Skill level poll.................

[CrownPrinceBandar]

I recently bought a copy of Madden 2004 for my PC. I have been playing on Rookie level as I really have no idea how to read defenses or which play is in what formation. What I'm finding is that Rookie skill level is almost too easy, and I'm running up high scores in the preseason. However, since its more fun now, I believe I will be more apt to play, and maybe I'll learn something.

When I decided that Rookie was kinda easy, I switched to Pro level. It became several orders of magnitude harder and I am having great difficulty even completing a pass. The higher skill level may help me in the long run, but its really frustrating now.

I was thinking of sticking it out on pro level and hope my game improves, however I would also like to complete the season on Rookie so I can have some fun and play around with some different offenses.

What do you folks think? When you get a new game do you:

[BulletproofLandshark]

1. Turn Down The Sliders

If you adjust the AI sliders, you can reach a happy medium between total domination and soul-crushing futility. I play on pro and keep the AI sliders where they are, but I started by adjusting them to about 25% and
moved back up later.

As for reading defenses in the passing game, the best advice I can give you is to keep an eye on the safeties, particularly if your wideouts are
running deep routes. They'll occasionally come closer to the line of scrimmage to assist in run support or make a move toward the line after the snap (for run defense or the blitz). This will often leave your receivers in single man coverage, and that's when you heave it deep.
I'm sure more experienced players can give you more help, but I hope this info's been useful.

Now, time for me to go play Madden 2005.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

2. The info is great.....................

What I finally decided to do is that I will complete the Rookie season, and run the practices and two-minute drills on Pro. Good compromise, I believe. I knew there was something wrong when Charlie Batch was getting a phenomenal QB rating.

Thanks for the tip on the defenses. During my Pro practice sessions, I began to force myself to watch the defensive line and trust my receivers to run their routes. I am learning about QB "happy feet".

Now if only my D can cover the deep routes a little better.

[DireStrike]

3. I go right for hardest

... most of the time. ;)

I don't on certain games that are of type I haven't played, or games that are almost certainly going to be murderously hard (Silent Hill, Fire Emblem series.)

[Chovexani]

4. I usually start on Normal difficulty

My first playthrough is always on the Normal/Default mode, because especially when it comes to RPGs all the saving/reloading after something kicks my ass breaks the pace of the game and irritates me.

Subsequent playthroughs are when I kick it up a notch. I've finally gotten around to playing Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance for the PS2 on Extreme difficulty with Drizzt and it's a hoot (freaking zombies in the Temple of Ilmater are kicking my ass, LOL). You can play on Extreme mode without Drizzt (I beat the game on it with the Sorceress a couple of times), but I think it's way harder with him because he has limited magic and won't use a bow. I think not using a bow is utter bullshit because hello, he's a ranger and he does use one in the novels, but whatever. :P

I also like to try crazy ass challenges that people cook up, especially on Final Fantasy games. Everyone knows about beating the first one with all white mages and I've done that, but the hardest one I've ever completed was the no sphere-grid, no aeons challenge for FFX. That one was brutal, but fun...it forces you to be really fucking resourceful. :)

[denverbill]

5. Start easy and move up quickly.

Unless it's a game I've played a lot before (like a new version of Civ) I always start out easy.

On Madden, I played a full season at rookie but by the end, every game was an easy win. When I moved up to Pro, I got crushed pretty good. But I'd go into practice mode, pick one play, and run it about 50 times against all different defenses. That makes it easier to figure out when a receiver is about to get open, and helps to practice your skill at watching the pass rush and the receivers at the same time.