punchbutton: ps2 reviews
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Madden NFL 2003: The king of rock
08/26/2002
Never has the battle for supremacy among pro football video games been
as heated as it has this year.
But the competition is a great thing for us, the football gamers. It
forces every company to put the absolute best product on the shelf,
rather than scrapping a few improvements to hold over for next year.
Since the dawn of football gaming, EA Sports' outstanding Madden
series has set the standard for all other football titles to follow.
Sure, there have been a few blips on the radar in the 13 years Madden
has been around -- SEGA's Joe Montana Football series, the Tecmo
Bowl series and the wacky NFL Blitz series, to name a few.
But no other football game has been able to capture the essence of what
makes football so special and translate it into a language all gamers
can understand -- die-hard football fanatics and casual gamers alike.
The toughest competition for the Madden dynasty has come in
recent years, with SEGA's re-entry into the market via its NFL 2K
series, and Sony's revamped NFL GameDay franchise. The newest
entry, Microsoft's NFL Fever, has quickly carved its own niche in
the genre.
But year after year, Madden holds true to its roots, offering the
one thing that keeps football fanatics coming back for more --
consistency.
The old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," certainly applies
here. With Madden NFL 2003, the developers at Tiburon didn't try
to "fix" anything. What they did, in fact, was the impossible -- they
made a perfect game of football even more perfect.
GAME PLAY
Those who are familiar with Madden's tried-and-true formula will
feel right at home.
But there is a difference: In 2003, you'll have to think and
strategize more than ever.
And why is this? Well, the techies call it "artificial intelligence." I call it "smarts." If you're like me and prefer a good, challenging single-player matchup with the computer, this is the best you'll find. As I've said before, there's nothing I hate more than having to spend hours going back and forth with the A.I. sliders, trying to perfect the level of difficulty in a single-player game. With 2003, you don't have to touch 'em. Simply set the difficulty level to "all-pro," and go on about your business. It's a perfect game of football -- challenging, frustrating and, most important, rewarding. There's nothing quite like the feeling of scoring a winning touchdown in the final minute of a 10-10 tie against Steve Spurrier and the Washington Redskins (using the Dallas Cowboys, of course). It is that feeling of exhilaration from which Madden draws its strength. This time around, the computer A.I. is extremely smart -- so smart that it catches on to your tendencies often before you do. If you constantly snap the ball with 10 seconds left on the play clock, the defense will jump the snap count and blow up the play. By the same token, you can use this to your advantage to draw the defense offsides by changing the snap count regularly.
All in all, we're talking about the most realistic game of football around. Accurate stats and scores, even with the massive 15-minute quarters I like to use. An accurate level of difficulty without having to adjust sliders. It's Madden, folks - you know what to expect by now.
John now offers suggested defensive plays as well, accessible by pressing the square button in the play-calling menu. And, of course, he will still suggest a good offensive play for you as well. Keep in mind, however, that John's suggestions are not an easy route to a touchdown. It all comes down to execution. Like NCAA Football 2003, screen passes have been dramatically improved in Madden. Receivers will also run stop routes, cutting on a dime and waiting patiently for the pass. You'll have to use stop routes with caution, though; cornerbacks will jump on them quickly if you run them too often.
FRANCHISE MODE
The standard by which all good football games are judged these days. Madden's Franchise Mode has been the best around for years now, and the 2003 version certainly doesn't disappoint. Again, the developers didn't try to fix what wasn't broken in the first place, keeping a majority of the features in place. They did, however, add an interesting element to the mix -- the ability to scout prior to the draft. This allows you to get in-depth information via scouting reports on selected players, making it easier (or in some cases, harder) to make decisions on draft day. The reports are similar to those you get when recruiting in NCAA Football 2003, listing such characteristics as 40-yard dash time, bench press and GPA. Your scouts will also give you clues as to how the player might perform at the next level. The limit is still 30 years, which seems like a fair number (unless you're simulating a ton of games, you won't get that far anyway). In general, computer-run teams are much smarter in their front office decision-making. Trades seem to be more difficult to execute, which makes sense, since trades are a rare occurrence in the NFL.
Preseason has returned after a few years off, and it's much more than just a novelty. Like the real game, preseason games in Madden are used to evaluate young players. But there's an added importance to this: After the conclusion of the preseason games, player ratings improve (or decline) based on their performance in those games. And since preseason performance has no effect on veterans, there's more of an incentive to play your rookies - a lot. Your depth chart will be adjusted automatically during preseason games, putting your second-string players in at halftime. You'll have to go in and manually insert any third- or fourth-team players you want in the game. And don't take this preseason stuff too lightly ... I've had some players jump as much as six or seven points because of a solid preseason performance. An average player can become a solid starter if used properly. While some of its competitors have made major changes to their franchise modes, Madden continues to rock steady, with the developers putting most of their effort into fine-tuning what was already an outstanding feature.
GRAPHICS
Like its college counterpart, NCAA Football 2003, Madden NFL 2003 features an impressive number of new animations and boldly goes where no animation has gone before with its new "gang-tackling" animations. While you'll only see a maximum of two defenders making a tackle at the same time, it still is an outstanding addition to the overall package. But it doesn't stop there. I can't count how many new animations I've come across so far, and it seems like I spot a new one every time I turn the game on. Running backs will "get skinny" to squeeze through a hole or avoid a defensive tackle; wide receivers will hurdle defensive backs who come in too low for a tackle; quarterbacks will sidearm a pass to get it past the line; and ball carriers will constantly stretch for an extra yard.
The animations really add an additional level of realism to the total package. You FEEL that extra yard, that big hit. Power running has never been more defined than it is in Madden NFL 2003. The game runs at a consistent frame rate for the most part, but does experience some slowdowns -- mostly when you're near either end zone, and during the cut scenes following each play. It doesn't happen often, and it doesn't affect game play at all, but still needs to be mentioned. Player models look very similar to those found in Madden NFL 2002 , but are more refined. Helmets have a much brighter shine to them, which changes according to the lighting and time of day. Player faces have been improved dramatically, although you'll still come across the occasional unrecognizable guy. Stadiums, as always, are top-notch. With improvements to both grass and turf texture, they are simply the best around. All in all, the game has a much cleaner look to it than previous versions.
AUDIO
For a guy who's not ashamed to say he's still a fan of Poison, Bon Jovi and Motley Crue, Madden NFL 2003 is an absolute dream. The game features the debut of EA's new partnership with major record labels, titled EA Trax, and doesn't disappoint the rock fan in me. Songs from such artists as Bon Jovi (a new tune from their upcoming album, no doubt), Andrew W.K., Nappy Roots, Good Charlotte, (hed)p.e., OK GO, Seether, Dry Cell, Audiovent and Epidemic play while you're navigating menus. You'll also hear snippets of these tunes between plays and after touchdowns during a game - much like the way it's done at an actual game. And while you may have left Bon Jovi behind years ago, and you may be tired of hearing "Party Hard" (or any other Andrew W.K. song, since they all sound the same), it's still pretty darn cool to hear them while playing a game of Madden. And for the record, I think the new Bon Jovi tune is great. Don't get me wrong: I love the "nu" rock and rap as much as anyone, but my grandpa once gave me some great advice: "Never forget where you came from." It's a very nice debut for EA Trax, and leaves me wondering what we'll hear next from this collaboration. As far as commentary, John's back for another round and has a new booth mate: ABC's Al Michaels. And while Al's work is a bit more lively than the previous installments by Pat Summerall, I have already grown to miss Pat's contributions to the game -- much like the way I'll miss hearing Pat and John call FOX games on Sunday afternoons. Sound effects are great, as always. If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and pick up an optical digital cable. Running in Dolby 5.1 surround sound, Madden is outstanding. To get the full effect of a big hit, sit on the floor, near the subwoofer. Believe me, you'll feel it.
FOR THE CASUAL FOOTBALL GAMER
There's plenty here to keep both hardcore and casual football fans busy. If you're of the latter variety, check out Madden's new Mini-Camp feature. Traveling in John's Maddencruiser, you'll hit various training camps and perform specific tasks at each one. For example, at Kansas City's camp, you'll have to complete a passing accuracy drill. You earn points by accomplishing specific tasks in each drill, and if you earn a bronze, silver or gold trophy for your efforts, you'll unlock the option to perform the same drill in a game situation. The Mini-Camp drills are tied in with the return of Madden Cards, and some of the cards can only be unlocked in Mini-Camp mode. Speaking of Madden Cards, there's an interesting twist this time around: Some of the cards can only be unlocked if you have a saved game file from NCAA Football 2003 or NASCAR Thunder. Honestly, the cards don't interest me very much - probably because I spend so much time in Franchise Mode. But for those of you who like to collect things, have at it. A number of cards also serve as in-game cheats, which throw an interesting twist into battles between friends.
ONLINE, ANYONE?
The Playstation 2 version of Madden NFL 2003 is EA's first attempt at online console gaming, which will kick into high gear when Sony releases the Network Adaptor this week. The Xbox and GameCube versions do not support online play. I'll write more on the online aspect of the game at a later date (as soon as we get our hands on a Network Adapter).
LEARNING CURVE
Madden has a nice EAsy Play option for those who are new to the game, or prefer to keep it simple. For veterans, not much has changed. The game uses Sony's Dual Shock 2 controller to its full advantage, and shows you why the Dual Shock is still the best controller on the market. To further enhance your game, try the Practice and Football 101 modes. In Football 101, John walks you through a pre-selected play, showing you how to maximize your productivity when running the play.
LONGEVITY
Thirty years of Franchise Mode, a ton of other game play options and that trademark Madden game play make Madden NFL 2003 a definite keeper, and will keep you busy for quite some time -- probably until Madden NFL 2004 hits store shelves.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Let me make this simple: Madden NFL 2003 is the best football game I've ever played, hands down. NCAA Football 2003 held that title for a few weeks, but has now been bumped off by its big brother. But it all comes down to personal preference. It's rare that you come across a truly "bad" game these days, so saying this game is better than that game, or vice versa, is truly a matter of opinion. Madden is not what you'd call a "fast" game by any means. But to me, it accurately depicts the speed of an actual NFL game, more so than any other game on the market. If you prefer a faster, more arcade-like style of football game, Madden may not be your first choice. But if you're like me, a total football fanatic, you can't pass up the consistency and accuracy of Madden NFL 2003. There are some slowdowns in frame rate, but they don't affect game play. Keep in mind, too, that there is no such thing as the "perfect" game. And thus, a game that gets five buttons is not necessarily perfect -- it is merely a perfect representation of that particular genre. And to me, Madden is the perfect game of football. Not a perfect game, but a perfect representative of the genre. But what if the "perfect" game comes along? Hadn't thought about that one, but I'm guessing we'll be here a long time before that happens. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. To take a page from the book of Run DMC: Madden NFL 2003 is the king of rock ... there are none higher.
FINAL GRADE: 5 out of 5 buttons
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