Just a few throws downfield are all that you need to be convinced that Madden NFL 2003 is better than its predecessor. Unlike last year's game--which is best remembered for holes in the secondary that permitted the likes of Ryan Leaf to pass for more than 400 yards on any given virtual Sunday--the new game is smart defensively. Call nothing but deep routes here and your quarterback will be rewarded with lots of turnovers and a mouthful of sod. Driving the length of the field is now as tough as it should be, and as satisfying as computer sports gaming gets.

Madden 2003 looks great whether you're up close...

All of this means that Madden 2003 is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in football. It might very well be the finest game in the venerable history of the EA Sports series, thanks to enhancements to the artificial intelligence, spectacular production values, and a number of new game types and bonus features for both hard-core and casual pigskin fans. If not for a console-inspired interface that doesn't lend itself well to the PC and a shortsighted (not to mention tightfisted) approach to online play, the game would be inches from perfection.

But Madden 2003 is nearly flawless where it really counts. When you get down in the trenches, the game provides a remarkably authentic re-creation of the sport of football. This is particularly evident in regard to the defense put up by the artificial intelligence. Computer coaches are almost preternaturally adept at anticipating what play you're about to run, although this varies somewhat depending on which of the four difficulty settings you prefer. Run the textbook play for the situation at hand and you'll likely get stuffed. Fall into a play-calling pattern and you'll almost certainly run into a wall.

...or back in the pocket on a rainy day.

This is particularly evident when passing. Last year's game featured defensive coverage that was apparently based on zone schemes. No matter what was actually taking place on the field, the linebackers, defensive backs, and safeties would remain in loosely defined areas. The result was an inflexible style that was easy to exploit, particularly when throwing deep, because receivers could run right past defenders. That isn't the case any longer. Defensive players now demonstrate a level of situational awareness that wouldn't be out of place in the defensive backfields of the NFL elite. They react to what you do with all the smarts and speed of their real-life counterparts. Just getting open is a challenge, let alone breaking big plays on a consistent basis. Slow down a replay and you can even see backs reacting to balls in the air, moving into position for a knockdown or an interception, or to make sure that the receiver doesn't go very far.