Damien
Supporting Actor
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2002
- Messages
- 508
I haven't played nearly enough to really, but here are some really first impressions...
The first thing you'll be asked to do after the intro is select your favorite team. This does the exact same thing as in NCAA where it converts the menu screens into the team you picked colors. The menu's are even cleaner than last years game as well, there is no confusion in navigation or anything. The EA sports Extra's shows off every EA sports title being released(small trailers), and also features the annual madden bowl video. Madden 101 has Melissa Stark introducing a topic, then AL takes over and explains it. It's just like NCAA, but here is my first gripe with the game. Al Michels is too professional and at sometimes sounds dead and you can almost predict what he's going to say next. This applies for the tutorial video's as well as the in-game commentary, which he does a sound job in but shows very little enthusiasm. The lack of the emotion from NCAA is defenitely a downgrade, minor but noticable to me. Madden doesn't sound bad, but it could be better than it is. I'll just say you can tell that they spend a lot less time in the booth versus sega's announcers. Speaking of sound, it also is a downgrade from NCAA. No build up of the crowd during open field gains, sparse stadium noise, and average player chat. In-game it sounds like a remix of last years game, and that isn't a good thing at all given all the time the sound designers had to work with. The soundtrack is a winner though, it is just as good as last years. I think it's played too much in the games...and no football anthems are on at all, a contrast to the games sim gameplay. The options aren't much different, but you do have the choice of an accelerated clock.
Graphics - Some more details in player models...the big guys look different then the rb frame wise. The attempt to get up to ESPN by adding dreadlocks etc hanging out of the helmets is laughable though. Otherwise the game isn't much different then last year in this area. If you played NCAA, you won't find much to impress you. The intro's and overall atmosphere and cut-scenes are better in that game. I haven't noticed many animations at all that aren't present in NCAA besides gang tackles. The hits feel a little weak too. The stadiums look good, especially the lighting. But overall when compared to Sega's game in realism(player models/stadiums), and NCAA's flash, Madden is at the back of the pack. One ingenious thing I almost forgot is the playbook does show instant replays while choosing your play, that's really nice to have.
Gameplay - It's enhanced a in a lot of little ways. Not changed, enhanced. I haven't spent a lot of time with playmaker to make any judgement, but it seems to be something that was carefully implemented and it can add a lot of strategy to the game online. The playbooks, just from 2 games, are totally revamped. You can sub packages from the play-call screen as well. Again people with the most football knowledge will be rewarded. The db's play a TON better and the blocking and special teams has been improved considerbly. The qb rush is also much more realistic. But don't be suprised to feel a little deja vu when you play it for the first time.
Modes - Owner Mode looks stellar and probably is. This adds a lot of depth to franchise mode. It isn't just about setting prices for hot dogs, it's the real deal. If you were thinking about buying the game for this, go ahead and do so. Mini-camp is integrated into franchise, and trading players has been tweaked to make it more realistic.
Online - haven't gone on yet(i will after I'm done writing this!)...saw online tournaments in the booklet.
Mini-camp - same as last year
features:
ea bio tracks everything you do, very cool.
Another note, no greatest games or trophy rooms from NCAA. I guess you can't have everything.
The first thing you'll be asked to do after the intro is select your favorite team. This does the exact same thing as in NCAA where it converts the menu screens into the team you picked colors. The menu's are even cleaner than last years game as well, there is no confusion in navigation or anything. The EA sports Extra's shows off every EA sports title being released(small trailers), and also features the annual madden bowl video. Madden 101 has Melissa Stark introducing a topic, then AL takes over and explains it. It's just like NCAA, but here is my first gripe with the game. Al Michels is too professional and at sometimes sounds dead and you can almost predict what he's going to say next. This applies for the tutorial video's as well as the in-game commentary, which he does a sound job in but shows very little enthusiasm. The lack of the emotion from NCAA is defenitely a downgrade, minor but noticable to me. Madden doesn't sound bad, but it could be better than it is. I'll just say you can tell that they spend a lot less time in the booth versus sega's announcers. Speaking of sound, it also is a downgrade from NCAA. No build up of the crowd during open field gains, sparse stadium noise, and average player chat. In-game it sounds like a remix of last years game, and that isn't a good thing at all given all the time the sound designers had to work with. The soundtrack is a winner though, it is just as good as last years. I think it's played too much in the games...and no football anthems are on at all, a contrast to the games sim gameplay. The options aren't much different, but you do have the choice of an accelerated clock.
Graphics - Some more details in player models...the big guys look different then the rb frame wise. The attempt to get up to ESPN by adding dreadlocks etc hanging out of the helmets is laughable though. Otherwise the game isn't much different then last year in this area. If you played NCAA, you won't find much to impress you. The intro's and overall atmosphere and cut-scenes are better in that game. I haven't noticed many animations at all that aren't present in NCAA besides gang tackles. The hits feel a little weak too. The stadiums look good, especially the lighting. But overall when compared to Sega's game in realism(player models/stadiums), and NCAA's flash, Madden is at the back of the pack. One ingenious thing I almost forgot is the playbook does show instant replays while choosing your play, that's really nice to have.
Gameplay - It's enhanced a in a lot of little ways. Not changed, enhanced. I haven't spent a lot of time with playmaker to make any judgement, but it seems to be something that was carefully implemented and it can add a lot of strategy to the game online. The playbooks, just from 2 games, are totally revamped. You can sub packages from the play-call screen as well. Again people with the most football knowledge will be rewarded. The db's play a TON better and the blocking and special teams has been improved considerbly. The qb rush is also much more realistic. But don't be suprised to feel a little deja vu when you play it for the first time.
Modes - Owner Mode looks stellar and probably is. This adds a lot of depth to franchise mode. It isn't just about setting prices for hot dogs, it's the real deal. If you were thinking about buying the game for this, go ahead and do so. Mini-camp is integrated into franchise, and trading players has been tweaked to make it more realistic.
Online - haven't gone on yet(i will after I'm done writing this!)...saw online tournaments in the booklet.
Mini-camp - same as last year
features:
ea bio tracks everything you do, very cool.
Another note, no greatest games or trophy rooms from NCAA. I guess you can't have everything.
. I'm getting the PS2 version as well, for the online play. Tempted by the PC one, but PC games have no resale value on eBay.
