I have been playing Madden on the PC since Madden 97 came out. I have since owned Madden 99, Madden 2001, and Madden 2003. Sense a pattern. Yes, I bought a new Madden game every other year. But Madden 2003 was a brilliant game, near perfection, so I delayed buying my next Madden game until Madden 06 came out. I am saying this because I am reviewing Madden 06 not in comparison to 2005's version, but to 2003's version- with all the upgrades in between. So lets get on with the review! The big new feature in Madden 06 is the QB Vision Cone and Precision Passing. I can say that even using a keyboard and NOT a Dual Analog Controller (which I am using now, but I'll review the game using the keyboard controls), that these features are effective, easy to use, and fun. Yes, unlike other PC sports games, the keyboard configuration is good! All the features, including the hit and truck sticks, can be used on the keyboard. With either the keyboard or a game controller, the new features are NOT HARD and VERY FUN. Using QB Vision and precision was actually quite simple. To throw, let's say, to receiver 'F' using the keyboard, you must push 'g' and 'f' to focus your vision cone on the receiver, then 'f' and an arrow key to determine precision passing. Translate that to your game controller if you will, but the point is, while pressing four buttons to throw may seem hard, it's actually very easy. It just takes the ability to spot you WR's open quickly and be in a good position to throw to them (i.e not scrambling to the right of the field then trying to throw to a WR wide left, because it shouldn't be able to happen). Also, at least in Rookie and Pro modes, throwing outside your vision cone is not the 'kiss of death'. Sometimes you’ll throw a half decent ball on target, other times you'll miss by a good seven yards. Precision Passing is also a very simple addition to Madden 06, but may really change the passing game more than QB vision. Precision Passing allows the QB to throw the ball to the receiver either high or low, to his left or to his right. This allows you to throw to a receiver on his left side if he has, let's say, a cornerback covering him on his right. Precision passing, along with QB vision, makes Madden 06's passing game more cerebral than ever before. No more heaving the ball downfield mindlessly, and frankly, I'm glad I can't do that anymore. The final addition to on-field game play is the truck stick. The truck stick, which is the offensive version of the hit stick, really opens up the running game by allowing larger running backs the ability to basically ram defenders into the ground. This makes running much more powerful than any other madden so far. In Madden 2003, a typical game I played would have me throwing for 400 yards and rushing for maybe 30 yards. Now, in Madden 06, the passing and rushing games have really been balanced out. Very Good. The new superstar mode is not broken, but it is not the solid experience it could have been. It's a feature that is good in concept, yet its execution is vague and confusing. The problem is that you have too much control over the team you're on. It's more like a mini franchise mode with emphasis on one player than just a simulation of this one player's nfl journey. Frankly, it's unacceptable that I can rearrange the team's roster in order to become the starter, especially when I don't deserve it. In terms of graphics, Madden 06 looks very similar to 2003 in many ways. Player models look very similar in quality, although their uniforms all shine and have much more texture to them. The animations and player clipping are all much improved, as is the frame rate. Madden 06 has a smooth frame rate, even when running on my laptop. Many of the faces, however, look unusual, maybe even cartoonish. Unlike the Gamespot review, I have seen no instances of "goofy texture and player model pop-in issues" in the game. The pc version is far crisper looking on than the consoles and should be called the best looking version of 06. Sound is a mixed bag in Madden 06. Much of the commentary seems pulled right from Madden 2003, and unfortunately, it hasn't improved with time. However Madden 06 should be commended for the sheer amount of audio in this game both on and off the field. Whether much of this game, such as the franchise mode, was pulled right from Madden 05 is not a concern to me. Since 2003 was the last Madden game I played, it's all new to me. Franchise mode is deep, the on field controls are rich and powerful, and the game is now better than ever. I believe that the QB Vision and Precision passing is enough to warrant an upgrade from Madden 2005-- but if you don't own last year’s game, drop what you're doing and run out and buy this one right now!
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