What’s new in Madden NFL 09? A video interview and features list

26 June 2008

Posted by:Josh

So what’s new in Madden NFL 09 that would make you want to buy it over the previous iteration? LOTS.

Developed by EA Tiburon and published by EA Sports, Madden NFL 09 is the 20th installment in the best-selling American football franchise and will be released on the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP and DS, it features Brett Favre as the cover athlete (effectively breaking the “Madden Curse“), after his record-breaking final season with the Green Bay Packers; Making him the first inactive NFL player since John Madden himself to appear on a Madden cover. Sadly for PC gamers, no PC version has been announced yet. Madden NFL 09 is scheduled for release on August 12th in the U.S., and August 15th in Europe.

A 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of Madden NFL 09 will also be released to celebrate the franchises 20th anniversary and extensive heritage. It will include NFL Head Coach 09, exclusive classic Madden NFL gameplay and bonus video content, among other things, and will be released alongside the regular version.

The new features in Madden NFL 09 include:

* Madden IQ system: players train in a holographic environment, which grants them a “Madden IQ” based on their practice in 12 different drills. The game’s difficulty adjusts itself to the player’s Madden IQ.

* EA Sports Backtrack: the game analyzes the player’s playing ability and points out mistakes during gameplay a la a television-styled telestrator.

* Improved online leagues: server-based leagues, supporting up to 32 players, with full schedules including the playoffs and the Super Bowl as well as draft and trade support. Schedules can be played in a round-robin style as well.

* Revamped graphics: Improved stadium models, new weather particle system, new lighting models, new player models, field goal nets, improved sidelines, user-controlled celebrations, clear visors, new facemask designs, and Total Control animation system.

* Improved gameplay: Offensive line slide protection, smart routes, realistic fatigue, improved gang tackles, true penalty based animations, formation substitutions, new fumble system (weather affects it), new player weapon types and the ability to return short field goals.

* Revamped franchise mode: Simulated stats have been improved (e.g. fewer running backs gaining 2,000+ yards in one season), rivalry games have special value and played games have more crowd and television intensity.

* On-demand picture-in-picture play-call window: Picture-in-picture style interface to allow the player to see key information and call plays and formations without leaving the current window.

* New Dynamic Camera System: The new madden camera system moves with your receivers so they will never fall out of view during gameplay. The camera automatically pans out, zooms in, and adjusts angles to keep the receivers in screen. Once you complete that pass, if the ball carrier happens to break away from his defenders, the ActionCam will rock back and forth, zoom in and follow the ball carrier, giving you that intense feeling that you’re sprinting alongside him. And if a defender happens to really lay into the ball carrier, the Big Hit Camera will rattle the screen with the force of the crunch.

* New Tackling Engine & Animations.

* New Running/Ball-Carrier Engine: total control system, new transition system, character grounding with foot-plant, new procedural animation system, realistic momentum, new locomotion system, improved visuals and animations, left and right stick moves, directional diving.

* Madden Moments: New gameplay mode that allows the user to relive the top 32 games of the 2007 season.

* New Weather Gameplay: Weather now effects gameplay and celebrations.

* Rewind: Allows you to rewind and redo a play. You can set the number rewinds you get in a game Note: Is not included in online play.

* Syncing With NFL Head Coach 09: The ability to create and transfer plays from NFL Head Coach 09 to Madden 09.

And now hear directly from the lion’s mouth in this Madden NFL 09 “new features” video interview: