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it's football

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Can you believe I NEVER owned a football game before and, to my knowledge, only played one once in my entire life? This was in 1994. I just never liked football until a couple years ago.

Anyway, I bought Madden 2002. I know it's an old game with outdated rosters, but that doesn't matter to me much. I just want to have fun with the game. What kind of advice do you have for someone who understands football, but, other than that one time in '94, has never played a football game before?

Will it take me a long time to understand what I'm doing? I can't fathom at the moment what it must be like for the quarterback to throw the ball to one of his players. It must be really hard to throw the ball to the correct guy and have him run as far as possible. I know nothing about what the speed of the game is going to be like either. All the players on the field might move around too quickly for me to have time to react to anything.

The reason I wanted Madden 2002 is because this game has a classic mode where you can go back to how football video games were played in the early 90's. This is good, so in case the gigantic 3D graphics become too much of a problem for me, at least I might have a shot at glory playing the game in an old-fashioned way. I wonder how many weeks or months it will take until it feels comfortable to play this game? How long will it take until understanding exactly what's happening on the field makes perfect sense?

Anyway, this Madden game has me worried because looking through the instruction booklet, each button does something different. I don't even know what most of these things mean. "cycle defenders" "secondary shifts" "power/swim". What, we're playing football underwater now? :)

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, I'm having a pretty tough time with the game. The part I said a couple days ago about worrying about the speed of the game seems to be true- I have hardly NO time to react to the defense and offense of the computer opponents. It's like making one mistake will *really* cost me. I did manage to get a touchdown with the Cincinnati Bengals. I guess luck was on my side.

I personally don't think I have the necessary skills to understand which buttons should be pressed at the exact moment a play happens. It seems all the buttons are used on the controller (including the four buttons at the top) and apparently I have to press the right button at *just* the right time. If I make a mistake, the other team will do some serious damage to me. If that's going to be the story of Madden 2002, well, then I'm done with it. Simple as that. If you actually CAN improve the more you play the game, I will continue playing it.

It's too confusing to me how, after every play, a bunch of options appear on screen asking me what I want to do next. I guess having your players line up on the field in a certain way is very important. I never have any idea what the right move is supposed to be, so I just pick one and hope for the best. I figure "hey, I'm not a genius". Unfortunately the game seems to be designed for people who know football like the back of their hands. There REALLY needs to be an easy mode.

That classic mode I mentioned about how you can play football the way it was played in the early 90's is pretty tough also. Not to mention SLOW. Each play takes forever to execute because you keep being asked questions about the next play you want to do. To add insult to injury, there seems to be a waiting period after you pick an option for the next play. It's like these really old and dirty graphics actually require LOADING. The music is insanely catchy, though. The title screen music, I mean (there is no music when playing a game)

All I know when watching football is that you have three attempts to get across the yellow line (a gain of 10 yards). Apparently you need to be much smarter and have a better understanding of the technical aspects of football to be able to execute the proper plays in video game form. These Madden games require you to be really smart and knowledgeable about the game itself. What I need is someone who has experience with Madden games to come over and show me what to do. Without help, I'm a lost puppy in the rain.

What bothers me the most is that, since they keep releasing new Madden games every year, it's expected that everyone who picks up the newest one will understand the game immediately. The people who create these games don't realize how much trouble regular fans of football will have playing a game. You CAN'T just tune in every Sunday to watch a game and expect to understand video game football. It doesn't work that way.

It's entirely possible that someone (like me) could experience the Madden series for the first time in February 2007, despite the fact that the series has been around since the early 90's. I would love to see someone play the game I just bought (Madden 2002) to see how you actually play the thing.

I'm giving the game 4 stars because I'm holding on to the hope that one day I *will* have a better understanding of how the game works and improve my skills.

Revision to my previous review- I was wrong.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 31, 2002
Author: Amazon User

My appologies to the creative people at EA Sports, who make this game, after my previous review. I had only one major criticism, but after doing some checking, I found I was wrong.

I initially thought that I could only play in Pro mode (invariably winning every game by 5-10 touchdowns), or lose every time in any higher mode than Pro.

This game is so sophisticated, I found I was able to change the game play to all-pro, and turn up the overall performance of my own players a notch, and turn down the CPU's performance a notch. In doing this, I finally am playing like I have in all previous versions of Madden: I have a pretty descent chance of winning any individual game, but it is always a dog-fight, and usually, if I win, it is by using alot of strategy. This is again the great football game (much better now on the x-box) I am used to.

This game is so sophisticated it blows my mind. With the franchise mode, I can be general manager as well as any player and coach on the team. Game play is realistic- on the TV it looks and plays very much like watching a real broadcast of an NFL game.

John Madden is always fun to hear. No one can question he is the best commentator in video games (as well as real NFL games). Pat Summerall is a very good play by play addition.

Strong points:

1. Great, and exciting game play. Very realistic. Keeps you at the edge of your seat all game (and every game).

2. Great commentary (John Madden- what else has to be said).

3. Many diverse modes to play in: Franchise, quick games, you can even simply choose to play in the play-offs.

4. Great practice mode for learning how to run specific routes and plays. John Madden walks you through it while you practice.

5. Great tips by John Madden anytime during a game- though it does not automatically mean you will score by using a recommended strategy.

6. I have heard that the upcoming release Madden 2003 will be even better- but if you can get this game at amazon or wherever for [price], new or used, for the x-box, I would not wait for the 2003 edition. It is a true bargain. You will never tire of this game.

Cons:

1. I miss being able to play historically great teams of the past (as in Madden 1999- which I still keep on windows 98)- like the 1981 49ers against Dallas in the NFC Finals, or the Great Raider teams of the past against Pittsburg.

2. The commentary is helpful and fun to listen to, as well as being very comprehensive, but once in a while the commentary has nothing to do with a play that just occured. For example, "If he keeps playing this well, he will have a career day", right after gaining 1 yard on 4th and goal on the 10 yard line. I admit I have never played any sports game where the commentary is 100% accurate to what is going on currently in the game, but sometimes the misplaced commentary in Madden 2002 makes me laugh.

3. Music? The only song played is this omnipresent rap song called "Pharaoh Madden", and goes something like "Puttin a woopin on your naural"........

Besides these trivial Cons, this game loads the most bang for your buck than any of its genre. I would buy it all over again, even for [price].

holding penalties are ridiculous

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Great graphics and some very realistic features but I am furious over the number of holding plays I keep getting especially when I use a superior team over another i.e. the all madden team vs. a regular team. The regular team rarely gets called for holding while I get called nearly a third of the time and on running downs. THAT IS BULL PLOP.

The commentary also needs a lot of work on better coordinating and adding many more so we don't hear the same thing over and over.

Also there are waaaay to many receivers dropping the ball on well thrown passes.

Great football action, but limited play options

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 19, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I loved Madden 2000 on my PS1. So suffice it to say that the graphics on my X-Box in this 2002 edition ROCK. However, I am very frustrated by the lack of plays in the Offensive playbook. I actually prefer to play my old game! I am looking for more variety in my football game. I am going to sell this one and wait for NCAA Football to come to the X-Box.

NFL FEVER IS MORE INJOYABLE AND MORE FUN

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Like I said , Fever is more injoyable and fun. Yes, the graphics on Madden is tight and it looks cool, but it is so boring. Everytime I play I can't wait til the game is over. Even the entrances are cool but it's no fun at all.

Impossible

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

It is an Impossible for a game to have that much reality in it. Madden is the greatest Game Ive ever played in my life. I love it

Awesome!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I got this as a Christams presnt and it is Awesome! I have several NFL games for Playstaion and N64, but this is the best. The graphics are so realistic that the helmet stick marks increase over time during the game. My Uncle came over and at first glance thought we were actually watching an NFL game. The 3D looks so real. This game is great for football fans(which I am). I also have NFL Fever its good, but Madden 2002 is much better.

Madden has done it again

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Now, a lot of people give me the arguement of, "I want Fever because I've played Madden for many years and want something different." Well, if your in to more arcade-type gaming, then go ahead with one of the otehr two oon the market, but Madden is for real

The simulation is amazing. Players don't dive 5 yards more than they should, jukes don't automatically score you touchdowns. You have to learn to read passs coverages and progressions. If you can do that, you can have a good passing game. But the AI if also smart. You have to run and pass evenly, or more run. You can't overpass the ball, because the defense will play too good of coverage.

I have one fault and one fault alone. You get burned alo on deep passes. They are hard to cover, and cornerbacks don't jump that well. Also, unless you change the penalties meter, offensive pass interference is called way too often.

But, despite those, this is the best game out there. It's amazing with sim and its graphics and so not be over looked.

Best NFL Game for XBo- any system!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Madden is the best game on Xbox besides Halo, although i personally like it better. First of all, this game is the only good realism (simulation) football game on the market. It lacks only create-a-play, and some of the offensive WR routes are whack, like the curls. also, the running game is slightly overrun by passing, but it is extremely easy to forget these problems, as you wont feel like they exist when playing this game. Although extremely realistic, this game maintains the fun you get from any game, simulation or arcade. First down lines just like on tv, the players breath, dirt, uniform, all extremely real. The only graphical problem is the very rare clipping classic of madden games.

Really though, i did not play madden much. I bought this by recommendation, and loved it. Then i played 2001 on comp. and i could not stand it!This madden is an extreme improvement, containing the greatness of classic maddens, with the extremely addictive additions of an Xbox game.

In addition, Pat Somerall and Madden are extremely repetitive, more-so than the previous three maddens. and pat blabbers incorrect facts about the game everyone's watching but him. But what you must realize are i'm working hard to make this collection of disadvantages, as they are hard to find. These problems will not be visible if you play the game, i guaruntee you, this game brings you into the game itself.

EA Sports ! It's (NOT) in the game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 17, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I gotta give it 1 star. (Sorry guys) This was the 1st game I bought for my X. Then came NFL 2K2! "There's a new sheriff in town." In my opinion, EA sports and Madden have lost their touch, cuz Sega Sports & Visual Concepts are developing far superior sports titles. I used to be such a huge fan of EA sports games too. Personally, I love John Madden, nothing but respect, but his game disappointed me a lot compared to NFL 2K2.
If you're looking for the best football game on the XBOX I gotta say look elsewhere and go with NFL 2K2. Peace.

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