There are
times when anticipation is its own reward; then there are times when
anticipation realized is akin to bliss … well, within reason, and in this case
that reason would be Madden NFL 07 for the Xbox 360 from EA Sports.
New
features? How about the Lead Blocker addition to the running game? You call a
running play, select a blocker to control, throw an impact or chop block and then
hit the B button to take control of the running back.
Want more?
Jump the Snap has made its way over from the NCAA title, enabling players to
anticipate the snap count and get a quick start on the play. The highlight stick
allows juke moves, and there is the Madden Gamer Level – a tracking feature that
charts everything you do within the game. Live opponent allows players to jump
into a franchise mode with a custom roster and attempt to end a run toward the
Super Bowl. Downloadable content, mini games, superstar mode, audibles … the
game has depth, that’s for certain.
Game modes
include the aforementioned Superstar mode, franchise and quick play. Hall of
Fame is a library, of sorts, of the players inducted into the pro football Hall
of Fame. You can also unlock some of those legendary players and they will
become available as free agents. But expect the likes of Y.A. Title and not Joe
Montana.
The
multiplayer will have a nice challenge mode and full Xbox Live support.
The disk
received for this review was a final burn prior to retail burns. There were a
few tiny glitches with camera angles shifting, jumping in and out giving the
impression of the ball snap (and if you are planning to ‘jump the snap’ this can
be annoying) and a few frame rate stutters.
The interface
does allow players to select from a wide range of plays, but you will find
yourself scrolling left to right, rather than paging down, and when you try to
zoom back to see what patterns are run on offense, the view is limited. The
truly wide outs are off to the sides. Yes, you can guess the hot buttons for
them, but actually seeing who is where is not always available.
Back is the
precision passing and quarterback vision. If you have never seen this before,
you are in for a real treat. Want to see what quarterbacks see? This game will
allow you to – and most of it is helmets. Wide receiver means fighting to get
open and learning to block, while running back is a combination of toting the
pigskin and blocking, as well as pass receiving. And you can also take on the
role of lineman or a defensive player, though getting to all the positions can
be a tedious re-shuffling process.
Because EA
has had development time for this 360 title, Madden 07 includes a much more
robust selection of features that were previously available in other previous
generation consoles. One of those is the Superstar mode, wherein you create a
player, a rookie, customize the pedigree and background and then take on the
challenges of making it in the NFL. The path includes signing an agent, then
hitting the practice fields and improving skills. There are interviews to give,
IQ tests to take, and the practice sessions are tantamount to mini games. Each
plays a role in where you will be drafted and by whom, so rolling past these is
not advised as you will be doing what you can to improve your lot in the NFL.
That said,
of course when you load the game, you are asked to pick a favorite team and
being drafted does not ensure your favorite franchise will take you. And you
will quickly find out that receivers from one team, if you play as a
quarterback, will make you look much better than receivers from another. And
when in superstar mode, you do not control the game, rather only your player and
when he is in the game. And even as a quarterback, you don’t get to call your
own plays, but rather run what your coach and offensive coordinator call for.
Think it is easy? Not at all. It requires patience. A nice aspect, though, is
that the game speeds up when you are not involved in the play. You can also
disable the CPU control and control the game until your superstar comes back
onto the field.
When it
comes to the graphics of the game, there is only one word to describe them –
gorgeous. This is truly an amazing visual treat. Yes, there are load times, but
the lighting, weather effects, and player animations are all extremely well
done. Even care was taken to realize players’ facial features and movements.
The AI is
somewhat suspect at times. Open sideline on a kick return is NOT the place to
juke out of bounds and end a promising run. And Lovie Smith, coach of Da Bears
is not likely to call a backfield pass on third and 19, deep in his own end,
while trailing 14-0 in the second quarter. Punters also have a tendency to angle
too much for the sidelines. Minor annoyances, all.
Madden 07 on
the 360 is a robust football game experience, offering a little something for
everyone. This game requires not only reflexive ability but a little cerebral
work as well. This year’s edition is definitely worth playing.
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Gameplay:
8.9
A few frame-rate
problems don’t deter this title from being a joy to play and to watch. The
players do all look larger than life, but the nuances of the graphics really
breathe life into this title and the control scheme – while taking a bit to get
used to – works well.
Graphics:
9.1
Simply gorgeous.
This is eye candy that is very tasty. The version received suffered from some
frame-rate stutters, and not all the faces were spot on with real-life
counterparts, but the aesthetics make this one beautiful game.
Sound:
8.8
ESPN Radio
initially broadcasts several of the games and does a terrific job – which holds
the line for this title where the play-by-play and commentary fits in. The
on-field chatter does get repetitious though, but the game also features a
decent selection of music, covering many styles.
Difficulty: Medium
The interface has
a bit of a learning curve and the addition of the run-block style of gaming is a
delight but combined with the QB vision and precision passing, so much of the
game is in the hands of the player that the game takes some time to grow
accustomed to.
Concept:
8.7
The game has
depth, and the additions of the lead blocker, jump the snap and others make this
a game that takes the Madden franchise to the next level.
Multiplayer: N/A
There will be
challenge modes and full Xbox Live support but at the time of this review, these
were not able to be tested.
Overall:
8.8
A truly robust
next-gen console experience. The build received for this review had some
frame-rate problems and the load times seemed long (perhaps because of the
anticipation of playing the game), but this is generally a top-drawer title,
with great graphics and sound, and game mechanics that are very close to real
life.
