Madden NFL 06
Added August 14th, 2005 by Kisan Parikh
Introduction:
EA has just delivered the latest addition to the Madden franchise, Madden 06. Even though the game is being released without any sort of competition, due to EA’s exclusive license, Madden 06 implements a variety of innovative new features. The additions to the game include extra game modes, additions to existing modes, and plenty of in-game tweaks. Let’s take a look at everything Madden 06 offers, and see which features, if any, live up to the hype.
Gameplay:
EA’s new single-player game mode, Superstar Mode, is similar in many ways to NCAA Football 06’s Race for the Heisman mode. In this new mode, you are an individual player, rather than a whole team, that is looking to make a name for himself in the NFL. You can start off one of three ways. First, you can begin with a player that is basically randomly generated in Madden 06. Two parents are chosen for you with different IQ scores, occupations, and interests. You will have a suggested position, but don’t worry; you can randomly generate parents as many times as you wish. The other two ways include importing your player from either NCAA Football 06 or NFL Street 2.
EA has just delivered the latest addition to the Madden franchise, Madden 06. Even though the game is being released without any sort of competition, due to EA’s exclusive license, Madden 06 implements a variety of innovative new features. The additions to the game include extra game modes, additions to existing modes, and plenty of in-game tweaks. Let’s take a look at everything Madden 06 offers, and see which features, if any, live up to the hype.
Gameplay:
EA’s new single-player game mode, Superstar Mode, is similar in many ways to NCAA Football 06’s Race for the Heisman mode. In this new mode, you are an individual player, rather than a whole team, that is looking to make a name for himself in the NFL. You can start off one of three ways. First, you can begin with a player that is basically randomly generated in Madden 06. Two parents are chosen for you with different IQ scores, occupations, and interests. You will have a suggested position, but don’t worry; you can randomly generate parents as many times as you wish. The other two ways include importing your player from either NCAA Football 06 or NFL Street 2.
Now that your player is in Superstar mode, you are interviewed and given a two minute IQ test prior to NFL Draft Day. Once the draft is complete, you will meet your mentor, who will give you advice on how to jump-start your career. After meeting your mentor, one of the first tasks you need to accomplish is to hire an agent. Agents have different strengths and weaknesses such as negotiation skills, so you must choose wisely. Not all agents will want you, but don’t despair, as you progress, more agents will become available to you.
To start your season, you must participate in training camp. In training camp, you earn points by playing well. The more points you earn, the faster your player’s ratings increase. Other ways for your player to improve in the ratings department are at practice and at the Performance institute. Some in-season practices allow you to focus on your game plan, and, if you do well, you will be ready for your next opponent.
Besides playing in games and attending practices, Madden 06’s Superstar mode takes the life of a NFL player one step further. You are able to approach your agent to demand trades, guarantee wins and playoff berths, and even to complain about your coaches. Your player can appear in movies, but it actually sounds cooler than it is. This mode mainly consists of memorizing your lines and choosing the right one when prompted. I really wish the movie idea was implemented better.
Your player’s appearance, popularity, visibility, and exposure determine how many endorsements your agent can secure for you. Appearance can be modified at the barber shop, tattoo parlor, and even in front of the mirror in your apartment. Your popularity and exposure are mainly based upon your performance and relationship with the press. For instance, it is good publicity to guarantee a win in a big game, but you have to follow through with your promise. Your progression in these areas can be monitored through the ‘My Web’ feature, which also allows you to check out stats from around the league.
Superstar Mode is a fun new mode of play, but it does have its flaws. The biggest blemish that will jump out is the fact that you cannot access your messages through the ‘My Schedule’ area. This is especially irritating, because you never know whether you received a message or not. This little annoyance aside, Superstar Mode is a very well done mode of play that most gamers are sure to love. I would love to see EA build on Superstar mode in coming years with more mini-games and features.
Franchise mode, the other main single-player mode, didn’t undergo many huge changes. There is the new ‘Spawn Game’ feature to be mentioned. This feature allows gamers to save certain games during the season to be played at a later time. The outcome of this game can be merged with your Franchise season later on. These games can also be played on Xbox Live. Also, ‘Total Control Simulation’ allows you to simulate games play-by-play instead of just “all or nothing”. Besides some new gameplan editing tools, these are the only big new additions to Franchise mode. Everything else is similar to Madden 2005, which isn’t a bad thing, and don’t forget, you have a whole new game mode to play around with!
Yes, there is the huge new inclusion of Superstar mode, but the most innovative additions are actually found in-game. Right from the start you can view the tutorial about the new passing features, and even jump in a practice to try them out. There have been some negative statements about the ‘QB Vision Control’ being too hard to learn, but any gamer who is used to the standard passing system should have no trouble after watching the tutorial and playing around with it for a short while. Basically, this feature presents a cone of vision, which varies in size according to your QB’s stats. This can be maneuvered from receiver to receiver, or it can be transferred manually using the right thumbstick. Receivers outside the quarterback’s cone of vision cannot be thrown to accurately, but that doesn’t mean that you can never complete a pass to them. You do get lucky... sometimes.
‘QB Vision Control’ adds a whole new realm of realism to Madden videogames, because you can’t expect to run around the field and throw perfect passes to receivers on the other side. Also, it adds a bit of strategy to your passing game. The passing cone allows you to trick defenders into thinking you are going to throw to one receiver, but quickly change your target and pass to a different one. Once you get the mechanics down, you will love this feature. I can almost guarantee that.
Receivers inside your cone of vision can also be thrown precision passes. ‘Precision Passing’ allows you to throw the ball into areas of the field where only your teammate can catch it. By moving the thumbstick up while throwing the ball, you will throw the ball high. You can throw the ball low, to the left, and to the right of the receiver in the same manner.
A new addition to the running game is the ‘Truck Stick’. This is just an offensive counter to the ‘Hit Stick’. Now your larger offensive players (Large Running Backs, Fullbacks, and Tight Ends) can barrel through defenders just as they do in real life. Gone are the days where tiny cornerbacks can bring down Jerome Bettis.
There have been some changes to the game before the snap as well. You can have receivers run smart routes that make them run their routes a few steps further to grab the first down. On defense, you can have defenders play on a certain side of a receiver based on something you see in the offense.
The single-player game modes in Madden 06 are both entertaining, and I love the new Superstar Mode despite some obvious problems. I also am a big fan of this year’s in-game additions. The ‘QB Vision Control’ is outstanding, and the ‘Truck Stick’ makes for a much more balanced game. The Madden series hasn’t failed to successfully implement innovative new features even though it has its exclusive NFL license.
Graphics:
Madden 06 hasn’t changed much in terms of actual graphics. A small but noticeable improvement has been made to character models, and there are a few new animations as well. Still, some players appear too bulky when compared to their real-life counterparts. Even though there isn’t too much improvement to these areas, Madden 06 does look slicker with a clear focus on making the game seem more like a TV broadcast. There are some nice, flashy stat displays about players after key plays. In addition, there are some nice looking replays and new camera angles available.
To start your season, you must participate in training camp. In training camp, you earn points by playing well. The more points you earn, the faster your player’s ratings increase. Other ways for your player to improve in the ratings department are at practice and at the Performance institute. Some in-season practices allow you to focus on your game plan, and, if you do well, you will be ready for your next opponent.
Besides playing in games and attending practices, Madden 06’s Superstar mode takes the life of a NFL player one step further. You are able to approach your agent to demand trades, guarantee wins and playoff berths, and even to complain about your coaches. Your player can appear in movies, but it actually sounds cooler than it is. This mode mainly consists of memorizing your lines and choosing the right one when prompted. I really wish the movie idea was implemented better.
Your player’s appearance, popularity, visibility, and exposure determine how many endorsements your agent can secure for you. Appearance can be modified at the barber shop, tattoo parlor, and even in front of the mirror in your apartment. Your popularity and exposure are mainly based upon your performance and relationship with the press. For instance, it is good publicity to guarantee a win in a big game, but you have to follow through with your promise. Your progression in these areas can be monitored through the ‘My Web’ feature, which also allows you to check out stats from around the league.
Superstar Mode is a fun new mode of play, but it does have its flaws. The biggest blemish that will jump out is the fact that you cannot access your messages through the ‘My Schedule’ area. This is especially irritating, because you never know whether you received a message or not. This little annoyance aside, Superstar Mode is a very well done mode of play that most gamers are sure to love. I would love to see EA build on Superstar mode in coming years with more mini-games and features.
Franchise mode, the other main single-player mode, didn’t undergo many huge changes. There is the new ‘Spawn Game’ feature to be mentioned. This feature allows gamers to save certain games during the season to be played at a later time. The outcome of this game can be merged with your Franchise season later on. These games can also be played on Xbox Live. Also, ‘Total Control Simulation’ allows you to simulate games play-by-play instead of just “all or nothing”. Besides some new gameplan editing tools, these are the only big new additions to Franchise mode. Everything else is similar to Madden 2005, which isn’t a bad thing, and don’t forget, you have a whole new game mode to play around with!
Yes, there is the huge new inclusion of Superstar mode, but the most innovative additions are actually found in-game. Right from the start you can view the tutorial about the new passing features, and even jump in a practice to try them out. There have been some negative statements about the ‘QB Vision Control’ being too hard to learn, but any gamer who is used to the standard passing system should have no trouble after watching the tutorial and playing around with it for a short while. Basically, this feature presents a cone of vision, which varies in size according to your QB’s stats. This can be maneuvered from receiver to receiver, or it can be transferred manually using the right thumbstick. Receivers outside the quarterback’s cone of vision cannot be thrown to accurately, but that doesn’t mean that you can never complete a pass to them. You do get lucky... sometimes.
‘QB Vision Control’ adds a whole new realm of realism to Madden videogames, because you can’t expect to run around the field and throw perfect passes to receivers on the other side. Also, it adds a bit of strategy to your passing game. The passing cone allows you to trick defenders into thinking you are going to throw to one receiver, but quickly change your target and pass to a different one. Once you get the mechanics down, you will love this feature. I can almost guarantee that.
Receivers inside your cone of vision can also be thrown precision passes. ‘Precision Passing’ allows you to throw the ball into areas of the field where only your teammate can catch it. By moving the thumbstick up while throwing the ball, you will throw the ball high. You can throw the ball low, to the left, and to the right of the receiver in the same manner.
A new addition to the running game is the ‘Truck Stick’. This is just an offensive counter to the ‘Hit Stick’. Now your larger offensive players (Large Running Backs, Fullbacks, and Tight Ends) can barrel through defenders just as they do in real life. Gone are the days where tiny cornerbacks can bring down Jerome Bettis.
There have been some changes to the game before the snap as well. You can have receivers run smart routes that make them run their routes a few steps further to grab the first down. On defense, you can have defenders play on a certain side of a receiver based on something you see in the offense.
The single-player game modes in Madden 06 are both entertaining, and I love the new Superstar Mode despite some obvious problems. I also am a big fan of this year’s in-game additions. The ‘QB Vision Control’ is outstanding, and the ‘Truck Stick’ makes for a much more balanced game. The Madden series hasn’t failed to successfully implement innovative new features even though it has its exclusive NFL license.
Graphics:
Madden 06 hasn’t changed much in terms of actual graphics. A small but noticeable improvement has been made to character models, and there are a few new animations as well. Still, some players appear too bulky when compared to their real-life counterparts. Even though there isn’t too much improvement to these areas, Madden 06 does look slicker with a clear focus on making the game seem more like a TV broadcast. There are some nice, flashy stat displays about players after key plays. In addition, there are some nice looking replays and new camera angles available.
All, in all, don’t expect a Madden graphics boost until the Xbox 360 version is released. Then, we will get some very nice eye candy in conjunction with the new gameplay features available in the Xbox version.
Audio:
The audio in Madden 06 is one of the strongest areas of the game, and that is saying something. Many people will be glad to hear that Madden talks less this time around. He still makes some annoying comments, but take comfort in the fact that there are far less of them! In game sounds are solid as they have been for years, but the best aspect of the game is the soundtrack.
Considering the large amount of time that people will spend playing Franchise and Superstar mode, a solid soundtrack is a must. Madden 06 delivers with its remixed versions of NFL Films’ music as well as its nice selection of artists. You can visit this page for a full track list. If you don’t like the featured artists, don’t despair, because you can play your own tracks as well.
Controls:
Quite obviously the offensive controls have been changed quite a bit. Now, the mechanics for passing are much different, but just practice and the new system will grow on you. A notable change is that A is no longer a receiver, you use A to turbo with your QB. Another notable change includes different buttons for modifying the defense before the snap. The new control schemes are all for the better and they become second nature quickly; and again, watch the ‘QB Vision Control’ Tutorial. If you decide you don’t want to learn the new system, turn off the feature, but I don’t see why you would want to do that.
Replay:
Madden 06 offers a whole lot in terms of replay value. For one thing, it has two extensive single-player modes. Both of these modes of play, as described earlier, are loads of fun to play. In case you were wondering, you can play up to 30 years with your franchise. In addition, you can play all of the mini-camp games from last year. These are the same ones available during Franchise mode training camp and they can provide hours of non-stop fun. Not only can you play mini-camp games versus the computer, but you can play the Rushing Attack min-game against a friend either on the same Xbox or on Xbox Live.
This brings us to another aspect of the game that provides a large amount of replay value. The Xbox Live mode has been changed for the better with improved Matchmaking features and more ways to play. As mentioned earlier, the ‘Spawn Game’ feature allows you to play franchise matches online, and you can also share files with friends through the EA Locker. On Xbox Live, Madden 06 is a great game to play against both friends and strangers.
Audio:
The audio in Madden 06 is one of the strongest areas of the game, and that is saying something. Many people will be glad to hear that Madden talks less this time around. He still makes some annoying comments, but take comfort in the fact that there are far less of them! In game sounds are solid as they have been for years, but the best aspect of the game is the soundtrack.
Considering the large amount of time that people will spend playing Franchise and Superstar mode, a solid soundtrack is a must. Madden 06 delivers with its remixed versions of NFL Films’ music as well as its nice selection of artists. You can visit this page for a full track list. If you don’t like the featured artists, don’t despair, because you can play your own tracks as well.
Controls:
Quite obviously the offensive controls have been changed quite a bit. Now, the mechanics for passing are much different, but just practice and the new system will grow on you. A notable change is that A is no longer a receiver, you use A to turbo with your QB. Another notable change includes different buttons for modifying the defense before the snap. The new control schemes are all for the better and they become second nature quickly; and again, watch the ‘QB Vision Control’ Tutorial. If you decide you don’t want to learn the new system, turn off the feature, but I don’t see why you would want to do that.
Replay:
Madden 06 offers a whole lot in terms of replay value. For one thing, it has two extensive single-player modes. Both of these modes of play, as described earlier, are loads of fun to play. In case you were wondering, you can play up to 30 years with your franchise. In addition, you can play all of the mini-camp games from last year. These are the same ones available during Franchise mode training camp and they can provide hours of non-stop fun. Not only can you play mini-camp games versus the computer, but you can play the Rushing Attack min-game against a friend either on the same Xbox or on Xbox Live.
This brings us to another aspect of the game that provides a large amount of replay value. The Xbox Live mode has been changed for the better with improved Matchmaking features and more ways to play. As mentioned earlier, the ‘Spawn Game’ feature allows you to play franchise matches online, and you can also share files with friends through the EA Locker. On Xbox Live, Madden 06 is a great game to play against both friends and strangers.
Summary:
Madden 06 is a must buy for any Xbox gamer who’s a football fan. Trust me, anyone who decides to pick this one up won’t be taking it out of their console anytime soon. It delivers with an innovative new mode of play and superb in-game additions. The overall presentation is drastically improved as well, and Madden 06 has the best soundtrack of any EA Sports game to date. If you were worried that EA wouldn’t deliver because of the lack of competition, put your worries to rest; this game is a good buy for both the casual and the hardcore football fan.
Madden 06 is a must buy for any Xbox gamer who’s a football fan. Trust me, anyone who decides to pick this one up won’t be taking it out of their console anytime soon. It delivers with an innovative new mode of play and superb in-game additions. The overall presentation is drastically improved as well, and Madden 06 has the best soundtrack of any EA Sports game to date. If you were worried that EA wouldn’t deliver because of the lack of competition, put your worries to rest; this game is a good buy for both the casual and the hardcore football fan.
