Madden NFL 2002

"Football...revolutionized"

The digitized game of football has grown exponentially throughout the ages, and for good reason. The change of technology, though more often that not, focuses more on better visuals rather than upgrading actual game play. The Playstation 2, upon its release, was considered by many to be the future of gaming. Sports enthusiasts looked to the skies and thanked the football gods knowing that many gems were to be produced. However, the future looked bleak as the first sports game was released; NFL Gameday 2001.
It was a horrible blend of unimaginative blocking schemes and possessed officials, and it left many gamers in dismay. ''Was this to be the 'norm' of sports games on the Playstation 2,'' many wondered? Fortunately, this was not the case, as EA Sports entered the fray, with Madden 2001. A year later, came the highly anticipated release of Madden 2002.
Madden 2002, like its predecessor, features all 32 teams, season and preseason modes, franchise mode (where you take any team on a 30-year roller coaster), the two-minute drill (see how many points you can score in two minutes), and a ton of additional features. One of the main differences between this years' incarnation as opposed to last years', is the high amount of detail that is shown on the players (they actually look like their real-life counterparts). And, unlike most companies who are content with making slight alterations in a game and put it out year after year, it seems as though EA Sports put in a ton of work. They improved the overall feel and realism in the game. Instead of a quarterback throwing 80-yard bombs while rolling away from the pocket (if he is a right-handed quarterback, he would roll to his left, and vice-a-versa), the quarterbacks must have time to set their feet or it is an automatic sack. Yet this added realism is a double-edged sword. While the player is penalized, and almost always picked off, the computer rarely seems to throw an interception, and fumbles always seem to fall into their hands.
Yet, despite this gripe, the game is awesome. And it actually feels like a football game, as compared to the games of the past, where a player could rack up 100 points easily, without throwing one pick. Another complaint (which can be turned off fortunately) is the ''play-by-play.'' While Madden 2002 does include the voices of television commentators John Madden and Pat Summeral, it rarely seems like they are actually in tune to what's going on, on the field. Yes they complement a player on a great play, but more often that not, it is the same, regurgitated phrase that they said two plays ago. Hopefully EA Sports will learn from the play-by-play from the Sega Sports series, which give one the impression they are actually watching a live telecast.My last complaint, before the mounds of praise, is small, but it is one that must be mentioned. It has to do with statistical calculation of sacks. When the player gets off the line by guessing the snap count, it is all due to timing, yet the computer has called a running play, and you get to the quarterback before he can hand it off, that is considered a sack. Yet in the statistics (and subsequently, the Madden Challenges) it shows as a tackle; not a tackle for a loss or a sack (which it should be), but a tackle.
Despite the criticisms I have list above, this game is one of the best accurate accounts of football the video game industry has ever witnessed. The A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is rather smart, and strives to find defensive sets that cause the player problems, and once those are found, they stick with them. For example, in Franchise Mode (I use the three-headed behemoth of Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, and Peyton Manning, of the Indianapolis Colts) I lost to the New York Giants because they would not budge. I had been having great success against the league's premier defensive teams, setup by my incessant I-Formation runs, particularly the HB Sweep Right, with James generally picking up about 10 - 15 yards per carry. Well to combat this, the Giants ran a 3 - 4 defensive package (which puts three defensive lineman on the line of scrimmage, and four linebackers spread out behind them). This enabled the Giants to get outside containment on my offensive line, thus barring me from getting any kind of positive gain. By grounding my running game, the computer was able to beat me like a redheaded stepchild, it was awful. This attention to detail makes the game much more enjoyable, because you feel like you can do anything the computer can (except intercept passes that is). Of the features in Madden 2002, the best are the Two-Minute Drill, Franchise Mode, and Madden Challenges. The Two-Minute Drill is a concept derived from the term many great quarterbacks have to come to know and loathe; the Two-Minute Drill. In the NFL, this phrase means a no huddle offense, where the quarterback is trying to bring his team to a come from behind victory. Though the Madden 2002 version is slightly similar, there is a difference. In Madden 2002 you have the opportunity to lead any team down the field, and your obvious objective is to score.
The player has possession of the football from the 20-yard line, and has two minutes (along with three timeouts) to drive the length of the field and score. If by chance you happen to score before time has expired, you get the ball back again, for another opportunity. By doing well you earn tokens (that is if you have created a profile, and activated it), which can then be spent on another exciting feature in Madden 2002; Madden Cards.
By completing certain objectives in a game (rushing of a hundred yards, to completing 10 consecutive passes, to returning an interception for a touchdown) you the player are rewarded with Madden Tokens. And, depending on what skill level you are playing on (Easy, Normal, or Madden), determines the number of tokens you are rewarded. By earning tokens you may purchase packs of Madden Cards, which contain 15 randomly selected cards (later in the game the repeats will add up) that are of current NFL players, hidden stadiums and teams, cheats, and historic NFL players, that, when activated, place those players in the free agent pool (in you Season or Franchise Mode). The coolest thing about this feature is seeing how many cards you can collect, and you and a friend can challenge each other to a game, and bet Madden Cards on it. This fun and genuine concept, adds more creativity then many sports games are willing to show.
However, all of the previous mentioned concepts are dwarfed in comparison to Madden 2002's Franchise Mode. This mode lets you choose any of the 32 NFL Teams (including the Houston Texans) or a team of your own concoction, and take them on a 30-year course. Now, with good team management, and signing of high-priced free agents, you might be able to survive. In this mode you can also make a brand new coach, and even dictate a playbook that is more accustomed to your style of play. In this mode you can also make your own players, which is somewhat fun seeing as some of the creations are not humanly possible, yet it is very easy to make a winning team with a few of these players. However, it is an awesome feeling watching the player with your name, run for a 96-yard touchdown, almost brings a tear to the eye.
And for all the fantasy-sports nuts out there, you can even run a fantasy draft; but be warned, you will not have a good team, because it is rather difficult to get a good seed in the draft.
Once more, the only available ''good'' players (players who have a high ranking, as in over 90) are all kickers, so you have been warned. All in all, Madden 2002 combines the things that made the previous Maddens great, but manages to improve in almost every area of the game. My only gripe left is that instead of including the instrumental versions of songs (i.e. Talib Kweli's ''Down for the Count'' feat. Rah Digga and Xzibit, and Mos Def's track from the Soundbombing 2 album) I wish they would have included the lyrics along with it. However, how can one be disappointed in a purchase of one of the best football games of all time? You've been great; enjoy the sounds of John Madden, ''Whoa, that had too much pop.'' (In regards to an errant pass that was thrown to hard)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/21/01, Updated 12/21/01