Watch a video podcast of me on ESPN Radio 1410
Read GamePro Sports' overall gameplay review here
Graphics? Check. Gameplay? Check. Commentary? Well, we won't go there. But what about the Online Franchise, offline Franchise and Superstar modes? You can check those off as well as they deliver like a Troy Polamalu tackle – hard.
Calling all stat junkies … casual fans can come too
This year's offline Franchise Mode takes everything that's great about past modes and reorganizes it in a way that doesn't overwhelm casual fans, but doesn't disappoint the hardcore ones. During the season you focus solely on your team, its roster, and its performance. Trading, signing free agents, and scouting are about the only things that will distract your attention from just playing each week's game – and even those can be controlled by the CPU if you choose.
The off season is the meat and potatoes of Franchise Mode, but before you get there you'll first have to progress through Owner Mode. I've read a number of complaints from fans that Owner Mode was removed, it was not. Instead, it is part of the Franchise Mode and begins right after your season ends, but before any re-signings or the draft.
He doesn't F around, he managed to tackle his way onto a dual cover
While in Owner Mode, you will have the opportunity to make upgrades to your stadium and manage your organization's sponsorships (most will at least take until the second season to expire). In addition, you can decide it's time to relocate your team, which opens up an entirely different set of options.
Relocating will first require you to select a city and then completely redesign your team's uniforms. After that, you will have the opportunity to custom build your new stadium or choose from a pre-existing list. Lastly, you will have to secure funds for your project which includes determining how much money your organization can fork up and how much the city will have to spend.
Of course, casual players can just skip the Owner Mode portion if they choose and head straight to the off season tasks. If you're like me, you'll likely waste days slaving in front of static screens full of numbers, jotting down names and positions in an attempt to prepare the best draft strategy. But, even before all that, you'll have to see which players retire, rehire staff, and re-sign players whose contracts have ended.
Menu navigation is easier than ever before ... so is releasing Matt Schaub
Hopefully you did your homework and you're prepared for the big day, but if you're not EA has you covered with a number of slick menus to help you stay organized while you're on the clock. Aside from obviously showing you the 10-minute clock ticking, you can sort through players by position, look at how their projected attributes stack up against other players, look at who you've already drafted, check a player's scouting report as well as your team needs, and even look at a list of available free agents (also sortable by position). With the CPU's logic altered this year, it will finally be possible to draft sleeper picks in the late rounds. There's no reason you should make a bad decision anymore.
Having “friends” is always a good thing
Online Franchise Mode lets you play 10 seasons against 31 other people
EA Sports made a concerted effort this year to improve our options when playing online and the product of that effort is called Online Franchise Mode. It has everything I just described about the offline Franchise Mode (except Owner Mode?) except it is meant to be played with 31 other human beings managing their own teams. Think Yahoo! Fantasy Football, but you get to actually play all your games.
To make things even better, EA Sports has developed a way to suck even more productivity out of the American work force by creating browser based management for your team. That's right, you can check t
rades, sign free agents and message other managers from your office computer. There's even an iPhone application that lets you manage your team on the go. Unfortunately, one draw back is that the CPU does not posses the same solid trade logic that it does in the offline Franchise Mode. This means that if you don't have all 32 teams controlled by humans, it may be easy for players to rip off the CPU teams with unfair trades. Of course, the league's commissioner can likely put an end to any lopsided trades just like in other, more conventional fantasy leagues.
Another less earth shattering, yet still very notable addition to online play is the new co-op mode. Finally, you can mend your broken heart and play on the same team as your buddy who moved to the other side of the country when you were 12. Although the camera angle is a bit gimmicky (it forces an almost over the shoulder view of your selected player), it's still a very satisfying mode. And for you achievement whores, there are a number of online co-op goals for you to strive for, like performing a lateral to your human partner.
Yup there's an app for that!
I'm a superstar! Really...I am
Love it, or hate it, Superstar Mode is one of those growing trends in sports video games. It all started with Brandon Justice's “crib” feature in NFL 2K5 and the wacky helmet cam gimmick 2K Sports tried to pull on us. But those boys were on to something and now almost every major sports game has a mode like this. Unfortunately, there's not much new with this year's Superstar mode other than you can now import your Road to Glory star from NCAA Football 10.
Whether you choose to create your own player or start as a pre-existing NFL rookie doesn't really matter, inevitably you will try and lead your player into the Hall of Fame – and without the help from a friend. That's right, despite being available in Madden NFL 08, Superstar Mode is devoid of co-op play, something I very much enjoyed two-years ago.
Two good things about this year's Superstar mode are that, despite some reports, you can turn on an option that allows you to play as your entire team when your superstar is not on the field. Don't let your team kick a field goal when you're down by 4 with only seconds to go in the game, that's just silly.
Do you have what it takes to get Mark Sanchez into the Hall of Fame?
Another awesome thing about Superstar mode, oddly enough, is that there's no commentary what-so-ever. Your team takes the field to the crowd cheering and from then on all you hear is the player's chattering and the cracks of helmets and pads smashing into each other. At first I thought it was a bug, but then I grew to appreciate not having Tom Hammond and Chris Collinsworth talk at me like C3PO. Obviously superstars can't hear the broadcast while they play – it all made sense.
Like I said in my gameplay review, casual football fan or hardcore, this game is worth the $60 price tag.
Pros: Deep offline franchise mode that's good for casual fans and great for hardcore, first ever online franchise mode delivers on its promises, co-op play is a lot of fun, can play as the whole team in Superstar mode when your player isn't on the field
Cons: No co-op option in Superstar mode, CPU trade logic is weak in Online Franchise Mode
Watch a video podcast of me on ESPN Radio 1410
Read GamePro Sports' overall gameplay review here
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.
