Madden NFL 2002

"Can EA improve on last years awesome game?"

Background:

The Madden series has always been one of the best if not the best football series around. Last year EA brought Madden 2001 to the next generation PS2. The game dazzled everyone with its amazing graphics and solid gameplay but it wasn't without its flaws. Could they improve Madden 2002?

Graphics:

The graphics are, for the most part the same as last year. The one big difference is the ''zombie eyes'' are gone which makes the faces much better looking. The players do look a little sharper. The times of day each look different. For example there are shadows on the field for afternoon games. The stadiums as a whole look great. The field looks just like there NFL counterparts but the grass textures could use a little work.

9.5

Presentation:

Ea is known for there great presentations and this year's is no exception. When the game loads up you are greeted with a nice opening video which is a nice CG. Before each game it shows which team has the advantages in a bunch of categories. Then the home teams offense or defense runs through the cheerleaders. After the game the coaches shake hands and Madden and Summerall say a few words. Nothing Spectacular, but good none the less.

8.5

Options:

This is where Madden really shines. If you want to play one game either against the computer or a few friends you can play exhibition. Looking to work on your skills, try practice or training mode. Practice you just work on plays and training mode you do the same thing except Madden will tell you and diagram how each play works. You also can do the new 2 minute drill where you basically score as much as you can in 2 minutes. There is also Situation mode where you get to jump into a game in any situation imaginable. Then you have the basic modes season-guide your team through a single season, tournament play a single or double elimination tournament with 4,8, or 16 teams, and franchise where you guide your team through up to 30 seasons while signing free agents, trading players, drafting players, and having players retire. New to franchise mode this year is cap penalties. So if you cut a player you still have some of his salary charged to your cap. Also in year 2, the Texans will join the league, and the divisions will be realigned. You can control the Texans, or create a team and put it in the league in the Texans place.

9.5

Sound: The sound is a mixed bag. The crowd noises, and on field noises are great. But the announcing is still old and stale. Madden is very repetitive and you will here him say the same things multiple times each game. Summerall is just boring. The tackles and hits sound nice. Each team's fans will cheer real life chants like the J-E-T-S chant, and even player specific chants like Eddie-Eddie.... The crowd is the best part of the sound.

7.5

Gameplay: Nice graphics and options are great, but they mean nothing if the gameplay doesn't deliver. In Madden 2002 EA comes through. This year the control doesn't feel as sluggish as last year and is a little more fast paced. It is also a little bit easier to play defense, as games won't always be those 45-40 shootouts. This game is also challenging. When I first started I was getting beaten badly on PRO. The game play does have some problems though. Collision detection needs work as sometimes guys like Warrick Dunn would knock over guys like Tony Siragusa. There are also to many dropped balls. Running up the middle is a little to hard and running to the outside is a little to easy. Even with these problems, the gameplay is very solid.

8.8

Replay Value:

With all the modes of play and 30 years of franchise you should buy this game and you will play it until Madden 2003.

10

Overall:

Madden 2002 is a lot like last year. There are a few improvements though and unless you are only a very casual football game you should make the upgrade from 2001 to 2002.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/25/02, Updated 02/25/02