Although the weather has been cooler, it is still hard to believe that football season is already here. Pre-season is almost over and those who made the headlines by holding out have settled with their teams or have moved on. For football fans Pre-season is filled with drama and at times a few cases of players thinking they are worth more to find out their teams think different. Hey, it’s all apart of the excitement of NFL football. Of course EA’s Madden was already marked as one to keep a close eye on.

We all remember the attention EA received when they bought the exclusive rights to the NFL, making Madden the only officially licensed game around. While arm chair quarterbacks everywhere had something to say about the exclusive deal, it’s now all water under the bridge. Fans of the series and those who were upset about the deal are expecting a lot from the Madden series. I have to agree if they are going to be the only game in town for football, it better be good. So after playing the game for awhile, now the question remains, has Madden delivered a great game? Or is it just another addition with a few tweaks here and there? Well, sit back and get comfortable as I review Madden’s newest release of Madden NFL 06.

Gameplay

Last year Madden focused more on adding defensive moves and had some great features, including the online mode that played well, overall the game was a well-balanced one. This year’s version has plenty of new features. For the first time in ten years, the passing game has been totally revamped, they also brought back all the improvements from last year on the defensive end as well as the tweaks to the offensives controls. EA also added a new “Truck Stick control” similar to the defensive “Hit Stick” added last year and it was a needed feature. In addition several new modes including a Superstar mode are now available. Now the added features sound great on paper and for the most part the game is worth the money for any fan of the series. I will say there are a few issues with this year’s game. It looks great, thanks to the new graphic charts and replays. I just think the game is a little unbalanced overall this time around.

Whenever new features are added, even if they are good features, it takes time to get used to how the features impact other parts of the game. I’m specifically referring to the way they designed the new features. The biggest addition this year is the “QB Vision and QB Precision Placement” used while passing the ball. It was needed and something die-hard fans like me have wanted for years. At times it works great and, yes, there is a learning curve which I will talk about in the control section. The main issue is when needing to use one side of the field; the new QB vision can hinder the gameplay a bit.

In all fairness, after playing the game, anyone will get used to and most likely appreciate the way the features work. However, those new to the game may get easily frustrated due to the fact you’re expecting to see one side of the field and each QB has a different vision effect based on their talents and attributes, which makes sense. At times it can really mess up gamers, even those who grew up playing Madden. The “QB Vision” is a lighted beam that shows key receivers, the better the QB is the more light will be seen. It makes sense and really works well. You also then have a new feature that allows more control when passing. This is the “QB Precision Placement” and really is also used for those Quarterbacks that may have less attribute skills.

There are times when the game makes you shake your head and is not always consistent. Personally, once I got the hang of using the two new features, the game impressed me a great deal. Yes, there are times when it just does not work as well as it should. I have to say that while EA had plenty of time to get it right the first time, it may be something that needs to be tweaked in the next game. No football game has been perfect and with all the new features this time, it certainly is different. You have the option of turning the “Precision Placement” feature off and for those new to the game I suggest doing so. Use the practice mode with the option on to learn how to use it to your advantage.

The “Truck Stick” is great and there is no issue at all with this new feature. It also helps balance out the new improvements they added last year to the defensive moves. It works the same way. With a push of the right analog stick, you will get some added moves. Of course using it may also cause you to fumble and as in the real sport itself, when you get fancy, you risk losing the ball. You also have more control to create big plays this year. When on defense and before the snap of the ball, you can push up on the right analog stick creating a playmaker to set forward. The disadvantage is when playing someone at home or on Xbox Live, they see this and may be able to counter the move. It really is another feature that makes the game more realistic. Again, practice is the key to having the most effect with any of the new features.

Now the game has several modes and most are the same as last year’s version. Except for the “Super Star mode;” I never had to take an IQ test in a sports game before. That’s right, in this new mode you will find out what a player goes through after college experiencing the NFL Draft. You will need to answer questions and they will determine what round you get drafted and by what team. You start by picking your parents and then create a player using your parents’ DNA. Your hobbies help to indicate which position you’re suited for. Thankfully, they have a reselect button to get the right match for any position. Or you can use one of the Players in NCAA or even NFL Street 2 you created. Here again, once you see how it works, you can get a feel for the questions and what to do to find an agent, then just restart this mode.

The IQ questions are not that hard, but even a few had me thinking and you only have a limited time to answer. In a way it is similar to what the 2K series brought out with the penthouse just with some new additions. Also, if you own NCAA, recall the “Heisman mode”, it may remind you of that as well. It’s a great mode, but some may get mad that they were not picked up by their favorite team. The good part is once you start winning games and making the news, you can get a better agent, more money and then get a contract to your favorite team.

They once again included the “Franchise mode” where you play over a 30 year timeframe as an owner, if you have what it takes to last that long. Once again this mode is more of a simulation, and some football fans love it. I just don’t find it that interesting. It seems fun at first, then I get bored and start charging too much for tickets and beer and wind up losing the team. The nice part is you can play this or any mode and still have a great time.

Control / Playability

The learning curve on the main controls is about 30 minutes for those who are experienced Madden players. Those who are new will want to go through the training skills and the tutorials. In fact everyone should go through this just to get the extra points. The hardest thing is remembering that after the snap, you now pull back on the right trigger and your vision will show up. Then by using the buttons and D-pad or Left analog stick, you can throw incredible passes never before seen in any version of Madden. This feature is the most difficult part to learn and at times seems to be a bit unbalanced.

You will want to practice this and it takes time. There are also pointers and even videos to help you. The other controls will be pretty easy to learn including the “Truck Stick”. EA included more drills modes and a few tweaks on the 2 minute drill and training mode to allow gamers to get used to the new features.

Xbox Live

The lobbies on Xbox Live are great and very easy to navigate through. If you have played NCAA, it is very similar. It also looks like Fight Night or NBA Street with a few new additions. You can make a private room and play with friends you choose or with others on the same skill level. You also have a locker that you can use to send things to others, this is for those who bought the Madden Pass on EA.com. Now included is a way to gracefully quit a game, if the other player agrees no win or loss, you won’t get a dropped game.

There are several new game modes online that make it even more interesting, these include a tournament mode and a rushing mode. You can play with 8 teams of four for a 32-player tournament mode that is very interesting. Of course, like the last game, it is very easy to receive game requests and friend requests. The EA messenger service and the EA sports ticker give you instant updated scores while you’re waiting for friends or a challenge. They also have an updated full roster and will update weekly keeping the teams events and current rosters.

Graphics / Presentation

You will see new graphic charts and replays this year, they are really going for a true NFL televised event look and feel. It looks great and shows improvement over last year’s game. There are a few times you will see the wrong player on the scoring chart screen, this is one of the little quirks. I only saw this a few times. The players look very detailed and the stadiums, coaches and cheerleaders look great. At times the graphics look a bit unbalanced. However, overall the game looks great and the details are improved over the last version. The replays are looking more realistic and look like those seen on any NFL televised game.

The Madden series has been heading in the right direction in this area and this year they nailed it perfectly. The weather and lighting effects are great and stay consistent throughout the entire game. Even the practice fields look good and helps add to the overall game. When in the city, you need to explore, go to the gym or a get a haircut. You can customize the look of your player as the game goes on in the “Super-Star mode”and you can get a tattoo or put on your own brand of sneakers if your agent gets the deal. It all adds to the mode. The apartments look real enough and are more to get the storyline going.

Madden NFL 06 Xbox Screenshot

Madden NFL 06 Xbox Screenshot

Madden NFL 06 Xbox Screenshot

View all Madden NFL 06 Xbox Screenshots

Audio

The commentary is better and larger this year and you will see and hear well-known commentators besides John Madden and Al Michaels this year. They also have cameos from well known NFL Superstars. I would have loved to give credit to each in print but the game book I have does not list the voice artists.

The commentary follows the action better than ever before. You won’t be tempted as easily this year to turn down the commentary as in a few past attempts. They also have EA Trax that allows you to use custom songs for the times when the music kicks in. Really, this area is top-notch!

Replay Value

EA added plenty of modes so the game is loaded with replay value. I like the way you can play any mode you want and enjoy the game as you want. Taking it online is always a great added bonus and the new “Super-Star” mode, while different, is neat to try and can get you hooked.

The guest Super Stars and Commentators also add to this one offering some new voices. Any armchair QB will be pleased with the overall game even with a few flaws. EA certainly included enough modes to choose from to insure plenty of replay value.

Overall Score

Overall Score: 8.4/10 [not an average]

Additional Comments

The new options certainly were needed but some may need to be tweaked a bit in future version to retain the true football gamers. A few players may get frustrated but remember the new features do work, you just need to practice. I like the fact that they allow you to turn off the “Precision Passing” since this is the hardest new feature to learn. The game could have used some final tweaks and I won’t argue with that. I will say that if this is where the series is heading, I can’t wait to see what they will add next. It is finally looking more realistic and offering die-hard fans options we have been begging for.

Madden has always provided something for fans and this year they added a lot more than just a few revamped graphics and moves. It is very cool to create a fan and watch them go wild. It’s not perfect, but it is fun and that to me is the most important part. I really can’t wait to see the 360 version and will have a full review as soon as it is out.

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