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Posts with tag Football

Metareview: Madden NFL 09 All-Play

Posted Aug 13th 2008 3:37PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Metareview


This year's Madden NFL 09 All-Play on the Wii has gotten a lot of buzz. The title has tried to cater to the Wii's casual crowd. Yet, it also attempts to keep its hardcore audience and not alienate them with all kinds of casual additions. It's a tough line to toe. Has EA Sports done it?

On to the review scores!
  • Nintendo Power (90/100) is of the mind the game is the sports title to beat on Wii: "So while EA may not have lived up to its marketing directive, it's succeeded in creating quite possibly the best, most fully featured sports sim available on the Wii." [Sept 2008, p.85]
  • IGN (86/100) says it's good, but hardcore gamers might not like some of the changes: "Madden 09 has done a great job of giving every type of player a little to love, but for the Wii-only hardcore out there, you're going to need to realize that times are changing, and Nintendo is synonymous with "everybody" now"
  • GameDaily (80/100) thinks the game is easily recommendable: "Even though it lacks complexity, Madden NFL 09 on the Wii achieves more than enough to earn a recommendation. Its user-friendly controls and various modes will keep you scoring touchdowns well into next season."
  • Games Radar (80/100) believes the game is a solid title: "Even so, Madden NFL 09 All Play is blazing an important trail to reintroduce lost football fans to the franchise. It's an undeniably fun experience that will please many in its target audience, and even includes roster updates and online play. Not to mention we're really starting to like a little waggle with our football. We may be old curmudgeons, but fun is fun, and Madden does a lot more right than not."

Nintendo Channel video updates take a look at Madden NFL 09

Posted Aug 4th 2008 7:23PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, Interviews, Video


We're excited about Madden NFL 09. Oh no, sports on a game blog, run! But, in all seriousness, this year's Madden NFL 09 looks like it's going to be a solid title and unique from the other versions available. Plus, the All-Play stuff looks fun. If the video up top tickles your fancy, then the one past the break is going to blow you away.

Also, check out the latest video updates to the Nintendo Channel tucked away back there as well.

Continue reading Nintendo Channel video updates take a look at Madden NFL 09

Battle college football mascots in EA's All-Play

Posted Jul 10th 2008 11:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Video


If you enjoy football games but aren't into the NCAA, it looks like NCAA Football 09 might still have something entertaining to offer. Granted, it's the silliest of features -- and rather pointless, in the grand scheme of things -- but we'll be the first to say that watching teams of mascots throwing the old pigskin made us smile. Where else can you play football as a team full of elephants?

Of course, if you do like college football, this is just an added bonus. Interested parties can NCAA Football 09 All-Play to release next week on the 15th in North America.

FIFA 09 screens are goal-eriffic

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 11:45AM by Phil Larsen
Filed under: News, Screens


Remember that whole thing about Mii versions of your favorite soccer stars? Lo and behold, we've come across the first images for FIFA 09, and it's looking pretty fast-kickingly good. Ronaldhino (the guy who clearly uses special effects and isn't really that good) and Wayne Rooney head up the cast of for Footii Match mode.

The graphics look great, to be completely honest. FIFA 09 on the Wii will never be the best-looking version, but it includes the full simulation of regular FIFA gameplay along with the arcade-style modes. Since Wii owners are very accustomed to Mii characters by now, there's every reason to add light-hearted gameplay into the mix. If it's as good as Mario Strikers: Charged, then we're looking at a winner.

Gallery: FIFA 09

FIFA 09 wants to score so badly

Posted Jul 1st 2008 12:30PM by Phil Larsen
Filed under: News


EA knows that football soccer is a somewhat popular sport. Maybe not as popular as curling, but it does its best to fit in. On account of the FIFA series being super popular, EA has revealed just how hard they worked to create each version of FIFA 09. Instead of just a simple Wii port with waggle additions, Andrew Wilson of EA says they "have innovated features, created new modes and designed controls that are tailored to each specific platform."

FIFA 09 is part of the recently revealed All-Play series, used to market EA's line of Wii sports games. It will feature a standard 11 vs. 11 simulation mode (with "refined motion and point-and-play controls"), and the 8 vs. 8 Footii Match mode. Footii Match is an arcade-style mode featuring Mii versions of various soccer stars (like Ariaga, Ariaga 2, Bariaga, Aruglia and Pizzoza) and the gameplay will be fast and furious -- similar to the recent Madden trailers.

The All-Play series has really put the Wii where it needs to be when it comes to sports games. After a little bit more research, we discovered soccer is a little more popular than originally thought (somewhere in the vicinity of Most. Popular. Game. Ever), so EA is on the right track by giving it the specialized attention it needs.

[Via press release]

Big Beach Sports looks more like big bore sports

Posted Jun 20th 2008 9:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Screens

With all the multi-sport games on the market for the Wii, we haven't really kept tabs on THQ's rendition, Big Beach Sports. Since the software is releasing next week for the budget price of $29.99, though, it's time to give it a closer inspection.

Looking at these new screens, we have to say -- ignoring it seems like the right choice. Perhaps we're being a little harsh, but that's why we're paid the big bucks, after all. We can see that the developers were aiming for "cute," but might have gotten a bit closer to "ew ew ew."

We're not ones to nitpick about graphics if the gameplay is fun, yet performing things like "the bump" with the Wiimote seem too tedious to be a good time. Perhaps the oversaturated mini-sports market has made us too cynical, and hopefully we'll be proven wrong. Yet, for now, we'll file this game under "mehware."

Gallery: Big Beach Sports


[Via press release]

Tecmo Bowl soon breaking tackles on Wii

Posted May 29th 2008 11:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News


For this blogger, sports is a big part of life. The competition, the stats and the camaraderie of sports is one that will never leave this blogger's life. And, being a huge game nerd, the love of sports and games both played a big part in developing the individual typing out this post in both Tecmo Bowl and Super Tecmo Bowl. Seriously, you have no idea how many hours were dumped into those games ...

And now, like a lost puppy finding its way home, the franchise returns to Nintendo consoles. We don't have any information other than a confirmation from Tecmo that the franchise is coming to Wii, but we're pretty sure it'll be branded the same as the new DS game.

Blitz: The League, Game Party sequels coming

Posted Apr 19th 2008 12:00PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News


Midway has announced that Blitz: The League 2, sequel to their totally extreme football game, will release simultaneously on all three home consoles this fall (we're guessing it'll be right in time to get lost among all the holiday releases). What about the first game, which was supposed to be a Wii launch title? Saaaaaaaacked. Midway also announced a sequel to Game Party. They must have made back the twenty bucks they spent developing the first one.

No details have been revealed about either game -- Midway is planning to release more information about their entire lineup at E3. We at least know what to expect from Game Party 2: an average minigame collection that will generate inexplicably high sales.

Sacre bleu! French soccer team banned from Wii

Posted Mar 10th 2008 8:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: Fan stuff

French national football soccer team coach Raymond Domenech is a strange one. A keen astrologer who shies from picking Scorpios for his squad (apparently, he "doesn't trust them"), Domenech has now banned his players from playing on the Wii. We like to think that Raymond is a regular Wii Fanboy reader, and has read up on previous Wii-related injuries! We're probably being overly hopeful.

Anyway, the French side is due to take part in the European Championships this summer (read: a big deal), so clearly Domenech wants to give his team every possible edge. Rubbish old England failed to qualify, of course, so they're welcome to play all the Wii they want. Silver linings and all that, eh chaps?

[Via Go Nintendo]

Big Beach Sports ... better than little beach sports?

Posted Feb 26th 2008 8:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News


THQ is going Wii crazy. Not only is the publisher responsible for bringing aliens, bands, deadly creatures, worms, blobs, and more to our Wiis, but now beach sports, too.

If you've ever had the urge to play beach games like bocce or cricket without actually going to the beach, consider yourself lucky. Big Beach Sports will feature those and others, including football, soccer, volleyball, and Frisbee golf. This THQ title will include single-player tournaments for the different sports, and also let you get your multiplayer groove going with up to three more people. Since the press release made no mention of online play, though, we'll have to assume for now that the game won't have any.

Will this summer release be a good beach adaptation of Wii Sports? We can't be sure, although at the very least, Americans might finally be able to find out what the heck is going on in cricket.

[Via press release]

Down on the pitch with the latest Winning Eleven screens

Posted Jan 22nd 2008 3:00PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Screens


We've been treated to loads of video from the Wii version of Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, but not so much with the screens. As mystifying as this would normally be -- since it's usually the opposite! -- when considering the effort that's been put into building the game for the Wii controls and platform, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Doesn't mean we didn't want to see some screens, though, and now we've got a fresh set, which we've tucked away in a gallery just for you.

Gallery: Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

Fresh Winning Eleven info emerges from the tunnel

Posted Jan 17th 2008 7:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News



As we have previously discussed, the Wii version of Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 will be a very different game from the version that appeared on other consoles (and we're not just referring to the Wii-specific logo above). Is that a good or bad thing? We'll know soon enough, because Konami has announced that the game will be out in March.

Scouring today's press release, we also learned about a random bunch of other features that are exclusive to the Wii edition. These include the ability to fashion a squad of 16 pre-defined Miis, a "Champions Road" mode that sees you building a team from the opponents you defeat (similar to the "Gacha-get" mode in the DS version), and the way in which sliding tackles can be executed and 'keepers brought out with a shake of the Nunchuk.

Oh, and it will have full online play, but if the online support is anything like other versions of the game, expect it to be absolutely lagtastic.

[Via press release]

New Winning Eleven footage shows off Wii controls

Posted Jan 7th 2008 5:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: Video



To those of us reared on playing Winning Eleven games with d-pads and/or analog sticks, the Wii version of Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 has the potential to be a slightly unsettling experience. As the video above shows, pointing your cursor to pass actually looks very natural and fluid, but we're also hoping this doesn't make Winning Eleven on the Wii too simplistic. The series has long been defined by the subtlety of its gameplay, and while greater immediacy would potentially draw in new fans, learning how to master each new game in the series is one of its biggest attractions.

We're remaining positive though, if only because series creator Shingo "Seabass" Takatsuka has repeatedly demonstrated that he knows more than most people about producing superb soccer games. Here's hoping he nails this one.

Bowl organizers pick up Wii for college athletes

Posted Dec 20th 2007 8:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

If you've been out on the street like some kind of gumshoe, tracking down leads and putting in face time with store manager after store manager as you hunt down that Wii that certain someone in your life is looking for, you might have someone besides Nintendo to be angry with. Bowl officials responsible for the upcoming college bowl games (championship games) managed to snatch up tons of Wiis as a gift to those participating in these games. It's apparently some kind of effort to promote their games over others.

Three of the national championship games will award participants from the schools with Nintendo's latest console. That comes to about 750 total consoles being gifted. That's no small number to scoff at, if we may say so.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Wii Fit gameplay makes us sweat just watching it

Posted Dec 6th 2007 8:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Video

Josh from WiiFolder.com took the time show us his large HDTV some Wii Fit games in action, and we have to say, the game looks promising.

A few of the games definitely won't help you drop those love handles (at least we don't think so, but since we got A's in gym class so you can pretty much count that as an expert opinion). Nonetheless, they still look fun, and we're glad we won't have to go to the zoo anymore to get our "kicking Panda heads" fix.

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