The series really exploded on the PS2, but it's still playable (and pretty good) after all these years
User Rating: 8.5 | Madden NFL 2002 PS
I found this game for a few bucks on eBay and thought: why not? I hadn't purchased a Madden game since '05, and based on Gamespot's review, I thought it'd be worth the investment. After I received the game I tested it and put it on the shelf for about 6 months. Now that I've been playing it recently, I realize that this is still a fun game despite it's age. The Houston Texans have been added to the game, as well as a "new" mulligan feature, an optional setting that can give you a do-over (such as when the computer surprises you by going for it on 4th and 4 instead of kicking the FG.) Collecting Madden cards is fun in this game as it always has been, and some of the cheats you can unlock with them are pretty creative (I.E. only helmets visible.) Pat Summerall and John Madden deliver the solid commentary you would expect, and it seems fresh, especially because this would be the final Madden game that would feature Summerall (Al Michaels would replace him the next year.) There's also a pretty cool feature called Classic Madden Mode, where you can play a 16-bit Madden game. Granted I'm not the biggest fan of it, it's still pretty cool.
On the downside, the franchise mode is pretty weak when compared to what you'd be able to do with it just a couple years later. You can draft, sign and trade players, but that's about the extent of it. If you're expecting to be able to change ticket prices, renovate your stadium, create promotion days and things of that nature, you should definitely look elsewhere.
If you're looking to relive the old days with this game and are worried that it might be unplayable anymore, put your worries to rest and get the game.
