Perhaps the most notable feature for newcomers to the football sports genre is the inclusion of a "Football 101" mode of play. This is essentially a practice mode, but with commentary from John Madden which informs the player of the ins and outs of each play. Neophytes should be able to spend an hour or two with this mode and learn the basics of what play to run in a given situation -- play-calling is absolutely essential to success in football and so this knowledge can be a considerable advantage.

Also unique to the console versions this year is the inclusion of "Madden cards". Points are earned throughout gameplay for completing different milestones (complete five consecutive passes, run for two touchdowns with one player and so on) and these can be redeemed for Madden cards which in turn can be redeemed during gameplay to gain an edge on your opponent. It could be argued that these detract from the realism of the game but of course nothing forces the players to use the cards, and so we consider them to be a welcome feature in their second year of inclusion.

The last major new feature this year is the addition of a "Mini-camp" mode of play. This is basically a souped-up practice mode which requires the player to complete certain challenges in every aspect of the game. Madden cards can be won by achieving a gold medal in the practice drill (medals are awarded depending on how well you completed the goal) and also by completing the challenge in a real-game situation.