Haven’t bought it yet, but the Favre roster update alone might be enough to justify the purchase.

The gameplay is more or less the same except that the ratings have been stretched so that the actually on the field play is MUCH more true to real life. Instead of the video game football problem of some linebacker with 85 chasing down your 95 speed WR, your WR has 93 speed and the LB now has 72 speed. They also changed the logic parameters so that Accelaration actually has influence now instead of being seemingly meaningless.

They added more QB stats so a guy like Tarvaris cant throw the deep ball as well. QB’s can no longer just throw back across their body as well. More lame duck passes too. With the new ratings too you’ll find that your QB will actually overthrow, underthrow or flat out miss his recievers more often. True to real life.

The running game feels slowed down.

Overall, i like the changes.

players move like you would expect them to move in real life… not quick and herky-jerky at the flick of the analog stick like they used to. The Pro-Tak system is AWESOME too. Love seeing those big gang tackles and I also enjoy fighting for the ball at the bottom of a pile during the fumble.

Much more realistic version this year. Most improved version in a LOOOOONG time. (Maybe since the jump from PS to PS2 [Madden 01])

The tackling is spot on and although the running game takes some getting use to its better as well. Also when the QB releases the ball it doesn’t jump out of his hand, it seems to come off the fingers more making it more realistic.
The price hike sucks though. It’s $69.99 in Canada. With tax $79.09! I almost pucked. I walked out of the first store thinking it was a price goudge and soon realized it was the same everywhere(In Southern Ontario).

Simple solution, don’t buy the extra stuff.

Changed the rating system. If you are great your rating reflects it. If you are average your rating reflects it. I must say I was annoyed that Madieu Williams was as low as he is. Figured he was more respected than that.

The Jets knew Favre was hurt last year, but elected to play him anyway. Clemens isn’t good and neither is anyone else they had at QB. So they rolled the dice and lost.

Mangini could have put someone else in if he wanted to, he is the coach and Brett wasent holding a knife to his throat.