Madden football makes its way onto Xbox 360 just in time for launch, which is good news for pigskin fans. It definitely looks nice, no worries there, but it is very light in the features list. If all you want is a pretty game to use to show off your new Xbox 360, Madden gets the job done. If you want a solid game of football, however, you are better off with the Xbox version of Madden 06.
Gameplay
We already reviewed Madden 06 for the Xbox, so to find out about gameplay basics, and in depth coverage of features check out our
Madden 06 Xbox review. For this review, we’re going to cover just what is different, for better or worse, about Madden on Xbox 360 compared to the game on Xbox.
Madden 06 was built from the ground up for the Xbox 360, but it still feels just like you would expect. The on-the-field action is just as good as in other versions of Madden 06. There are a few changes here, though. The play calling system has been reworked and separated into a bunch of categories. You can choose plays by formation, play type, coaches picks, Ask Madden, and key player (so you can get the ball in the hands of your big money guy). This gives you easy access to a huge number of different plays and options and the series is definitely better for it. For whatever reason, some of the controls from previous games such as defensive playmaker controls have been cut while less popular stuff like the QB vision cone are included. Whats up with that?
Features
The gameplay is sharp in Madden 06, but it misses the mark by a wide margin in terms of features and modes. There is no minicamp, no practice mode, no create-a-player, no minigames, and no superstar mode. Franchise mode is included, but you can’t scout rookies and the e-mail and news tracking and Tony Bruno radio stuff is all gone. You can play through 30 seasons, but all of the depth and personality is gone so you probably won’t want to. The other modes are quick play and online. Online play runs smoothly and is technically sound, but it lacks features from the Xbox version and there are no leagues. An online sports game with no leagues? That is insanity! One huge change in Madden 06 for the 360 is that you can’t challenge plays. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but you’ll miss it the next time there is a phantom touchdown or a “tuck rule” incident. Another issue I have is that you can’t pick two teams and let the computer play so you can watch. This is a game you are going to want to just sit back and soak it all in with a TV-style presentation, but you can’t.
Graphics and Sound
Madden NFL 06’s best feature is, of course, the graphics. The stadiums and crowds have never ever looked better than they do right here. The players, from the reflections on helmets to the fabric of their uniforms and the sweat dripping off of them are intricately detailed and look great. The animation is also very good and has been improved in a number of areas to look even more realistic. This is hands down the best looking football game ever. But that shouldn’t be a surprise.
The sound is also very well done. The music and sound effects are most of the same stuff from the Xbox version, but it all sounds great. There are some big differences in the sound here, though. First of all, John Madden isn’t the announcer. He has been replaced by a radio-style announcer who is infinitely better than fat John ever was. Also, you now hear a lot more chatter between the players on the field as well as NFL films dialogue in the huddle. All in all, the new audio presentation is far superior to Madden in he past and is a step in a promising new direction.
Bottom Line
Madden NFL 06 for the Xbox 360 looks and sounds nice and plays fairly well, but it is merely a shell of the Madden we have come to expect over the past few years. I wasn’t super thrilled with Madden 06 on the Xbox (it was still great game of football, but it wasn’t a very good value since there wasn’t much different from the 2005 version) so a game that is even more stripped down and bland than the regular version is definitely not what I wanted to see here. The fact of the matter is that Madden 06 on the Xbox has more features and plays far better than Madden 06 on the Xbox 360. If you want a football game and have to have Madden, get the Xbox version. Madden on the 360 certainly looks great and can be a showcase title for the system if graphics are all you care about, but it definitely isn’t worth $60. Give it a rental just to ogle the graphics.
