Official Madden 2006 Impressions Thread

[kevinpars]

I think that practice really helped me out in learning how to use the passing cone.

Unlike NCAA. When I tried to use practice to learn how to defend against the bomb, I discovered that one of the reasons that sack numbers are high in NCAA is because the AI doesn't get rid of the ball. I felt like I was watching FSU and Chris Rix because the damn AI qb would hold the ball even if someone was open. Very frustrating.

I wish you could control the speed of the R button when moving the cone. It moves way too fast, but maybe it is that way on purpose.

[Danimal]

I'll stay away from badgun from now on, but just for you my DSPal.

Whoa whoa whoa...who invited you to the club? That sh*t's exclusive man.

As long as he pays the monthly $100 membership fee we can let him and anyone else in.

I see myself sticking with ESPN 2K5 until we get an idea what Madden for the 360 looks like.

Not enjoying it at all?

[ScoopBrady]

What gets me is the fact that people have been ripping on Madden's lack of innovation or failure to address gameplay issues for the past 4 + years and now that they finally have done something about it it goes unnoticed since they have an exclusive license.

Vision passing is NOT a gimmick. It accurately represents how a quarterback goes through his progressions during a passing play. Is it hard? Yes, at first it is but after time on the practice field it starts to become more and more second nature.

Mario running is 95% gone. That is friggin' HUGE. Yet I hardly hear anyone bring that up. Not one review has mentioned this and hardly anyone's impressions include to mention this either.

There's people that claim that this game is nothing but a roster upgrade with flashlight passing. They could not be more wrong. This is the biggest upgrade the Madden series has seen from one year to another in at least 10 years. Is it a new engine? Nope, but they did a lot of tweaking to the current engine and the game plays so much different than last years game it's not even funny.

I was as nervous as anyone that EA would screw something up and we'd be screwed since there's no other options but in year one of the exclusive NFL deal EA brought their A game. Now there's 4 more years to go.

[Sudz]

and?

[Sudz]

and?

[bdoughty]

Not enjoying it at all?

Not enough for the $49.99 pricetag when I am still enjoying ESPN 2K5 and can easily update the rosters. Sold it for $50 and the guy saved paying tax, for me it was the price of a rental. This gerneration of Madden has simply been a letdown for me. It still feels like the same Madden I played years ago in the areas that are improtaint to ME (emphasis on ME). For some that is not a bad thing. To me the cone being left on for the CPU offense is a horrid decision and ruins playing defense to a degree and is like giving spoilers to a movie. I still have plenty of pinballing, mario running, ghost tackles and collision detection that is just as bad as it was years ago. As I have stated earlier I hope that Madden fixes this and the presentaiton in Madden 360 or I will just have to keep the fingers crossed for a miracle Madden 2007. Again if no other game in the genre was able to accomplish these things I would not have much of a complaint, but they have. Even NCAA 2006 looks more vivid and graphically enhanced then Madden 2006 (at least on the Xbox).

Life is to short to worry about what others like. I love ESPN MLB and many think it is crap on a stick. Where to me it is fried cheese on a stick (oh how I miss eating those).

I was as nervous as anyone that EA would screw something up and we'd be screwed since there's no other options but in year one of the exclusive NFL deal EA brought their A game. Now there's 4 more years to go.

PreSnap features - sure will give you that

Vision Cone - No complaints as it can be turned off on offense. Ooops forgot to add A menu option to remove for the CPU.

Superstar Mode - Ain't got game

Graphics/art department - virtually MIA.

Since I no longer own the game I will leave the discussion as it is best left for people who have the game.

[Jason]

To me the cone being left on for the CPU offense is a horrid decision and ruins playing defense to a degree and is like giving spoilers to a movie.

For this reason alone I won't purchase the game. I'm glad I was able to find a definitive answer on this option before buying the game.

[ScoopBrady]

The cpu cone is not a big deal to me. It moves around so quickly it doesn't gives the play away to me. The ability to turn it off would be nice for some but it doesn't detract from the experience IMO.

[bkrich83]

The cpu cone is not a big deal to me. It moves around so quickly it doesn't gives the play away to me. The ability to turn it off would be nice for some but it doesn't detract from the experience IMO.

It's just like reading the eyes of the QB. Not to mention the CPU looks me off all the time.

[ScoopBrady]

The cpu cone is not a big deal to me. It moves around so quickly it doesn't gives the play away to me. The ability to turn it off would be nice for some but it doesn't detract from the experience IMO.

It's just like reading the eyes of the QB. Not to mention the CPU looks me off all the time.

Exactly. DB's are aware of which receiver the qb is looking at most of the time anyways.

[Leebo33]

To me the cone being left on for the CPU offense is a horrid decision and ruins playing defense to a degree and is like giving spoilers to a movie.

For this reason alone I won't purchase the game. I'm glad I was able to find a definitive answer on this option before buying the game.

It really isn't that big of deal. It's pretty cool once you get used to it. I'd highly recommend trying the game out, especially if you've liked any Madden in this generation. If you live near a Circuit City you can get it for $39.99 and sell if you don't like for no loss.

I am far far from a joystick jockey (I *just* moved up to AA in NCAA after about 20 games on Varsity ), but I am already completing a good percentage of my passes and not getting sacked too much on All-Pro (Pro is way too easy even for me). I am throwing too many interceptions, but that is expected and all but a few have been totally my fault.

My biggest problem is punt returns. I have to fair catch almost every one.

I LOVE having the accelerated gameclock and in-game saves back (I didn't play much of any video football games last year after absolutely playing ESPN Football and NCAA 2004 to death the year before).

[reeche]

The cpu cone is not a big deal to me. It moves around so quickly it doesn't gives the play away to me. The ability to turn it off would be nice for some but it doesn't detract from the experience IMO.

It's just like reading the eyes of the QB. Not to mention the CPU looks me off all the time.

Exactly. DB's are aware of which receiver the qb is looking at most of the time anyways.

Yes except their is no cone on the field when it happens in real life. It's a simplistic interpretation of something that is far more complex in real life so to me it's beyond pointless and verginging into annoying. More power to anybody who enjoys it but a cone on the field is one of the silliest ideas I've ever seen. I'd rather they fix existing issues before they start whipping out the cones but that's just me.

[Leebo33]

It's a simplistic interpretation of something that is far more complex in real life

Do you mean like hitting a 300 yard drive, racing a vehicle at high speeds, slamming a basketball, kicking a 50 yard FG, hitting a 90 mph fastball, or almost every activity that is performed in video games?

[reeche]

It's a simplistic interpretation of something that is far more complex in real life

Do you mean like hitting a 300 yard drive, racing a vehicle at high speeds, slamming a basketball, kicking a 50 yard FG, hitting a 90 mph fastball, or almost every activity that is performed in video games?

Of course everything is an abstraction from real life. There are good abstractions and bad ones. Because you try something new doesn't make it sim like nor does it actually make it useful ,however, mileage may very as always. If people like a passing cone more power to em. Just my two cents is that for the a game that tends to pride itself on being a simulation, a passing cone is down on a list of about 1000th of what I would be asking for.

[bkrich83]

It's just like reading the eyes of the QB. Not to mention the CPU looks me off all the time.

Exactly. DB's are aware of which receiver the qb is looking at most of the time anyways.

Yes except their is no cone on the field when it happens in real life. It's a simplistic interpretation of something that is far more complex in real life so to me it's beyond pointless and verginging into annoying. More power to anybody who enjoys it but a cone on the field is one of the silliest ideas I've ever seen. I'd rather they fix existing issues before they start whipping out the cones but that's just me.

You don't get a raised 180 degree view of the field in real life either when dropping back to pass. What' s you're point?

[reeche]

Exactly. DB's are aware of which receiver the qb is looking at most of the time anyways.

Yes except their is no cone on the field when it happens in real life. It's a simplistic interpretation of something that is far more complex in real life so to me it's beyond pointless and verginging into annoying. More power to anybody who enjoys it but a cone on the field is one of the silliest ideas I've ever seen. I'd rather they fix existing issues before they start whipping out the cones but that's just me.

You don't get a raised 180 degree view of the field in real life either when dropping back to pass. What' s you're point?

Of course. You also don't see the game from field level when you play either. As I said, obviously there are always abstractions in any videogame. I'm not debating the concept that all abstractions are wretched. That particular abstraction however of a pasing cone to me neither reflects what is going on in the real game very well, nor is it something I have ever secretly desired in a football game. The same way I don't need a passing cone in a basketball game. just handle it intelligently through your AI and animations and it isn't necessary. I'm not ripping into you for liking it. Like what you want. I'm saying to me the idea of it is silly and I don't think it's a good idea in the same way that I wouldn't think passing windows that Madden used a decade ago was very good either. Just a different opinion.

[GTHobbes]

Passing windows...man, that brings back the memories. Maybe I'll just go download Madden 93 to play on my psp to get my football fix.

[laurenskye]

I think everyone gives program designers/game companies way too much leniency.

Remember when 2K came out on Dreamcast and we went "Holy s***!".
And then Madden came out on PS2 and we went "holy s***!"

Well why can't every iteration make us say "Holy s***!"

We pay the same price right?

It's just pathetic to look at what the jump in a new game engine can do and then 4 years later you're paying the same price for virtually the same engine.

we all know they could over haul the engine every year (and should for what games cost) and we should get a brand new game. I know these came out on new platforms but that should not matter. We should get a brand new game for each iteration. That's what we pay for, a NEW game.

I just think these little complaints are funny.

I wish I could say "Holy s***!" every time a new game comes out.

[ScoopBrady]

That particular abstraction however of a pasing cone to me neither reflects what is going on in the real game very well, nor is it something I have ever secretly desired in a football game.

Well, it might not be something you secretly desired in a football game but it does reflect what is going on in a real game very well. Watch any football game and pay special attention to the qb. You will see the qb check down his progressions on just about every passing play. The passing cone makes you check down your progressions on just about every passing play. I feel more in control on the field using the vision passing. I feel like I'm playing quarterback more than any other football videogame that has ever been released. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I dissect a defense that was sorely missing in videogame football. You have the option of turning it off. I, for one, will be sorely disappointed if EA doesn't continue on with this new style of passing game.

[Inuyasha]

I still can't get into madden yet, unlike NCAA where I liked the game from the onset. I dont mind the vision cone or SS modes, but there's something missing that I enjoyed from last years game. I was even thinking of picking up last years madden and being happy playing that. I dont think I will sell 06 since it's the only NFL game we have going this year.

One positive I do like about the game is the online play. The games I've played have been lag free. The online game doesn't slow down as the offline game since the offline game is slowed down to begin with. I think i've intercepted about 11 passes in 2 games online but that should go down when everyone gets use to the cone.

I got the game for 35 bucks so I really shouldn't complain. But I can understand BD's POV since he bought it for 50.

[reeche]

I think everyone gives program designers/game companies way too much leniency.

Remember when 2K came out on Dreamcast and we went "Holy s***!".
And then Madden came out on PS2 and we went "holy s***!"

Well why can't every iteration make us say "Holy s***!"

We pay the same price right?

It's just pathetic to look at what the jump in a new game engine can do and then 4 years later you're paying the same price for virtually the same engine.

we all know they could over haul the engine every year (and should for what games cost) and we should get a brand new game. I know these came out on new platforms but that should not matter. We should get a brand new game for each iteration. That's what we pay for, a NEW game.

I just think these little complaints are funny.

I wish I could say "Holy s***!" every time a new game comes out.

Well I roughly agree with your sentiments but until the lemming like nature of the sports gamer changes we are stuck with the current environment.

[pk500]

Picked up Madden 06 tonight, and here are some VERY EARLY impressions:

-- Someone said Madden feels more polished than NCAA this year. I'll take a different tack: It's way more sophisticated. NCAA feels like a very basic, fun football game compared to Madden. It has that "Tecmo feel," while Madden has a mindboggling array of options before and after the snap. It's a MUCH more cerebral game of football than NCAA 06.

-- I'm not a huge student of football even though I love the game. I know the differences between formations, plays, offensive sets, defensive sets, etc., but I'm not one of these guys who played in high school or college or who beats off weekly to Ron Jaworski in "Edge NFL Matchup." But there's no question this game forces you to become more of a student of football to be successful, much like Winning Eleven 8 teaches you a lot about soccer when you play it.

-- What's the greatest compliment paid to Madden 06 this year, in my opinion? No one is calling it too arcade, too easy, too basic. If anything, people are moaning that it's too much of a sim, that the Vision Cone makes it too complex, that there are too many pre-snap options. Those are all GOOD things, in my opinion.

-- The running game is MUCH better in Madden. Holes open better, and Mario running is WAY less than in NCAA 06. You also can get to the outside, too, with a speedy back.

-- The return game seems better. Lanes open better, and you're not pinned around the 20 on every kickoff return.

-- Man, the kick meter is faster in Madden than NCAA 06. I'm having trouble getting used to that.

-- Some of the new tackling animations are cool. And the uniforms and helmets look crisper, and the night sky with the moon and clouds in night games looks very cool. But the fields look simply awful -- circa 2000 stuff. Looks like green indoor-outdoor carpet, even when it's grass. And this is the second straight year that the Bills have FieldTurf in Ralph Wilson Stadium, yet this game still has the old AstroTurf.

-- Michaels and Madden suck, as usual. I watched a 2 1/2-hour OSHA training video in May at the Speedway that had more colorful commentary than these drones. The crowd noise is fine, though.

-- Like everyone else, I sure wish the two EA football games had identical or similar control schemes. I have to unlearn NCAA 06, and it's going to take time.

-- I LOVE the Vision Cone. It is simply bad ass and is not a gimmick in the slightest. And as I think Dave or Scoop said, it's so cool to be able to dump the ball to a back on an accurate swing pass if your receivers are covered, even if the Cone isn't on those running backs swinging out of the backfield. The Cone is an innovation that brings football videogaming to a new level, in my opinion.

-- My problem with the Cone isn't sacks. It's interceptions. Man, if you don't make proper reads against a decent or better secondary, you will pay. I need to throw the ball away or dump it to the running backs more often instead of forcing passes.

-- Defensive back play in Madden 06 is eons better than in NCAA 06. You just can't chuck it and pray yet still complete 50 percent of your bombs or better.

-- Hallelujah to EA for finally dropping back the QB into his set automatically, giving you time to make your reads with no hands on the left stick. My biggest fear about the Vision Cone was that I would lack the coordination to drop back the QB with the left stick -- something mandatory with all Maddens before this year -- while moving the right stick to shift the Vision Cone. Thankfully, the computer drops back the QB the proper amount of steps so I only need to worry about my right thumb moving the Vision Cone.

-- The ability to change your primary wide receiver at the line also is a great piece of programming. By making hopefully smart pre-snap reads at the line, I often change my primary wide receiver, forcing me to move the Vision Cone less than I thought because the new primary receiver is open if I made a good pre-snap read and adjustment.

-- Not enough penalties at the default settings except for offsides and false start, which is the norm for EA. Slider work is needed here.

-- The original NFL Films music in this game is simply incredible. I have turned off everything except for the original NFL Films music, and it creates amazing memories every time I'm in a menu. My first exposure to the NFL was as a 4- or 5-year-old kid in 1969 or 1970, getting tackled and beat up by my older brothers during NFL Films on TV while Facenda's voice bellowed. And I've been hooked on NFL Films and the music ever since. I even have a bunch of it on my MP3 player. So when I learned I could play nothing but the original NFL Films music in my menus, I nearly danced the jig in my basement.

Again, these are just initial impressions. But I'm really satisified and impressed so far. This is just such a more sophisicated game of football than NCAA 06. You need to use your head so much more and really think football instead of thinking video game football.

Does that make Madden 06 better than NCAA 06? Depends on what you want from a football game. If you want a fun game with a decent amount of realism and complexity and good atmosphere, then NCAA 06 is a fine option. But if you want a cerebral, sophisticated football game that really forces you to put pebble grain on your cerebrum and has what I think is a very cool innovation in the Vision Cone, then Madden 06 is damn impressive.

Take care,
PK

[ScoopBrady]

Does that make Madden 06 better than NCAA 06? Depends on what you want from a football game. If you want a fun game with a decent amount of realism and complexity and good atmosphere, then NCAA 06 is a fine option. But if you want a cerebral, sophisticated football game that really forces you to put pebble grain on your cerebrum and has what I think is a very cool innovation in the Vision Cone, then Madden 06 is damn impressive.

This is precisely why I am in football gaming heaven right now.

Just curious PK, did you buy it or rent it?

[pk500]

Bought it. $39.99 at Circuit City.

Everyone's impressions broke me down, as I figured I would dig the Vision Cone since I loved First Person Football in the 2K series. I was right -- I do dig it.

Plus I have a decent stash of stuff to sell on eBay, so this purchase was in the budget.

Take care,
PK

[Diablo25]

PK wrote:

Like everyone else, I sure wish the two EA football games had identical or similar control schemes. I have to unlearn NCAA 06, and it's going to take time.

If I'm not mistaken, I think there are controller profiles that you can switch to. I even saw an NFL Street layout in there.

The original NFL Films music in this game is simply incredible. I have turned off everything except for the original NFL Films music

I did the exact same thing PK. I love it.

I love the way you can change your offensive line's blocking scheme at the line of scrimmage.

Overall, I agree with pretty much everything you said. I'm still not sure on the Passing Cone but I was pleasantly surprised by it.