Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

[Todem]

I think it's safe to say the demo is probably an inferior product compared to the impressions we are getting about the retail copy.

[Wacco4Flacco410]

I think the demo is cool. Thank god there adding the older buttons in tho.

[TheMove84]

Played a few more demo games today. With the Jets 1st game went 24/26 for 4 tds and 412 yards passing. next game I decided who needs to run and I went for 33/37 7 tds 682 yards on all pro.

Heres the problem. The defense was not improved at all this year. EA added all these new catching animations and no defense animations. Im watching my Wrs pull more amazing catches then normal catches. Half my catches are 1 hand catches. The DB is in good position and is being shielded off by a catch animation and then my Wr break for 80 yards and the TD.

[jeremiahshmo]

im loving the demo at the moment. the AI snap while there on offence is far to fast, i have to agree there, and Gus is awesome! for me, the gameplay is the best so far, and the crowds chanting is awsome, J E T S JETS JETS JETS! haha. the D-pad takes some getting used to, and is impossible to use on defence before they snap. I like the way they changed the way you can call the audible, its a lot more simpler and easier.I love how the physics of the game come into how you can break a tackle also, and the new reciever system at the sidelines, when they are aware if they are going out of bounds, and try to catch the ball in bounds, is a great add which will reduce my stress levels after many years of seeing reciveres catch easy balls and then go out of bounds with only one foot in play. i really like the new game flow system, with the coach calling if you've got a headset, really makes you feel more part of the game.if they tweak a few things before they release it, like the AI snap, personally i think it will be the best in the series so far!

[jerry161]

Much better than Madden 10'. The quarterback animations finally look like they were not motion captured by high schoolers.

Gameflow is great...if...if.....you customize your situational playbook. Running game and animations are far better. I like the way the game has been slowed down so backs can weave through the holes. Passing game is more realistic and I have had receivers make sideline catches and turn upfield instead of running out of bounds.

The scale of the players seems to better represent the actual size of NFL players. Passing game/reads are more realistic but LB's still make unrealistic pics.

The Field Turf looks great. It's as if you can actually see the little blades of nylon grass. All they need now is the black rubber pebbles popping up when you get tackled, lol. I hope the rainy muddy fields from Madden 09 come back.

Overall the pace is much more realistic. Most backs in the NFL can not outrun corners and that seems to be represented correctly with these two teams on the demo.

Overall I am glad they toned down the audibles. In real football unless it is a hot read QB's very rarely change the routes of individual receivers. It's either a read route from the start a la Run and Shoot concept....or you run the play called...or you check to a whole different play. It's unrealistic to think that a QB could audible as much as players can on this game change routes in a matter of two seconds. Lots of communication has to happen.

There are audio glitches that I do not expect to be present in the final retail copy. Overall Gus is better than the horrible Tom Hammond and there are actual real stadium songs and chants.

This will be the best current gen Madden by far.

[Todem]

Quote: Originally Posted by jerry161

Much better than Madden 10'. The quarterback animations finally look like they were not motion captured by high schoolers. Gameflow is great...if...if.....you customize your situational playbook. Running game and animations are far better. I like the way the game has been slowed down so backs can weave through the holes. Passing game is more realistic and I have had receivers make sideline catches and turn upfield instead of running out of bounds. The scale of the players seems to better represent the actual size of NFL players. Passing game/reads are more realistic but LB's still make unrealistic pics. The Field Turf looks great. It's as if you can actually see the little blades of nylon grass. All they need now is the black rubber pebbles popping up when you get tackled, lol. I hope the rainy muddy fields from Madden 09 come back. Overall the pace is much more realistic. Most backs in the NFL can not outrun corners and that seems to be represented correctly with these two teams on the demo. Overall I am glad they toned down the audibles. In real football unless it is a hot read QB's very rarely change the routes of individual receivers. It's either a read route from the start a la Run and Shoot concept....or you run the play called...or you check to a whole different play. It's unrealistic to think that a QB could audible as much as players can on this game change routes in a matter of two seconds. Lots of communication has to happen. There are audio glitches that I do not expect to be present in the final retail copy. Overall Gus is better than the horrible Tom Hammond and there are actual real stadium songs and chants. This will be the best current gen Madden by far.

This is such a great point. I am sim player and unless you aubible out of the play, or just call for one hot route that is really all that's taking place. And the OL adjustment as well. I am having zero issue with this with the strat pad.

However on defense I do like to adjust my coverages and this is where I miss the old controls and they will come back.

But I agree with the overall amount of presnap adjustments. In the NFL there are far fewer than what you see online cheesers doing in Madden.

Thank goodness for sim leagues!

and I also agree on gameflow. For offense if you take the time and effort to put together a game plan each week it can be very rewarding. However I call all my own defensive plays. And the fact you still have access to the entire playbook on both sides makes it a great option!

[SteelCityChamp]

This is my first impression. I waited a while so I can post what I truly and accurately feel and here it is:

I have to be honest. I just can't stand the way it looks or feels. NCAA 11 is a good college game but Madden NFL 11 doesn't do it for me. I was hoping but....... Maybe EA can just start from scratch and get a new engine. The tackling looks really weird and kinda awkward. The game play is still kinda loose when it comes to controlling the ball carrier.

Way too easy to pass but I guess that can be fixed with sliders but then, you will have the CPU doing cheesy stuff to knock the ball down or intercept it.

Gameflow is awesome. The ability to put together a game plan before a game and then follow it is as close to realistic as you can get. Best idea the Madden crew has had in years. Locomotion seems to be working well also.

The last thing I will comment on is the presentation: Holy crap. They have the ESPN license and they aren't doing s**t with it. The halftime show is not a show. It's random highlights with no commentary. Lazy IMO. No post game show either. If the weekly show in franchise mode is still the same as Madden 10, I am shaking my head on that one. With all of the storage space they have on blu-ray discs, you would think they could make a complete football game with the proper physics and presentation so we can all just play a great game and be done with the argument about which game is the best.

OR........the NFL can stop granting exclusive licenses when it comes to video games and they will see that competition breeds innovation, new ideas, new technology....an overall better product. I am no Madden ***** by any stretch. I have played Madden since the first one on Sega Genesis. I just seems to me that they have been stuck in mediocrity since the PS3 and XBOX 360 were released. And, in all fairness, if they are the only game in town, they have to be able to handle the immense criticism because customers don't have another product they can turn to if this one lets them down. In the past, Madden, 2K Football, NFL Fever, NFL Gameday, etc. didn't receive a lot of criticism because there was competition and customer's had a choice. With no choice comes frustration, stagnation and lack of innovation. I am not blaming EA or the Madden franchise. They are a victim of the decision the NFL has made and I have to admit, they have a tremendous responsibility on their shoulders. It's not easy being responsible for the only NFL licensed video game out there. But, EA has to try even harder or the NFL has to grant multiple licenses to insure they continue to have a quality video game representation of the NFL.

Thank you.

[rich7sena]

Quote: Originally Posted by Moose31

I've now played a couple more games... exact same opinion I have stated earlier, but the other thing I definitely noticed is the shear lack of penalties. In 3 games, I've seen ONE roughing the passer penalty, and that's it... no holding, no offsides, no false starts... which always happen at least a few times ina every game.. hopefully it's just another demo thing

I 100% agree. I began playing the demo with a balanced run/pass with the Jets and then I decided to open it up with Sanchez mostly using the shotgun. On all-madden mode I threw for 496 yrds, 7 tds and 1 int in 17 completions. I like what the developers did on offense but the defense has left in the cellar. Even the strategy pad which is great on offense is clunky to use on defense. None of my receivers one handed any of their catches but they were WIDE open so much of the time that I suppose it wasn't neccessary (I did see some one handers on the Colts though). When Braylon catches two wide open plays for over 70 yrds each, you know somethings amiss.