Madden NFL 2002

"Sadly, it looks like this will be the last Madden title to hit the N64"

As a die-hard Madden player since '92 or whenever, I always look forward to the latest release of it for the applicable Nintendo system. The older Maddens for the SNES were kinda basic, with no real depth to them. That grew into a game that was consistently fun with a high replay value. Every year, there would be a new feature or two that would blow my friends and I away.

Madden 2002 was certainly no different. Thus, I was looking forward to the 2003 edition coming to the N64. No such luck. I found out a few days ago that there will be no Madden 2003 for the N64. Weak. Not only does that make life not worth living anymore, it also makes Madden 2002 the last football game produced for the N64 (probably).

Predictably, this game rocks. Like all good sports games, it is easy to master the basics, while still possible to learn new tricks a full year after you've bought it. My friends and I have gone through the entire Franchise mode many times, putting off inconsequential matters such as our senior thesis on hold until we play just one more game. Let's break it down, category by category:

<u>GRAPHICS:</u> Outstanding. It's not the popular choice, but I've always favored the N64 graphics over cd-based systems' graphics. Sure, the players are a little blocky, but at least they're not so pixelated you can't read the name on the back of their jersey. When Rick Mirer throws to Cam Cleeland, I need to see their names, consarnit! Everything runs very smoothly, with no loading time. Too bad cartridge-based systems are dead.
SCORE: 9/10

<u>SOUND:</u> The background beat that plays during the menu screens is catchy. Unfortunately, that is the only music that plays during the entire game. The rest is all sound effects and Pat Summerall and John Madden's commentary. There's the usual groans and crowd noise you hear from any football game, but one thing is missing: player banter. I like hearing the quarterback yell at his offensive line in NFL Blitz when he gets sacked two times in a row. I enjoy players taunting each other in the endzone after a questionable touchdown. Also, the game commentary is EXTREMELY repetitive...to the point where you turn the commentary off. I think Madden himself only says about a dozen phrases, where at least Summerall says two dozen. When Madden and Summerall were doing games for FOX, I don't think Summerall would say ''He blew right through the defense'' on three consecutive plays.
SCORE: 3/10

<u>PLAYABILITY:</u> Whatever sound problems this game has is made up with good playability. There are so many features in this game, it will take THOUSANDS of game-hours to complete them all, from the Madden Challenges to the Madden Cards to the Franchise mode and so on. This game has the fantasy draft feature, which isn't much nowadays, but when you grew up playing RBI Baseball and the first Tecmo Bowl, this is huge. Finally, Jason Elam can play on the Bills and Peyton Manning can be packaged away neatly on the third seat on the Bengals' depth charts, behind Cade McNown and Billy Joe Hobert. Oh yah, you can also create a player, which is good if you want to see Ray Lewis leveling a digitally created version of your stepdad. One gripe about the Franchise mode, however. For some reason, at about the year 2020, the league will hold a draft with almost the exact same names as it did 10 years previous. For example, if an amazing QB named ''G. Grunenwald'' was drafted by the 49ers, another amazing QB named ''G. Grunenwald'' would be drafted, causing mass confusion when your team plays the Redskins and you see that G. Grunenwald threw for 300 yards, even though you thought he played for the Niners (and you'd be right). Also, all of the names become recycled after a while in future drafts, so you get offensive linemen with names like ''Griese'' and kickers named ''Faulk.''
SCORE: 10/10

<u>REPLAY VALUE:</u> This game's greatest asset. I feel the best way to play this game is to get some people together and play a Franchise the entire way through. Have everyone be in the same division so you're playing each other a lot. Simulate non-divisional games. Play the entire off-season, with all the trades, free agent signings and whatnot. Amazing.
SCORE: 10/10

<u>OVERALL:</u> This is the best multiplayer game on the N64. Shooters like Perfect Dark get boring, Franchise mode on Madden 2002 does not. Aside from a few sound problems, this game is perfect. Of course, if you don't like/understand football, go out and play Mario 64. Great game.
SCORE: 10/10

So long Madden on N64!! You'll be missed!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/19/02, Updated 07/19/02