Also available on: PS2, PS3, PSP, 360, iPhone
Genre: Sports
Developer: EA Tiburon
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release date: August 14, 2009

The John Madden video games have been around for over 20 years, and with yearly updates arriving at the tail-end of every summer, you'd be correct in thinking that the games are of a pretty high standard; after all, it seems like quite a straightforward task to take the elements that are negatively received and eliminate them as quickly as a defence would sack an open quarterback. However, what's more difficult is when developers must go back to the drawing board when a new machine hits the high street, complete with new technology, and in the Wii's case, a brand new control scheme.

OK, so the Wii can no longer be classed as a new machine, but its control method, and perhaps just as importantly, its userbase, is a huge departure from the young male demographic that has been a traditional video game staple since John Madden Football hit the Apple in '88. The task faced when developing an established title such as Madden for the Wii is a tricky one. The developers must merge depth and realism, while still keeping it simple enough for the Wii's changing userbase to master (oh, and it also needs to get the controls right).

Unfortunately, Madden NFL 10 doesn't quite merge the two well enough, with more emphasis on simplified arcade-style gameplay, rather than advancing the game's potential for realism in the same way the excellent 360 and PS3 versions managed to.

Whether you like the Wii version will depend on how much you like the sound of the game's two main modes. 'Road To The Superbowl' sees players play a full season, half season, or playoffs, with the option to play five-on-five or 11-on-11. Unlike its 360 and PS3 counterparts, the season mode contains no option to transfer players, or to train them, it's simply a case of playing the games week to week, potentially with three friends. To be honest, the simplified system does cause fewer headaches, with the luxury of not having to trawl through pages of stats a welcome relief at first, but having played other versions of the same game, the lack of detail is eventually sorely missed. One fun addition is the way the computer benches co-op teammates who aren't pulling their weight, forcing players to make the decision to buy them back in. Touches like this lend weight to the multiplayer appeal, but sadly do so at the expense of depth.

The other main mode sees players participate in a showdown tournament, with the ability to change the entire game's mechanics; this, once again, is an excellent multiplayer experience. Players can up the speed to turbo, add random invisibility, make the ball slippery and impossible to hold, as well as ban passing or running plays. Changing the rules is a lot of fun, and ensures that things are always interesting, especially as points can be bet on the outcomes of the games. Other modes are also included, such as mini-games, exhibition matches and 'Superstar', with some oddly needing to be unlocked.

The controls in Madden NFL 10 are very good, and although slightly more simple than years past, it still feels as though you have a bit more control of the football. Most big moves are performed by waggling the Wii remote in some way, with players selecting a receiver and flicking the remote in that direction. The only complaint with this method is that, despite it feeling intuitive, it can be slightly too easy to pull off heavy-duty Hail Mary passes and makes running plays seem slightly unnecessary. The Wii remote is also used in tackles, with the heavy-hitting slam achieved by (you guessed it) flicking the remote. The tackles can be quite tricky to time, the remote sometimes feeling like an all or nothing move that often sees defenders completely miss or slide off their man. Navigating menus, selecting players to target and plays to use is also made simple and seamless with the Wii remote, as straightforward pointing and d-pad moves are implemented exceptionally well. The use of the remote makes playing games of football a smooth experience and helps the game and players to maintain a good speed, which suits the type of game that EA has tried to create for the Wii.

The sound and graphics are two areas of the game that are functional rather than exceptional. The graphics are colourful, while the developers have made the players' body types look the same, which ensures that the games flow at a nice speed, but doesn't look altogether authentic. There's not much wrong with this, but it does look a little old-school and slightly arcade-esque. The soundtrack is pretty much the same as the 360 and PS3 versions, with powerful rock and rap tunes the order of the day, which does get the adrenaline pumping. The commentary on the other hand is on the poor side, with patchy sound bites and stifled comments making it difficult to become immersed. The commentary as a whole (including the HD versions) definitely needs to be tweaked for future releases.

Madden NFL 10 is by no means a bad game, far from it. In fact, as a multiplayer game it's extremely enjoyable. The biggest problem is that as a single-player simulation of football, it doesn't quite make the cut. The faster paced, reduced realism arcade modes and visual style will definitely suit some players, but having played the 360 version, more fun and excitement can be had with a slower pace and increased realism, which is unfortunately lacking in the Wii version. Madden NFL 10 has carved out its own identity as a fun and exciting multiplayer offering, but it won't quite make the hall of fame until it beefs up the single player experience with a little more depth and realism.


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