Madden NFL 2004

"Pick up your helmet and go!"

Intro

Madden is currently the king of football gaming. Last years entry of Madden 2003 sealed the deal, and this years 2004 is no different. You'd think that once a game has been sculpted the point of perfection, it can't go any further. We'll you'd be wrong, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

What's the Same?
-
The Core Gameplay: If you've played the most recent Madden installment, then this should be no problem for you. You'll be able to pick it up and start without hassle. For those new to the series I'll go in depth for you. Maddens gameplay is about as true to real football as you can get on the current platforms. The runners have about as much as chance as breaking through a good D as he would on regular turf, and good defenders stick like glue whilst bad players are left eating dust.

Madden Cards: From cheats, to other teams, to cheerleader cards.. it's the same.

Training Camp: Basically the same as last year. It's good for getting certain cards and honing on your skills. If you're new to the game, use it! It's the best way to increase your mad skillz.

The Player Models: There was nothing too big here that needed to be changed... the players aren't the most realistic, but key players look dead-on when compared to their true-life counterparts. The graphics on players seem to be updated a tad, and it's noticeable when the games are compared side-by-side.

The Controls: Ok, so they're not 100% the same, but they only changed one thing that I noticed, and that's the rush button for the QB. In previous installments, you hit Triangle when behind the line of scrimmage to make your QB go into rushing mode. Now you have to hit L2... I didn't know this, and when wide open for a rush on 3rd and 8 I hit triangle, and threw the ball away. Other than that, everything is the same, and you shouldn't have to learn anything new... well, there is one thing, but we'll get to that later.

The Attention to Detail: The Madden staff is about as good as it gets when it comes to the little things. Look on top of the players helmets and note the holes, and then play your local stadium and notice the dead-on accuracy. Just recently in the off-season, Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville added a new restaurant to the Northern end of the field, and tall escalators to each corner... and yes, they're in the game. That's how good these guys are.

What's New?
-
This is where it gets down to the wire. This is when the creators asked themselves, ''Are we making a new gridiron experiance? Or are we making Madden 2003 with an updated roster?'' Well, let's guess what they did...

The Layout: It's nothing major, but I think it's worth a mention. I rather like it.

Defense is Actually Fun: I know what you're thinking... ''You're such a liar!'' But it's the truth! in recent games, going for a poorly timed block would leave your player in one spot, and leave the receiver wide open, and in the end, 6 points up. But here, it's easier to stick, and when you jump, you jump! You'll get high enough to smack it down and when the ball is floating to an unmanned zone and you're standing there all by yourself... can you say 'user pick'? It's easier to get those this year, and it's bad for the ego, either.

The Franchise: Do you think it was good last year? Well it's better this year. They took it to an all new extreme, and it's well worth it. I can hardly decide where to start... The owners box where you plan out every detail of you're team. You can move the team to a new city (Just imagine, The Boise Bucks). You're city doesn't have a franchise? Well now they can. And you can build the stadium! It's like a fantasy for someone in a teamless city. Bring the fans in, and with the help of your mad skillz, keep them there. Bring home a championship! There are also a lot of graphs that show the status of your team and of the other teams in the league(from profit to popularity).. it's rather awesome. And if that's not for you, then it can be turned off and the classic franchise mode can be played.

The Playmaker: I love it on offense! Some may not use it, but I think it's a great addition. If you don't know what it is, I'll explain. The Playmaker control finally makes good use of the right analog stick. During a passing play, you can use it to move the closest receiver... it's difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it... it's uber-helpful. On rushing plays, the nearest defender will come in for a sweet block. And on D, it makes it's easier to switch player position. An excellent addition to the game.

Rent or Buy: If you've never owned/played a Madden game, but looooove football... then this a definite buy. If you own last years game, then it's all up to you. There's enough to make your love refreshed, but if you'd prefer to save money... nah, buy it anyway.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/09/03