Madden NFL 2002

"Best Madden Game Yet!!!!!"

Franchise mode, Madden cards, Two-Minute Drill, Create-a-Team, and playable historic players will have you hooked to Madden 2002. All of these features are a great addition to the game or have had a major face lift since Madden 2001. This game is the most addicting one yet. In this review I will try to explain to you in words how addicting it is.

Gameplay
The gameplay in this game has got to be its most promising factor. The Create-a-Team and Create-a-Player add to the game's already phenomenal replay value. Also the Franchise and Season modes are regulars nowadays, but they are still appreciated. The all new Two-Minute Drill mode sets you as a team of your choice on offense. You then have two minutes to score as many points as you can. The two
minutes does not reset as in some other Two-Minute Drill
games though. In this mode you can earn Madden Points which you can put towards buying Madden Cards which is another very nice addition to this game. The Madden Cards let you enhance player's abilities while playing and also lets you try and collect all of the cards. There are Player Cards, Cheat Cards, Historic Cards, Stadium Cards, and Cheerleader Cards. I like to get the Cheerleader
Cards personally. During the games you will find that the games run a lot smoother and faster than past Madden games. This game puts it all together really well. You also get the Expansion Team, the Houston Texans, in this game.
Overall, the gameplay in Madden 2002 is the best gameplay I have ever had the privilege to play in any Madden game. If you are looking for the football game with the best gameplay, get this game.
~~10/10~~

Graphics
The Gamecube was put to test with its first sports game and Madden 2002 proved that Gamecube could handle Madden sports games graphically. The only problem I have with this game graphically is that sometimes when the camera is supposed to
be focused on one player, the screen shows that player very
crisp, but the players around him are blurry. I don't know why this is, I don't think I noticed it in the Playstation 2 version. I haven't seen the game on the Xbox. All of the
fields though on Madden 2002 are very detailed and the fans are impressive also. The players footsteps are also shown and sometimes I think I see blood on the field. When you play in a game that is really rainy, about in the third quarter the field starts to show the grass being pulled up and showing the dirt in the middle of the field.
Overall, the graphics in this game are very good other than the fact that sometimes some of the players are blurry.
~~9/10~

Sound
I am completely and surely biased against John Madden so please disregard anything I say about him if you just happen to like him. The sound in this game is great except for the commentary. All Madden games have one downfall: John Madden. John Madden cannot announce a game right if his life depended on it. If you can get over the fact that John Madden is so horrible of a commentator than you would like the sound to this game. The players sound real and have great collision sounds. The music in the menu screens is very good if you like rap. I don't like rap, but some people do.
Overall, the sound in the game is nice, except for the commentating.
~~6/10~~

Control
The controls are very intelligently put together in this game. All of the buttons that need to be close together to have a fun time playing are close together. All of the buttons that need to be unique and separate from the other are unique and separate from the others. The unique and awesome design of the Gamecube controller is very nice too. The C-Stick will control the arm movements of your
lineman. Using the C-Stick you can swim in and out of the offensive lines groping arms.
Overall, the control in Madden 2002 is great, and I don't think Madden 2003 could be any better in terms of control.
~~10/10~~

Tidbits
Replay Ability- 10/10
Fun Factor- 9/10
Rent, Buy, Stay Away- If you are looking to play Franchise mode and try to get all of the Madden Cards then you would need to buy this game. If you are just wanting to play some games with your friends or want to play one season with your favorite team I suggest that you rent this game. Only reason you would want to stay away from this game is if you don't like football games.
Box Beauty- Dante Culpepper graces the front of this titles Box Art.

Features
Players- 1-4
Peripherals- Memory Card (59 or 251 blocks)
ESRB Rating- E for Everyone

Lastly
Madden 2002 will last you until Madden 2003 comes out. You can play alone as a coach of your favorite team through Franchise mode. You could play a short Two-Minute Drill before you have to leave somewhere and you are in a rush. You could play a grueling game of you vs. your friend. There are a lot of possibilities with this game and hopefully in Madden 2003 you will have even more.

~~9/10~~

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/21/02, Updated 07/21/02