Showing posts with label ea sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ea sports. Show all posts

Monday, November 8, 2010

EA MMA | Review


Synopsis: Fight fans, here is a little review for you as EA Sports has provided us with a copy of EA MMA to let out some of that testosterone in the ring without the pain and swelling. In this title you can create your own character and climb the ranks to become the title holder of the worldwide circuit. You will travel the world to learn a variety of techniques and special moves to work your way up the ranks and train to perfect the basics, ultimately making you a force to be reckoned with. EA Sports has also put a lot of work into the online side of this game giving the player the ability to set up fight cards, broadcast live matches, and fight as either your created character or your favorite MMA fighter. Let’s get on with the review, will you submit or dominate the competition?

Praise: After the most recent Fight Night title was released, I have fallen in love with the twin stick fighting style, well that same fighting style is in MMA, however, depending on the modifier buttons used, you can take down, grab, kick, and deliver some match ending moves on your way to the title bout. You can develop your fighter however you see fit, from weight class to fighting style, I was granted full control as to the type of champion I wanted to be. The graphics are amazing and with the lights and atmosphere of the bigger bouts, it is pretty awe inspiring. Fights for the most part are pretty quick and extremely gratifying when you win, especially when you are getting worked, you deliver that one blow to take the opponent by surprise and depending how you handle yourself from there it can be over quickly, the downside is that it goes both ways.

Gripes: First and so very foremost is the online community. This title came out less than a month ago and I have yet to see more than one hundred people playing at any given time, but it is usually less than fifty people playing. While the online gameplay is fun when you can find a match, but when a title that gets its replay value from playing online doesn't have many people playing and you are continuously getting beat by the same people, it isn't as much fun. Building your character, while mostly fun has its downside as you allot your time out of the ring training, but after doing each training exercise you can have it simulate training, which means constantly being smacked into submission with load screens. The roster is also something that I was less than impressed with as I am semi familiar with the MMA fighters, more so with the Thq title’s roster but barely able to recognize a handful of those appearing in EA MMA.

Overall, if you are a fighting fan and online gameplay is not important to you then EA MMA might just be the game for you. Being that you are able to create multiple fighters there is a lot of replay value to keep you coming back for more. However, if you are interested in this game to play online against the Xbox community then you may want to pass as you will spend a lot of time looking for matches and even longer trying to find matches against people you have fought yet.

Mashbuttons.com gives EA MMA a 7 out of 10.

EA MMA is available now for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

EA Sports NBA Jam | Review


Synopsis: Boomshakalaka! EA Sports bring back the phrase that will make almost any game reminiscent to playing the four player basketball arcade game, this time however, Wii gamers get the first chance to this secret filled sports title, while 360 and PS3 gamers have to wait until the non-descript holiday season. The new entry includes the classic 2 on 2 gameplay that the original sported in the nineties, but will also keep gameplay fresh with the addition of new characters, modes, and depth. With new game modes, comes the Wii control modes as well, whether you like gaming on the classic controller or taking advantage of the motion controls, you will take control of the current NBA roster to overcome challenges and to take on all the other teams. Will this throwback to an arcade classic, get its long overdue comeback or fall flat on the hardwood?

Praise: It is NBA Jam, need I say more? If I do have to, where do I start? There is a huge roster of current NBA stars along with a massive amount of unlockable characters, modes, and politicians. It is the same tried and true gameplay that is full of huge dunks, leveling shoves, and on fire three pointers. To say that I was skeptical about the lack of online multiplayer is an understatement, so when I got this, the first thing I did was have a couple friends over I played this with in the arcade and put it to work. Four hours later, the lack of multiplayer was forgotten and I was frantically playing the remix modes and campaign to see what else I can unlock. This is more difficult than the original, which I prefer as the original does not provide much of a challenge anymore and the unlockable content is where the replay value is at.

Gripes: In regards to controls, I was not so fond of the motion controls as getting whipped in the face by the cord when you shoot is less than fun, but when using the classic controller, it felt like I was a teenager again playing on the Genesis. It is fun without being able to play online multiplayer but this is a game where most of the fun comes from playing against friends, but unless you live in a frat house or have a bunch of roommates into basketball games, you will not get a lot of multiplayer games in. This is solely my opinion and I am sure many will disagree, but some of the bugs and glitches from the arcade or original would have been nice, especially in regards to being on fire, as it is a lot easier to lose your fire streak. Some challenges can be incredibly hard to the point where you play over and over waiting for the computer to make a mistake so you complete the challenge and move on to the next.

Overall, NBA Jam is a lot of fun, online or not. Knowing that online will be available on the 360 or PS3 versions, it would be hard to switch consoles and start over again after putting in the numerous hours on the Wii version to unlock all that’s available. However, don’t write off this version of the remake as once you start unlocking teams, characters, and modes, it will be hard to turn off, especially if the Wii is your main gaming console.

Mashbuttons.com gives EA Sports NBA Jam an 8 out of 10.

EA Sports NBA Jam is available now for the Nintendo Wii.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

NHL Slapshot | Review


Synopsis: Wii gamers and hockey fans alike, this review is for you. EA Sports has provided us with a review copy of the NHL Slapshot Bundle, which includes a hockey stick peripheral to shoot, pass, and check from the comfort of your living room, but without the missing teeth. Multiple game modes are available depending on what type of gamer you are with three different options available and a handful of mini games. The main gameplay modes available if you are looking for depth are season and Peewee to the Pros, season allows you to play through the hockey season as your favorite team where Peewee to the Pros allows you to create your own players and start in a neighborhood ice rink playing 3-on-3 and work your way up to the pros playing 5-on-5. This is EA’s first NHL release for the Wii console, so let’s take a look at how they did.

Praise: To preface, I am not one that big into sports games and definitely not into counting down the days for release, but there is one sport that each year I look forward to picking up and playing but somehow gets forgotten amidst the review rush and that is hockey. Well this year we have the opportunity to review, and though I am not a huge fan of gaming on the Wii, I was strangely surprised as to how engaging NHL Slapshot is once you start playing. Playing both game modes, I was more a fan of the normal season mode as I was able to change the player to move as opposed to only controlling the created hockey kid. The main feature from Peewee to the Pros that kept me coming back for more is building up your player as you see fit, and then being able to equip earned power ups to give yourself that edge over others on the ice. Graphics are a lot more than I had expected to be for a Wii title and the control with the hockey stick accessory are surprisingly forgiving and makes gameplay more fun than just playing with the remote and nunchuk.

Gripes: Where the game succeeds, it definitely has its downfalls, especially with the hockey stick peripheral. Though I did say it was forgiving and actually pretty fun to use, you pretty much have to use it standing in front of the TV, whereas playing with just the remote and nunchuk can still be done from the couch. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with having to play standing in front of the TV, but I am the type of game that likes to play for about two or three hours at a time and when standing in one place for the time, it makes it hard to play for long periods of time. This is a realistic hockey game, which means realistic penalties, and with the amount of “M” rated games I play, let’s just say I spent a lot of time in the penalty box giving the opposing team power plays, lots of power plays, until I turned off the penalties before starting the next game.

Overall, NHL Slapshot is a lot of fun to play through whether you are playing Peewee to the Pros, the season play, or the mini games with a friend. Though when trying to take advantage of the full experience with the additional hockey stick controller, it may get tiresome after a couple of games, but it is extremely engaging, and easy to catch yourself doing slapshots and checks a lot harder than necessary just because of a little plastic controller in your hands and the big smile from ear to ear every time I laid someone out on the ice. As someone that is not a big sports gaming fan and still being able to appreciate playing this title, shows that EA Sports is trying to reach outside of the hardcore sports demographic and it looks like it worked, as it is as fun and it is strategic.

Mashbuttons.com gives NHL Slapshot an 9 out of 10.

NHL Slapshot is available now for the Nintendo Wii.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Madden 2011 Review

The national holiday known as Madden Day is upon us and football fans can let out an impatient sigh of relief and collectively rejoice. This year EA took more of a focus on the casual football gamer with features geared towards making gameplay much more user friendly. This year’s version also has the Ultimate Team mode fully integrated into the game (last year it was a download later in the season).

The Good: I seem to say this every year, but the graphics really do look much better than the previous years, just start up a game and enjoy the realism of the field. This year they turn the turbo button off by default (can be turned back on in the settings) and it still takes some getting used to but I really like the idea because it allows you to focus more on hitting holes and following your blockers. Finally the presentation blows me away. From the QB waling off the bus before the game to the coaches talking to the QB on the sideline (did I mention real players on the sidelines!). Also, new to the booth is Gus Johnson, he is a very welcome addition.

Love seeing the 'Hawks stick it to the Cardinals
 The Bad: Franchise, franchise, franchise!!! Why not give a big focus to franchise, leaving it the same was a huge mistake. I’m not saying it needs to be completely redone, but improving tweaks need to be there yearly. I will chalk the new GameFlow feature under bad because I am smart enough to pick my own plays and something tells me the development of this took away from the ever important FRANCHISE mode.


Overall: The day that I am not impressed with a new Madden game will be a sad day, and frankly I don’t see it happening. Despite its lack of franchise mode improvements the gameplay, graphics and presentation more than make up for it. I give Madden 2011 an 8 out of 10.

Madden 2011 is available now for just about every platform under the sun

Monday, July 26, 2010

NCAA Football 2011 Review

Living in Phoenix, Arizona there is only one thing that keeps my sanity in July and that is the release of the newest NCAA Football game from EA. Every year I wonder how they will top the previous year’s version; and every year they find a way.

The Good: They've made great strides on the presentation of the game thanks to their partnership with ESPN.  Having ESPN’s presentation style to the game makes it feel much more real than previous. Couple this with new pregame entrances by the players and better game lighting and you have a game that looks and feels amazing.
Boys throwing balls

The most important aspect to any sports game, for me, is the dynasty element. EA redid the menus of the dynasty to give is a well overdue make-over. Also receiving a well overdue make-over was recruiting. By removing the football emoticon style of talking to the recruit and replacing it with a randomized pitch has greatly sped up the process.
Boys running with balls

The Bad: Well, this section should be short because there really isn’t much to complain about. But if I had to be nit-picky, I would work on further expanding the customization of each player; more for the actual look of the player, more for uniforms and allows for player’s uniform numbers to be duplicated (1 player on offense and 1 player on defense could both be number 22, for example). I’m a Washington State Cougar alumni so I would like to see WSU’s correct pre-game entrance in the game as well as Butch (Cougar mascot) to look less like a crack head. Finally, more variations to post touchdown celebrations. After scoring a touchdown I want to do more than just jump up and down or take a knee.
Ah - let me just jump over this

In Conclusion: Every year there is the crowd that debates whether it is worth it or not to spend $60 on the new year’s game because they have the previous year’s version. And to answer those people, I say yes, it is well worth it. I give NCAA Football 2011 a 9 out of 10.

NCAA Football 2011 is available now for XBox 360, PlayStation 3, PS2, etc

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

My (World) Cup runneth over | 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Review

Being a big fan of FIFA 2010 for the XBOX 360 I was a little worried about how FIFA World Cup South Africa would be on the Wii platform.  After playing for a while I was pleasantly surprised. The gameplay and general atmosphere of the Wii game is quite a bit different than the XBOX 360 game, with the Wii game playing more like an arcade game rather than a realistic game. However, playing an arcade style soccer game was a lot of fun.

The graphics aren't the best, but you can tell the artists and designers put a great deal of effort and time to ensure that the players, kits and stadiums all work together to create a great environment. While playing as the US team I could instantly recognize several of the more popular playeys. The Donovan, Bocanegra and Howard models were all very accurate. It was also cool to see all the new kits and squads which will be used in the upcoming World Cup.

After a few minutes with the Wii remote and the nunchuk the controls felt very easy to use. At specific points in the first match you play a dialog box pops up and guides you through using the controls for each situation, including headers, free kicks and corner kicks. Quite a few of the controls are timing based which did take a few tries to figure out. The combination of shaking the Wii remote, slow motion action and stylized ball (trail and sometimes fire!) all make shooting a fun experience. Shaking the remote is a big part of the controls, it is used for shooting, winning balls from free kicks and corner kicks and taking and saving penalties. The controls make for a very interactive experience.

There are several game modes to choose from, including Hit the Pitch (exhibition), 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (the World Cup tournament) with single and multi-player support, Global Elimination (multiplayer) and Zakumi's Dream Team (complete challenges to build a stronger team).

Mashbuttons.com gives FIFA (for Wii) a 7 out of 10.  If you aren't looking for an ultra realistic soccer experience the the arcade style of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is a lot of fun.

Friday, April 23, 2010

First screens and Cover Athlete info on Madden 32, I mean Madden 11

EA has started the Madden 11 marketing train, and it's gaining some steam with the release of the first few images as well as the news of this year's cover athlete.  If you're into the Madden series (which a good amount of you are), you may not need me to tell you who's on the cover above, but I had to rely on good old marketing materials.  It's New Orleans' Saints QB Drew Brees.  Who?  Oh, I don't know, I guess he's someone good though, won some All-Star Bowl or something with a ring.  I kid, I kid.  We hear the demo is dropping in late July, so be sure to stop on by to keep up with all the latest trailers, screenshots and info.

>>Begin screens of Quarterbacks in various, yet similar poses



Madden 11 is out on every gaming system on earth, in early August

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

EA still has love for the Tiger, as do we |Tiger Woods franchise



Because Tiger has been in all the news since Thanksgiving, it's good to see that EA is unwavering in their support of the upcoming '11 year of the Tiger Woods Golf franchise. 

First up is the launch of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online with an open beta, you can get a preview of the title, and invite others via Facebook to check it out as well.


Click after the break to see more details and the trailer for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Heeee's On FIRE!!!!


We've certainly come a long way since the glory-days of the SNES and Sega Genesis, but not many current day gamers can say they haven't played the classic NBA Jam from EA.  Check out the montage below, let it just play to your nostalgic senses.



Okay, now that that's out of the way, you are probably salivating over wanting to dust off your old machines and pop this baby in.  What, you don't have this game/your SNES is broken/your Genesis was stolen by your little brother?  Whatever your excuse, you won't have to wait much longer to, as EA has finally announced a long-due remake of the classic franchise for the Wii in 2010, (EA, please don't neglect the Xbox and PS3).

The new game will feature old-school gameplay, similar sounds from the original mixed with the new features and graphics only time and technology could improve.  There will be the classic NBA JAM experience, but they're adding in new features as well, new game modes to add depth to the title.

Be sure to come back for more updates as they're released, and as always check out the official site here, where you can go on and vote for your favorite players from your favorite teams to be added in NBA JAM.  Check it out!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

NCAA Basketball 10 | Sports Review


When it comes to sports video games there are two camps, EA and 2k; I have to admit I am very split between the two. With EA I am (was) a huge fan of Madden, NCAA football and MVP baseball (RIP) and with 2k I am (was) a huge fan of NBA 2k, The BIGS and College Basketball 2k (RIP). But 2k has dropped out of the College Basketball game so I was left with EA’s version.



EA has made some very promising strides in the presentation and gameplay since I last played the series (2008). Having an ESPN and CBS broadcast is a nice touch, having two different broadcast teams and the different TV presentation is really cool. During a season you can simulate a game using GameCast, which allows you to see the progress of the game and even jump into the action if your team isn’t faring well. The gameplay really captures the energy of a college game and the in game animations are really sharp.


However, there were still some areas where I wasn’t as impressed. Playing NCAA football and Madden, I always notice a different feel to the gameplay. This, however, is not the case between NCAA basketball and NBA Live, were the gameplay is almost identical.


Overall I wasn’t blown away by the game but at the same time elements to the game that make it fun to play. I give this game 7 out of 10, but with a few changes in the gameplay to set it apart from NBA Live and a more dynamic recruiting element (like what they do with NCAA Football) this could easily be a 9 out of 10.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Here's the latest NHL 10 info, as we have it | Previews

Developer EA Canada is back again for another season of some board-checking, puck pressure, and sure to be some thrown fists between players in the latest installment of the NHL franchise; NHL 10.



Said to offer over 200 gameplay refinements to allow for a more finesse game of hockey. From their press release, here are the top key features to look forward as we approach a September release date.


From EA:
  • Battle on the Boards - A new board play physics engine lets you shield the puck with your body along the boards, kick-pass it to teammates, or pin an opponent, adding a new level of realism to cycling the puck and the dump and chase. AI teammates will support the puck and help you win the battle as fans bang on the glass.
  • Intimidation Tactics— Fore-check defenders, pressure the puck and finish checks to force your opponent into mistakes. Players fatigue, bobble passes, and avoid collisions under threat of physical pressure. Face wash a superstar to provoke the opposition, instigate a scrum and ignite the crowd.
  • Post-Whistle Action—Now, the game never stops! Antagonize opposing players, finish checks, retaliate for late shots on goal, draw penalties and pick fights—all after the referee blows the whistle!
  • New 1st Person Fighting Engine — Change the momentum of a game by trading blows with an NHL enforcer with all-new first-person fighting. Grab and tug an opponent’s jersey to land a big punch. Face wash an opponent to start a fight even after the whistle.
  • New Precision Passing— A new 360° precision passing mechanic delivers control over the speed and direction of passes so players can bank passes off the boards or play the puck into space for teammates to skate on to it. Players take poor passes off their skates and kick the puck to their sticks.
  • Spectacular Goals—Introducing spectacular new ways to score, like players one-timing loose pucks, stick-handling and shooting from their knees, batting pucks out of the air and lifting a leg to fake a shot on goal.
  • Improved Goalie Intelligence —Goaltenders position themselves more intelligently, react to shots more quickly and recover from saves faster. Plus, 250 new goalie animations, including swatting pucks out of the air, second and third saves and desperation lunges.
  • Interactive Atmosphere— Playoff atmosphere pops to life with towel-waving fans, deafening noise and crowds that react and respond to the action on the ice. Fanatical fans bang glass during board play, spring to their feet after big hits, and boo opposing stars when they handle the puck.
  • Next-Level authenticity— Over 200 gameplay refinements, including new offensive and defensive AI for more intelligent positioning, and new in-game facial animations that show player emotion when delivering bone-crunching checks or celebrating game-winning goals.
All sounds like something I can really get behind - let us know if you're planning on picking this one up next month.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Madden NFL 10 | Review (Xbox 360)

Since Dom and Joey’s sports prowess is *cough* lacking, they needed my expertise to review the biggest video game of the year, Madden NFL 10. This is a game that I anticipate moments after the NFL season wraps up, scouring the internet, pouring over screenshots, reading every blog I can for any scrap of information of the next installment. This year, my patience, has been rewarded with a very polished and extremely well done product.

Just looking at the cover of the game, gives me something to look forward to; the Madden curse. If you're not familiar, the Madden curse, is the belief that every cover athlete will have a horrendous season or become injured, etc. This year the cover athletes are Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) and Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers), of my two least favorite teams.

From the second you fire up your first game within Madden you will see an instant difference in the presentation of the game and a new level of realism. Games start with an outside shot of the stadium and zoom to fans buying merchandise and concessions within the stadium. The coolest part of the pre-game presentation is showing the star players of the home team with their helmets off, standing for the national anthem while Airforce jets fly over head. They've also added a more realistic broadcast touch by giving a real TV-like sign out at the end of the game.

This year, they've slowed down the pace of the gameplay to make for a more realistic speed for the players, and also make their moves seem more fluid. The biggest feature add in Madden NFL 10 is the Pro-Tak tackling system that causes the player to “fight for every yard”. It just means that instead of the ball carrier just falling down when tackled he will fight to stay up and sometimes even fight off the tackle for more yards. They also added multi-player tackles and players even fight for the ball in the scrum, adding several additional layers to the realism.

The franchise mode is by far the most important aspect of the game for me (yep, I’m an armchair GM). This year’s franchise mode has its ups and downs, but overall I am ok with the finished product. They removed the ability to improve players through weekly drills and instead give every player a potential grade (A-F system), that will determine how good a player can get in their career. Other factors that play a role in play progression are age and how they did the previous season.

Overall (Mashbuttons) I give the game a 9 out of 10. The realism of the game play is above and beyond what I’ve ever seen in any sports game. The franchise mode isn’t great but it’s still really good (but then again I am really picky when it comes to the mode). Finally, the soundtrack is great, including a lot of 80’s rock and even a Slipknot song (big plus with me).

Madden NFL 10 is available now for Xbox 360, Playstion 3 and Wii