Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

100 or More Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Just plain fun"

For the past fifteen years now, the football video game has been dominated by one company. EA Sports. It's amazing how it has evolved from the 16-bit game on the NES with only the option to do a season, to Madden 64, to the latest of the next generation consoles. Every year it seams that EA Sports has managed to make one tweak to a specific, minor thing to improve the game. I started playing Madden games when Madden '94 came out for SNES. It kept me entertained for hours, with it's limited options of game play. Two years later, I picked up Madden '96, which was a huge improvement on the '94 edition. It allowed people to create players and do mini camp drills. When I got N64, I immediately went to see when the Madden game would come out for it. When it did, I was not surprised with how good it was. Well, the graphics were good, the fact that they didn't have the rights to the team names, still angers me. That was the first 3-D sports game I owned. And when '99 came out, I picked it up as soon as I could. Not only did they fix the rights issue, but they added Franchise mode, which allowed players up to multiple seasons of football. After a few years of laying off Madden games, due to the fact that I had got Dreamcast at the turn of the millennium, I picked up Madden 2002 for the computer. Again, it didn't fail me. It added a list of 'Greatest Games' for you to play. I only rented Madden 2003, but again it left me jaw dropped. It added Mini-Games to play and and Al Micheals to the Play By Play. Do you believe in miracles? Because Madden 2004 added a brand new feature to any sports game. Owner mode. It allowed you to control the ticket, concession, parking and advertisements pricing of your franchise. It also added a great new feature while you play the game. It gave you the feature to audible plays while they happen with the shift of the C-Stick. Now, we are at 2005. 15 years, 15 games. But maybe, just maybe this could be the greatest sports game of our time. Well, at least until next year.

Gameplay-10/10: Madden's been saying it for years, but never has a gamer really been able to get that 'BOOM!' feeling. Until, of course, this year. In addition to being allowed to audible you offensive plays at the line however you like, you can now do it with your defense. Thinking pass, and you see a running formation? Blitz your linebackers to stuff up those holes. Thinking run? Drop your linebackers and linemen into prevent coverage. Also, Madden has introduced to us the new Hit Stick. The Do Or Die of this game, this can either burn you, or cool you off like the other side of the pillow. Nothing makes me happier in this game then seeing the offense convert on fourth and long, think they're in the clear, and then take a big old bulldozer to the face and cough up the football.

Graphics-8: Here's where the game is a bit shotty. The graphics didn't convert on third and inches like they should. Herm Edwards looks like he took a roll in dust and then smoked something illegal. The cheerleaders look like if they combined great grandma and a Playboy girl. As you can imagine, they don't really go together. Sink your freethrows, EA.

Audio-9: Pretty much the same as the past couple of years, but a few new things. Nothing special though. They added some Hit Stick dialogue, and a few laughers from John, but again, nothing special.

Game modes-10: Amazing. Not only has EA brought back the Owner Mode, but it has added Storyline, which gives you the inside story on the NFL. You can read the newspaper which gives you the local stories in the local paper(yes they are the LOCAL paper. i.e. New York Post), to the big stories in USA Today. Also, coaches and players will send you E-Mails about your team. If you have a star running back that is resting their butt too much, they will ask you to give them more playing time. Or worse, demand a trade. Also, which I personally think is the best feature of the game, is EA Sports Radio. Each week, Tony Bruno will give you the happenings of the NFL. Like if Peyton Manning passes for his 25000th yard in his career, he will talk about it and tell you that he is one of the elite players of all-time. Then, usually, a caller will come in and argue with him. Also, it doesn't stop there, Bruno will give you questions with no answers. Who is the greatest QB of all time? And it's very interesting to hear some peoples ideas.

Buy or rent: I haven't convinced you already? Here goes again. If you are even the most casual of football fans and of video games, buy this game. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.