Madden NFL 2005

THE BAD:
[see review]

SUMMARY:
"Ikaruga is one of those games that comes along, kicks incomprehensible amounts of ass, but nobody notices because everyone's too busy playing dog shit football games. I don't get it: they re-package the same shitty football games every year, update a few stats, call it a new game and millions of suckers keep buying them. What's the point? Why not just go outside and play real football instead? Or even better yet, get bent. Nobody likes football." -Maddox Ever since Grand Theft Auto III came out, the position of videogames in pop culture has gone up tremendously. Games are about to topple movies as the leading form of entertainment. Filmmaker Uwe Boll has made several (absoultely terrible) game-based movies. What was once seen as a geeky hobby has now becomes one of the coolest things you can do. This, in my opinion, is a terrible development. One of the best advantages to being a game geek was that it got you as far away from the jocks/preps/cheerleaders as you possibly could, and now, those exact same popular kids are the ones buying PS2/XBOX(360)/GCs, and popping games into it. Games like the Madden series (along with 95% of all other EA Games) are the exact reason why this has happened. EA makes games that appeal to these low-lifes and as a result, the preps now play video games. They are sure to load every one of their games with all sorts of prep-friendly devices such as mainstream rap soundtracks, lots of glitter and bling, and all sorts of "totally pimp" slang so that they look intune with the current pop culture. Need For Speed: Underground II and NBA Live are two perfect examples of this atrocity. However, football games in particular are guilty of this, because every type of "popular kid" can find something in one that relates to them in real life. Jocks like football games because they play football. Cheerleaders like football games because they participate in them (even though cheerleading is boring to watch, and it doesn't have any effect on a football team's morale). Preps who aren't associated with either of these like them because they go to high school football games because their sense of school spirit tells them to. You might be able to put marching band into this category, except for the fact that they participate in that for their love of music, not for their love of football. Of course, the real video game players will always look towards the Japanese RPGs, niche games, and platformers that no prep would ever go near, but that's not the point. What is, is that the fact that football games inspire preps to get into gaming is just annoying and destroys individuality. Why can't they just stay where they belong? If you think that the music you listen to is the best because it's the most popular, buy this game. If you go to parties on the weekend so you can get "DrUnK oFf Ur AsS", buy this game. If you shop at Abercrombie and Fitch or Hollister for your clothes, buy this game. If you're a REAL gamer who agrees with this review, then for the love of God, do NOT buy this game.

SUMMARY:
Madden 2005 obviously surpasses all of the last Madden NFL games. Yes, it is $50 which doesn't compare to ESPN NFL 2005's $20 budget, but the games differ greatly. For one, EA Games has bought to rights for all sports games, so ESPN games and other sports' names will be gone in the 2006 campaign.

But to the game. Madden 2005 presented a great visual factor. The graphics are astounding. The players look so real as do the stadiums and the rest of the environments.

To the gameplay. The controls flow so smooth while playing the game. The "hitstick" manuever is available, as it delivers a blow with enough force to create a fumble. It is easy to move to one position to another without wrecking into someone and making a commotion.

To the features. Madden 2005 holds some of the greatest features I have seen. For one, the rosters are updated mostly, with most of the players with their respective teams. There are also historic teams, which you unlock by buying card packs. Then you can create a team, which gives you plenting of choices from team uniforms to logos. You can create a fan, choosing his attire and such. Then you can pick favorite plays of yours and place them in a custom playbook, creating it for future use. And then you create a player, choosing his onfield attire and even his personal information.

The Dynasty Mode was suprising for me, as it was so fun. It gave you the feel of being the owner, by lettign you set ticket prices, concession prices, ect. for the fans. You have to hire a new choaching staff every once and awhile, be it a special teams coach or head choach. You have to control player salaries and balance everything out.

There is a feature called "Storyline Central" were you can accss the local newspaper of each football franchises city, and then an NFL newspaper with events ranging from injuries to milestones in it. You can also access your e-mail from Storyline Central, and lsiten to EA Radio, where host Tony Bruno talks about events post-week of football.

THE BAD:
The offense / defense balance is a year out of date
the running game is not as strong as in Madden 04
The stats in Franchise mode just don't seem right (QBs rarely throw for 4000 yards), but it has the most realistic stats of any Madden game
The Franchise Mode doesn't let you set the league rules or (if you run the whole league) decide to make games be fixed

SUMMARY:
Madden is one of those games that almost everyone has played at some point or another. This version is the best Madden ever and also the best football game ever. All the modes that are standard in Madden are in this version. That means that you can play a game against a friend, the computer or somebody on the Internet. You can also play Franchise modes, Tournaments, running competitions, 2 minute drills and everything else you'd expect from Madden.

The create a player feature is better than ever. All the other creation modes return, as well as a new option where you can create a fan of one team, who appears in the stands celebrating when the team makes a good play. This game was worth buying when the Collectors Edition was $60 via preorder only and it is still worth buying now that you can get it for about $20. But once the next one comes along, it probably won't be worth buying anymore and many kids will be unhappy to receive this soon to be outdated game as a gift.

THE BAD:
I think this game is bad because you cant turn the season salary cap off in less it asks if you wont to. The throw back teams are mest up like there numbers arnt even the real numbers for EX. for the MN Vik. team there QB. Cunningham is like number 10 When his real number is 7 when he played.

SUMMARY:
I thinke this game is an ok game. I give it a thumbs up and a thumbs down. It has exalent graphics but the franches isnt the greates. The throw back teams numberas are mest up.
I think for the next madden they should hav the numbers right from at least 1980-2006 madden. Then more poeple will like the game. For franchis mode they should have poeple with drug prolems. When you are creating players you should be able to pick if the have drug problems from a rating to 1-10 or somthing. You should also make it if you make your people walk off the field or not.

THE BAD:
HAHAHH! Im a ESPN boy and ESPN NFL will drop Madden like it's hot i mean Why would you wonna sell hotdog's. This is Football people. AND what is up with Ray lewis lookin like he's runnin' to the toilet. We as in the ESPN people have TO. ESPN cost $20. UHH.. guess who tried to copy off ESPN... Madden droppin prices to what... 39.99 is just like ESPN drooping thier prices to $20 (the rest on the summary)...

SUMMARY:
like i was saying EA copies off of us ESPN people of the price drop. What is that ? DO I hear Sporscenter? Does madden have sports center? NOP! This is war! you have umm traning camp we have the weekly peparation where you can train your ENTIRE SPUAD OF ONE POSITION. if a player get injured, you could him on rehab to speed up the process of the healing. Im soory im giving a Reveiw to ESPN to all you madden sucka's' out there. Does madden do that or did it copy from ESPN again?

THE BAD:
-Weak presentation

SUMMARY:
I absolutely love this game it is great. First of all the gameplay is extremely fun. It is fast unlike the clunky gameplay of ESPN NFL 2K5. The Franchise modes has alot of great innovations like the Tony Bruno show and the newspapers. Those little things just make it a better overall expirience. The Hit Stick gameplay control is awesome for defense. There really is no better feeling than running into Eli Manning with Ray Lewis on the Hit Stick. Also the passing is much more accurate than on ESPN NFL 2K5. If you like football this is the game to get. During the menu you can have custom soundtracks for the Xbox. This is by far the best football game this year pick it up NOW.