This may be the first time football is fun on the go, but the game feels incomplete at some points.
Gameplay: The game plays well. Playing a single game or a season is actually fun. There's also a 5 on 5 mode, where the first team to 5 touchdowns wins, no first downs, no special teams. But that's it, there are no local or online Multiplayer modes. There isn't even a Franchise mode. Yet besides that, the game is truly good. Passes are thrown like most of these Quarterbacks would throw it. Not behind the target and usually right on the money. Running the ball isn't broken either. So, I give the gameplay a 5/10, Multiplayer and Franchise really would helped out here.
Graphics: Believe it or not, this is where this game shines. Although the players look like the cartoony ones from the Wii, they still feel better than an attempt at PS3 graphics. Also, I absolutely love how the loading screen is of the stadium you're playing at with fans flocking in, in full 3D. The graphics really are a huge step forward for portable football. 9/10.
Soundtrack: Again, a huge step forward. Chris sounds really well for once, though you might need a pair of headphones. The commentation isn't just a handful of generic phrases, so much so that you could probably go through a game or two without hearing a single repeat. The menu music isn't bad either, with more contemporary tracks and all last at least 3 minutes, more than long enough to pick a game mode. 7.5/10.
Verdict and closing thoughts: Madden NFL Football is by no means a bad game, but it merely suffers from Launch Game Syndrome, and is lacking some key content. For a bit of football on the go, the game's great. To immerse yourself in a football team? Not so much.
My bottom line, fans of football should try and get this discounted, used or maybe even wait around for (hopefully) Madden 12 on the 3DS. If you don't like football... um, yeah.