Everyone's favorite sports title is back and ready for another season.

The biggest game of the summer returns for another year of hard-hitting action on all major platforms. EA once again brings to you the one and only pro football game on the market thanks to some fancy licensing buyouts. Will gamers be happy for the next few years with one choice? Will next generation fans be pleased with the efforts put forth by EA Tiburon to move the series forward with the technological advances? Is there enough added and tweaked this year that merits current gen fans to run out day one and pick this up? The answers to all of these questions are a very definite YES. Of course there are two question marks for the rest of you; "is if there is a radical difference between last years current gen version and this years?", and "is the next generation version all it could be?", and the answer to both of those questions is a not really. That being said, ready or not the only question remains is... Are you ready for some football?

We will begin with the Xbox 360 version as it was the obviously a system launch rush job last season. Has EA redeemed themselves with a more complete package? Sort of. Yes the game looks incredible and is arguably the best-looking football to date. The player models still look as if they are on the juice, the player faces still are not 100 percent representative of the actual players, the ESPN presentation, half time shows, screen wipes, or any TV style presentation is still lacking, and there still is no owner's mode!

On the bright side, everything else is intact and coming along at a fantastic pace. The stadiums are remarkably recreated with live crowd action in the stands, real time lighting, and great weather and field degradation effects. Online play is as solid as ever with tournaments, great one on one game play, and downloadable content. You have a few additional options to go along with thesingle player season, including a better franchise mode and the exceptional Superstar Mode or aptly named Hall of Fame Mode. The latter is worth the most mentioning because of the differences between the current gen and next gen versions. Gone are the silly movie rolls and crazy off field, unrealistic goals. You are a player trying to reach the pinnacle of football greatness, the hall of fame. You begin by choosing your parents, who, depending on their skills and IQ, will determine your position and possible greatness, so choose wisely. Next, you must conduct some grueling mini camp events, interviews, and IQ tests in order to impress teams and hopefully be drafted to a team where you can make the biggest impact. Once drafted, you begin your journey by honing your skill with practices that will influence your game-to-game performance for yourself and your teammates. The game play is very close to traditional with the exception of a cool third person over the should camera for your particular position. Another feature worth mentioning in this mode is that you only play in downs you are involved in. If you are a running back, you only play on the downs you run in, which means you do not have to pass the ball, play defense or kickoff. You are literally that guy and watch in a super fast forward motion of the events that take place while you are not on the field. You may choose to play all downs and take hold of the controls if you wish, but that kind of takes away from the fantasy.

Madden on the 360 plays every bit as solid as last years game, even though I still don't quite feel the momentum engine kicking in this season. The new lead blocker control makes running easier, and the passing game and other controls have been tweaked tighter and are more responsive. The A.I. is as tough as you need it to be, with multiple difficulty settings and sliders to adjust your skill level. A new kicking meter allows you to use the right analog stick for kickoffs, punts, and field goals and makes you wonder what took them so long, as it feels so natural. Lastly, you can finally challenge a blown play on the field. While still not as accurate as I would like to see, it is finally here this year.

It's another year for EA and another year of poorly used ESPN licensing. The presentation is shoddy because you are still stuck with the EA radio announcer, with no Madden and Michaels or even ESPN broadcasters present. No ESPN post, pre, or half time shows. No ESPN replay features, overlays, or screen wipes. The only ESPN in this game is the real time ticker you get when you log on with your GamerTag. Way to utilize that license people! Even without the Owner's mode, the next generation version of Madden still offers enough in terms of visuals, game play, and options to satisfy any fan of the gridiron. Toss in those addictive achievement points and cool Madden Gamer Level option and you have a very solid sophomore year for EA and company.

Current gen fans have the same great Madden in a shiny new package. Sure, the majority of the game is untouched, but as the old saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it! What you can expect is some new presentation screen wipes, replay options, and player progress overlays. The new kicking meter makes it way onto current generation, providing a ton of more control and consistency with the kicking game. The Lead Blocker Control feature is also implemented in current generation as well. In franchise mode, you can expect additions like an all-new NFL scouting system and College All Star Game. You can even watch players around the NFL impact their teams with the Franchise Player Roles feature. What gamers really come to see year in and year out is the online play and it is back and ready for you to climb the leader board and take on your biggest rivals anywhere in the country.

As we watch the current gen engine fade into the stratosphere, will EA truly deliver the most comprehensive football title known to man for the next generation gamers? I guess we will have to see what the team has in store next season as they not only will have to please Xbox 360 fans, but the soon-to-be rabid PS3 fans as well. For this year, it is another solid year of football gaming with enough lasting appeal to get you by 'til next season's opener.