huh? I remember a month ago I was like august will never get here.

[kickstand]

Demo's out for PS3. Will write up my impressions once I give it a good run through.

[Da Bucs GM]

Looking forward to it since I'm getting a PS3 and madden 09 on the same day but you're probably not reading this cause your playing right now:D

[kickstand]

Looking forward to it since I'm getting a PS3 and madden 09 on the same day but you're probably not reading this cause your playing right now:D

Not yet haha. Still downloading at 66% but it'll get there soon.

[Da Bucs GM]

warning it's NYGvsNE. you are playing the final drive with NYG. So it like 1:47 long demo

[HoodedChampion]

I am so ****ed at the crappy tackle animations. Every tackle is scripted a second before it happens. The motions of when going into a tackle is terrible. It looks like such garbage. People really need to notice how crappy the animations are!!! pre-determined crap!!!

[kickstand]

Would you like your tackles scripted milliseconds before it happens?

It wasn't really much of a demo and the OP's pasted comments are over exaggerating just a bit. The virtual training thing was nice...until pass defense. Absolutely dreadful. Which ever one of you magicians that can stop a curl route when you're not the DB, TELL ME PLEASE. In general, when you're not the DB, you're in deep trouble. Furthermore, once you get into the All-Pro and All-Madden section of that test, you just have to hope that they don't run a curl and they run and out since outs are the only thing the CPU misses. It's so ****ing terrible.

I can't really say too much about the gameplay except that it's hard as **** to pass deep and by deep, I mean 40-60 yard bombs. I hit a couple of 20-30 corner routes and skinny posts but everything beyond that is tough for me. Jet-packing is gone and the WR's no longer jump straight up into the air to make a miracle catch. The animations when the ball in the air between the DB and the WR are still pretty iffy. Something that will probably never be fixed.

Hooded Champion is stupid, the tackling animations are just as good as the NCAA game. The branching is done quite well and executing spins and jukes are all about timing. Run blocking in general leaves a lot to be desired though.

IMO, the biggest improvement is pass blocking. It's not quite the exaggerated U-shape of All-Pro 2K8 but it is a good pocket to step up in and the defense can collapse it just as quick if you don't move Eli to the appropriate locations. The defense in general got a good upgrade as a blitz brings more pressure than before.

Sadly, the QB can still make some stupid passes that are physically impossible. Case in point, I rolled Eli Manning all the way to the sideline and he threw a miraculous, no wind-up pass to the middle of the field to Shockey for a first down. They have implemented a bit of a wind-up to the deep throw but nothing warranting a thumbs up.

It's still too early to say because it really is a bare bones demo and they didn't even have any commentating during the game. I'd like to see how the run game plays out in general because you don't receive much time to run in the demo and Brandon Jacobs isn't exactly a world beater when it comes to running.

[Da Bucs GM]

lol aw man that's bad

[bcf1968]

Madden fan but the demo sucked. Madden IQ and Madden Moment and that's it? Hey EA how about giving me a chance to play an actual game so I can decide if I want to spend $60. LAME LAME LAME. At least the 08 demo had four 2 minute quarters and you could choose which of the SB teams you wanted to be.

If they wanted the IQ and Moments things to be part of the demo, fine, but not BE the demo.

NCAA 09 let you play a actuall game. Even if it was only 2 minute quarters.

from what I can gather EA demos typcailly suck. maybe someone needs to tell marketing people the purpose of a demo. It's to SELL the game.

[kickstand]

People are going to buy the game regardless so the Madden demo isn't actually a make or break point.

I do agree though, that was a terrible demo. At least NCAA let me play a game.

[bcf1968]

People are going to buy the game regardless so the Madden demo isn't actually a make or break point.

That's a terrible attitude to have. "We're going sell the same anyways so screw the people that want a good demo".

[kickstand]

I agree, I'm just saying that EA and Tiburon probably aren't thinking "oh we have to make a good demo or people won't buy the game."

[Da Bucs GM]

that is true

[UMiamiBucFan]

Crap.

[Kyle]

Would you like your tackles scripted milliseconds before it happens?

It wasn't really much of a demo and the OP's pasted comments are over exaggerating just a bit. The virtual training thing was nice...until pass defense. Absolutely dreadful. Which ever one of you magicians that can stop a curl route when you're not the DB, TELL ME PLEASE. In general, when you're not the DB, you're in deep trouble. Furthermore, once you get into the All-Pro and All-Madden section of that test, you just have to hope that they don't run a curl and they run and out since outs are the only thing the CPU misses. It's so ****ing terrible.

.

I feel the same, but also a bit difference. I thought the offense was too easy and I easily got all madden on Pass and Run offense. The Pass offense is where I noticed it being way to easy. Towards the end I actually wasn't even looking at who I was throwing to. I was just pressing square or circle indiscriminately and they were catching it every time.

I also thought both defenses were hard as ****. The run defense was easier ,but you're absolutely right about pass defense being near impossible.

[kickstand]

I though the Run Offense was a joke. You don't even have to execute the moves that are prompted, you can simply run around most of them until the later rounds. I used that time to play around with running and oh boy I'm going to have fun with it. Double juke break it off with a spin and then stiff arm? Yessir!

Pass offense was pretty easy. Just keep your QB upright and you can usually get the pass in there. It was in stark contrast with the actual game where I had to put effort into reading the defense. Damn their Pats and their disguised blitzing.

Run defense was kinda tough because I take terrible angles. I got a little better on pass defense but in general, it's still tough when you're not the DB. I can break up all the passes over the middle with a good safety hit now though but curl routes? Forget it.

[HoodedChampion]

This is the first time I am not excited for madden...:(

I've bought every madden since Culpepper being on the cover.

[galloway123]

One thing I like about this years madden alot more than last is that Spec.Catch is tonned down a alot. I remember if I put Champ Bailey on say Brandon Loyd Loyd would **** the **** out of champ because they can jump like 10 feet in the air, not this year you cheesy *** *****es.

[kickstand]

This is the first time I am not excited for madden...:(

I've bought every madden since Culpepper being on the cover.

I don't see why if you have bought every Madden since Culpepper. It's basically the same thing as last year's Madden.

[kickstand]

One thing I like about this years madden alot more than last is that Spec.Catch is tonned down a alot. I remember if I put Champ Bailey on say Brandon Loyd Loyd would **** the **** out of champ because they can jump like 10 feet in the air, not this year you cheesy *** *****es.

I've seen virtually no Special Catches. All I see is my WR getting lambasted by Rodney Harisson over and over again.

[bossFALCON]

i've gotten every madden since madden 2005 (i think ray lewis was on the cover :confused: ) but this is the first one im not very excited about and not sure if im going to buy.

[galloway123]

I've seen virtually no Special Catches. All I see is my WR getting lambasted by Rodney Harisson over and over again.

Well hell it's better than having the WR jump 500 feet in the air while the CB is like my nam tamp bawie. There is a reason Champ and some of the other elite corners are considered lockdown corners, thanks you for getting this bug out. OH WAIT YOU DUMB *** EA IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU SUCK AT MAKING GAMES GIVE THE NFL TITLE TO 2K AND THEY WILL TELL YOU HOW TO MAKE A DAMN GAME. IF you have ever played NFL 2k5 on xbox the **** is real as ****. The thing with EA is if they were to include all the features of the real NFL they wouldn't have anything to sell year after year.

[BucsBoy24]

Well hell it's better than having the WR jump 500 feet in the air while the CB is like my nam tamp bawie. There is a reason Champ and some of the other elite corners are considered lockdown corners, thanks you for getting this bug out. OH WAIT YOU DUMB *** EA IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU SUCK AT MAKING GAMES GIVE THE NFL TITLE TO 2K AND THEY WILL TELL YOU HOW TO MAKE A DAMN GAME. IF you have ever played NFL 2k5 on xbox the **** is real as ****. The thing with EA is if they were to include all the features of the real NFL they wouldn't have anything to sell year after year.

2k fanboy?

[uscbucsfan]

im a huge 2k fanboy...but I buy madden because...well we all know what happen

[galloway123]

2k fanboy?

Yea they can actually make a real football game, most of the **** in there madden has never included.

[BucsBoy24]

Yea they can actually make a real football game, most of the **** in there madden has never included.

So are you saying 2k5 had no flaws, because i can surely name you plenty of them...

[cyco_9]

This game looks amazing, the player models and environment look better than 2k8's. I always thought Madden's playing field looked more realistic than 2k's, but at the same time it kind of clutters up the field. The gameplay is still too stiff, it doesn't have a flow to it at all. Pass D is garbage and the pinball mechanics of the running game is weak(maybe it's just Jacobs but I doubt it).
It's a rental at best, even if the full game turns out to be worth owning, I'll buy it used. I can't see myself contributing to this monopoly. You can call me a fanboy if you want, but we all know competition produces a better product.

[kickstand]

It's no question that competition is good for the environment but it's not going to happen for another 5 years so stop *****ing.

I'd still like to see the final product before bashing it entirely because Brandon Jacobs can't possibly do the running game justice and I have a feeling that if you're good at defense, you can stop the shoot outs.

[cyco_9]

Calm down, I agree we gotta wait for the final product. And I'm happy EA's stepping up their game. I was just giving my first impressions of what they put out. Not playing defense leaves it pretty vage and the running game they give you is kind of weak. Like someone else said, its a demo, its suposed to allude to what the product is going to be. EA's marketing is usually top notch, I was hoping for a better glimps into the game. I'm not trying to turn this into another EA vs 2k thread.

[Buccs99]

looks just like madden 07,08 to me. Didnt like the demo.


Also, EA sports has a bug that many Gamertags cannot log onto EA servers, I being one of them. I will be cancelling my preorders for all EA games after NCAA is now the second EA sports game that will not let me log in online.