Game Reviews for Multiple Platforms

[fredr123]

As most gamers are well aware, Madden 09 will be available tomorrow on all platforms. In anticipation of its release, I tried to read a few reviews of the game for various platforms and encountered a familiar problem: how do you compare different versions of the same game on the various platforms?

Take Madden for example. The PS3 and 360 versions are very similar in appearance and features. The Wii version, dubbed Madden All-Play 09, is not only stripped down visually (duh) but also contains a number of Wii-specific controls and game modes. Intriguing but how does one choose between, say, the PS3 version and the 360? What about the 360 edition versus that found on the Wii? Does an 8.3/10 for the PS3 edition translate equally to an 8.3/10 for the Wii?

All this leads finally to my ultimate question for the CP gamers out there: is there a site or some other method you use in order to compare different versions of the same game on the various platforms? And the corollary: hoow do you choose which version of a game to purchase?

[ernie]

I would just read as many reviews as you can. Many reviewers will mention the differences between the PS3 and 360 versions. IGN seems to consistently add this to their reviews whereas Gamespot seemingly ignores it now.

You may want to consider buying the collector's edition as it comes with NFL Head Coach 09 (won't be released on it's own until September). You can design your own plays with it and export it to Madden 09. The collectors edition is $90, the normal version $60 and the stand alone Head coach will be $50.

[llama64]

MetaCritic: http://www.metacritic.com/games/ is what I use for all my review needs.

As for comparing games on different systems, it usually comes down to whichever system I own wins :P

The Wii game is going to be vastly different from anything else. But the difference between a PS3 game or an Xbox360 game is probably going to be negligible. My standard recommendation these days is to pick the one who's controller you prefer. Feature wise there usually isn't a difference.

[BlackArcher101]

Don't forget about PC! Sadly, EA seems to drop the ball with PC all the time.

[fredr123]

http://www.gamerankings.com/

You can search by genre, platform, date range, number of reviews, etc. Someone just sent the link to me and I haven't really tried it out much so I'll reserve judgment.

[CaptainCrunch]

Normally I would get upset that Madden 09 has been canceled for the PC, but frankly there was no real difference between 07 and 08 in terms of graphics or game play except for lead blocking, so my guess would have been that 09 would have been the same as 08 with shinier helmets or something.

[Russic]

If there's a huge difference you'll hear about it. If a big difference isn't noted in the IGN reviews, then I'd say both versions will be so similar that it just won't matter (360 and ps3). In these instances I'd recommend getting the game for whichever system the majority of your friends have.

I'm not saying IGN has the best reviews, just that if there is a difference they'll note it. If reviews are what you're into, both metacritic and gamerankings should give you a fairly balanced idea.

The difference between ps3 and 360 games has decreased significantly since last year. Right around the time hockey came out, ea seemed to start pulling it together. This round of games should be much more similar.

[Human Torch]

Eurogamer does 360 vs ps3 reviews http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=202449