The Bottom Line
Pros
- One of the best looking sports games the PS2 has seen
- Lots of new controls make running the ball much more fun
- Madden's new NFL Superstar mode brings role playing into a football sim
- Features the ability to transfer games back and forth between the PSP and the PS2
Cons
- S-L-O-W menus, especially during the off season
- Not all fans are 3D, only those shown close up
- Control scheme needs to be updated
Description
- Graphics: 4.5 I was more than a little surprised at how good the game looked, who needs next-gen?
- Sound: 5 Great licensed music, excellent commentary, all games should sound this good
- Control: 3.5 The buttons all need to be remapped, but the new control options add depth to the game
- Difficulty: 4 Anyone can button-mash their way through a season, but to get good takes skill
- Gameplay: 5 There are so many ways to play, and the game itself is so deep, it's hard not to love it
- Multiplayer: 4 Madden NFL 07 plays very well with others
- Online: 4 EA Nation gives you a place to play against others without any Xbox Live-esque fees
- Documentation: 3.5 The manual is decent, but doesn't go deep enough on all that's happening in-game
- Rated: Everyone While the game does feature the ability to get tattoos, the kids'll be OK
- All scores are out of 5.The overall rating is not an average of the above scores
Guide Review - Madden NFL 07 Review (PS2)
The biggest improvements come in the form of new control options. With lead blocker control you can knock the opposing defensive tackle on his tail as an offensive line man, then switch to the tailback and bust a move through the hole you just made. When you pull it off, it's one of the most satisfying Madden moments you'll ever experience. Keeping with the running game, they've also included a highlight stick. Like many of the EA Sports and EA Sports Big games, the right analog stick now allows you to perform player specific moves, such as cutbacks, jukes and bowling over a line backer.
The franchise mode has also received some love in the form of new scouting options. But the NFL Superstar mode is the real treat. Similar to NCAA 07's Campus Legend mode, you control everything from training to IQ tests to memorizing movie script lines. A football RPG is something I didn't expect from the series, but I like it.
The game has one major fault, however. The time between certain menus, and the time needed to calculate scores and roster changes is nearly unbearable. While this is a top-notch sports game, the excruciating menu system keeps it from getting the 5 stars it deserves.
