This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.
Electronic Arts today announced the full soundtrack for the upcoming Madden NFL 2008 title spanning across multiple platforms. Below is the full list.
Airbourne
Runnin’ Wild
Atreyu
Becoming
This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.The original author is Matthew Call.
When the Madden franchise made its PSP debut in September fans quickly discovered a flaw in the game that caused it to crash PSP’s while in franchise mode. EA quickly developed a fix that involved fiddling with the game’s menus, but has now offered a more permanent solution. Madden owners can send their defective discs into EA for a free replacement. The replacement UMD’s feature new software without the PSP crashing glitch. EA is also kind enough to include 2 coupons with the new disc: a $15 coupon for use in EA’s online store as well as a free shipping voucher.
Interested gamers can mail their UMD’s to the following address:EA Customer Warranty Attn: Madden PSP 209 Redwood Shores Parkway Redwood City, CA 94065
Discs may take up to 10 business days to arrive. More information is available at the game’s official site.
This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Aaron Thomas.
Fans of the Madden franchise are a notoriously fickle bunch. If EA doesn’t make a whole lot of changes from one year to the next, they’re accused of releasing little more than a “roster update.”. Should EA drastically alter the feel of the game by changing up the passing game or adding an uninteresting play mode, they’re accused of making change for change’s sake. This is why it’s so surprising to see EA throw caution into the wind and build the Xbox 360’s version of Madden NFL 05 from the ground up. Don’t worry, it’s still got that “Madden feel” to it, but it has an all-new presentation that shows what next-generation sports titles are capable of delivering. Alas, one of the caveats of creating an all-new game is that there are some features missing and the gameplay isn’t quite as refined as it normally is in a Madden game.
The first thing everyone wants to know about Madden on the 360 is how it looks. Simply put – it looks awesome. The player models are incredibly lifelike, and the game’s presentation take’s ample opportunity to show them off. The camera will focus in on the players as they break from the huddle, panning around and eventually zooming in on the quarterback. Most of the players look eerily realistic, but a few of them, like Joey Harrington and Kerry Collins, don’t look too hot. You’ll see sweat down a player’s arm, they’ll actually blink their eyes, and you can even read logos on the uniforms. When you pan around the field during an instant replay you’ll notice improved animations in the offensive line, where the battle in the trenches looks more lifelike than ever. There are some outstanding new animations on both sides of the ball; with some nice new juke moves, and some vicious looking hits on defense.
The stadiums are nearly photorealistic, even featuring such a minute detail as burnt out bulbs on the scoreboard. The fans in the stands also look top-notch. Rather than detracting from the experience when you look out and see blurry 2D sprites, the crowd here adds to the atmosphere when the camera pans back to show 50,000 rabid fans, clapping and cheering, while dressed in their team’s colors. The sidelines could have used some work, as there it’s kind of disappointing to see a lifelike version of Andy Reid waddling down the sidelines, but no cheerleaders to speak of. Certainly someone could have made next-gen cheerleaders a reality?
This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content.
The launch of the Xbox 360 is imminent, and with it comes many blockbuster titles from Electronic Arts, including Need for Speed: Most Wanted, NBA Live, and the premier sports headliner: Madden NFL 2006. Of course anyone looking for an NFL title on the 360 is stuck getting Madden because of the new EA license, but at least the football giant is shaping up to be a pretty solid title.
The first thing that must be mentioned is that all the players, coaches and stadiums are realistic down to the finest details. EA has taken head scans of the players and coaches and each has various facial reactions that correspond to the action on the field, whether celebrating a touchdown or barking at a quarterback. There is also three times the number of animations in the game showing players getting pumped before the game kicks off and after every touchdown or turnover. The stadiums are finely detailed with thousands of 3D fans and the details spare no expense down to the scoreboards, which even show team chants and injury reports. The weather also has effects on the graphics as player jerseys get dirty and stained.
The impressive presentation for the 360 isn’t just in the graphics, but also spreads to the audio. Instead of John Madden and Al Michaels, the action is called by your home team announcers. NFL Films also provided on-field audio down to the hits and smack-talk from the players.
Important to any Madden fan is the gameplay; although the game was built from the scratch and improved upon, it still plays like a Madden title, so fans will feel very comfortable. This time Tiburon has added new features including picture-in-picture and an adjusted play-calling system. Quarterback vision control, hit stick and truck stick are still featured too.
This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Brian Mohr.
Six months ago the PSP came out and along with the launch came baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey games, but the only incarnation of football was the very eccentric NFL Street. Now just a few weeks after the NFL season has kicked off, the heavyweight football giant Madden 06 has made its way to the PlayStation Portable. In many ways the game does well for itself on the impressive handheld, but in the end it falls just short of being top-notch.
First off the developers brought everything you’d normally see in the Madden series and scaled it down for the handheld. This includes a full franchise mode, 18 mini-games including 10 new ones and the ability to transfer your franchise between the PlayStation 2 and PSP version via a USB. Beyond that, the game also features an online option, although it takes a lot of time to set up and play as you have to go through EA’s own setup process and then use the lackluster PSP keyboard. The online mode is very solid as well and sees very little lag compared to a normal game.
The graphics are pretty good too. Although the actual character models are a little rough, it’s not too bad especially considering you have 22 players on-screen at once. Sure the character models aren’t the best, but the in-game animations are very solid with dives, wrap tackles, stiff arms and more. Players celebrate after scoring a touchdown also. Even with the actual gameplay moving fast, the action is clear and easy to see. The stadiums are also well done and define each team accordingly.
This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content.
With the release of the PSP, it was just a matter of time until EA Sports would bring Madden to the handheld. The game graphically looks and feels like Madden for the consoles, although currently the game had at least some framerate issues and the players did look a little blocky, although a rep from EA confirmed that the game will be much faster and cleaner upon release in late September. Beyond that though, the game is pretty realistic especially when it comes to running, tackling, passing and more.
The game will feature 18 mini-games, 10 of which will be new ones for the PSP. There will also be a practice squad option which allows you to develop players for your team in the future just like in the real NFL. Of course the game features plenty of plays along all official NFL teamsa and stadiums along with features like precision passing and more. The game will not take advantage of the hit stick as it is a problem with the PSP's one analog control. The game will also include the Ad Hoc WiFi play and an On the Go feature that will allow you to keep playing your season on the road with the PSP and then when you get home you'll be able to link it back with the PlayStation 2 and continue your season from there.
From the one minute quarters we got to play, the game looks good and is true to the NFL, but it is obvious there is plenty of work to be done. The controls are solid and just like the PlayStation 2 includes stiff arms and jukes with the trigger buttons, although they will be determined which way they stiff arm or juke by where your opponent is coming from.
This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Sean Kearney.
There is a saying that begins “There are few certainties in life…”, and there are a few in video games too. It is certain that every five years a new console will come out that will be roughly ten times as powerful as the current one, and it is certain that every year there will be another Madden Football game at E3. Well guess what game was at E3 this year?
Now that EA has exclusive rights to the NFL license, some might assume that they could just put together a football game that plays like last year’s Madden, with a few graphical enchancements, and updated rosters. Well think again, because for Madden NFL 2006, EA has gone back to the drawing boards and delivered some of the most updated gameplay in the franchise’s history.
One of the most impressive new features in the game is the completely reworked passing system, titled “Vision and Precision” passing, which allows you to not only overthrow your pass as a quarterback to lead a receiver away from defenders, as was possible in earlier versions of Madden, but as well now allows you to use your line of vision to throw a more precise pass, or to fake out your opponent.
After the snap, you control where your quarterback is
looking by using the right analog stick to maneuver an illuminated vision cone
across the field. When you are looking at a receiver you are able to throw a
more precise pass to him. Now you are not limited to throwing your pass to a
receiver in your line of sight, it is just easier for one to catch your pass if
he is in your line of vision. There is also a way to quickly shoot your vision from one
receiver to another, which makes it possible to pump fake a pass to one
receiver, only to fool your opponent when you throw to another. Playing the demo,
this new passing system was easy to understand, and definitely worked when it
was used properly. It really helped to make the already enjoyable gameplay
experience that much more impressive.
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