Madden NFL 07 review

Next-Gen Madden's looking great, but still second-string compared to its current-gen teammates

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    The Highlight Stick

  • +

    Lead blocking

  • +

    Field degradation

Cons

  • -

    Superstar's cameras

  • -

    Minigame setup

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    Hall-of-Famers in franchise

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Last year, Madden glitzed its way onto next-genplatforms with sparkling graphics - lifelike stadiums, impeccable players models, feckless animations and solid gameplay. But the extras that current-gen users took for granted were missing. This year, that's all changed - but not for the better. The gameplay is better than ever, but the Superstar mode isn't properly executed and the minigames don't have the same oomph.

In fact, one of the game's greatest improvements spans all generations of consoles: updated rosters. Usually this wouldn't get a mention since it's a given, but every true football fan wants to see what the once-in-a-generation halfback Reggie Bush is made of. Of course there's Titans QB Vince Young, Cards QB Matt Leinart, and Broncos' QB Jay Cutler. But Bush is absolutely electric. If you saw him run the ball for USC, you know what we're talking about. He's a complete freak of nature - one that's nearly impossible to tackle. Just the chance to juke defenders into next week with Bush is worth the $60 price tag.

One of the reasons Bush, and star players running backs like him, can excel is the newfangled highlight stick which lives on the right analog. If you time it right, your player will turn into a whirling dervish of indefensible, ripping off one of forty broken tackle animations. And the moves differ depending on the back. Smaller backs like Warrick Dunn will try to evade when a tackler gloms on, while big-timers like T.J. Duckett will bring the pain by trying to crash through the would-be tackler.

More info

GenreSports
DescriptionFootball's perennial all-star is back again. The 360 version is obviously the prettiest, but it still lags slightly behind the PS2 and Xbox versions in the gameplay department.
Franchise nameMadden
UK franchise nameMadden
Platform"Xbox 360","PC","Xbox","GameCube","PS2","PSP","Wii","DS","PS3"
US censor rating"Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone"
UK censor rating"","","","","","","","",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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