Let’s be fair, if you have owned a console or picked up a games magazine in the last 20 years, chances are you would have heard of John Madden football. From its debut in 1989 on the Apple II series of computer, right up to the 20th anniversary addition last year, Madden (as it is now known) is a worldwide phenomenon. In addition to the millions of sales worldwide, the game also spawned a TV show (Madden nation) and the Madden Bowl, where NFL players compete to see who is the best madden player in professional American football. Madden 2010 has once again promised to top previous incarnations, offering a new layout and several new gameplay features in order to entice gamers to part with their hard earned cash.

The first thing that jumps out at you when you boot up the game is the presentation. The backgrounds and loading screens are a lot more colourful next to last year’s plain efforts. The menus are a lot more streamline and you can find things a lot easier than in previous editions, where you could be trawling for what felt like forever. The in game presentation has also received an overhaul, with. EA’s ‘if it’s in the game, it’s in the game’ promise getting closer to the truth every year. The players look increasing like their real life counter parts, and the cut scenes before, during and after the game make you feel as if you are watching a live broadcast. The half time ‘Extra point’ show is also impressive, as you are presented with stats not just from your own game, but from around the league, allowing you to keep an eye on the scores of a divisional rival. However, there is no option to skip this completely, only speed it up, and it can get a bit annoying after a while.

The in game sounds are fantastic, with every tackle carrying a satisfying ‘thump’ and the banter going on between the teams and players audible over the roar of the crowd. This is also the best soundtrack a Madden game has put together in years, with the likes of Beastie Boys, Black Sabbath, Killswitch Engage and Rage against the Machine all present and correct. The only negative point is the commentary, which is mostly recycled from last year, with the odd extra phrase tacked on. To be honest, the commentary was pretty weak last year, and the prospect of listening to Cris Collinsworth bang on about nonsense for another 12 months doesn’t appeal to me at all!

But all this polish would be for naught if the gameplay were not up to scratch. Luckily, EA has once again managed to surpass itself and deliver a game that’s even better than last year’s edition. The big addition this year is the Pro Tak system. This allows tackles and gang tackles to be more accurately simulated, as well as giving ball carriers a chance to fight for yards and break from tackles. The gameplay has been slowed down by about 30%, which makes it a lot easier for a running back to pick a hole, and generally makes for a more realistic feeling game. Player animations have been improved as well, with the quarterbacks, wide receivers and cornerbacks looking and moving a lot more natural. Another feature that has been improved is the player rating system. Ratings have now been scaled back and there is a noticeable difference between average, good and elite players, making someone like Randy Moss or Patrick Willis an even more valuable weapon.

The rating system also comes into play during the Franchise mode. This is the bread and butter of the game and the main reason that the series is so popular, and is comparable to World of Warcraft and Championship Manager for the sheer amount of hours it will steal from you. This time around, players will decrease and increase in statistics more realistically, so a player who is sidelined for a season will suffer a drop in his ratings that only gametime will rectify. Another neat addition is ‘draft logic’. This means teams will not use their first round pick on a quarterback year after year, or draft 3 defensive tackles in one draft. This, combined with an improved scouting system should make building your virtual dynasty even easier. If, however, you would rather just know which players are great right away, you can use the EA store to purchase upgrades that will reveal the statistics of all draft eligible players in a given position. Cheating, but don’t worry, I’m sure everyone will be at it.

In short, this is definitely worth a look. Unlike other sport franchises, the changes made by the EA team have genuinely changed the way the game can be played, and is not simply the same game with updated players and kits. The above improvements and features, combined with returning features such as Superstar mode, Madden moments and full online play, mean Madden will once again be one of the standout sport sims of 2009, and should please both casual fans and hardcore supporters alike. I'll give it a 9 out of 10.

The game is now out on Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo Wii.