Madden 2011 Impressions

[Chadman]

You mean for the CPU? Because if so you're right. It's a little ridiculous. Yet Forte goes down on first contact nearly every play.

I really like this game but after finally playing a game of NCAA last night I actually think that game is the better game.

Its for the human as well.

I established a rule that I am quite comfortable with. The first tackle never counts.

 

[dave]

I can't wait to find a good slider set for this game, because it badly needs it.
Sliders can save this game.
For the first time, I actually wonder if the speed threshold should be over 50, because fast players might be too fast.

 

[Justo]

i definitely agree with you on the speed threshold having to be over 50

 

[dave]

i definitely agree with you on the speed threshold having to be over 50

I just haven't figured out where to set it yet.

 

[Justo]

http://www.operationsports.com/foru...-mike32ownz-sim-sliders-auto-sub-sliders.html

there's a set from OS, not sure if you already tried them or not, i haven't tried them but they have speed threshold at 89

 

[dave]

I forget the guy here who pointed these sliders out, but they are great.

http://www.operationsports.com/foru...-sliders-auto-sub-sliders.html#post2041447552

 

[Sportsbuck]

So dissapointed in this game, this is like Madden 10 v2.0

 

[jeffx]

So dissapointed in this game, this is like Madden 10 v2.0

Guess I'll be playing Madden 10 for another year then.

How's Franchise this year? Any major changes?

 

[jags224]

Guess I'll be playing Madden 10 for another year then.

How's Franchise this year? Any major changes?

Not a change. I still like to play franchise though.

 

[Bear Pand]

I share my xbox. Roommates gf bought him Madden today, she also bought him NCAA 11. Lucky me cause I def wasn't trying to buy either. She's annoying as hell but I guess I'llbe online on the 360 later today. I hear the game is ass tho.

 

[A Tasty Burgerr]

Is there something I don't know about?

 

[x0xHumblex0x]

Is there something I don't know about?

i have actually weird stuff like that as well.......

* showing the wrong score at the end of the game -

* have seen the home team on top of the box - home should be on the bottom.....

* and similar mistakes on stats like yours......

 

[jags224]

whoa lol, this game has all kinds of litte fuck ups. if theres a holding call on a punt and you accept the ref always says "repeat 4th down" when its 1st down, theres a couple of other things i cant think of at the moment though

 

[Rblake]

I REALLY like this game, but it has some issues. Here are some of the good and bad I've seen so far offline:

• FA contracts are all decided by some general algorithm which takes into account age, potential and rating. That's not altogether bad, but similar players want nearly the exact same ridiculously high amount of $ across the board, leaving little chance of getting anyone @ Vet minimum or signing someone for less money because they are desperate. The FA's won't even budge on their demands after sitting out for most of the year. ie 36 y/o Peyton Manning is refusing to sign a 1yr tender for less than $55.93M. GTFOH. Who would request $56M /yr? lol

• Unless you turn the salary cap off, you HAVE to build through the draft and get used to realistic player turnover.
  
• I can't tell if I'm sprinting or not.
  
• Manual Pass D is impossible. The HUM controlled defender never swats or jumps in the right place.
  
• The CPU snaps the ball way too fast. lol
  
• The CPU's pass rush is awesome, yet I rarely get pressure with the IND DL.
  
• My OL/RB's often let defenders run by them without attempting to block.
  
• Screen Passes and KR's have terrible blocking.
  
• Ball Strip, pump fake work pretty well.
  
• Roughing the QB/PI/illegal contact is never called.
  
• Finding the red circle makes manual receiving very difficult.
  
• Gang tackling doesn't work very well. I usually just slide off the ball carrier.
  
• Replays suck. If I break a 65 yd run, the last 40 yds is usually the LEAST exciting part.
  
• The music that was cool for the first few days is now annoying as hell.

 

[Twigg4075]

After playing both this and NCAA plenty I can say without a doubt that NCAA is the much better game.

 

[strahanfan92]

You fuckers that buy Madden on both systems are fucking crazy.

 

[x0xHumblex0x]

or just have money to burn

 

[dave]

or just have money to burn

I was so hoping for a video game.

 

[Twigg4075]

The more I play this game the more I hate it. Complete garbage.

 

[Steel Mamba]

After giving Madden a fair try I have to say that it has not improved in the past couple of years. Changed, yes, but changing and improving are two totally different things. With that said the game definitely feels different, but I can't pinpoint any specific area where there has been any improvements. The same core problems that have always plagued Madden are still present.

Terrible blocking AI. I've had many instances where TE's or WR's will run backwards, back towards the LOS to block someone who's behind me (someone I've already beat) instead of getting downfield and blocking the defender that's about to be in position to tackle me. Huge flaw that can easily ruin a running play every time this occurs. The oline blocking AI is not as broken, but certainly not perfect either.

RBs still get stuck behind the offensive line. Maybe not as frequent anymore, but it's still there.

No pass interference. If the ball is not in the air you can bump and stop the motion of any WR without having a flag thrown.

AI cheats to favor the offense. This is something new actually. Ever hit the X or LB to tackle a runner or swat a ball only to have your defender stand there and not respond at all? Yeah I've seen this happen at least 3 or 4 times now and I've only been playing for about a week now. If you're in position to make a play that the AI doesn't want you to make, it just shuts down your control so the offense can progress. lol, how brilliant. Why don't I just watch the game instead of playing it then?

No gang tackling, defenders falling for no reason. There's still no true gang tackling system in Madden, 90% of the time the game generates one on one situations. What's even worse is that if you do have a defender near a ball carrier who's already engaged in a tackle animation, the extra defender will just fall to the ground for no reason. The bad thing about that is if the runner breaks the tackle animation the defender that should have been there for help is now on the ground, incapable of making a tackle. I just had someone break a 40 yard run on me because of this. Timmons had the RB wrapped up, a safety then got too close, falls down, the RB breaks free and runs for a big gain. If there was gang tackling that would never have happened.

Not having a true gang tackling system also makes defenses who are good at swarming to the ball slightly less potent.

Terrible Controls. Serious button lag when trying to swat the ball, unpredictable momentum that's not fluid or precise at all.

No player identities. None of the players play like their real life counterparts. Madden needs to implement a "signature style" ala 2k, so that AP actually runs like AP, etc. You also have guys like Addai who play outside of their realm of capabilities, trucking through defenders left and right. That's not his style and makes the game feel very unrealistic.

WRs magic burst, and shift catching. Have a WR blanketed?? Sometimes that won't matter, I've seen DBs run stride for stride in front of a WR, only to have the WR dart past him, and shifting while the ball is in the air in order to make the completion.

AI DBs extremely unresponsive. Not only will the AI limit you from defending the ball, when you let the AI handle the DBs too often they'll just stand idle and not attempt to swat or pick the ball despite having position.

Offensive linemen fall down for no reason. I think this is a lack of animations thing again, when there's not an animation for them they'll just fall to the ground untouched.

No physicality, or respect for physics on defense. Again just another way EA makes the offense a cakewalk for you. I can be running full speed towards a RB who has no momentum, but somehow he'll still manage to fall forward for 5 yards. That or my guy will choose to throw him forward for 5 yards, how convenient.

Defensive AI fails to adapt. You can hit the same route over and over again, ideally the AI should wise up and eventually jump the route, but they don't.

Game flow and player assist? Again just take the user out of the picture. Not only can the computer call the plays for you now which takes the entire strategy and X's and O's of the game away, but you can also hold A to allow the AI to control your player. WTF?

There's more, but those are the major issues with Madden 11. Still far from being a sim unfortunately.