Madden NFL 2002

"Its not pefect but it is still fun to play."

The fifth installment of the Madden series on the N64 is probably the best one. Which it should be anyway. Despite some annoying flaws. The graphics are nice. The players look better and are less blocky. They also move more fluidly, which is a bonus. The crowds aren't anything to brag about. But you will be too focused on the game to care.

The sound is well...where do I start? For starters, John Madden's commentary is the most annoying thing on the game. Its too repetitive and gets old really fast. Another thing is the music being played when you are at the start screen. I find that the music starts to grate on my nerves after listening for about two minutes. Thankfully it can be turned off. On the plus side, the crowd sounds cool when they are chanting ''Lets Go Team!''.

The gameplay is where the most problems arise. The computer seems to have a problem with running the ball. They only ran the ball around four to five times a game. Don't even bother with the run vs. pass meter. It didn't have any effect. Even on the hardest setting my running backs were consistently rushing for above average gains using only one play. Also my left end was consistently sacking the quarterback. A little better protection for the opposing QB would have been nice.

The controls are excellent for the most part except for one thing. Whenever my defensive lineman was about to sack the QB, I would try to select him, but for some reason I go to the guy guarding the receiver that the quarterback has thrown to. The end result is my defensive back runs away from the receiver leaving him wide open and he usually goes all the way. Luckily the new mulligan feature will allow you redo those types of plays.

The franchise mode is the best mode to play. You can play for up to 30 years! That should keep you occupied for quite some time. Earning Madden cards is also a nice feature which allows you to unlock teams, stadiums, and increase the stats of your players. An added bonus is the classic 16 bit Madden for you old school gamers. Even with all the bashing I gave the game in my review, I would still recommend buying it. Its just good old fashioned fun to keep you occupied for quite some time.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/04/02, Updated 02/04/02