GAME DESCRIPTION: The most innovative and best-selling sports video game in history is revolutionizing the way football is seen and played once again. Madden NFL 06 for the Xbox 360 has been built from the ground up to deliver completely redesigned gameplay and the most lifelike football experience ever created. Feel the true emotion and passion on the football field with incredibly detailed player models who come to life on every play as well as lifelike stadiums and fans. With a full Franchise mode, in-depth online play and a new presentation style and new playcalling system, Madden NFL 06 for the next generation is poised to continue its legacy as the only authentic and licensed NFL experience.
Features
* Revolutionary player models: 3D head scans provide photo-realistic faces and a level of detail that shows the emotion and intensity of the NFL like never seen before.
* Next Gen graphical effects: From the reactions of coaches and players on the sidelines to the seat-level accuracy of thousands of lifelike 3D fans, the new graphics engine provides realistic lighting and visual effects that have never been possible before now.
* High level of animation: Three times the amount of animations in current generation, so the action starts before kickoff and continues with every touchdown celebration.
* Redefined gameplay: Select plays in a whole new way with the innovative playcalling and new picture-in-picture system. Popular features like QB Vision Control, Truck Stick and the Hit Stick are included.
* New Audio Presentation: Listen to the sounds of your game with a biased hometown radio announcer who calls the plays with emotion and hear actual NFL on-field audio from NFL Films, including hits and player chatter that bring the game to life.
* Sights of the NFL: Injury reports are featured on the scoreboard, as you would see in the real NFL stadiums on gameday.
* Advanced Franchise mode: the game mode invented by Madden NFL Football comes to the Xbox 360 with new, easy-to-use Player, Team, and Box Score Cards that give you all the information for your team at the click of a button. Track and break NFL records in multiple categories on the way to Hall of Fame.
* Online play**: Play anytime with Xbox Live and see how you stack up again the best players in the nation with real-time leaderboards.
* Extensive customization options: Customize settings, menu music playlists, gameplay controls and strategies.
PLAY: The Xbox 360 version of Madden is true to its roots and hasn’t changed much from the PS2/Xbox releases—when it comes to gameplay that is a good thing. Kicking is set up differently but it is a nice touch that makes what is usually a boring affair into something a little more interesting. Other than that this is the same game we reviewed for the PS2.
GRAPHICS: There is no doubt that Madden is one of the few launch games that shows the power of the Xbox 360. Most of the players and coaches look like their real life counterparts. That was the original draw to the game and we were not let down. The stadiums are fantastic and even the fans go from the usual cardboard cutouts to something closer to animated characters that don’t look as awkward. This is a phenomenal looking game.
One of the biggest additions to the 360 version is the plethora of animations. Not only are there a large volume of them added for this version—but they are drop dead gorgeous. If you are playing on HDTV then you will see how close this looks to any game you see on television.
SOUND: To hear the voices of some of the real quarterbacks bark out an audible is a great touch. Hopefully we get more players to offer up their voices!
FRANKLY: Even with its stellar graphics there are some issues. First the ability to challenge calls is not available. Because it is missing you would assume that EA would make every call a correct one when it comes to fumbles and catches on the sideline—they have that ability right? After all this is a computer. Also missing is minicamp, create-a-player, and superstar mode. Had EA put in all the extras this would have been nearly a 10/10—but a lack of minicamp and other touches hurts what is easily the best launch game to date.
+ Richie Wright
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