Most of what makes the console Madden games so great is here. You have a quick play feature, a Franchise Mode for up to 32 users that allows you to enable a fantasy draft and even turn off the salary cap, minicamp and practice modes. Sadly, you can't create your own NFL player and lead him into the Hall of Fame like in the console versions, but that's understandable given the limitations of the hardware. There is a Superstar Challenge Mode that allows you to relieve great moments from the past, such as pulling off an OT win as cover-boy Brett Favre or completing a comeback as Chargers RB LaDanian Tomlinson, as well as online play via both ad-hoc and infrastructure modes.
Madden NFL 09 for the PSP also features both regular style play and a "rookie" mode that allows one-button access to some of the biggest plays in the game. On top of that, there are four difficulty levels and tons of customization options that allow you to tweak the game to your own liking. The title includes historic teams such as the 1968 Jets, the 1966 Packers and the 1972 undefeated Dolphins, among others. On the whole, its solid football action, though tackling can be unrealistically tough at times, and the loading times can be annoying. The game even tends to hesitate or freeze for a split-second at the end of each play, likely as the game reads information off of the UMD disc.
