Speaking of controls, it pays to be dexterous and have a sharp memory. Madden makes near-obnoxious use of every single button before, during, and after the snap to the point of sensory overload. While it allows for an unprecedented level of depth to maneuver the troops, it'll probably scare off the uninitiated. At least the default settings display a list of what each button does before the play; our poor brains need more time to process everything before we turn that feature off.

Granted, if you can get past the not-so-next-gen visuals, some things will put a smile on your face. Tackling in particular is superb, as an updated Hit Stick lets you go high for the concussive knockout or low to ruin a knee or two. There also seems to be a lot more random, momentum-based takedowns and gang tackles, adding some oomph to the proceedings.

A nifty new feature this season is the usage of Weapon icons for different players. While most of these are just informative to help exploit mismatches, top-shelf players like Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis have a "light bulb" weapon; as it fills up during the game, you can choose to read your opponent's plays at opportune times. Brilliant stuff.

The Dynasty mode is also more fleshed out than ever, allowing would-be Daniel Snyders the ability to micromanage the heck out of a team. Even better, you can play robber baron, courting other cities and threatening to move your club in order to squeeze more out of the local economy. If you play your cards right, you can follow through on your public sports blackmail and plant your flag in one of dozens of NFL-starved cities across North America. Sports capitalism at its best!