Official Madden 2006 Impressions Thread

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:51 pm

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/mad ... eview.html

Gamespot gives the PS2/Xbox version an 8.2 Gamecube 8.1

Their final comments:

For as great as Madden NFL 06 is overall, you can't help but be at least somewhat disappointed by the game as a whole, if only because of how frequently superb the franchise has been in recent years. Many of the things that make Madden consistently enjoyable are front and center yet again, but the justification for buying this newest Madden--if you already own last year's game--is tough to find. The new passing cone can be enjoyable, though it's definitely the kind of thing that will certainly be better and more refined in the years to come. It's a bit of a pain as it is now. And the superstar mode, while excellent in concept, simply fails to deliver an engaging experience. And in the absence of these two things, what you effectively have is Madden NFL 2005, with a few very subtle changes and some problems that weren't originally there. The Madden diehards will undoubtedly enjoy Madden 06, just as they have most every other installment of the franchise, and anyone that simply wants a new and thoroughly playable football game with updated rosters will get exactly that from Madden 06. Anyone looking for more, however, may find the 2005-2006 season to be the one they went through without buying a new football game.

TeamXbox gives the Xbox version a 9.

http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/966/Madden-NFL-06/p1/

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:02 pm

Boom wrote:Will do, but I disagree with your assessment of the 2005 versions.

Actually, I played 5 seasons with the Xbox version before I traded it this spring, but I always wanted the PS2 Collector's Edition so I picked it up about a month ago for 7 bucks and I believe it did play better than the Xbox version. Framerate felt smoother, control just felt tighter, and it might have been my imagination but I thought it looked a little better, too.

With that being said, I'd never buy the PS2 version as my primary game just because of memory cards and Xbox Live alone.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:12 pm

How do you write a closing paragraph like that, basically calling Madden 06 (which I have not played yet) as more of the same with new features that aren't all that compelling or fleshed out, and still slap an 8.2 score on it, which using the GSpot scale is a "great" game? How is that possible?

"...the franchise mode looks like it could easily have just been lifted right out of 2005 and plunked down into 06. Even the Tony Bruno radio dialogue that plays through much of the franchise mode seems largely lifted from 2005, and the parts that are clearly new don't come across any differently or any more interesting than the old stuff. Owner mode's been completely untouched, the free agency period still comes after the draft, for some reason, and you still can't sign more players past the maximum of 54, even if you put half your roster on injured reserve. In short, if it was in Madden 2005's franchise mode--even if it was buggy or broken--it's in this version too. "

Well isn't that just friggin' peachy.

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:17 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:How do you write a closing paragraph like that, basically calling Madden 06 (which I have not played yet) as more of the same with new features that aren't all that compelling or fleshed out, and still slap an 8.2 score on it, which using the GSpot scale is a "great" game? How is that possible?

"...the franchise mode looks like it could easily have just been lifted right out of 2005 and plunked down into 06. Even the Tony Bruno radio dialogue that plays through much of the franchise mode seems largely lifted from 2005, and the parts that are clearly new don't come across any differently or any more interesting than the old stuff. Owner mode's been completely untouched, the free agency period still comes after the draft, for some reason, and you still can't sign more players past the maximum of 54, even if you put half your roster on injured reserve. In short, if it was in Madden 2005's franchise mode--even if it was buggy or broken--it's in this version too. "

Well isn't that just friggin' peachy.

They're all saving up for the Madden 360 review.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:22 pm

and it might have been my imagination but I thought it looked a little better, too.

I agree with that statment whole heartedly. The colors were more vivid I guess. Hard to describe, but the xbox version looked a little washed out and had a blurry look to it IMO.

However, after getting the controller down I felt the xbox played smoother and better overall.

I'd of gone to bat (and did) for the PS2 versions' honor of NCAA 04..even if XBOX had online play. I hated Madden 2004 so it can suck a big fatty on either system.

I originally picked up the PS2 collector's disk for the PS2 for 05 last year. A month later or so I picked up the XBOX version on the cheep. At first I didn't like it as much as the ps2 version, but after giving it some serious play time It was hard for me to go back to the PS2 version..... and still is with trying to play 06 on the PS2 tonight.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:38 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:How do you write a closing paragraph like that, basically calling Madden 06 (which I have not played yet) as more of the same with new features that aren't all that compelling or fleshed out, and still slap an 8.2 score on it, which using the GSpot scale is a "great" game? How is that possible?

Straight from the Gamespot definition of what Great is...

8.0-8.9: "Great"
This score range refers to great games that are excellent in most every way and whose few setbacks probably aren't too important. We highly recommend games in the upper half of this range, since they tend to be good enough to provide an enjoyable experience to fans of the game's particular genre and to new players alike.

--------------------------------------------------------

See they are just blinding you with words like EXCELLENT and GREAT only to end up with GOOD enough. They figure the average reader never gets past the first sentence of the review guide explanation.

Which at the end lies the true explanation: It is in reality GOOD Enough for fans of the genre - It is GREAT for Gamespot since we got a really large advertising check from the publisher just before the review. Sometimes you have to research these things. Apparently the score is just that and the words (perfect, superb, great, etc are reflective of the advertisment dollars spent by the publisher).

Notice they only highly recommend games in the higher end of the 8.0-8.9 range. So using their own guide they do not highly recommend purchasing Madden 2006, justifying the 8.2 yet pleasing the publisher at the same time.

Man that brought back a Goonies Flashback with that song "Good Enough for Me, yea yea yea yea yea yea"

Of course yearly sports games are tough to rate and why I always enjoyed the old Daily Radar Simpicity (Hit, Miss, Poor, Dud).

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:29 am

Boom wrote:
and it might have been my imagination but I thought it looked a little better, too.
I agree with that statment whole heartedly. The colors were more vivid I guess. Hard to describe, but the xbox version looked a little washed out and had a blurry look to it IMO.

However, after getting the controller down I felt the xbox played smoother and better overall.

I'd of gone to bat (and did) for the PS2 versions' honor of NCAA 04..even if XBOX had online play. I hated Madden 2004 so it can suck a big fatty on either system.

I originally picked up the PS2 collector's disk for the PS2 for 05 last year. A month later or so I picked up the XBOX version on the cheep. At first I didn't like it as much as the ps2 version, but after giving it some serious play time It was hard for me to go back to the PS2 version..... and still is with trying to play 06 on the PS2 tonight.

Ya I agree with badguns comments too about the graphics too. The ps2 one last year was brighter and more vivid while the xbox version was washed out. Also, the control and the flow of the game was better on the ps2 last year imo. The gameflow on the xbox verison last year was too fast.

I was afraid this year that the same thing would happen with NCAA but thankfully EA made the Xbox version better this year than the ps2 version imo. Hopefully they do the same thing with madden.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:41 am

Some more stick time with the PS2 version.

One thing that may have mentioned above that I missed is the way you can select your player on defense prior to the snap. It's the same system NFL 2K invented where you can hold down X button and use the d-pad to move around and highlight different players to take control of.

The PS2 version seems very sluggish to me compared to NCAA 06 on XBOX.

My son has been jamming this controller too damn hard while playing THUG 2 online, but the X button is nearly useless. I've really got to press it in to get it to work so it's making things very difficult as you can imagine.

Graphics seem pretty much on par with last year's version.... MAYBE touched up a little, but there's not the difference that I noticed in NCAA that's for sure.

I'm still having success with the passing cone and enjoy it.

I've put my hand on what I do not like about passing plays though. I guess in an attempt to give you a better vantage point as the qb to use the passing cone, the camera zoom's out and up... to a somewhat modifed blimp cam. That may not be the best way to describe it, but I can't find the words to describe it any better really.

I'm not much of an offline guy so don't really know much about how the superstar or franchise modes fair (nor have I really put the time in to tell if I were an offline guy).

The game seems to run slower over all than NCAA 06 on XBOX. Maybe that's to give you time as the QB to utilize the passing cone, I don't know.

Midnight Madness is a mere 80 minutes away for me and I don't have the desire to go out and pick up my XBOX version.

More impressions later.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 1:33 am

Midnight Madness is a mere 80 minutes away for me and I don't have the desire to go out and pick up my XBOX version.

Just got back from ours and wow that was an experience. If anyone ever needs to see what the state of gaming is like just stand in line for 30 minutes, don't say a word and just listen to people.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 4:37 am

Boom wrote: I've put my hand on what I do not like about passing plays though. I guess in an attempt to give you a better vantage point as the qb to use the passing cone, the camera zoom's out and up... to a somewhat modifed blimp cam. That may not be the best way to describe it, but I can't find the words to describe it any better really.

Yep it was a little to blimp-esque for me and switching it to classic view fixed it. Or you could go to custom camera (leave running on default Madden Camera) and tweak passing camera.

Has anyone found a way to get rid of the CPU showing the the QB passing cone? Also would have been nice if they would carry over the NCAA 06 controller settings. I mean they have a NFL Street setting for cripes sake. It boggles the mind why they do not use the Right analog to do jukes (left and right - instead of leaving them unused) and have the shoulders act a the stiff-arms (on default). It would have elimianted the need for the b/w buttons.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:35 am

bdoughty wrote:Just got back from ours and wow that was an experience. If anyone ever needs to see what the state of gaming is like just stand in line for 30 minutes, don't say a word and just listen to people.

BD, does this experience require its own impressions thread?

Thanks for the impressions so far, guys. I have this on my Gamerang list, but then again, I had NCAA on there as well and ended up picking it up on day 2. Maybe I'll be able to hold off.

I think I like the thought of the QB passing cone being on. I never have been able to control LBs in Madden games, mainly due to zone passing coverage. However, if I can "see" what the QB is looking at, maybe I can finally be competent in coverage.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:01 am

Well, I got my copy at midnight and the SUPERDORKS were out in force. Granted, I was there as well, so I'm an unfortunate part of the group. However, I honestly believe I was the only one out of the 50 people at my local strip-mall EB that actually holds a full time job. My BMW just didn't fit in with the assortment of beaten down pickups and 88' Oldsmobiles with 'kickin' sound systems.

I wasn't aware I was supposed to wear a costume??? At least 4 guys in line came in FULL NFL team gear...Shorts, hat, shirt etc. for their favorite team...

I almost cried realizing how low I have sunken for my addiction.

That out of the way, a few thoughts on the game...

MADDEN GOT A RAW DEAL!

Most of the reviews/opinions I've seen on the game focus on 2 points: 1) The passing cone is too hard, poorly implemented etc. OR 2) the game is not 'different' enough from previous versions to warrant the $50.

Does anyone else see the hypocrisy here? EA is consistently bashed for not INNOVATING and trying truly new approaches to gameplay. They innovate with a radically refreshing (if still imperfect) way of simulating the role of an NFL QB, and get buried for over-reaching and changing things too much - all in the same breath as being chastised for not changing enough...

Personally, I find QB Vision to be an excellent new approach, and I enjoy it immensely. Within 3 games, my completition percentage came up to around 50%. This is the kind of innovation we should be applauding in our games...Didn't NFL2k recieve praise for an imperfect attempt at First Person Football? EA deserves the same. I'm not an EA lover, but give credit where due...They made an effort to truly innovate with this system, and it will only get better.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:07 am

how is the FRANCHISE mode? i have been an NFL 2k guy....

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:09 am

Sport73 wrote: My BMW just didn't fit in with the assortment of beaten down pickups and 88' Oldsmobiles with 'kickin' sound systems..

Bragger

Anyway, for anyone who has played this game, how similar is the cone to the old Fever Read 'n Lead. I know it's technically not the same, but is the reaction time, placement of throws, etc. anything similar?

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:11 am

Sudz wrote:how is the FRANCHISE mode? i have been an NFL 2k guy....

Well s***, from my understanding you should be impressed by the franchise mode.

While 2K has done some pretty good things on the field, their franchises have been pretty bad across all sport genres IMO.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:13 am

Sudz wrote:how is the FRANCHISE mode? i have been an NFL 2k guy....

I haven't seen any changes in franchise mode from last year yet. But considering last years franchise was better then the 2K series you should like it.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:47 am

As primarily an NFL 2K guy the last few years, I am really enjoying Madden, especially the Vision and Precision feature. I just think it does a good job of forcing the user to "read" the field and check off receivers the way a real NFL quarterback does.

I also like the fact that by preoccupying the user with checking off receivers, you are less likely to do that "run 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage and chuck it like crazy" routine. I love the fact that by letting go of the stick, I can concentrate on the field, and let the CPU do a proper QB dropback. I just think that they finally got the pocket play right.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:06 am

Sport73 wrote:At least 4 guys in line came in FULL NFL team gear...Shorts, hat, shirt etc. for their favorite team...

..and those same guys will ruthlessly rag on a Star Wars uber-fan for donning his Vader outfit on opening night.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:07 am

Franchise Mode Update

I took a closer look in the strategy guide (don't ask why I have it) and then went in game. According to it there are 3 new features in franchise.

1. Total Control Simulation

This allows you to call plays on a text screen and then jump into the game at any point. Once in game you can quit out to return to the simulation. There is a finish simulation option on this screen.

Oddly enough if you start your game normally, you can't quit out to TCS.

So Toper you could start your game in TCS mode, immediately jump into the game and play it and then it gets out of hand. You can quit out to the TCS mode and simulate to the end. [EDIT: I tried this and it works. So as long as you start your game like this each time you have a sim to end option]

2. GamePlanning

Each week your coordinators will tell you 3 things (I think it is 3) you need to work on. You can then go into practice mode and work on these. You get points for success and it translate into game. As an example:

I was playing the Rams, the game wanted me to work on the TE cross play against a 4-3 defense. If i did well, if that situation arose during the game I would get a temporary ratings bost. What exactly that is I so not know.

GP mode also has a positional breakdown screen, which shows the other teams players and their strengths etc. Plus once you get into the season more it also has a statistical breakdown screen for each team which show what they like to run on O and D etc.

3. Spawning Games

I could not find this option on the Xbox, I'll go look again. Apparently this allows you to spawn franchise games to be played either on a PSP, Online or just outside of Franchise mode. You can then merge the game back into the franchise. So if I follow this right if I wanted to play Boom online in one of my franchise games, I could spawn the game, he could play the other team and then I could merge the results.

Again I can't find this anywhere on the Xbox, but I probably just miseed it.

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:17 am

Boom wrote:
Sudz wrote:how is the FRANCHISE mode? i have been an NFL 2k guy....
Well s***, from my understanding you should be impressed by the franchise mode.

While 2K has done some pretty good things on the field, their franchises have been pretty bad across all sport genres IMO.

As a former heavy 2k player, I have to agree. I loved the 2k series, but their franchise mode has yet to hold a candle to Madden's.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:20 am

I picked mine up at midnight last night. Our Gamestop had a "party" which turned out to be free Kool Aid and chocolate chip cookies. Gamestop is in a little strip mall that has about 10 stores. When my son and I pulled up at 12:05, the entire parking lot was full and it looked like about 200 people standing outside. I thought to myself..."I should have gone to EB"

I didn't actually get my copy until 1:00 and decided to try one game against my son as soon as we got home. We watched the passing cone tutorial, but did not practice it at all. I was actually successful in my first game going 9-15 for 154 yards 2 TDs and 1 pick with Bledsoe. My son had more trouble than I did. I don't think it's going to matter whether I turn the cone off or not as I am one of those guys that usually knows who I am going to throw it to as soon as I break the huddle. I rarely change my mind and usually go to the primary receiver. I never once touched the stick and was able to be fairly successful passing. I do know that when you are being blitzed, there is no time to move the cone which was one of my gripes about it to begin with. Still a useless feature in my book, but it looks like it won't hinder me from playing the game other than the annoying white beam on the field.

Then I decided to go online and see what was what. My first observation was there sure are a lot of Eagles fans here tonight. As a matter of fact, I had to back out of my first 5 games until I found someone who wasn't an Eagles fan. I told my son I had no idea that the Eagles had so many fans and how most of the other teams had no fans at all. Imagine me playing the 97 rated Eagles with my 73 rated Cowboys. So I finally found a guy that used the Raiders and he was worse than I was so I beat him 10-7.

My actual gameplay impressions other than the useless passing cone are it is pretty much the same as last year. It does look a little cleaner to me, but overall the graphics are the same. One thing I did notice is that everyone looks like they are on steroids. Drew Bledsoe absolutely looks like a lineman. EA did something weird with the shoulder pads and even the qbs' pads are way too big for some reason.

The running game feels good and I did see some new animations. Running up into the line with Julius Jones and he kind of hurdled on his own over a guy laying on the ground. Saw that several times. It appears EA added enough stuff to call this a new game. As much as I like to b*tch, you won't hear me say that this is nothing besides a roster update...it does feel like a new game.

Speaking of rosters, I downloaded the latest update last night and they already had Ty Law on the Jets which took place yesterday!! Very impressive.

I didn't try any of the new defensive controls, but I'm going to read the manual and do all the tutorials today. So far my biggest gripe with the game is the kick meter. Even on all pro it feels way different than NCAA on All American. It looks like to me that someone that plays both games a lot is going miss a lot of extra points because of this.

Other than the stupid passing cone, I like what I see so far and I'm looking forward to getting my dynasty started sometime today.

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:20 am

Danimal wrote:Franchise Mode Update

I took a closer look in the strategy guide (don't ask why I have it) and then went in game. According to it there are 3 new features in franchise.

1. Total Control Simulation

This allows you to call plays on a text screen and then jump into the game at any point. Once in game you can quit out to return to the simulation. There is a finish simulation option on this screen.

Oddly enough if you start your game normally, you can't quit out to TCS.

So Toper you could start your game in TCS mode, immediately jump into the game and play it and then it gets out of hand. You can quit out to the TCS mode and simulate to the end. [EDIT: I tried this and it works. So as long as you start your game like this each time you have a sim to end option]

2. GamePlanning

Each week your coordinators will tell you 3 things (I think it is 3) you need to work on. You can then go into practice mode and work on these. You get points for success and it translate into game. As an example:

I was playing the Rams, the game wanted me to work on the TE cross play against a 4-3 defense. If i did well, if that situation arose during the game I would get a temporary ratings bost. What exactly that is I so not know.

GP mode also has a positional breakdown screen, which shows the other teams players and their strengths etc. Plus once you get into the season more it also has a statistical breakdown screen for each team which show what they like to run on O and D etc.

3. Spawning Games

I could not find this option on the Xbox, I'll go look again. Apparently this allows you to spawn franchise games to be played either on a PSP, Online or just outside of Franchise mode. You can then merge the game back into the franchise. So if I follow this right if I wanted to play Boom online in one of my franchise games, I could spawn the game, he could play the other team and then I could merge the results.

Again I can't find this anywhere on the Xbox, but I probably just miseed it.

I'll ask you about the strategy guide, since I really haven't played much of Madden since 2002. Would it be worth it for a newbie Madden guy?

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:33 am

rubba19 wrote: I'll ask you about the strategy guide, since I really haven't played much of Madden since 2002. Would it be worth it for a newbie Madden guy?

rubba I honestly have not read the whole thing, it is pretty thick. I just glanced at it when the franchise question came up because I said franchise had not changed, but I only spent 5 minute in franchise before going back to look for the features they mentioned.

I personally wouldn't buy it, the reason I have it is although I got my copy early I already had a pre-order at EB which I kept for a friend. So when we went last night to get the game, he bought me a strategy guide as a thankyou.

Here is a rundown on what is in it.

It is 240 pages and most of that is full of information.

I Modes & Features: Goes over all of the modes and features in 06.

II. Offensive strategy: Possibly good to new players and people with not a lot of football knowledge

II. Defensive Strategy: Same as above.

III. Team Strategy: A strategy breakdown for every team in the NFL (not the game). This is one of the better sections in the book. Tells you how to play as and against the team. Give scouting reports, Analysis etc. Only part of the book I am enjoying reading so far.

IV Fanchise Mode: Covers franchise mode, good if you are not familar with Maddens franchise options.

V Superstart Mode: LMAO

VI: Online: Ugh, if you want to play like a ba....sorry BD. As a Madden Online player, here is your guide.

VII: Mini Games: In case you can't figure out how to play rushing attack LOL

VIII: Roster Attributes: Already outdated?

IX: Madden Cards: My buddy is into collecting and using these, me not so much.

X: Depth Charts & Controls: Team Depth charts (again outdated) and then a complete control list for every version which is nice.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:38 am

thx dudes

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:53 am

Danimal wrote:
rubba19 wrote: I'll ask you about the strategy guide, since I really haven't played much of Madden since 2002. Would it be worth it for a newbie Madden guy?
rubba I honestly have not read the whole thing, it is pretty thick. I just glanced at it when the franchise question came up because I said franchise had not changed, but I only spent 5 minute in franchise before going back to look for the features they mentioned.

I personally wouldn't buy it, the reason I have it is although I got my copy early I already had a pre-order at EB which I kept for a friend. So when we went last night to get the game, he bought me a strategy guide as a thankyou.

Here is a rundown on what is in it.

It is 240 pages and most of that is full of information.

I Modes & Features: Goes over all of the modes and features in 06.

II. Offensive strategy: Possibly good to new players and people with not a lot of football knowledge

II. Defensive Strategy: Same as above.

III. Team Strategy: A strategy breakdown for every team in the NFL (not the game). This is one of the better sections in the book. Tells you how to play as and against the team. Give scouting reports, Analysis etc. Only part of the book I am enjoying reading so far.

IV Fanchise Mode: Covers franchise mode, good if you are not familar with Maddens franchise options.

V Superstart Mode: LMAO

VI: Online: Ugh, if you want to play like a ba....sorry BD. As a Madden Online player, here is your guide.

VII: Mini Games: In case you can't figure out how to play rushing attack LOL

VIII: Roster Attributes: Already outdated?

IX: Madden Cards: My buddy is into collecting and using these, me not so much.

X: Depth Charts & Controls: Team Depth charts (again outdated) and then a complete control list for every version which is nice.

Thanks. Maybe I'll look at it sometime at Best Buy or so for help.