Madden NFL 2004

"I think it's now safe to call this franchise a dynasty!"

Once again, Madden has shown that they are the #1 selling football franchise with their latest masterpiece, Madden 2004.

The graphics in this game are very crisp, and players are portrayed correctly in exact detail. Daunte Culpepper looks like Daunte Culpepper. Michael Vick looks like Michael Vick. The moment you see your favorite team's stadium you will be awestruck by the stunning visual perfection as it is portrayed.

Gameplay is very sharp, and very responsive, with so much realism that you feel that you are actually watching your favorite NFL player play. There is no overpowering of any sides. Offense doesn't overpower the defense (except if Randy Moss is on my team), and vice versa.

The controls are basically the same as they were before, except with one notable exception, the playmaker control. By hitting the C-Stick, you can direct a receiver which direction to run if your quarterback is scrambling or change which direction your runningback is gonna go before the snap. A very nice add on to an already superb control design.

Once again, Al Michaels joins John Madden in the tv booth. However, their commentary can get annoying at times. Al loves to call the phrase ''The 30, the 20, the 10!'' However, I've never heard him call that in an actual Monday Night Football game. And as always, half the things John Madden says will just make you go ''HUH!''

Another addition to the game is Owner Mode, which is exactly what it sounds like. You control everything that an NFL owner would. You can set prices for tickets (including certain sections of the field, and luxury suites), food, drinks, NFL merchandise like programs and hats, parking, and control your advertising expenses. This sounds exciting and a lot of fun (which it is). However, there is one MAJOR flaw to Owner Mode: it is unrealistic compared to how it actually is in the NFL. You lose one game and your attendance can drop by 5 to 10 percent, significantly hurting your profits. That just simply doesn't happen in the NFL in real life. Besides Arizona, almost all games are sold out on a constant basis and usually well before the season starts.

There is one aspect of Owner Mode that I very much enjoy. If your city is not supporting your football team the way you want it to, you can threaten to move it. You can move your team to hundreds of locations, from Los Angeles to Mexico City to Pierre, South Dakota (how a town with a population of a little over 10,000 could support a football team is beyond me). You can rename your team, give it new uniforms, and design its brand new stadium.

All in all, Madden 2004 is the perfect game for any football fan. If you've played a Madden game before, I truly pity you because you are missing out. Don't rent! Buy now!!!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/23/04