The following is a note I would write to EA if any of the following were applicable: A) if EA listened, B) if anyone else cared, or C) if there were somewhere to send it – don’t worry, I haven’t and don’t plan to look.**
Dear EA, I appreciate the effort of this year’s Madden, but this game is becoming more and more unlike football. I understand programming AI that can play football must be hard, but scripting, rubberband AI, sliders, hidden sliders, and animations are not the answer. I’m sure it’s nice and easy to copy and paste last year’s tackle animations to this year, but if you actually compare those to how NFL players tackle, you’ll see that your animations don’t fly.
The main thing to fix is how you let the CPU quarterback throw off his back foot on any play. I’m sure Madden himself would say, “Now he should have never thrown that ball off his back foot, boom!”
Is it too much to ask for players to walk into a game with both teams on an equal field and the players decide the game, rather than sliders, scripting, and animations? I have been a loyal fan for many years, but other than crazy games against other gamers, I’m starting to understand why many people have long lost faith in the Madden franchise for not offering enough innovation. Madden 09 is just NCAA 09 in new packaging and some glitter to make it look better. For next year, please try to make a game that better reflects the NFL.
TheGum.
Controls
This is the most comprehensive controls section I’ve ever made, so you better like it. I hope they all match up with NCAA controls, as they are the same games, except for pump fakes and throwing away, which was TONS of fun to adjust to by the way.
Key: When you see X (A), it means PS3 (XBox 360)
| Playstation 3 | Xbox 360 |
| X | A |
| Square | X |
| O | B |
| Triangle | Y |
| L1 | Left Bumper (LB) |
| R1 | Right Bumper (RB) |
| L2 | Left Trigger (LT) |
| R2 | Right Trigger (RT) |
| Left Stick (LS) | Left Stick (LS) |
| Right Stick (RS) | Right Stick (RS) |
| D-Pad | D-Pad |
| L3 | L3 |
| R3 | R3 |
| Start | Start |
| Select | Back |
General Controls
- Move Player – LS
- Sprint – R2 (RT) (can be bad at times)
- Switch player – tap O (B), hold and direction to scroll
- Show routes (playart) – R2 (RT) + Up; bluff with R2 (RT) + left/right
- Audible – Square (X)
- Preplay help -R3
- Replay – L2 + R1 (LB + RB)
- Timeout – Select (Back)
- Pause – Start
Offense
| Hurry Up | *Hold these after a play is over
Hurry – X (A) |
| Pre-Play | *While at the line of scrimmage
Timeout – Select (Back) **L1/R1 (LB/RB) during play selection to change packages, such as Spell HB. |
| Hot Routes | *These are pre-play
Select player – press TRI and then the receiver’s button Straight up – LS up |
| Passing | *Keep in mind you can move in the pocket, and run and pass so long as you never cross the line of scrimmage Pass the ball – X, O, SQU, TRI, L1 (A, B, X, Y, LB); tap for a lob, hold for bullet pass |
| Option Plays | Pitch/Lateral – L2 (LT) Fake pitch – L1 (LB) Fullback (triple option, hold at handoff) – X (A) |
| Running | *This is when running to start, with the QB, or after a catch
Sprint – R2 (RT) |
| Catching | Switch to receiver – O (B) Catch – TRI (Y) Diving catch – SQU (X) |
| Blocking | *I guess someone may want to do this, sadly
For a running play, switch to player like a hot route, then press L1 (LB) to |
Defense
Of course after an INT of fumble, normal running moves apply.
| Pre-Play | Timeout – Select (Back) Audible – SQU (X) Jump Snap – L2 (LT) Defensive line audibles – L1 (LB) Linebacker audibles – R1 (RB) Coverage audibles – TRI (Y) |
| D-Line Audibles | *L1 (LB) and then any of these buttons, or O (B) to cancel
Shift – LS left/right |
| Linebacker Audibles | *R1 (RB) and then any of these buttons, or O (B) to cancel
Shift – LS left/right |
| Coverage Audibles | *TRI (Y) and then any of these buttons, or O (B) to cancel
Show blitz/Show man – LS left/right |
| Hot Routes | *Tap O (B) to select player, then press X (A) and one of these buttons, cancel with O (B)
Hook Zone – LS up |
| After Snap | Sprint – R2 (RT) Switch – O (B) Dive – SQU (X) Strip ball – X (A) Strafe – hold L2 (LT) Intercept – TRI (Y) Diving INT – SQU (X) Swat – X (A) Hit stick – RS up for high; RS down for low Bull rush – R1 (RB) Finesse move – L1 (LB) Hands up – TRI (Y) |
| Special Teams | Kick – LS change height and direction of kick; RS down until in the red, then up in the direction when in the red or close to it for power. Don’t adjust kickoff height please. Punt – same as kick, just know low punts will be returned easier. Fair catch – TRI (Y) Kneel in endzone before leaving – don’t move All other moves apply when returning. |
1 comment
You call this a guide? It's more like a weak attempt at a review than anything. I got more out of reading the in-game description than could be gleaned from this garbage. Your knowledge of the game is apparently as shallow as your appreciation for good football, since you bag on the best team in NFL history. The interweb is running out of space & it shouldn't be wasted on your drivel.
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