Owning the NFL!

Madden has topped itself once again. Being (in my opinion) the most dominating and realistic football game, my expectations for this game were very high. I couldn't believe that they actually could make it better. Well, enough with that talk, let me tell you WHY you must buy it!

If you ask any sports buff what they want in a good video game; they will tell you realism! This game is VERY realistic. Just take a look at any screen shots, the graphics are unbelievable! Show the caps to any grandpa, and he will think it was from an actual game. From realistic looking faces, to actual voices; it looks great.

Not only just the look, but the gameplay. Tackles are now getting more and more towards real life. First off, they look real. If someone dives at you and hits you at a certain angle, you will fall back at the correct angle; and diving at their legs sends them for a flip they will remember! But, the biggest change in tackles is the addition of the hit stick. This changes the flow of the game for sure! The hit stick is using the right analog stick to throw everything you have into a tackle. This is very useful if you miss the deflection of the pass, but try to hit the reciever so hard to cause him to drop it. There are risks involved with this. By throwing your entire body at full force, you lose form. With this loss of form, you may miss, and cause the offense to get some big yards. In my opinion, it is well worth the risk. You could hit someone so hard that they won't get up!

Looking for more realism? Lets talk about offense. Lets say you're watching your favorite team play, and they notice something in the defense that throws them off. They can yell an audible, and change the play accordingly; even if it is just altering a route of a reciever. Now you can too! If you line up and notice a weak coverage on eitehr side, you can adjust a players route using a "hot route." Press triangle, then the recievers icon (X, O, [], /\. etc), then you press the route you want him to do. There are six different routes you can send your reciever on. Pressing UP sends him on a fly, down sends him on a quick curl, left or right sends him on a 10 yard up and out, and L2 or R2 will send him on a quick slant. Talk about seeing something in the defense! Also, another huge upgrade is the ease of switching the sides of the play. Lets say you line up, and the defense stacked the right side, you can easily change the play to the left side by just pressing left on the right analog stick. Now that is being a QB!

Basically everything else has improved as well. It is more difficult to catch/throw passes, as in previous maddens this was far too easy. Running is different. You aren't as "speedy" as before. You go in actual speed burst and dodges, rather then just going the same fast speed the entire time. You can also now lower the shoulder and drive it in, helpful on the goal line.

If there is one thing I like more than offense, it is defense. As I mentioned before, tackling has improved greatly. More realism and the hit stick. But what I haven't mentioned, is the amazing line changes you can make before the snap. You can make numerous line, and coverage audibles, and change defensive assignments with ease!

To change the line or back positions, just press L1 or R1, then the direction you want them to move. You can also control which way the defensive line blitzs. Press L1, then hit the right analog stick in the direction you want them to rush in.

The coverage audibles are amazing! If you see too many recieves line up, or a weak point, this is where it comes in handy. If you are in man, and want to press hard on the recievers, just press Trangle then Down. Everyone in man will then press. Also, if you are expecting a deep pass, give them some room by pressing Triangle and Up. But the feature I happen to like to most, is faking the blitz. By pressing Triangle, then left, almost everyone positions themself to look like they are all rushing in. This really confuses friends! You can also do many more advanced features such as double coverage, changing certain players to blitz, spy, cover flats, etc.

OK I may have some of you to believe me this is a genius of games, but some are still saying "boring." If you think you will get bored, lets just take a look at the main menu:

You can choose; Play Now (Which is an exhibition game), Game Modes (Get into the game!), Features (Edit rosters, create players, and teams), My Madden (Change settings, new strategys), Madden 101 (Learn about the game), and Extras (lots of demos and trailers!).

The most basic is Play Now. You and a friend (or CPU if you have no friends) pick a team, then go heads up! You can load created teams, get secret locked historic teams, and even change the weather and where it is played. This is the most fun for one on one action!

Next we have the best menu in the game, Game Modes. This is where is gets fun! You can play Online, against millions of others player worldwide! If you think you are good, there are many people out there to give you a great challenge!

If online isn't an option, you can invite some freinds over, and setup a tournament. Here you and your friends(up to 16!), select your favorite teams and are bracketed up, and winner takes all!

Now, there is the addition of mini-games. The ever popular "mini camp" is back. There are lots of different drills and situations for you to try to complete. Many different difficulties, making it very strenuous to complete.

If that isn't enough, there are the new "Rushing Attack" and "Two Minute Drill." You can square off against a pal or the computer. Rushing attack is challenging each other in running the ball. You take turns on offense and defense and try to break runs, or be broken! Two minute drill explains itself. Take turns with two minutes on the clock, at the other side of the field, and conserve time to win the game!

Now, there is a reason I saved Franchise for last. This is the most amazing game mode on the Madden games. It is now even better than ever! You can take over and be the manager, owner, coach, GM, and every player on the field. You start by picking a team, or placing your created team into the roster. Then you start before preseason just like real life. You go to camp, and can help up your players abilites by overcomming different strategies. Once camp is over, you start preseason. You can go to practice, and make sure you know all your teams plays prior to starting the game! Go over every single offensive, and defensive play you have, until they get it right!

The newest edition on franchise, is "storyline central." I hate to keep using the word realism, but wow, does this add realism! You can check national and local papers, read e-mail, and even listen to radio shows! The paper has useful information about the entire league, and as well about your team for your own local paper. Of course this is limited, and you will see repeated stories, but it is a start for something amazing! WIth e-mail, you get sent 4-5 new meesages every week from various sources. The Players can ask your questions, the owner can leave remarks, anything you can think of.

Also, the same features in previous Maddens are still here. You can sign, drop, trade, look up stats and info, look at rosters, injury reports, etc. Just like a regular season in the NFL. Also, a mode called "owner's box" has been upgraded.

Here you can track your fan appreciation and support and set prices for everything in the stadium! It is very simplistic, but just lower your prices a few bucks a week can get a lot of fans to support their team! As you go up in the books, the more fans will continue to show up to watch you win.

Franchise is the reason Madden is so popular. It has gotten so much better, and will continue to get better. Going from camp, to super bowl, season after season, being in complete control of everything NEVER gets old!

There are also more features! You can create a player, and team like always, but now you can create a FAN! Do you have a super fan you want to see in your stadium every game? Now you can do it! IN addition to those abilities, you can create your own playbook, edit the NFL rosters, and look up/play with historic teams.

After all this ranting and raving about how amazing this game is, this review would not be complete without CONS.

The one thing they did NOT improve is the comentary. The same phrases repeated over and over again gets old after the very first game. There is even some phrases from previous maddens! I can see they did not focus much time into this aspect so take my advice; turn commentary off!

Also, there is more lag in the game. After a nice play, there may be a two or three second freeze as the replay loads. This can get quite annoying, esspecially if you are like me and do not watch replays. (You can turn them off!)

One other thing that jerked me was the glitches. I don't know if I have just experienced more than usual, but there have been more than a few times when the CPU QB would get stuck, or would freeze until sacked. Also, I do not know how my wide open reciever can drop a pass right to him! And look for some DBs to suddenly change directions and slam the ball down without even seeing it!

Even with these minor errors the game has, this is a PERFECT game. This is the best football game I have ever played, and it will be number one on my list until 2006 is released. I highly suggest at least renting it and trying it out, it will be worth it!