Madden NFL 07

EA's challenge is not to simplify their simulation or stop adding detail, but to integrate those features so well that players can simply marvel at how advanced the game has become. The Superstar revisions are a step in the right direction, since they allow players to focus on the entire game one player at a time, but otherwise that's just not the case.

It’s so polished and refined. For the first time ever the series incorporates some of my favorite features from "NFL Street" (such as tapping the X button to escape a tackle). That function goes way back to the days of arcade sports titles like "NFL Blitz."

While Madden 07 does have a couple of great changes to its basic gameplay, it's beginning to feel like the same old game. It's a strong fundamental football game and lead blocker is a cool new feature, but it's not reinventing the wheel, like the passing cone was last year.

Lead Blocker - the new Madden feature that, unlike last year's passing cone, actually revolutionizes gameplay. [Sept 2006, p.82]

While I would've liked to have gotten more emotional commentary from Madden and Michaels and less graphic freezes, it's still nice to have the highlight stick and lead blocking features give the running game just as much emphasis as passing has gotten. Madden once again scores a touchdown.

It's hard not to look at the current generation version of Madden as an aging veteran on its last legs, but that veteran still has a bit of game left in it.

The current-gen versions of Superstar has the best cameras of the bunch. Next-gen is too close and too claustrophobic.

It shows depth, talent, and imagination. Everything any winning team needs.

It's Madden like you've never played it before and that's something we haven't said in a long time.

The Lead Blocking adds an all new dimension to the game, the Superstar mode lets you live the life of a NFL player, and the countless number of options and features add up to hours upon hours of enjoyment.

There's still that nagging feeling that, certainly on a few of the defensive plays, you could put down the controller and it wouldn't make any difference to how the action panned out.

One of the best new features is the NFL Network mode, which provides you with excellent tutorials for some of the NFL team's most recognizable plays.

It isn’t revolutionary, but the game still delivers a mean game of football.

The new kicking meter makes it way onto current generation, providing a ton of more control and consistency with the kicking game.

If you’re more inclined to pick up one of the older console versions, we’d recommend the PlayStation 2 version because its controller is probably the most user-friendly, and it has a connectivity feature with the PSP that allows you to transfer an entire season in Franchise Mode from the PS2 into your PSP.

It sounds like work, but putting blitzing linebackers on their rumps as your halfback flashes by is beyond satisfying.

A great interpretation of its sport. [Oct 2006, p.86]

A very occasional lack of realism aside, this is one of the most comprehensive yet accessible sports games ever to grace PS2. [Oct 2006, p.93]

Madden 07 doesn’t take an revolutionary leaps this year but does make some strides with new gameplay modes and gameplay tweaks.

A terrific chapter in the franchise’s sometimes-rocky history.

A great sports game in its own right. [Issue 144, p.98]

Despite the overall fun I had with Superstar mode, it's unfortunate other aspects of the game haven't been fixed. [Oct. 2006, p.92]

Madden NFL 07 delivers a good, enjoyable game of football and if you can look past the current-gen graphics you’ll find that it can be more fun than the sexier Xbox 360 version.

Regardless of the evolving antipathy towards current-gen, this game has its share of improvements. [Nov. 2006, p.79]

Madden has been wasting away on the current hardware for a while now, and while it is still a good football game and has a lot to offer, it doesn't rise above and really blow away the previous version.

My uneasy feelings on Madden as a premiere example of videogame-as-renewable-commodity aside, the series continues its slow and steady march of progress.

While the series is definitely far from its prime, it manages to prove once again that EA and Madden know a good game of football, just not a very new one.