Madden's third appearance on Wii is the first to be christened with the All-Play label being slapped and stickied on the rest of the casual-friendly console's sports lineup for 2008. It is designed specifically for those who typically shun pro sports games for fear of the controls or the complex rules and regulations. The all-play option is an equalizer of sorts for veteran players teamed up with gramps or granny, or for pre-teens paired up with their parents. In other words, it's "easy mode" for those who have lived and breathed Madden since its inception on the 16-bit Sega Genesis.

Back to Basics

What all-play effectively does to the game is simplify the tackling, passing, evading, and other moves by letting the computer grab the reigns over certain actions and removing the pressure of a play clock. You don't actually choose the receiver you're throwing to, for example, so you're only responsible for hiking and throwing the ball. The motion controls are extremely straightforward, which is a good thing for those learning the ropes for the first time. Power moves on offense are initiated simply by shifting the remote in any of four directions, hiking the ball is a simple flick backward, and passing is a flick forward. Catches and interceptions are initiated by lifting the nunchuk and remote simultaneously, while breaking tackles involves going Tommy Lee on the twin controllers.

The default perspective is set high above the gridiron, allowing you a great view downfield at the expense of some detail. Al Michaels and John Madden handle the play-by-play and color commentary, respectively, and yes, they are still repetitive. One interesting feature is that on-field voices can be heard through the Wii remote's speaker to help you react to the action. An open receiver will yell, "toss the ball," for example, or an offensive lineman will say, "incoming" to warn you of an impending sack. Icons will also appear to indicate when a receiver is open, or to notify you if you were late on timing a motion-sensing move. Penalty pop-ups are oddly notable since they randomly show one of your Miis dressed in zebra stripes. Even Madden's jowly mug will appear in Mii-form if you choose to select one of his generic plays.

Minor Updates

The majority of game modes are identical to 2007's version, with the ability to control one athlete in the superstar mode, guide your favorite team through a franchise, or participate in a series of action-oriented drills and mini-games. Yet the bugs that bogged down its predecessor have been squashed. The action is more fluid, resulting in a more enjoyable experience than in past versions. New to this year's game is a five-on-five mode that plays like a sterile version of NFL Blitz, complete with optional big heads. It ain't arcade football unless players have noggins the size of watermelons. The fast-paced action by default has you trying to score a touchdown on each possession, or else it's a turnover on downs. While you can adjust certain parameters, the mode lacks the zaniness associated with power-ups, random field hazards, and so forth. 

The other significant addition is the "call your shots" option. Tapping a button at the line of scrimmage lets you create your own passing routes in real time. Simply point to a receiver and aim the remote toward the field to create waypoints that the player will follow once the ball is snapped. It's impressive just how fast and well integrated this option is in the game, and it's not as overpowering on offense as you might expect on the higher difficulty settings. Another change is more silly than useful: you have the option to celebrate after scoring a touchdown by flailing the Wii remote and nunchuk. The more you act like a crazy chicken, the better the celebration, which results in a ratings boost for your player.

Smoothing Out the Wrinkles

Online play is a surprise, primarily because it's free from the lag monster that frequently reared it hideous head in Madden NFL 08. The result is a hiccup-free experience bolstered by lobbies, messaging, leaderboards, and ranked matches. The most glaring negative to the online component is a passing game that inexplicably doesn't allow for bullet passes. After lob, lob, lobbing your way across the field, you'll either rely on the running game or on deep bombs downfield rather than risk interceptions simply because your quarterback refuses to put some zip on the ball. Hopefully, this is a glitch that will be corrected in an online update, but if not, buyers beware.

Madden NFL 09 is a big improvement over last year's version, if only because it's more playable. The new features aren't earth shattering, and it's hard to fathom why the five-on-five mode wasn't juiced up to provide an even more arcade-like experience. Will the game appeal to a broader audience? It's difficult to believe the controls will switch public opinion overnight, but the simplification does make it easier to play. All-Play straddles the line between the Wii-diculous and the Wii-alistic, and it doesn't do quite enough to satisfy those seeking one or the other. One thing is clear, however. It's the best football game on Wii to date, and a title that will keep the sports-starved console in heavy rotation throughout the NFL season.

Review by: Scott Alan Marriott