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How Metascores Are Calculated
69
1942: Joint Strike
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
For passionate Madden NFL fans, this year's iteration promises to take authenticity and depth of gameplay to an entirely new level with more than 85 new features and enhancements, including the all-new Virtual Trainer tutorial mode. Utilizing a holographic environment, this mode teaches gamers simple concepts about playing football and how to use the controls in quick, fun and stylized drills. In Madden NFL 09, the game engine is continually assessing the player's performance and adapst a custom experience to every type of gamer, from newcomer to the veteran Madden NFL player. Madden NFL 09 also features a network-inspired broadcast presentation. Players benefit from the authentic football knowledge of an in-booth play-by-play and color commentary team featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond. In addition, numerous graphical enhancements have been made, including realistic weather and grass, sleeker player models and exterior stadium views. Madden NFL 09 gives gamers the ability to create online leagues. Avid Madden NFL fans can now take their rivalries online and compete in leagues with up to 32 teams. Online league play features in-depth stat tracking, player trades and a flexible scheduling option. [Electronic Arts]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 100
1UP
The mud-caked Slop Bowls, bustling sidelines, and significantly varied player physiques mean that Madden 09's finally lived up to EA's next-gen target video from three years ago that -- for three years -- looked way better than the games themselves.
 100
G4 TV
The new commentating team, Backtrack replays, soundtrack, and improved graphics really packs that extra punch of realism making this game a must buy.
93
Game Chronicles
Once again this year is far better than last year with better online play, your Madden IQ, and if you want to practice before you play the big boys online; you can play a game and use the rewind to help develop your gamer eye.
91
Gaming Age
Everything from the visuals, audio, and presentation have been bumped up a notch to a level that would make any fan who has turned their heads for the last 3 years take notice.
91
GameFocus
This 20th version of Madden NFL will sure be known as one of best of the series and will sure keep the whole Madden Nation happy…until next year of course. Expectations will continue to grow.
90
GamerNode
Madden 09 is the best Madden of this generation. It's the first of the series which feels like it actually belongs on these consoles, and wasn't just ported with prettier graphics.
90
GamePro
Madden's controls are so sophisticated and complex that I'm surprised more fans of shooters and other action games don't play.
90
BigPond GameArena
With new features like Backtrack and old features like Superstar and Franchise mode, Madden 09 is probably the best Madden yet.
90
Playstation Universe
A true next generation football experience unlike any other.
90
PSX Extreme
Tiburon has done a fantastic job at bringing us a game that controls superbly well, looks smooth, runs quick, and boasts a horde of enhancements to make this the best Madden game ever.
89
PSM3 Magazine UK
There's more quality sports action here than you'll ever need. [Oct 2008, p.74]
88
GameZone
While the main modes feel relatively the same, this year’s gameplay is a clear indication that this franchise is getting closer to perfection.
88
IGN
Madden NFL 09 is the most loyal translation of America’s favorite sport I’ve ever seen. It looks great, plays great, and despite its few moments of inaccuracies, is still one of the best sports games in memory.
88
Da Gameboyz
The graphics and overall presentation has been considerably improved.
88
Cheat Code Central
There are a lot of new features this year, but none of them are of much consequence. If you own Madden 08, there is no truly outstanding aspect that makes a repurchase necessary. In fact, the Superstar and Franchise game modes are nearly identical, and the Online Leagues aren't impressive enough to outshine the excellent online play of last year.
87
GameTrailers
There’s a whole lot of game here, but that was true last year, and for every gameplay improvement there’s something annoying to dampen the enthusiasm. It’s still an excellent football game, but the casual player is going to like it a lot more than the grizzled vet.
87
Gamer 2.0
The team behind this year’s Madden certainly has the right ideas for where this franchise should be heading, as Madden 09 clearly shows.
85
Gaming Target
Even for all of its faults, Madden NFL 2009 is still a damn good football game and that's what's important.
85
Console Gameworld
While it's hard to justify spending 60 dollars on a yearly series, Madden NFL 09 offers up just enough tweaks to make it worth consideration.
85
TotalPlayStation
EA Sports has, year after year, put out a Madden title that made playing professional football that much more real to the millions who will never get a chance. Madden NFL '09 is no exception.
83
Play UK
Another positive step forward for EA’s Madden and one which stands tall against the PS3’s other offerings, including 2007’s entry. No one does gridiron quite like the guys at Electronic Arts. Brilliant.
83
Game Informer
While the play-to-play action has some awesome moments, the Franchise mode is stuck in a boring rut.
83
MEGamers
Even with all the new features and promised tweaks, Madden 09 still feels a bit too familiar and some might even have a hard time separating it from last year’s game.
81
Game Positive
Ultimately, Madden NFL 09 offers just enough to fans to warrant a purchase. Although meager, the new additions do help the game feel like it's worth the price of admission.
80
Console Monster
Madden has gotten better, but it hasn’t progressed much in my view.
80
AceGamez
Yes, the Madden IQ is a miscue, and they've fumbled the online leagues, but Madden 09 is a much more rounded and refined game than 08. It has all the basic components for perfection but can't quite bring them together so, in this respect, it's much more like the 2004 Steelers than the '72 Dolphins.
80
Playstation Official Magazine UK
American football mixes brain and brawn like no other sport, and it's something Madden 09 reflects beautifully. [Oct 2008, p.96]
80
DarkZero
This is a game that has successfully changed my opinions on American Football, and could do the same for you.
80
GameSpy
Online play is a very enticing part of what Madden brings to the table this year.
80
Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
If this year's incarnation is a reinvention, a launching pad for 2010 and beyond, the Madden future is bright, even if the old fella is piling on the years! [Sept 2008, p.74]
80
GameDaily
A couple of the newer additions don't work as well as they should, such as the unbalanced Madden Test and the cheat-happy EA Rewind. Others, though, are spectacular, such as the Virtual Training Center and the new Online League play.
80
GameSpot
For every addition, like the backtrack feature, Collinsworth, or improved visuals, there's a problem that rears its ugly head, like the unchanged Superstar mode, poor pass coverage in the middle of the field, or underwhelming online leagues. Newcomers will still face a steep learning curve, but if you're a football fan or series veteran, you can't go wrong with Madden 09.
80
Games Radar
We’ll happily play all season long, during which we’ll invent a thousand more reasons to love and hate it all at the same time. No matter what, though, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t a tad disappointed that this year’s version didn’t make the same jump we’d gotten accustomed to the last two years.
75
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Madden NFL 09 has the details, but lacks the elegance of a seamless recreation.
75
Destructoid
A mixed bag. It’s vastly better than its predecessors in many ways, but there are a few areas -- big ones -- where it falls flat. Still, I can say without hesitation that it’s easily the best Madden game since the franchise entered the high-definition era.
67
GameShark
What you are left with is a great 2-player game, a lot of features that the well established fan base most likely won’t care about (even though Backtrack and Rewind are both pretty good ideas), a half-baked online league system, and gameplay that is at times highly polished and entertaining yet also plagued by AI issues.
Dalmacio L. gave it a2: Don M. gave it a4: Momar G gave it a10: Rick Lord gave it a3: Mike gave it a5: Brent A. gave it an8: Jordan S. gave it a10: |
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