Madden 2006

[Jeno]

I cant remember seeing this mentioned, but do any of you guys have Madden 2006 on the Xbox 360?

I can honestly say, that it's undoubtedly the best NFL game i've ever played, and a strong contender for the best sports game i've ever played!

Any opinions?

[Dave Gray]

I haven't played this game, but I've simply heard (from game reviewers that I trust) that the game on XBOX360 is okay.  ...that it's just got better graphics, but it's essentially the same thing as before.

What system do you have it for?

I always prefered SEGA's football games (once I found out about them, in 2K2.)  What about this Madden game makes it so good?

I'm not trying to crap on your tastes, like I said I haven't played it...I'm just curious.

[Jeno]

No Dave its cool.

I'm suprised to hear that about the Sega Football Games? I've never actually played one to be honest. I've got this on the Xbox 360, it was the first game i bought with it.

Madden 2006 i felt was simply the best NFL game so far, for a number of reasons really:

Positives:

1. The Graphics and Sound (as you mentioned) in my opinion was the best that i've seen on any sports game.

The graphics are real clean and crisp, along with the players who are more involved in the game than others getting dirtier with each play. To go with that, the sound from the crowd is amazing. From a sack, to getting loud on 3rd down, its excellent.

2. Realism.

I'm not sure who actually played Madden 2005, but with that game i found it to be way too easy to dodge tackles from the likes of Lewis and Urlacher by simply pressing "Spin" or "Stiff Arm" when you approached the oncoming defender. In 2006, when you run up the middle and to the outside, its not easy to dodge tackles when you turn the difficulty up, and i find the general gameplay to be more realistic.

Players drop sure catches when their morale is low, along with weaker quarterbacks rushing their throws when there's some pressure on them. Vick just tucks it away every time and runs through the holes, and Brady always seems to find a target!

3. Difficulty. To be honest, i find this game easier than Madden 2005 incertain ways, and more difficult in others.

First of all, i find the coverage to be a bit loose in this game from time to time compared to 2k5, in that its very easy to expose areas left open by blitzers. On the other hand, pressure comes at you easier from the D-Line and Linebackers, so you're forced to scramble a bit more (or maybe its cos the Dolphins O-Line Sucks). And without your feet being set, you tend to throw a lot less accurately, even with the newly acquired Daunte Culpepper as a Dolphin.

I could put together a longer list of positives, but i didnt want to make it seem like im totally blind in my opinion of this game, so...

Negatives:

1. Front Office.

The level of activity regarding players in Madden 2006 is greatly reduced compared to the last edition. I'm not saying that i miss the "Tony Bruno Show" from Madden 2005, but i feel that the game greatly misses the Pre-Season Drills, Training Camp, and CERTAINLY a more in-depth draft.

2. Player contracts.

As in the NFL each season, players contracts are re-negotiated and adjusted to create cap room, through the means of bonuses etc, which is not the case in this game.

You can't put together any kind of bonuses/incentives to compensate for a large salary demand, and this makes signing players a bit tricky from time to time. To go with that theres very little room for negotiation with players at all, if there salary/bonus is altered slightly, theres no chance of signing them.

Aware as i am that this is often the case in the NFL, that if one team won't pay the asked price, another will just come along and pay it - and thats fine. But there are players out there with enough loyalty to/interest in a team that they would be willing to negotiate, and i feel that this is an aspect that is seriously lacking in this game.

I just get the feeling that EA were a little bit cautious in their efforts this year aside from gameplay, all the added bonuses to this game are a little limited given the amount of power available on the 360, or maybe its just that they had to rush the game a little bit, given the release date of the 360.

SO, yes there is some holes in the game, but most of them are off the field.

In terms of gameplay, sound, effects, and realism, i found it to be head and shoulders above any other game i've played. 9.5/10!

Don't go buying an Xbox 360 and Madden 2006 cos of me Dave! But it's definitely worth renting if you can!

[Dave Gray]

I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it.  I don't really play many games these days, but I was really into it -- especially football games -- a few years back.  I had played Madden for years...it's really all I knew about, but this game called SEGA NFL 2K got GREAT REVIEWS from a site I trust, Gamespot.com.  I didn't think much of it....then the next year, SEGA NFL 2K1 got GREAT REVIEWS from the same site.  ...I still played Madden, although it wasn't reviewed as well, because it's what I knew.  When I got my XBOX, I decided to get SEGA NFL 2K2 after it also got great reviews.  I was astonished at what I'd been missing.

Since then, Madden has seen the power of SEGA, and has caught up some, I believe.  SEGA did those whole "cinematic camera" thing in the huddle, where it felt like you were watching a game...they had great attention to detail, and the physics engine was a lot more fun.  Madden's running game and their ice hockey game felt the same to me...it was like you were on ice.  Plus, Madden didn't cooperate with XBOX Live, and SEGA NFL (later called ESPN NFL) did.  Now, Madden does, as well.

What happened, though, is that Madden bought the exclusive rights to the NFL, so that no other companies can make games with the real logos and teams.  To me, that's just a shame, no matter which company did it.  Competition always made the games better for both companies, but now Madden is the only NFL football sim game out there.

[GUATARICCAN]

I saw this at Circuit City, hooked up to a big screen HD tv and surround sound and all I can say is that I almost cried it looked so good.

[Pats2006]

The game sucks, I have it. There are two many glitches. Shit freezes up all the time. I know I have had the game from day 1. You will see. They rushed the game to have it done for the release of the 360. The game is nothing like the Madden for Xbox. Yea the game looks good on the 360 but that about it! I hope Madden 07 is allot better that 07.

[bsfins]

I started to write a review,on this in early march..but just didn't feel it worth the time...

I read alot of the reviews about it...About alot of the people didn't like the QB vision,and the way the game played....Well, I bought my computer,so I wouldn't have to but a new console every few years...

I bought the PC version of Madden 2006 for about $12 @ walmart (19.97 - $5 (25% off Computer games *) -$3 off anything I buy at wal mart coupon **)

Note- I never could get Madden 2005 to work on my computer,so i was playing madden 2004 W/ 05/06 rosters.

On to 2006...
On PC
Positives
- You can turn off the Qb vision
- It's a little better graphicly
- It's pretty much the same madden
- a tipped pass,doesn't act like it was just thrown into a wall....it sometimes diverts it's path.
-Recievers tend to look for the ball while in the air...
- in franchise mode....when you draft...you can actually draft some guy that has a rating over 70,past the 10th pick in the draft...Guy's that are rated 75 are picked in rounds 2,3,4,and occasionally 5....

nuetral
-defensive playmaker...you can choose to blitz/cover/zone a certain LB/Safty/Corner/Out of any play...

Negatives (I'll just list the majors...)
- It still cheats like a MOFO....A pass being thrown 25 yards down field,isn't going to be intercepted by a 5'11" MLb standing 3 yards off the line of scrimmage.

-Now when you're playing a franchise,you have to play owners mode....Teams moving changing uniforms ETC,ETc,ETC...(the eagles moved and now have pink Uni's)

- superstar mode..I tried to play this..just thought it was pretty lame....

- the QB precision passing....It Never works..(You're supposed to be able to control where you throw the pass...low and away from the defender,jump ball...)
There is no real control over the pass...the Computer pretty much throws it where it wants....

- the Profile still sucks....it's has gotten less,and less useful over the years....You can't save audibles from a custom made playbook...You can't do Formation audibles with a custom playbook...

-My Major Complaint....(makes me want to punch the Screen)...When trying to play a hurry up/2 minute offense...You can't change the play till everyone is back on the line,into the the formation of the previous play....then,after the audible is called (with the clock running) it wont let you hike the ball it makes you sit there for like 5-6 seconds...This is also compounded by...They have a player celebrating,over a 2 yard reception..with no timeouts..and 35 seconds left in the game...In the NFL...in a hurry up....Players don't stop to signal first down,or get pissed with the clock running......

I've switched my attention to MVP baseball for the past week or 2...So I know I've left a few things out....


* - they were rearranging the Electronics department,and instead of moving all the games,for like 1 day around the superbowl,they discounted all video games 25% off

** - I won a $3 off any purchase at walmart coupon as a door prize

[Jeno]

Good post B, and i agree with a lot of your sentiments regarding the game.

Going with the "no huddle" that takes almost as long as looking at the playbook really pisses me off too. But i never usually have to worry about that cos i win all my games

Jus jokin, yeah thats a pretty shitty feature though. And it is obvious alright that the whole thing was a bit of a rush job, but i still found it to be head and shoulders above the rest.

But even more annoying i find is another you mentioned which i forgot to put in my own analysis, the fact that slow outside linebackers are able to cover a 4 Wide Receiver set, 25 yards downfield and defend the pass. This kinda forces me to run more crossing routes, and then they DIVE to intercept passes sometimes! Madness! Expecially when the Dolphins Secondary cant even do that!

The game sucks, I have it. There are two many glitches. Shit freezes up all the time. I know I have had the game from day 1. You will see. They rushed the game to have it done for the release of the 360. The game is nothing like the Madden for Xbox. Yea the game looks good on the 360 but that about it! I hope Madden 07 is allot better that 07.

I'd say Madden '07 will be something special alright, this one was a bit of a rushed job, but i still cant put the pad down!

[raptorsfan29]

how do i update rosters and put rookies into the league. import i think is the correct term

[Pats2006]

Jeno what is your Game tag? My tag is Cpl Rabi

[Jeno]

Pats, my Gamertag is Jeno.

I've gotta update my subscription, that'll be this weekend hopefully, so i'll be sure to add you.

[cyan]

i bought the game along with a few others when the 360 launched. i hate madden, and have ever since NFL 2K2 came out...but i saw it, and had to have it. the game is actually pretty good (for a madden game, of course).  i really just got it for the graphics...but it can't touch NFL 2K5, or ESPN NFL Football (NFL 2K4). and that's the problem i have with this post, you say it's the best football game you've ever played, but you haven't played the best one ever made...and it only cost $20 when it came out...still worth getting IMO because it's much better than any of the madden games, great graphics being considered or not.