Madden NFL 07

Unless PlayStation 2 is the only console you'll have this Christmas, chances are you can't help but get excited for the next-gen additions. Not only has the game shipped for Xbox 360, but Madden NFL 07 is also coming to PlayStation 3, and will have exclusive motion-sensing controls on Nintendo Wii. The prospects of those versions, whether it's improved graphics, smoother gameplay, or a new control style, are much too tasty to resist.

Though I'm sure the Madden development team is just as excited for the next generation as we are, that shouldn't let you overlook what is clearly one of the best sports titles for PlayStation 2. The developers didn't overlook it, pushing Madden as far as it can go on Sony's current-gen system. Hilarious commercials have been hyping its (and the other versions) release for weeks. Now only one question remains: does Madden NFL 07 make it worth celebrating the Maddenoliday?

Coming off of last year's quarterback innovations, Madden 07 follows in the footsteps of other EA games with additional team control elements. Players can play the old way and stick to what they know, or dive in a little deeper by commanding a lead blocker. On-screen pointers help guide the way to victory in the refined NFL Superstar: Hall of Fame mode (this time you get to control the player using his chosen position).

Lead Blocking Control is destined to be Madden 07's most talked-about new feature. At any time before a play begins, players can press or hold the circle button to select a blocker. (Pressing it switches to the nearest blocker, while holding it lets you quickly select who you wish to control with the addition of the D-pad.) Instead of controlling your runner as usual, you'll be able to manually prevent your opponents from getting to the man with the ball.

As with any new, dynamic play mechanic, choosing to block over running or passing is extremely risky. The player is putting that other function on the computer AI, while you are now faced with the duty of ensuring the runner doesn't get sacked.

With time the benefits outweigh the risk, primarily when you get used to the idea of stopping your opponent's progression. Opponents can be blocked in a few specific ways, each one using a control function similar to that of the Highlight stick. Impact blocks – the most powerful of all – are delivered by pushing up on the right stick. Pull back on the right stick to cut block the defender, or press L1 to bring him to the ground. L2 and R2 also have a purpose, letting you turn your opponent to either the left or right side. This happens while you're holding onto him. The turn sets him off course, making it more difficult to escape your block and sack the quarterback.

Last year's Truck Stick returns in updated form as the Highlight Stick. The basic concept is the same: push up, down, left or right to evade or overpower attackers while carrying the ball. The trick is to time it just right. You'll be sacked if you push the stick too soon or too late. It took a few games for me to get used to this concept, but by my third I had begun to grasp the subtle differences in player distance and animations. This allowed me to better judge which move should be used, and how quickly it should be executed.

Speaking of animations, the game has several that are triggered based on the player you're controlling. Weight, height, and statistical ratings have an effect on how your player will deal with the situation. Big guys will attempt to rush through a tackle, while smaller ball-carriers might dodge the assault with a fancy spin move. The action is the same on the player's side (push up on the right stick), but the animations differ to add depth and individuality to each character, keeping the game's fresh scent from fading too soon.

On the field players look great and react well to nearly every situation that's thrown at them. Suppose you've got the ball and you're going for a touchdown. All of a sudden you get sacked, falling face first into grass. While your body is slammed against the field, another opponent (who was rushing toward you at the time) has little time to stop. The solution: he jumps over you, quickly and seamlessly, making it look as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

There are a lot of moments like this, where players react to tackles, failed passes, successful passes, QB sacks, and other common plays in a not-so-common way. The graphic engine does not look that far beyond last year's edition, but the individual players and player animations are unquestionably at the top of their game.

NFL Superstar: Hall of Fame, the mode where you birth a potential athletic hero, has been overhauled to give you total control over your athlete's position. The basics are the same: scroll through various menus, conduct interviews, simulate day-to-day events, etc. These things can change the place your player will eventually end up, but they're repetitive and don't feel very hands-on.

The inclusion of position-specific controls and commands changes that. Early on you'll have only have specific control of your player while training. Training may be as quick and simple as a mini-game where you have to evade three blockers and capture three flags. You'll have to practice plays, which makes you look good in the eyes of your agent and your team, and will undoubtedly improve the performance of the one in control (that would be you, the actual person controlling the character).

During the first game everything runs as normal. You can select any player, choose to pass, receive, or block. This chances as you advance. Eventually you will only be in control of your player, who can only take on his specific position. In other words, if you’re a quarterback, your only responsibility is make a successful pass. Catching the pass is the responsibility of your AI-controlled teammates.

Awesome? Yes. Challenging? You bet. It's hard letting go of the other positions, but now you know what real athletes have to deal with. They can't control every aspect of the game – they have to rely on their teammates to pull through to victory. And in this mode, so do you.

Madden 07 offers a few tutorials that explain the new features and gameplay styles. The NFL Network mode could be described as an in-depth tutorial, going into great detail about specific plays. Sterling Sharpe provides commentary, breaking down plays from each team's playbook. A brief text description precedes each play, followed by the ability to preview and/or practice the play.

Practicing is nothing new – you can repeat plays as much as you like. The new preview breakdown is much more helpful than I expected. As a gamer, not a sports enthusiast, I only care about winning in this game. Sharpe's comments were surprisingly helpful, explaining why I'd want to use each particular play and when. A few practice round later and I was ready to test it out in a real game.

Madden 07's Franchise is an updated version of past Franchise modes, featuring a training camp with statistical upgrades, and a gameplan section that lets you practice key plays that the team could be facing in the next game. By participating in training games like Clutch Kicking (field goals), players will be able to increase their kick power or kick accuracy. Ground Attack, a mini-game of pushing, dodging, and running for a touchdown, can increase your carrying, agility, or tackle break stats.

Madden NFL's soundtrack has featured debut songs from Blink-182 and Green Day, the two biggest names in punk rock music. Madden 07 doesn't include any artists of their popularity, but it does offer a punk-centric soundtrack on par with Burnout 3. Many of the artists, like Hit the Lights and The Panic Channel, are getting their first taste of mainstream exposure, while AFI and Keane are having a double-whammy with MTV and Madden rotation.

Madden is not necessarily the best place to listen to new music, as the only time you'll ever hear a song in its entirety is on the menu screens (and in training camp, provided the exercise lasts long enough). But the songs are great, and like Burnout 3, the last SSX, and other EA classics, I have a list of featured artists whose CDs I'll soon add to my collection.

Other notable bands featured in Madden 07:

• 30 Second to Mars

• Audioslave (new track)

• Rise Against

• Taking Back Sunday

• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Gameplay: 9.0
Exciting, addictive, significantly enhanced – Madden 07 is the premiere sports package for PS2. 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. These additions do not detract from the simulation aspect one bit. Instead, they enhance the game’s speed, intensity, and appeal.

Die-hard, casual, and every Madden fan in between will be satisfied as usual. But this time around, the game reaches out to those who might not typically buy a Madden release. If you’re not ready to plunk down the cash for it, give it a few days. You are all but guaranteed to have at least one friend who will buy it and encourage you to play. Listen to him – he knows what he’s talking about.

Graphics: 8.0
Great character models; terrific, less predictable animations; and realistic texturing are the highlights of Madden 07’s graphics. You’ll have to look hard to significant differences between this game and last year’s edition, or even this game and Madden 05. But what’s there, repeated or not, looks fantastic. Player animations are noticeably improved, and with the PS2’s power seemingly maxed out, that’s about all we can hope for until the PS3 version arrives.

Sound: 9.0
Accurate, relevant commentary from the man who inspired the franchise. The soundtrack is packed with rock music from several top-tier up-and-coming artists, plus new hits from established musicians like Keane and Audioslave. There are also a few tracks from some fairly known rap artists, and some exclusive themes you won’t hear anywhere else. Those aren’t my taste, but that’s why this soundtrack perseveres – it gives me what I want without ignoring what someone else might be looking for. Music “on” and “off” switches let you eliminate the songs you don’t wish to hear, so no one ever has to reach for the mute button.

Difficulty: Medium
The new running mechanics present an interesting (but not overwhelming) challenge to gamers both hardcore and casual. Fans of NFL Street are encouraged to come over to the simulation side now that a few of its key offensive maneuvers have been implemented. 

Concept: 8.0
One word: evolutionary. That’s what Madden 07 does for football games. It pushes the genre, not just its own series, forward. Developers of other football titles (NFL Street, Blitz League, etc.) will have to re-examine how they design their running game. Consequently, the Madden development team will have to work twice as hard to top themselves the next time around.

Multiplayer: 9.3
The additional play styles, tweaked controls and new mechanics make Madden 07 a killer sports game, whether you’re playing alone or with a group of friends. Its multiplayer mode will carry it well into the new year, as players continually compete for Hall of Fame supremacy long after the single-player modes have been completed.

Overall: 9.0
With the next generation going into full force this Christmas, many are probably wondering if they should invest in a Madden title for their current platform or wait for the shiny new ones to come out. Madden 07 for the PlayStation 2 lives up to the series legacy, delivering a AAA performance with new features and evolved gameplay mechanics. If the Xbox 360 version has all these features then I'd definitely recommend you go with that version. But if PS2 is all you got, or if you just can't wait any longer – don't. This current-gen version doesn't disappoint.