Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Yep... I said it. Everyone seems to have the same ideas and views that I've been saying for years now. I think one of the other reviewers put it best: "Buying Madden every year is like getting a new calendar - yeah, technically it's 'different', but in the end..." well, you get the point. This review is a little long, but since I don't think I'll be doing another one for ANY EA title anymore - as I won't be buying them - I wanted to cover everything that I could think of, in case anyone is (like me) a longtime player and customer.
EA has effectively eliminated all competition by purchasing the NFL license - no need to push the envelope by putting out innovative and fun quality products now. Hell, they're bold enough now to even take Madden out of the 'Madden', so why are some surprised that other features are gone?? (RIP 2K Series... you were the best) But who's really to blame - the companies, who obviously are in this to make $$$ (and doing a good job), or the fools out there in line at midnight (saw it on the news - how retarded is that??) throwing all that $$$ away every summer? Me - I hate everybody in this equation equally...
I really wanted to like this game. I REALLY did... In the end, I think I received it in the best possible fashion - got it as a gift. Just can't see paying $60 for roster updates - that's essentially what this amounts to. Yeah, it's supposedly better than last year's version (which I hadn't played on the 360), but it's now just as good as MAYBE '05 on the regular XBOX. Why are we settling for moving backwards - ESPECIALLY when we're talking about the 360? Why are we so excited over possibly getting to a point that WE WERE AT 4 YEARS AGO? (Use the gas-price analogy if it helps you understand why so many people are pissed: You get excited now when you see gas prices at $2.25-$2.50, even though you were using the same or better quality gas for $1.10 or less a few years ago. Same general principle here...) Because people b***h and moan, but EA can count on them to be in line at GameStop or WalMart on release day, with hard-earned money in hand, hoping they won't be disappointed this year. PRAYING that THIS is indeed the year. No. EA knows this. (Yeah I can talk - I stopped purchasing Madden in '03 when I realized that they were more interested in that little "#1 Selling Football Franchise" tag in the corner of the game box than in keeping their customers satisfied.)
Overall, the graphics are nice - decent is maybe more accurate. I play this on my 62" HDTV... the perfect setup for those sports nights - this game just seems to fall a little short to me. Even my wife said, "This doesn't look like it's by the same people that did the boxing game." (Fight Night Round 3, which we love - the only thing keeping EA afloat as far as I'm concerned) Don't get me wrong - it's not the worse game by any means. (I disagree with the review that said it was like Gameday '99 - that's a little extreme.) I don't need the jerseys to get dirty, or care if I can actually see the field get torn up as I play... it would be NICE, definitely. Don't know why we CAN'T have that, but anyway... There was some detail put into the movement of the faces and all - I can see the effort there. Whoever said that these were spot-on, accurate representations of the real NFL players must have been smoking something highly illegal. These are detailed faces indeed, but of very ugly people. Cracks me up, actually... and why is everybody ridiculously cut on this game? My punter is the same size as my LB?? Is Balco in on this game too? I'm willing to deal with mutant players and the lack of certain other details. I don't think we should have to settle for average overall games though, especially with a title as established as Madden. Definitely expecting more from a system that's supposedly more powerful than any home computer you can get.
Gameplay is familiar; same running patterns, with a few new animations - still choppy and unrealistic, even on the "mighty" 360. Who do I have to talk to about getting some gang tackling on here?? Jesus... it's 2007 - this should've BEEN a part of Madden by now. ...but I digress. Button configurations are overly-complicated... the menu interface is probably more confusing than it needs to be, but you kinda get used to it. (much like a rash) Camera views, particularly in the Superstar Mode, are absolutely horrific. As a QB, you can't see a damn thing on either of the sidelines. I guess it's still a decent idea, but I much rather play the Superstar Mode from last year on the XBox - who really thought that giving players the ability to play as an OL was the one element that was missing from the series, seriously?? The idea of only controlling your 'Superstar' annoys me... I guess it is realistic in the sense that you only control YOU in real life, but in a video game? Nah... I'd still at least like the option to control the entire team on offense and defense. Glitches? The Fatigue button is a joke, and doesn't work realistically. (I mean seriously doesn't work - to the point where there's a patch in the works to fix this.) Why is such a hyped product still having MAJOR glitches before release, and still being rushed into stores?? Another thing - I unlock a Mr. Barry Sanders... not bad. But why does he automatically end up on another team (in this case, the Panthers) throughout the course of my Franchise? You have absolutely NO SAY in what happens. I don't like that. Again, this isht should be ironed out before the final product is released. I'm not a fan of patches and quick-fixes - you get enough of that dealing with a computer.
Gameplay interface still allows for ridiculous ease: beat the CPU 87-3 on All-Madden, my Bears (87 points??) against Indy with 5 min quarters. (Of course, an 80+ point deficit in the 4th quarter didn't deter the Colts from ONSIDE KICKING after their sad field goal... why does this STILL happen on every Madden game?!?!) First time playing - nothing new there. All of the little gimicks and everything wear out their welcome by game number 4, because at that point you've seen every (and I mean EVERY) item and animation this game has to offer. Remember 2K4 and 2K5, when you still found new stuff, or heard new commentary/saw new animations like 9-10 months later? Yeah, me too... (sniff) Another gripe of mine (maybe small to some) is the music and commentary. I know NO ONE, even die-hard Maddenites, could say with a straight face that Madden's painfully obvious play-by-play could be mentioned in the same breath as the 2K series', but I actually MISS Mr. Madden in this installment. The radio announcer thing... no. Doesn't work. Music? Well, I know everyone has their different tastes, but I'm not feeling this. Considering this is the 360, why don't we have more control over what music is played, and when/where? True, you can have your saved music playing, but guess what? It just plays continuously throughout EVERYTHING. (Compare this to the original XBox - on NFL 2K5 you could not only choose the individual songs you have playing, but assign different points in the game - after touchdowns, long drives, turnovers, etc. - that the particular song would be cued. You could even pinpoint a particular moment in the song and have it start from there! For my money, nothing was more fun than listening to Lil' Jon scream "WHAAAAT?!?!?!" after a big sack or Truck-Stick hit.)
You can say I'm nitpicking, but is it really, on a $400+ system? Why do we have to wait until Sony comes out with the "competition" (or arguably superior product - PS3) before MicroSoft actually cares enough to put out what we - as consumers - deserve for our money? If EA (and MicroSoft, for that matter) would like to get back some fans and loyal supporters (Yes EA, your NBA Live series sucks too... what the hell happened to you?! Those previews look promising... but so did Madden/NCAA 07.), they should offer - instead of ridiculous prices for garbage - maybe roster update/new feature patches for the 360. If you subscribe to XBox Live Gold (which isn't free), you should get this for no fee. If you don't have the Live connection, you should be able to download it on a computer and put it on a disc or something - charge about $15-$20 for this. I think that would be fair.
If you HAVE to buy the new version every year, then you'll go and get this, or already have. If you love Madden for whatever unrealistic reason, you'll find a reason to love this game, if only to defend your choice to purchase it. Having played Madden since SEGA GENESIS, I'm expecting more. For you Madden-heads out there whose hearts hurt when you read a negative comment about Madden, stop being so damn sensitive. Do you need a hug or something? Did your sister or son make the game? No? Then don't take it personal. These are MY opinions of a game that I own. Stop reviewing the other REVIEWS, and put your honest comments about the actual product. If you like it, then put why. (Other than the fact that you may secretly be Mr. Madden's lovechild)
How's this: Madden's gonna be the best football game for '07, guuaranteed. See? Feel better?
Madden '08 will be the one, though, right? LOL... yeah, right.
Overall, 2 and 1/2 stars... okay, 3. Looks pretty. The rest is kinda forgettable. Not the worst game ever, but nowhere NEAR where it should be... charging $60+ for this is insulting.
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In Madden NFL 07, you'll control the running game like never before. For the first time ever, step up as the lead blocker to create a hole, then take control of the tailbackand smash through, overpower, or slash away from would-be tacklers - as you fight for every yard. Innovative rushing controls give you a game-breaking ground attack featuring all-new jukes, cutbacks, and the distinct running styles of your favorite backs. Between the tackles or in the open field, run to daylight with Madden NFL 07. Smaller backs escape and break tackles, while bigger runners bowl over defenders in the open field Scout collegiate prospects with the all-new NFL Draft Scouting System and during the College All-Star Game Watch players impact their teams with the new Franchise Player Roles feature Team-Specific Defensive Playbooks - For the first time, use actual plays from your favorite team's defensive playbook to shut down the running game, pressure the quarterback, or force key turnovers
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