Madden 11: Is The Top Sports Video Game Still Worth It?

Throughout today, sports fans across the world will pick up the new Madden 11, including myself, but the real question is, should we?

Many complain that there aren't enough changes year in and year out and that we are basically playing just a slightly upgraded version from the previous year. A lot of these critics point out that the game has no competitors, causing the creators, EA Sports, to make only slight changes instead of drastic ones.

The $60 price tag may be a bit much, but I fall in the camp that believes buying the new version is still worth it. Even if the game only features slight gameplay changes, updated rosters, and a new feature or two, Madden still delivers the best sports video game. 

One of the reasons we like Madden is because of the way it is. If they were to consistently overhaul the game every couple of years, how many would honestly like that? The makers of the game know what has made the franchise successful and stuck with the core, while improving a facet of the game each year. 

Last year quarterback play was revamped and it turned out to be a great success. This year the running game has been the focus and, according to critics, the new changes have been well done. 

The pace of the game has also been an area that the creators have focused on. There's a new play-calling system, called Gameflow, that allows users to focus on running the plays instead of calling them, as the computer will select the plays for you.

For Madden loyalists this new feature may not be for you and, as with every new feature, it has some flaws. It has been reported that the computer makes odd calls at certain points in the game, such as calling for a deep pass inside the red zone. 

Gameflow is directed towards the more casual gamer who doesn't want to mess around with calling plays. Cutting down the time of the game will attract more people to Madden and make it more user-friendly. It also brings an element to the game that hasn't been seen before.

In the NFL, players give input on play-calling, but the final decision always comes down to the head coach and offensive coordinator. For the first time in Madden history, you will be told what play to run, adding for a more real experience. Think of it this way, you are a player out on the field getting the play-call from the sidelines and your job is to execute that call.

When it comes to choosing what sports video game to buy, the realism of the game is generally what people are looking for. People want the product to be as close as possible to the real game.

Madden continuously delivers the most realistic sports game every year. You can put it up against baseball, hockey, soccer, and basketball video games and you won't see the same quality as you do in a Madden game. 

Another feature that Madden is always a step or two above in, is creating a player. Every other game that I've created a player on turns out looking cartoonish and awkward. Madden gives the most options when it comes to making yourself look like a real NFL player.

Another incentive for picking up the game is the newly added Gus Johnson to the booth. Johnson will join Chris Collinsworth to form a dynamic tandem that could be the voices of Madden for years to come. 

Madden NFL 11 isn't a perfect game (what game is?) and it will have annoying flaws, but overall, the product they consistently put out is well worth your money.