You say that there are some major flaws in the game, as a potential game buyer I want to know if you meant just the player rankings or in the game mechanics itself?

NCAA just blew it out of the water from me. I hardly played it. Other than loving NCAA my knocks on Madden 08 was the constant fumbles, I didn’t like the menu format (can’t really explain it better) and how awkward and time consuming the scouting was in franchise mode.

Jason David is not a bad player at all IMO.

It looks good, but I just picked it up late last night. I like some of the new features. Madden ‘08 stunk. In franchise mode, unsigned FA’s kept disappearing. Could hardly get through two seasons without there being too few players. And I lost two seasons to glitches and freezes in the second year of a franchise. Let’s hope ‘09 is much better.

I picked it up last night too and have played a great deal of it. I also spent a good amount of time at GameStop yesterday playing it. I have to say that I feel bad for anyone playing this on a standard def TV. On 360 in 1080p this game is incredible looking. The animations are much better, as are various mechanics. Here’s my pro/con list:

PROS
The running back will actually push the linemen if he gets stuck behind them
It is now possible to catch a flat route near the sideline and actually run upfield 90% of the time(Unless the quarterback is John Beck, see Madden Moment “Phins Get a Win”)
- Corners and safeties will punish a receiver in ANY zone, put forcing turnovers is still realistic.
- The quarterback will actually put the ball over a receivers shoulder now, so that only he can get it. No more deep outs falling 1 yard short and getting picked off.
- The LB circus catches have been cut down a lot, but I did have a pass picked off by a D lineman on a comback route to Reggie Wayne.
- Graphically, the game is ridiculous. Yes, the grass is amazing and somehow that makes everything look better. But really, every stadium FEELS different(and how often do you get to see Indy’s skyline in a video game?)
- If you bought the Special Edition, your can import plays from Head Coach 09 that you custom make. Though, your plays can have no numbers in the name – how strange.
- They kept the NFL Films classic music in case you don’t like the Pop music junk they throw on there.
- The jump ball is no longer the way for untalented players to move down field. It just doesn’t work out that well unless you have a spectacular catch receiver matched against a lower-end corner.

CONS
- Zone coverage is still as bad as it ever was, maybe improving mildly over 08. I still find myself needing to play every defender when playing base defense with the Colts.
- The stretch play is so weak, and still not accurate. I get blown up by a OLB almost 2/3 of the time. Therefore, I’ll run an inside zone instead and pick up yards between the tackle.
- Play action rolling out to the strong side seems to be easy for the computer to squash. I think the hand-off animation is way too slow, and branching animation doesn’t help when the QB gets tackled from behind with the ball still in his hands.
- The better corners seem to always be able to jump a hitch route for a pick, so be ready to move to your receiver and cut in front of the corner to make a play.
- Peyton STILL can not throw on the run, WTF? What does the man have to do to prove that he can move around and make plays.
- Franchise mode made NO progress at all as far as I can tell. No real dynamic options in the uniform editor, the same stupid logos as 07(minus the few I liked), the same stadium options, scouting’s still arduous and unpredictable, and still no tracking of your team’s achievements. (I have hated the lack of this for some time, as I had no indication that my ‘07 Ft. Worth Brahmas from ‘08-’14 won every Super Bowl and only lost two total games. But I just had the same reputation as the Patriots.)
- Superstar mode also made NO progress. The drills are still the same stupid drills where I can still only major a best of 4.8 40, 7 reps on the bench, and around 30000 on the position drill. The result is a HB with 83 speed, 85 acceleration, 90 awareness, and 23 STRENGTH. I hate you superstar drills.

That’s my recap, though I think the PROs far outweigh the CONs, I was really looking forward to some Franchise/Superstar improvements, as I play these two modes a lot. But I heard the lead designer say that this year they were focusing on the CORE game, but somehow managed to spend the time to include the silly virtual trainer and the Madden Moments feature(which is fun, but doesn’t make up for weak Franchise/Superstar). But, all in all, this is definitely worth picking up, especially if you are playing 08. Just getting to see how nice LOS is is worth the price to me stuck down here in Texas.