Head Coach '09

Ready, Set... Blue eighteen. Red forty seven... HUT, HUT. In a flash players run, catch and lower the boom o­n unsuspecting opponents. But it's not what you expect. This isn't the best selling Madden franchise, it's the second coming of Head Coach. Despite the lackluster debut, Head Coach '09 delivers more action to those who want it, but all the detail you could possibly need.

After the first incarnation of the Head Coach series, there may be a notion that simply making decisions in a video football game may not be much fun. Enter Head Coach '09 to change that perception. According to the developers, the main goal was to make the game fun. Mission accomplished. This game is fun to play, but it's also fun to watch.

Head Coach delivers an intense Franchise styled expereince without the typical user control most console gamers are used to playing, but in a way that is both fun and intense.

Unlike the first version that inundated players with monotonous tasks designed to simulate a coaches week, Head Coach '09 allows players to decide which tasks they handle, which they delegate, and which they ignore all together. No more sitting by the phone for hours, scheduling weekly practices, or working with new coaches unless you want to.The result is a customizable coaching expereince that may satisfy both the casual and the control-freaks alike.

Of the changes, the play editor may be the most impressive. Need that blitzing safety to play a few yards closer? The icon based editor is not o­nly simple to use, but it places the strategic part of the game into the players hands. Players can manipulate any of the game's stock plays as needed at the push of a button.

Don't care to create plays? In addition to the control player have over thier strategy, plays in the editor can be uploaded to the net for others to "borrow," creating a new niche in the community. Plays edited in Head Coach can then be imported in Madden in an effort to allow players more control over their expereince. Not to mention, players have the typical o­n-the-fly adjustments to which they have become accustommed.

For players who have generally found the CPU's management of players lacking in recent football titles, Head Coach's AI is designed to imitate the habits of real teams, their owners, fans, and the media. Make too many bad decisions, and your coaching job may be in jeopardy.

Players are graded based o­n coaching philosophies. Changing coaching philosophies changes the effectiveness of current players o­n the roster, so shifting gears may not be as productive as o­ne may think. The difference places added weight to each decision. It's not advised that you hire that Cover 2 guru as a defensive coordinator when your team is stocked with man coverage defenders.

Decisions made during the season affect your approval rating. Just like in real life, past successes can lengthen your career, but too many boneheaded decisions will have you patting your feet o­n the concrete looking for work. Win and the world loves you, lose and you get the pink slip.

As expected, players begin the game with a decision to start in the 08-09 offseason to redo the draft and sign free-agents, or they can start immediately in Preseason. During the game, players must manage injuries, play calling, adjustments, and game planning against the opponnets biggest threats.

Head Coach will be released with the 20th Anniversary Edition of Madden NFL '09 o­n August 12 and a standalone version will be hits stores o­n September 5th.