By all accounts, Madden NFL 06 is the most realistic, most feature-packed football video game ever produced. Yet, for the first time, the series is taking some flak from gamers who recognize 90% of the 06 edition as last year's most realistic, most feature-packed football video game ever produced.
Jump the shark, anyone? (Probably not, because I expect a leap of a different kind when Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 come out.)
Due to exclusivity rights, this is the first year the Madden franchise has no competition from other titles featuring real NFL teams and players. And, to a degree, it shows. The new features are uninspiring. And, knowing that most customers own previous versions, developers should feel more obligated to replace old and unpopular features with new ones.
Still, if you're an NFL nut like me, a charter member of the Madden cult who buys only a few new titles a year, it's must-have. They could picture Carrot Top masturbating on the cover, give the Giants a 24 rating and make Richard Simmons one of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and I'd still buy it.
My thoughts on the new stuff:
• QB Vision Control: The most-hyped new aspect of the game, and no one's really sure why we needed it or if it even makes the game better. Didn't we already have accuracy ratings? Wasn't it already hard to complete passes if the QB wasn't set and facing the intended receiver? Now you have to drop back 20 yards to have time to check off a couple of times. How's that realistic?
• QB Precision Placement: Allows you to lead receivers, throw high, low to to inside or outside shoulders. I'll get back to you in six months when I get this to work.
• Truck Stick: I never understood why they took away a runner's option to lower his shoulder in the first place. That and the high step.
• NFL Superstar Mode: Well, I created a Giants No. 23 running back named Paul Katcher last year, so I don't know how this is much of an addition unless you count answering 30 phone calls from Terrell Davis and being signed by agent Jason Morales who "will take anyone at this point" progress.
Other thoughts:
• The worst part of the Madden franchise is Madden himself. How can this thing gross more than a Hollywood blockbuster and we still have to listen to stupid analysis like, "Tell your line to protect here. Tell your line to protect every play, not just here."
• You know what would be better? Maguire NFL 07. I'm a tell ya what, that would be a hilarious game. Get Mike Patrick to gush over offensive linemen that cleared the way for a three-yard stumble and Joe Theismann to offer such analysis as, "If the Broncos want to win this game, they're gonna have to prevent Peyton Manning from throwing five touchdowns again."
• Madden cards. Is there a more ignored feature in the history of video games? Do the EA Sports interns get assigned updating this crap every spring? Is there a $1 bet between EA Sports execs (a la Randolph and Mortimer Duke) to see if someone will be the first person to ever use the Couch Potato card?
• Is there anything more annoying than getting called for a 5-yard offsides penalty because your fat defensive lineman can't get back across the line in time for a hurry-up play?
• Almost nobody likes the new QB Vision Control. Yet, almost nobody turns it off in the gameplay settings. Shows you what kind of sheep we are.
• Nice to see that fumbling on 95% of punt returns is gone. How much in-house testing did Madden 2005 get? Like two series?
• Sacks all, folks. I've spent more time on my back in 06 than a sorority pledge with a drinking problem.
• If anyone can send me visual proof of an end around gaining positive yards — hell, even better than minus-5 — I'll add you to my will.
Madden NFL 06 Links:
• Metacritic.com Reviews — An aggregate of ratings and links to reviews by major video game media sources.
• All 32 Team Ratings — How the teams have been ranked in Madden, on a score fromm 1-100 in offense (Indianapolis 99/Cleveland 62), defense (New England 96/Cleveland 60) and overall (New England 97/Cleveland 61).
• Custom Box Covers — I don't know what's worse. Being a Cleveland fan and not seeing any options for your team, or being a fan of this listed squad: "Cincinntti Bengals."
• Team Rosters and Player Ratings — How in the world is Jeremy Shockey (93) a better tight end than Tiki Barber (92) is a running back?
• Madden 06 Strategy Discussion — Good, busy forum, with helpful tips.
You already read what I thought about the game after getting it last Tuesday and many of my complaints haven't changed since then.. I still can't look off receivers worth a damn but 5% of the time I "get it" and I'm unstoppable (for about 3 plays, haha). Thanks to Precision Passing, I'm overthrowing my receivers by 15 yards, but I'm also playing with Kerry Collins, so maybe that's just the game being realistic. The truck stick slows the RB down and only works well for some RBs. With Jamal Lewis, you can truck stick your way over the entire defense but with Edgerrin James, you'll be on your back.
All that said, 2006 is growing on me. I love the realism; I just hate how bad I am at the game. I don't think I've started a Madden game out by trying to master the Pro level in a loooong time. The learning curve on this one is so steep that I think a lot of people will give up on it before they get anywhere but from what I've read, that seems to be the effect the Madden people were going for. Apparently, 2006 is for the serious Madden fan, not casual ones.
Posted by Flash12 at August 15, 2005 1:18 PM