Madden NFL 2002

"Madden continues to dominate football games"

Madden NFL football games have always been the top contenders when it comes to football games and Madden NFL 2002 for Gamecube is no exception. A monster list of options, one of the best and most detailed create-a-player modes ever, killer visuals, solid controls, and superb AI combine to form the best football game of all time. If you want a football game get this and nothing else. This is what a highly polished sport sim is supposed to be.

Graphics-10/10
Madden's graphics set the bar for other games to be compared with. Massive amounts of detail from taped fingers to stadium lights shining on helmets creates the most realistic looking football video game. Fluid player animation results in unsurpassed realism. In past games receivers just put their arms up and the ball kind of appeared in their arms. In Madden for GC dozens of catch animations make every catch about as close to the real thing as you can get.

Sound-8/10
Varied commentary, crunching helmets, and a smart crowd make Madden sound like you're in the stadium. John Madden has many lines to say about the best individuals in the game, so each team you play has those few guys that John singles out and talks about their past games. The commentary does get old after a couple games however. The crowd reacts differently too. If you're blowing out a team the crowd loses interest and the stands and crowd sound dwindle.

Gameplay-10/10
Unsurpassed. Many modes of gameplay provide endless replay value. The computer AI isn't cheap as in many sports games, but seems more like a human than ever. You can even customize the AI perfectly to your liking. The Madden cards encourage you to perform tough feats to earn tokens to bring back retired greats, new stadiums secret teams and other cheats.

Control-10/10
Very solid. The controls are mapped nicely onto the controller to give you precision in everyplay. Jukes, hurdles and spins are performed with ease in the running game, while touch sensitive passing gives you complete control over velocity in the passing game.

Lasting Appeal-10/10
Franchise mode gives almost infinite replay value alone. Player progression gives your players stat boosts in the off-season so your team is constantly growing better. You can trade for players or draft picks so your team can go from a group of old veterans to a young group of inexperienced players. The constant change makes playing another season seem less like a chore and more like a new season with a whole new challenge.

Overall-10/10
This is one of GCs top launch games. Football has reached new heights. If you're a football fan, this is your game. If you're not a football fane it could also be your game too. If you're moderately interested get it, you won't regret it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/27/02, Updated 01/27/02