Sports video games are like cars: Their basic functionality changes little from year to year, but designers add enough new gizmos to make last year's model seem like an Edsel. And so it is with Madden NFL 06, the latest release in EA Sports' series bearing the moniker of football sportscaster John Madden. Wanna look under the hood to see how this year's model stacks up?
Eagle Eyes
The glory of Madden NFL 06 is how it gives an armchair quarterback the chance to put his money where his mouth is. I loved stepping into the cleats of Denver Bronco players against the Oakland Raiders. Losing my first game in overtime was almost as disappointing as it is in real life. (If only I could figure out how to kick field goals accurately!)
If you haven't played a sports video game in the last few years, you'd be amazed by the level of realism these days. After choosing a play from an encyclopedic playbook, your quarterback takes his place under center and begins barking out "huts." Depending on the play, you'll hand off to a back, roll out for a pass or run the ball yourself. If the offensive line opens a hole or protects you in the pocket, you'll have the satisfaction of advancing the ball. The sights and sounds (thankfully, not the smells—technology hasn't progressed that far ... yet) of pro football come to life, complete with Al Michaels and John Madden offering colorful commentary: "Boom! That was a big hit. Snot bubbles, baby!"
The new features in Madden NFL 06 focus on making quarterback play more lifelike. The first of these is QB Vision Control. Accuracy of passes increases to receivers within the QB's field of vision, which is noted by a lighted, cone-shaped area emanating from him. (Years of experience give veterans such as Brett Favre and Peyton Manning a big advantage over younger players such as Michael Vick and Aaron Rodgers in this area.) In addition to better on-field vision, your QB can now put a fine touch, called Precision Passing, on his tosses as well, leading receivers exactly where they need to go to evade pesky defensive backs.
Two other new features expand gameplay beyond the field. Switching to NFL Superstar mode puts you in charge of a marquee player's life. You'll juggle time between meeting with your mentor, your agent and the media, not to mention getting the best haircut to attract the cameras' attention. Similarly, Franchise Mode lets you manage every aspect of your team: its roster, training camp, ticket prices and the cost of concession items (including beer). These Sims-like features add a new dimension of realism to the Madden franchise.
Tackles and Fouls
Football is a game of controlled violence, and this year Madden NFL 06 has added another feature designed to simulate big hits more accurately. The "hit stick" allows a defensive player to unleash an extraordinarily explosive hit. Sometimes the player on the receiving end fumbles ... or gets hurt. Usually, the result is a highlight replay. The offensive version of the same function is called the "truck stick," which enables a ball-carrier to "go Okoye"—a reference to former Kansas City player Christian Okoye's ogre-like ability to dismantle a defense.
As with many games in this genre, the only areas that draw flags are two off-field features: the cheerleaders and soundtrack. This year, thankfully, programmers have toned down the presence of prodigiously—and ridiculously—endowed digital cheerleaders, who no longer dance between quarters and at the half. But real footage of NFL cheerleaders shakin' their barely covered bodies still shows up in 11 of the game's 38 cinematic cut-scenes. Madden NFL 06 also comes loaded with a rock and rap soundtrack. Most of the time these songs are hard to hear clearly unless you're listening very closely, which is pretty unlikely during fierce gameplay. If you do so, however, you'll hear some questionable lyrics from artists such as Godsmack, Disturbed and Memphis Bleek.
You Make the Call
Madden NFL 06 offers football fans an impressive arsenal of options they can use to try to prevail against gridiron adversaries. And the result is an engaging virtual simulation of NFL action. It's "fantasy football" at its best—as long as you dodge the questionable cut-scenes.
