Madden NFL 10 Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: EA Tiburon	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: EA Sports	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Aug. 14, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Beyond the business of playing on the gridiron, the usual suspects of features are back. Family Play is back with its simpler controls for gamers with various amounts of experience or familiarity with Madden and the NFL. Franchise mode, the stalwart option for Madden diehards, is back in similar form with mostly cosmetic changes over any real game altering differences. The real downer is now the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions have online Franchise mode support. When nobody had it we all dreamed of it together, but now that it's out there PS2 users will undoubtedly opine for franchise competition with their friends online.

Madden NFL 10 screenshot

For a game with as much history and consistency as Madden has had on the PS2 platform, there are not many surprises for a gamer that is looking to make the purchase. With most games the question is, "Is this game worth the money for enjoyment?" In this case, 99% of gamers already know what is in this package and if it is for them. The real question here is, "Do I want to continue on my PlayStation 2 or save and upgrade to a newer console?" At $40, the PS2 version is certainly more affordable than the $60 for PS3 or Xbox 360 users. But as we are nearing the end of the PS2's cycle, it may be more prudent to invest for the future and save the $40 towards a new console, particularly with the recently announced PS3 Slim and price drop.

At a time when the focus is on the improvements and additions made exclusively on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, PS2 users can feel forgotten. Even the Wii version, as drastically different as it is, has received wholesale changes. Yet the PS2 version keeps on chugging away, doing what it's done while tweaking things as it goes. What it comes down to is this: if you're not the type who needs to "keep up with the Joneses", doesn't own a newer console nor has plans to do so anytime soon, then Madden 10 for the PS2 is a solid and respectable game that you'll undoubtedly enjoy. But if the PS3/Xbox 360 is on the horizon, hold off on Madden 10 until then; it's superior in every way and worth the twenty dollar price difference.

By Caleb Newby
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.5

Graphics
Pulling as much as possible from the aging system.

3.8

Control
Still a strong point with new customization options and some unique and fun additions.

3.8

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Top notch, as usual.

3.2

Play Value
An overriding sense of "been there, done that."

3.5

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

All-new playbook formations for the 2009 season bring the latest playcalling trends into the game, including the wildcat.

Feel the action and emotion of the NFL as the camera shakes from the impact of a big hit and when the crowd noise reaches a fever pitch!

Experience the excitement of every snap with all-new color and play-by-play by Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond.

Take advantage of hot streaks and fight through cold stretches as player ratings change dynamically during every game.

Control your team like never before by assigning custom moves to the analog stick for every position on the field.

Feel the suspense of the NFL as you battle your opponent in a fast-paced mini-game to recover a game-changing fumble.