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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 I know it's an old game with outdated rosters, but that doesn't matter to me much.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.

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.

Madden 2002, great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you like the Madden series, you will love this game. The graphics are astonashing, and the gameplay is amazing. It is a little slow looking at times, but none the less it is such a fun game.

Best football game for 2002.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: January 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This was a great game to get in 2002. Dont bother now, get 2003 but only for the better rosters. I guess you could do this in 2002 but you need to update stats and trade players away, ex. Ricky Williams to the dolphins but it might take a while. ALso you can't add players to the Texans. The controls and gameplay is great. The commentary is average but the player models look fantastic with real-life faces that you can make. You could make a moustached-bearded 400 pound guy or a little, bald, 160 pound kicker. Overall- a great port.

It sucks!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 16
Date: November 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game has OK graphics. It's gameplay SUCKS, everything SUCKS!

Addictive

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: November 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Madden 2002 is an awesome football game! You will be amazed at the graphics on this game. One of the cool things about Madden 2002 is the training camp mode that teaches you how to do every play! Madden 2002 is a great game to try.

Great Game, With a Few Problems...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: September 09, 2002
Author: Amazon User

First off, let may start off with these words: Madden is a challenging yet fun game. Addictive after getting into a good franchise, there are so many good things about it it'll keep you entertained forever. However, there were a few flaws:

The graphics, first off, are excllent. A clean helmet reflects a beautiful shine, a dirty helmet, well... The tackles look extremely realistic, as sometimes you'll get pulled down by the leg, and sometimes you'll get creamed and knocked back a few yards. The sounds of each tackle are awsome and realistic, and sometimes when your on defense, it'll take 2 or 3 people to knock a good running back down...which is quite true in the NFL. The uniforms look very sharp, with shadows, dirty uniforms, and overall smooth figures.

The stadiums look great, and it's always cool to hear the game attendance. Yes, they annouce the game attendance (like say 45,875). It changes from time to time, and big games will get big draw outs, small games will get small drawouts. Incredibly realistic.

The gameplay is decent, but not great. It's always challenging, and something about it makes it too challenging. In past Madden games, it's been too easy to go to the Super Bowl every year even on the hardest settings. In this game, it's way to hard on even All Pro (Easy, Pro, All Pro, Madden Pro). First off on Gameplay, if the opposing receiver or running back breaks free, he's gone! There is no way too catch up with a receiver even with the tiniest lead. No spead gainer, no sprint button. And on offense, the CPU defenders seem to be blessed with super-human speed, catching up with a person even with a 10 yard cushion. Your receivers always drop passes, even someone like Isaac Bruce, and is nearly impossible for the player to get a sack. All this on the all pro, I wonder what it's like on Madden... But if your like me, and have been waiting for a challenge in a madden game, this will definantly give you a challenge.

Options in this game our incredible; there are so many things to do! Franchise, where u start a Franchise (optional, fantasy draft). Create a coach, salary cap, create a team (with uniforms, logos, stadiums, everything. It's from scratch u start from create a team, and the uniforms u can design!). Season, practice, training, madden cards, exibition, etc... You can create a whole new team, from the uniforms, logo, name (yes the people can pronouce the name just like u me, like say Dallas Sharks), stadium name, capacity of the stadium(a million if u want), the type of stadium (bowl, dome). U can put this team into a season, franchise (10 seasons), or even exibition. U can have a fantasy draft, salary cap, even be the coach of your team. There are so many things to do. You'll never get bored of options in this game, never.

Finally, the overall depth. It's fun! The commentary, unfortunantly, hasn't changed since the 1998 version, but it's still decent... The player ratings are pretty good, the whole thing plays pretty well. There's a typical "Person in seat 73B, you have won a lifetime supply of hot dogs" from the comentor, and the players actually react to what happens. They even shake hands and high five at the end of a victory. The coaches get angry on a bad play, clench their fist in satisfaction on a well devised score. U can really c that Ea put a lot of thought into Madden 2002.

Overall, this is an excellent game, but if your not up to a huge challenge, I wouldn't buy it (go for Blitz). But if you want a realistic game, that's fun, has many options, great graphics and brings the atmosphere of the NFL into your house. This is the game for you!

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].

Madden NFL 2002

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: July 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Madden 2002 is a solid football game, but there's no hiding from the fact that it wasn't specifically built to take advantage of the Xbox's capabilities. Because of this, I can't shake the feeling that this game isn't all that it could've been. The improvements in graphics are definitely noticable but not on par with what we expect from the Xbox.

But the 64 dollar question is which game is the best out of NFL 2K2, Madden 2002 and NFL Fever 2002. Fever and NFL 2K2 are in more direct competition with each other than with Madden 2002. There's an obvious arcade-leaning gameplay mechanic in Fever and 2K2 that Madden just does not have. The EA game requires a play style that's been refined, learned and accepted over the years that can be pretty unforgiving to the uninitiated, but that is its charm. When I look at Madden objectively, which we try to do here, it plays a lot slower than either of the other two games, but I also see that it's intentional. Madden 2002 isn't going to wow you with its speed --even if you're running the ball with Edgerrin James-- because you're supposed to be awed by its authentic blocking and defensive AI.

It's NFL substance over style that we've come to expect from Madden games and that's what Madden NFL 2002 gives us.

The best!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: July 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Without any reservation I would recommend this game highly. With detailed control and options available it will keep you entertained for longer then you think(or assume).

Top reasons for 5 stars.

Franchise mode(none better as of yet on any system)
Create-a-player(incredible!)
Visuals( stunning! not like fever's ape like player movements.)
Adaptabilty and contol of gameplay and Roster.

To be honest this is the first game I have been impressed enough to write a review for. Now don't get me wrong halo and Payne were great and so far I really like Test Drive. I'm not saying that Madden 02 is better than those games in general. But in its genre it is better than the rest and I wanted to pass on my recommendation for anyone looking for a great x-box football experience.

J.

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