Xbox Gaming in South Africa

Most gamers are quick to dismiss Madden every year, seeing it as a prime example of easy money for little effort as EA churn out yet another sports game. To some extent that may be true, with many previous games in the series providing few reasons to dig into your wallet for yet another installment. Madden NFL 11, however, looks to not only make it worthwhile for veterans of the series, but also entice the casual gamers out there who like the idea of dabbling in tossing the ol' pigskin around.

Right from the first snap you'll see Tiburon's big change to Madden's gameplay is in the form of the new Gameflow playcalling system; rather than having to shift through play types, formations and play screens between every down, the AI now plays the role of a defensive or offensive coordinator and calls the plays it thinks are the most appropriate for the current situation. It cuts down the time that it takes to play a game by quite a significant amount of time, so you no longer have to set aside an hour just to get through a single match. It's also a great way for gamers who are unfamiliar with the sport. It's far from perfect though. The AI seems to love the running game above passing, and has the annoying habit of calling options when it's clearly the wrong play. You can also create gameplans by selecting plays for the AI to use in specific situations and weight each of them on a five star system so that the AI will call higher rated plays more often. Of course, if you're more comfortable with the old style of play calling, you also have the option to revert back to the old fashioned way.

Another change comes in the form of the "controversial" Strategy Pad for selecting pre-snap options. I say controversial because many veterans of the game will find the new d-pad and face buttons combination will reduce their ability to select more than one option. Previous Madden games used the shoulder buttons in conjunction with the face buttons for selecting pre-snap options and become second nature for most players. EA's decision to change the layout has caused much frustration, but like any change, it will get easier over time, but still likely to be slower.

In the time I spent playing Madden 11 the one thing that is clear is that the rushing game is far better than previous years and it's all down to the new Locomotion system they've introduced from the NCAA Football series. The Locomotion system strips away the turbo button of old and instead uses your running back's stats to determine his acceleration and momentum. It means that breaking tackles and running through gaps created by your offensive line are now much easier to perform and more natural in how they look and function. In last year's game I relied on short passes to my tight ends to gain positive yardage instead of relying on my backs due to how tough the rushing game was, but with Locomotion I've started relying more heavily on my backs to gain yards on the ground. Sometimes your running back does seem to break through several tackles in a row that should have him on his back, but overall it's a welcomed improvement. The right analogue stick now also functions as the primary method to perform special moves like jukes and stiff arms, so it's possible to do some great runs without ever needing to use anything other than the two analogue sticks.

The passing game has also seen some improvements, with receivers now being able to catch the ball behind their back or over their shoulders more frequently, as well as being able to make an effort to stay in bounds with sideline catches. It annoyed me to no end in last year's game when I'd constantly throw to an open receiver on the sideline only for his route to take him out of bounds, but so far I've yet to experience that in Madden 11. One annoyance that did pop up in Madden 11, however, is that if you do opt to pass you better be prepared to do it quickly as your offensive line is almost incapable of offering you any sort of pass protection. Sacks aplenty happen in every game so you'll have to be both quick in throwing passes and in manoeuvring your quarterback in the pocket.

The presentation side of Madden has hit an all time high this year. Tom Hammond who provided commentary previously always sounded like he was just phoning in his voice work and had none of the enthusiasm that Gus Johnson brings to the table this year round. There are still a few slight annoyances, such as Chris Collinsworth incorrectly mentioning Donovan McNabb as the Eagles quarterback, despite the fact he'd been traded to the Redskins before the season began, but still a vast improvement. The same can be said about the graphics, with more realistic player modelling, and fantastic looking stadium lighting.

I've seen many people complaining about the sponsored ads that form part of the game, but honestly they are far better integrated into the flow of matches this year than previously, and if you've seen an American sports broadcast lately you'll realise that it's just as prevalent in real life sports as in the video game. Team specific chants are also new this year, with several teams having fan chants, however, they tend to sound a bit too low key for a stadium of tens of thousands of spectators.

In terms of modes you're spoilt for choice. You get the usual career mode, where you manage and play for a team for 30 years, covering drafting and scouting rookies, and even managing your depth chart by doing savvy trading. You can also opt for quick exhibition games and even play AFL legacy matches which let's you play with customised presentation and teams. The AFL Legacy mode was DLC last year so it's great to see it's included as part of the standard game. The Superstar mode also returns but it's still very much a throwaway option as playing as a single player for select plays in a stripped down version of the main game is as boring as it sounds.

The online options are where Tiburon has focused most of their efforts in Madden 11, with 3-on-3 online co-op being added to the usual array of Xbox LIVE match making options. The new mode makes for some great tactical play as each player can control a portion of the team's playcalling and strategy, taking on one of three positions on offence or defence. The addition makes for an already well-rounded online mode, and will keep players coming back to Madden 11 for many months to come.

So, with another year we have another Madden game to play. Are gamers right in viewing the Madden franchise as a cash-in? Looking at this year's game I'd argue against that wholeheartedly. What Tiburon and EA Sports have given us in Madden 11 is a game that aims to embrace both hardcore and casual sports game fans by making the game more accessible and entertaining without sacrificing any of its depth or strategy. Whether you're a Madden fan, or just have a passing interest in NFL, this is the game for you.

Pros:

• Gameflow playcalling simplifies and streamlines the game
• Locomotion system makes for easier and more realistic running
• Gus Johnson's commentary hits a high note

Cons:

• Offensive line protection needs tweaking
• Injuries occur far too frequently

Rating: