Madden NFL 2004

"Best Madden Ever? I think so."

I've been with Madden since 95 and have enjoyed watching the game evolve and after last years incarnation which I thought could get no better EA Sports found a way to make this better. Best Madden Ever!

First let's gets the Technical crap out of the way

Graphics: 9/10

Superb. But then again you knew that already. Every year they just get better the models move realisticaly, the cheerleaders look better, Coaches looks better, Hell everyone looks better the whole atmosphere is great! But What happend to the faces!? Now the players look true to their life counterparts but..it just seems like theres less detail in them. Comparing their faces too the ones in NCAA Football and it seems like Madden's just have no detail. They added Tattoo's this year but most of them look ridiculous. Also the framerate seems to drop dramatically during some replay modes and when there's alot of players on screen at once. That's a seriously no no in any Sports game. Luckily that doesn't happen often outside of some replays. They added more Tackle Animations and like I said it makes the game more realistic seen a guy smash into another guy them fight to keep his balance.

Sound: 10/10

First off they got rid of that annoying Box! Well not really just made it smaller and more out of the way. Now the new Madden Soundtrack kicks Ass! They have alot of songs that will just bury themselves in your mind I wish this game doubled as a CD! On the field everything sounds pretty much the same, they got rid of most of the Stadium songs. Grunts and Groans seemingly got louder and the tackles sound like they generally hurt like hell. Also before the snap you can now clearly hear the players yelling taunts and orders at eachother such as ''Man Catch the ball!''. The announcers have some more new with the old and now actually will converse for a long time at some moments, they'll call replays but their timing will be a little off sometimes, also when they're calling names it sounds less robotic.

Control: 10/10

Keeping with the sim style the momentum control is still here. But that's a good thing, all the buttons do the same as last time so vets will be able to jump right in (I still recommend Config 2) but of course you know the big thing I have to cover. Playmaker. Playmaker while taking some getting used to can make foul plays go good again. Got a slow QB, plenty of time in the pocket and no one open? Use that C stick and make one of your players change their routes and get open! Your runner taking off and you see a guy barreling towards him with no where to go? Maneuver a blocker in you way and take him out! Playmaker is just what the billed it as you take one guy and position him to give you a big play. With a little practice you can get it and be near unstoppable if good at it, espcially passing.

Now the fun part!

Gameplay: 10/10

All the modes you know and love are back and Franchise delves sickingly deeper this year with two major additions. First is owners mode, ever here the saying that a team should be run by a fan? Well do it! You're encharge of ticket prices, Merchandise, Stadium building where you team is located and so much more. This could have been a seperate mode all it's own. Also remember in the previous Madden during your pre-season your players would gain stats randomly? You ha no control over where they improved? Kiss that goodbye you're in control of the training thinks to integrated Madden camp in Franchise mode! Want Michael Vick to get a nice boost of speed and agility but him in the Tailbacks training and put those hard earned points into his speed and agility. Hell you can turn a WR into a good CB and vice versa with enough training. Everything else is well essentially the same postion packages are back(i.e. plays that center around a particular player etc.) Also the Play selection screen got a face lift so you're never away from the action just watch that play clock though.

Overall 2004 improves where essentially it didn't look like there is nothing else to improve on. While keeping the familiar system people have loved. I highly recommend buying in and cashing out of the old season. You get everything from the last game and more!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/20/03