REVIEW: Madden NFL 10 shakes off 'more of the same' routine - GamePro Sports - Athletics' virtual news collides with reality's top headlines, rumors and gossip

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The Summer months are mostly defined by three things: heat, vacations and blockbuster films. The gaming industry however, always manages to slip in a few “blockbuster films” of its own, and every August fans wait with great anticipation for what is typically the last big game of the Summer, EA Sports' Madden. But just like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Transformers 2, or G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, the Madden series quite often falls victim to its own hype and winds up disappointing its loyal fans. Well, not this year. Think of Madden NFL 10 as a long-lost friend that you've finally found and embrace it with open arms – or at least an open wallet.

No. That is the answer to your burning question of whether Madden 10 is just another glorified roster update; actually, it's far from that. EA Sports introduces enough new features and mechanics to give the game a very fresh feel without completely alienating the hardcore fans.

Much more after the jump.

Back to the basics

The first thing die-hard fans will notice is that the gameplay is far slower (it of course can be turned up in the options menu). The reason behind this is EA Sports felt it more accurately portrayed the speed at which players run and move in real life. It also gives gamers a better chance to read the action on the field and make more deliberate decisions, something I welcomed with great enthusiasm.

The new Procedural Tackling, or PRO-TAK, physics engine is the foundation for Madden 10 and is responsible for all of the incredibly fluid player animations. No two tackles are exactly the same anymore because the PRO-TAK engine takes into account a number of variables – a player's height, weight, strength, speed, and direction at which they are running – and pits them against their opponent’s attributes. Those variables are then applied to one of over 1,000 new motion captured animations, manipulating it to more realistically reflect what it would look like on a real field.

Basically catching this bomb and high stepping into the end zone on this one

The combination of the game's slower tempo with the true-to-life pocket that now forms around the quarterback, lets you really feel the insanity surrounding you while still remaining poised knowing that if you're in danger your controller will start shaking to let you know. This year, most of your attention can be spent checking down your receivers until your QB-sense starts tingling and you’re forced to glance back or risk getting sacked.

Flashy like Ochocinco

As stunning as a TD celebration by the man formerly known as Chad Johnson, Madden NFL 10 looks better then it ever has before. The players are polished, the lighting effects glisten (and changed based on the camera's current angle), the weather is believable, heck, even the crowd looks good for once.

Graphics aren't the only scintillating part of the game's presentation though. Realistic FOX-like camera angles are just one of many new detail oriented additions to this year's title. The camera lowers and shakes as it pursues you on a breakaway run after an interception, catch, or rushing play, just like the zip-line angle in real life.

Everything looks unbelievable, even the shirtless fans with muffin tops

But one of the more hyped and anticipated features in this year's game is perhaps the worst. The Extra Point show is shown both at halftime and after your game (in franchise mode) as a weekly wrap up – it's hosted by Fran Charles and Alex Flanagan and is a total flop. What seemed to be an attempt to silence NFL 2K5 fan's, yearning for something like the Sportscenter weekly wrap up from year's ago, just doesn't quite cut it. Alex Flanagan's voice is like nails on a chalkboard and when it's combined with the robot-like splicing of words together it's unbearable.
Tom Hammond and Chris Collinsworth aren't much better calling the action on the field. Miscalls are frequent, robot talking is evident and like The Extra Point, you will be force fed a healthy dose of awkward silence. To put it frankly, the commentary in Madden 10 is embarrassing, so you're better off turning on some music while you play.

Give it to me baby

Crap commentary aside, there's a lot of things that make Madden 10 the best iteration of the franchise since its jump to the next-gen consoles. A new injury mechanic lets you decide whether to bring your hurt player back on the field right away, showing you if the risk for further injury is low, medium, or high. A wider statistical curve now separates the Tom Bradys from the Kevin O'Connells and gives you a real reason to invest in mid-60's rated backup players.

Don't get Brady hurt like me, you won't like what O'Connell has to offer.

There's also a new fumble mechanic (which can be turned off) that prompts you to mash buttons to scratch, gouge, and prod players in places that we won't speak of, in an attempt to fight for the recovery. Online play certainly hasn't been neglected either and EA Sports has finally added the option of Co-op play in addition to the ground breaking new feature, Online Franchise, which I will get into in a separate review.

I'd give it 5 stars but the commentary is unforgiveable. In any case, take it from a Madden player who doesn't buy the game every year, this is the year you want to spend the sixty dollars.

Pros: PRO-TAK, Slower tempo, stunning graphics, online co-op, fumble and injury mechanics, wider statistical curve, online and offline franchise mode

Cons: Horrible on field commentary, laughable excuse for a halftime show and weekly round up

Watch a video podcast of me on ESPN Radio 1410

Read GamePro Sports' Franchise Modes review

Also, keep an eye peeled for GamePro Sports' review of the Wii version of the game. Get the 411 on how it's drastically different then the next-gen versions and equally different from last year's iteration.