Gamespot Has Posted The Madden 06 Review...

[cjrizzo]

Gamespot's Alex Navarro has posted the Madden 06 review (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/maddennfl2006/review.html). Some surprising tidbits of info about the changes and features in this year's edition. Here's the first paragraph:

Just in time for NFL training camp is the latest edition of EA Sports' football juggernaut, Madden NFL 06. With last year's Madden NFL 2005 focusing heavily on improving the defensive game and overall presentation of the series, while not necessarily adding any grand, new game modes to the package, 06 shifts the other way, going out of its way to specifically work on the offensive side of the ball by debuting all-new passing controls. On paper, all the additions and changes sound like fine improvements, but the end result isn't nearly as impressive as it seems like it ought to have been. In fact, Madden 06 comes off as a somewhat unfocused and unpolished piece of work, which is sort of a shocking revelation for a brand that's ridden high on its level of quality for so many years. Ultimately, Madden NFL 06 is a highly playable game of football, but in comparison with the leaps forward the franchise has made in previous years, 06 feels like a false start.The full review can be read Here (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/maddennfl2006/review.html).

[SymetriX]

I thought last year's "fatigue" bug was bad, but draw plays giving themselves away sounds pretty bad too. Although, I wonder if the reviewer simply did not know how to correct this. If this is a non-issue and they can patch the passing stats bug he mentions, I would consider this game, but otherwise I'm afraid I have to agree with the review and will probably sit on the sideline this season.

[evilpenguin9000]

Hmmm, the year that Madden has absolutely no competition they don't make an effort to innovate. Why am I not surprised?

[Atorak]

Yeah, how much did this game cost them to produce again?

Oh yeah, $9.99 to get a new box cover photo developed at Kinkos, and $29.99 to get the number changed from 05 to 06.

*yawn* Won't be picking this up.

[Xerxes]

Maybe it's just me going against the grain.... But the 2k games where better... In more regards than madden... I mean if we talking about football games... Now if someone did something crazy like mad Monster League Football, with Bones from the old tv show... Dismemberment, multiple injuries every game, field surrounded by acid pits, oh and there was no off days in Monster League if i remember correctly... That show was shizznit...

[StrifeSnake13*]

Hmmm, the year that Madden has absolutely no competition they don't make an effort to innovate. Why am I not surprised?
yea I had a feeling this would happen. The main reason that i'm not buying madden this year is because EA has exclusive right to the NFL, it's bull shit! 2K football was more innovative and was only 20 bucks, it's a shame that sega cant make NFL games anymore.

[Commissar Rob]

And now kids, let's all watch the miracle of monopoly...er nature...work its magic on Electronic Arts' once respected franchise. So maybe this is an opening for the non-NFL games? Skins and shirts people.

[Ka_Feosh]

Hmmm, the year that Madden has absolutely no competition they don't make an effort to innovate. Why am I not surprised?
Damn, beat me to it.

[Tetsuo]

Maybe it's just me going against the grain.... But the 2k games where better... In more regards than madden... I mean if we talking about football games... Now if someone did something crazy like mad Monster League Football, with Bones from the old tv show... Dismemberment, multiple injuries every game, field surrounded by acid pits, oh and there was no off days in Monster League if i remember correctly... That show was shizznit...
1) It was Mutant League.
2) It was published by EA, so good luck getting the lisence.

[Zulu107]

Yes, I'm still trying to debate should I even go and get it, I preordered it already? I hate that when they make something out of hype and then its shit when its released. *cough* Advent Rising!

[nonchalance]

Now if someone did something crazy like mad Monster League Football, with Bones from the old tv show... Dismemberment, multiple injuries every game, field surrounded by acid pits, oh and there was no off days in Monster League if i remember correctly...

You're looking for Chaos League.
Here: http://www.chaosleaguegame.com/

[johnperkins21]

Hmmm, the year that Madden has absolutely no competition they don't make an effort to innovate. Why am I not surprised?

Apparently you have no idea what you're talking about. The whole vision thing is innovative. The addition of being able to adjust your offensive line protection is new. Smart Routes are a great addition. There's really only so much you can do in a year, to a football game that's already amazingly in depth. What sort of innovation are you looking for?

Madden hasn't had any competition in 10 years. Sure there have been other games out there, but they've put up as much resistance to Madden as the Lynx was to the Game Boy. It's not perfect, but it's annoying to see all of the Madden bashing just because you guys hate EA. Don't forget that it was the NFL who originally went looking for an exclusive license, EA just did what they had to do to keep their cash cow going.

I'm not a huge fan of the business practices at EA, but trying to say that those guys at Tiburon aren't trying is just plain ignorant. How innovative was the great and holy Halo 2? It's a sequel for goodness sake. You can only do too much before ruining it. Look at what innovation has done for Castlevania. It went from the masterpiece that is SotN to the craptacular LoI. If you do too much, you change what you were trying to accomplish in the first place. The trick is to add to the experience without changing what made the first one so good. It's tough to do, and these guys have been doing it for almost 2 decades. Give them at least a little credit.

[actusoul]

The trick is to add to the experience without changing what made the first one so good. It's tough to do, and these guys have been doing it for almost 2 decades. Give them at least a little credit.

Finally someone with common sense. Madden is a great game that keeps improving every year. Its not perfect but they usually fix any glaring issues with a patch. the only stumble was the defensive AI about 2-3 years ago but it was fixed in 2005.

[amusedtoe]

Someone needs to create a roster update for 2K5 and hack the online services.

[bapenguin]

Someone needs to create a roster update for 2K5 and hack the online services.

I'm fairly certain there will be action replay versions of the roster available. I will be playing 2k5 again this year. F madden.

[Knite]

Madden hasn't had any competition in 10 years. Sure there have been other games out there, but they've put up as much resistance to Madden as the Lynx was to the Game Boy.

Just wanted to hit on this comment a moment...

The ESPN 2k NFL games made by the now named 2ksports team in a conglomeration of reviews on gamerankings, scored an 89% for both 2k4 and 2k5. Madden also scored an 89% for 2004 and 2005.
Sales numbers, ESPN NFL 2k5 actually OUTSOLD Madden on the Xbox (and Madden outsold on the PS2).

I'd call that competition.

[benson]

I just have to chime in as well. NFL 2k5 was a great game. I liked it a lot better than Madden last year. But to say that Madden is not innovating is a load of crap. They have added new features every year, and this year is no different. Just because they don't like the new passing vision system (or find it too difficult to use) does not mean it is not an innovative new feature. Someone above has pointed out the other new features as well (truck stick on offense, smart routes, o-line blocking...). And they have been doing it for 20 years.

If there was a new NFL 2k6 this year, I'd be all for it. I really liked last year's game. I don't have the Action Replay to download someone's updated rosters anyway. And I'm not going to be playing NFL 2k5 for the next 10 years simply because I don't like EA. I like new features and new challenges.

So I'll be buying Madden. I want to try the new passing vision system. I want the current rosters as well as updates. I gave in. I also want to import my NCAA player to the new superstar mode. Tell me that isn't innovative.

On another note, is it just me, or are video game reviewers not very good at sports games? I've always thought that. Most of them are complaining of the difficulty of using the passing vision system this year and they always seem like they aren't real good, or that they play on the easiest difficulty. Just an observation.

[jwbxx]

By game spots reviews:Madden 02 9.2 Madden 03 9.0 Madden 04 9.2 Madden 05 9.0 Madden 06 8.2. I wonder why such the huge drop off from 05 to 06

[johnperkins21]

By game spots reviews:Madden 02 9.2 Madden 03 9.0 Madden 04 9.2 Madden 05 9.0 Madden 06 8.2. I wonder why such the huge drop off from 05 to 06

Difficulty of the Vision and Precision passing. That, and EA probably didn't feel like buying off the reviewer considering the average football gamer will buy Madden even if it received a score of 2.2.

Sales numbers, ESPN NFL 2k5 actually OUTSOLD Madden on the Xbox (and Madden outsold on the PS2).

The PS2 version of Madden outsold both the XBOX and PS2 version of NFL2K combined by 1.7 million copies. Throw in the XBOX version of Madden, and you've got a pretty decent lead. Sure, the 2K series came out swinging, and put out a game that a lot of people liked, but it was not any real competition. Like a High School team taking on the Patriots. They might score a field goal, but the game was decided before they stepped on the field.

Here's where I got the numbers:
Gamespot NPD 2004 numbers (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/nbalive2005/news_6116499.html)

[Rommel]

Give it to gamespot for sticking it to the money.