E3 2008: Madden NFL 09 All-Play Hands-On

The central focus in Madden NFL 09 for the Wii was to make the game more accessible to younger, novice audiences. While the game still offers many of the core gameplay elements from last year's game, new options are now available for less-experienced players to make the game easier to pick up and play. We had a chance to check out all of the major additions in Madden NFL 09 at an EA pre-E3 event a few weeks ago.

One of the first steps EA took to make the game less intimidating was to introduce a new play-calling system, which adjusts to the player's skill level. Playbooks now come in three flavors: easy, normal, and advanced. The game will offer novice players instant play-calling feedback to aid them as they transition to the more advanced playbooks.

Tackling has also become easier in Madden NFL 09. You will now be able to hone in on the ball carrier and deliver a monster hit simply by waving the Wii Remote.

Madden NFL 09 on the Nintendo Wii will feature a new backyard-style five-on-five game mode. The game mode is designed to mimic the fast-paced, high-scoring affairs from elementary school recesses. Apart from the obviously fewer players on the field, the gameplay is slightly faster than the traditional game mode and the field is noticeably smaller to compensate for the fewer number of players. Kickoffs, field goals, and extra points have been removed. Instead, teams start their possessions at the 50-yard line and have four plays in order to score (yep, no first downs either). Play calling has also been simplified, providing both the offense and defense just four plays from which to choose. The end result is a higher-scoring version of traditional football, featuring more one-on-one showdowns between you and your opponent.

While many of the changes in Madden NFL 09 focus on making the game more approachable for first-time players, Madden NFL 09 on the Wii will introduce one exclusive feature that should make even hardcore Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 players jealous. Prior to any play, you will have the option to enable a call-your-shot feature, allowing you to draw new routes for your receivers via the Wii Remote. This takes hot routing to a whole new level because you can come up with some very unorthodox patterns.

Finally, Madden NFL 09 will allow you to customize your celebrations following a big score or a bone-crushing hit. By waving the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in different orientations, you will be able to bust out various dynamic celebrations.

We will be bringing you more updates on Madden NFL 09 for the Wii as we learn more.