I downloaded the Madden NFL 09 demo from the Marketplace and the first thing you have to do, is take the Madden IQ test...
It's not a typical IQ test, not at all; it's simply a series of 'drills' (on a funky techno-pitch with Tron-like players
) which test your Madden Skills in the four 'main' areas of the game.
Each 'Skill' is divided into four 'Ranks' (Rookie, Pro, All-Pro, All-Madden) and these 'Ranks' are further divided into five 'Levels' (1-5); so, in total, there are twenty 'points' for each of the four 'main' areas of the game, and they are represented by a Rank and Level.
e.g.
A skill rating of 2/20 points is Rookie Level 2.
...9/20 points is Pro Level 4.
...11/20 points is All-Pro Level 1
...20/20 points is All-Madden Level 5.
Rush Offence
You must defeat the oncoming defenders, and score. Each defender can only be beaten by performing a specific move; only that one move will get you past them.
The move (relevant button icon) is displayed above the defenders head.
It starts off with one defender, who's button icon can be seen well in advance, and gradually it becomes more and more difficult, so that there ends up being a flood of defenders to beat and their icons don't appear until the last second...
...not a very fair way to determine your 'Rush Offence Skill Level', in my opinion (there's no need to read a defender and one button is guaranteed to beat him (it isn't in-game, obviously :brow:). This 'skill' should've been tested in a drill something like the rush drills in Boot Camp (in any of the previous Madden games), in my opinion.
Still, I owned this one, and ended up with an All-Madden Level 3 rating (18/20).
Pass Offence
You must read the defence and throw to your receiver.
At first, you're shown the target receiver, the defence is weak and it's
too easy to get the ball to your receiver. It becomes gradually more and more difficult, and the target route is no longer displayed, neither are the receiver icons. You need to read and react to the defence and time your throws to perfection...
...not easy! At all!! But it's a fair way to test your skills in this aspect of the game, I think.
I'm quite proud of my All-Pro Level 4 (14/20) rating!
Rush Defence
You must tackle the opposing Half Back. Only one defensive 'action' can bring him down; let him have it!
As with Rush Offence, the move (relevant button icon) that will bring down the Half Back is displayed above his head.
It starts off farily easily, with the button icon appearing over the head of the opposing HB in good time for you to read it, get to him, and perform that move.
As you on, the HB will have more (and more effective) blockers, and the button icon will appear when you're closer to him...
...it's not as easy as it sounds! I don't think it's a fair way to assess your Rush Defence skills, either, because you wouldn't be limited to just one move in the game, so chasing him down and making the tackle (any tackle) would be sufficient. This 'skill' should've been tested in a drill something like the rush drills in Boot Camp (in any of the previous Madden games), in my opinion.
Maybe I'm just sore because I failed miserabley at this. Even when I did get to the defender
and use the correct move (I'm not quite familiar with the Xbo 360 controls yet, so even doing that was a chore), either my timing was slightly off and I missed, or the HB would just palm me into the turf. My defender was still pulling the grass out of his facemask in the next drill.
I scored a pathetic Rookie Level 2 (2/20) for this. For shame. Have mercy on my soul.
Pass Defence
Prevent the opposing Quarter Back from completing a pass; by slamming him into the floor (sacking him) before he can get the pass away, or by preventing the Wide Receivers from catching the ball (if you allow him to get his pass off).
As this starts, the QB isn't well protected, and the WR routes are shown. As it progresses, the QB has more and more protection, and the WR routes aren't shown (so you have to react to them in real time)...
...it's difficult to get to the QB to make a sack, so you're forced to make the play with your CB, SS or FS, most of the time. It's a pretty fair way to test your defensive 'skills', though.
I never got anywhere near the QB, so I was forced to have to beat the WR to the ball, which isn't easy. I liked the split second slow-mo which initiates when the QB throws the ball, it gives you time to switch control to the Corner Back, to give you a better chance of making the play. It didn't help me enough, though.
I scored a dismal Pro Level 1 (6/20).
Summary
Rush Offence - All-Madden Level 3 (18/20)
Pass Offence - All-Pro Level 4 (14/20)
Rush Defence - Rookie Level 2 (2/20)
Pass Offence - Pro Level 1 (6/20)
I'm shocked at my offensive scores - I've always been brilliant at rushing (despite this not really being a fair test of rushing ability), but I consider passing to be my weakness...
I'm disappointed at my defensive scores - I expected to do better; defence is my forte (or it has been, in previous years)!
Discuss
Has anyone else taken the IQ Test? What did you think? How did you do?
Phenom