Madden NFL 10 Wii / Image courtesy EA Sports

The first thing you’ll notice is the new look. And most obvious are the cartoonish new player models. Five unique body types were created for quarterbacks, receivers, linebackers, linemen and running backs. But that certainly isn’t where it ends. There’s also new grass, new lighting, new unis, new stadiums, new crowds, new Jumbotrons and gameplay animations—plus unique face textures and an all new suite of cams that encompass pre-plays, touchdowns, passes, blimp shots, post plays, big hits and more. There are also new sideline characters, objects and sky maps. Very slick.

Madden NFL 10 captures Wii’s pick up and play mentality with a host of new game modes designed to provide short, easy-to-digest gaming experiences. Madden Showdown is a 1-4 player tournament where you can enjoy classic 11-on-11 football or a quick 5-on-5, custom competition. There are three major feature components to Madden Showdown—Game Changers (like Tug of War, Fumbilitis, Turbo Mode, It’s Alive, Invisibility, All Passing Plays, All Running Plays and a Random option where you never know what you’ll get from one game to the next). There is also a Prediction System where you have a chance to guess the outcome of different categories in each game. And Spotlight Moments is where the gameplay slows to allow you to influence the biggest plays of the game (like open field tackles, a battle for the ball, sprinting to the end zone and a sack attack). Finally, Road to the Super Bowl allows 1-4 players to work together and play as a team through a partial or entire NFL season.

If you remember last season, Madden NFL 09 set a great precedent with their All-Play game mechanics. And since All-Play really lends itself, again to the Wii’s pick up and play style, it can be applied to features (of which I’ll name a couple) that appeal to both hardcore and casual players. A new passing mechanic features point and pass controls where you simply point at the receiver on the screen and press the A button to pass the ball. Same concept with All-Play Defense. Users can make an impact on defense by simply pointing and locking onto targets which then causes their defense to focus on that particular player. Swinging the Wiimote at the right time will perform the action appropriate to that situation, like swatting or picking off a pass, sacking the QB or sticking it to a running back.

Finally, there are a bunch of supporting features to round out your 2010 Madden experience. These features range from classic game modes to fan favorites. For instance, classic modes contain Franchise and Superstar in their entirety. Triggered Celebrations continue to be a fan favorite. And an all-new Wii specific roster screen contains all roster and player management functionality. The mini games are the same but they’ve been retrofitted with the new mechanics to let everyone hone their skills.

I’ve been at this game for almost a week (thanks to EA Sports for the pre-release copy—my review was embargoed until this morning at 9 a.m. ET) and I can say it’s definitely the best looking, most enjoyable Madden experience ever. Madden NFL 10 will be in-stores everywhere this Friday, August 14.

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Madden NFL 10 Wii Review

Madden NFL 10 / Photo: Business Wire

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Fitzgerald, Polamalu on Madden 10 Cover

According to the official EA Sports simulation of Super Bowl XLIII by Madden NFL 09, the Pittsburgh Steelers will win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title by beating the Arizona Cardinals 28-24. Ben Roethlisberger will be named MVP. Here are some screens for your enjoyment. Click ‘em to go big.

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Madden NFL 09 Predicts Super Bowl XLIII

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

This is the alternate cover for Madden NFL 09 with Brett Favre in a Jets uniform. The only way to get this updated version (for Xbox 360, Play Station 3, Play Station 2 or Play Station Portable) is to download it from EASports.com.

Fans are also invited to get a new online roster download. Available for Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and Wii versions of the game, this new roster download features Brett as the starting quarterback on the N.Y. Jets and is available today as an automatic download when you play an online game. For fans not playing online, Brett is on the “NFL Greats” roster. In Franchise Mode, players can transfer Brett to the free agent roster pool, and pick him up on any of the 32 NFL teams for the 2008 season. Vikings and Bucs fans might be especially interested.

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New Madden NFL 09 Packaging Available

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Celebrating 20 years of innovation and counting, Madden NFL 09 delivers its most complete NFL football package ever. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or picking up the game for the first time, players of all skill levels will enjoy a unique, yet challenging experience with the innovative Adaptive Difficulty Engine, which tailors the game to match your playing style. Instantly improve your game with the all-new virtual Training Center or incorporate feedback with EA Sports BackTrack, allowing you to learn from your mistakes on the fly. With a new broadcast presentation and online leagues, plus more than 85 new features and enhancements, Madden NFL 09 is the most authentic and adaptable game in sports video game history. I caught up with Madden NFL 09 lead producer Ryan Ferwerda to talk about the game.

• 0:14 – Ryan Ferwerda appears in the Madden NFL 09 demo
• 0:57 – Madden NFL 09, the first sports game that adapts to you
• 2:40 – Your Madden IQ changes depending on how you play
• 3:50 – Cover athlete Brett Favre as a Green Bay Packer and N.Y. Jet
• 5:39 – Already hard at work on Madden NFL 10
• 6:13 – Madden’s NFL player rating system is based on tons of information
• 8:02 – Madden NFL XX Years and the next 20 years of Madden NFL
• 9:02 – Online forums and the value of gamer/fan input

Links: Madden NFL 09

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EMQB Interview: Madden NFL 09

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Madden NFL 09 Screens: Play Station 3

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Madden NFL 09 Screens: Xbox 360

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Madden NFL 09 Screens: Wii

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Madden NFL 09 Official Launch Trailer