In recent years, the Madden franchise has struggled to come up with "new" features to entice Madden fanatics to purchase the latest version even if they have the previous ones. To be sure, many of them do buy the newest Madden religiously, but the sales numbers are in decline overall.

Hence, this year's "big huge brand new features and breakthroughs" include a new tackling system, some online features and a new TV-like show called the Extra Point.

In truth, none of new stuff is particularly "big huge" nor "breakthrough-ish," though the new tackling system – dubbed Pro-Tak - now allows you to hold up the ball carrier and wait for your teammates - up to nine of them - to pile on and gang tackle the poor dude, and that's cool. The offensive counter to this, meanwhile, allows you to push a defender backwards to gain those crucial extra yards; also cool.

If you're really lucky, you'll get a referee cut-scene where they have to measure the ball, or discuss the placement - how "in the game" is that? Too much "in" as it turns out, as you cannot skip these little ref segues and they get ridiculously annoying after, say, the second time you see it.

Meanwhile, new online features include an online franchise mode that allows you and up to 31 friends to play against one another in an online league.

A new online co-op mode, as the name suggests, has you and a buddy teaming up against the computer - but it's a better mode in theory than execution. If you happen to be the second player, you're basically just along for the ride, you have no choice over plays called, audibles, timeouts... basically, you're left at the mercy of the "host." It's even worse if you are just looking to get into a game with a random person and that person doesn't have a mic.

Speaking of aggravation, EA's apparent new mandate to gouge its paying customs is gloriously apparent in Madden 10. It's no longer enough to be seasoned, loyal, faithful, hardcore Madden player, or just an average dupe willing to pay $60 year after year for a football game born terminal, obsolete in a year but played for 5000 hours until then.

No, dupes, you're not considered an elite player no matter how many hours you log, games you win, trophies you earn; skilled or no, you need to pay EA an extra five bucks for "Elite Status," a badge of honor/sucker which will net you access to exclusive VIP lobbies and leaderboards, plus an Elite gametype featuring "All-Madden difficulty level... tuned exclusively for the hardcore." Get it? Simply paying sixty bucks every year doesn't cut it anymore, living the no-life, logging gobs of gameplay hours, getting looks of pity from normal people, all for naught. You're softcore, dude. But for $5, EA will make you a star. What a joke.

Having said all that, where it counts, on the field, Madden is still Madden and its gameplay is second to none as a sports game - not to mention an NFL football game, of which there are none to be second to, because EA is the only company licensed to make them... Still, the action on the gridiron is clear and crisp. Crowds and related window dressings remain substandard, but you're not really looking at the crowd while you're playing. When you're in it for the game, players move like they should, AI has been improved, and the nitty gritty is nice and gritty.

Overall, just a great football game, as always. If you're one of the aforementioned loyalists or suckers, it's worth your $60. Again.

However, if you're just a regular NFL fan looking to buy a football game, you do need to consider Madden's continue legacy of offering the same old same old with few dollops of new splashed in there.

Over last year's Madden NFL 09 – other then Michael Vick's reappearance after missing last year's roster BECAUSE HE WAS IN JAIL - the only real thing to pique your interest for Madden 10 is probably the online franchise mode, where you can gather all your friends and rivals, family members and their dog scattered across the continent, and play together in one big happy league.

Just remember, no matter what you think or how well you actually play, none of you are really hardcore - or "elite" - until you cough up those extra five bucks. Turn your head.