Games Database
PS2
Sport: Football - American
| Also for: | PC, Xbox, GameCube | ||
| Viewed: | 3D Combination | Genre: | Sport: Football - American |
| Media: | CD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | EA Tiburon | Soft. Co.: | Electronic Arts |
| Publishers: | Electronic Arts
(US/GB) |
Released: | 18 Aug 2003
(US) 12 Sept 2003 (GB) |
| Ratings: | PEGI 3+ | ||
| Connectivity: | Network Adaptor (Ethernet) compatible | ||
| Features: | Vibration Function Compatible, Analogue Control Compatible: analogue sticks only | ||
| Accessories: | Memory Card | ||
Summary
14 years on and the father of the American footie sim is still going strong. Well, another year, another update and we're now presented with the 2004 instalment of the series endorsed by the now legendary John Madden. This time the emphasis has been placed on both visual presentation and gameplay, with a host of new additions in place, not least the PS2 version's adoption of the system's new online capabilities.
One of the more notable features of the game is the Playmaker Control - an element that gives you more control of the action both before and during play. Before the snap, you have the option to quickly change plays, routes and defensive coverage, and once the action kicks off you can then call out blocks, direct receivers or make quick adjustments to the defence. Another new feature is the Deep Owner mode, which allows you to take over the full bottom line responsibilities of the owner, in addition to the manager, coach and players. Subsequently you can find yourself getting immersed in such duties as building a new stadium, organising car parks and even setting prices for food and merchandise.
Where Madden 2004 stands out most, though, is in the overall presentation - the developer has clearly aimed towards broadcast quality visuals. As such, transitions between the end of play and the play-call interface are now seamless, and the overall visual style is enhanced by other such features as split-screen replays, speciality animations and new quarter back scramble transitions, designed to improve throwing the run. The detail of the player models has also increased and now includes such minute details as tattoos and dreadlocks. Rock and roll!
As far as features are concerned, probably the most important addition to Madden 2004 is its support for online play. If you've got your network adapter in place, you can now go online and show off your footballing skills to the world. One particular mode, Quick Match, allows you to quickly connect to other players of similar skill, and you can also take part in a host of online tournaments, see yourself presented on a new ranking system, and benefit from features such as EA Messenger and a USB headset-enabled voice chat.
It's not always worth buying into games such as this on a yearly basis, but with the inclusion of the network support, as well as the overall polish of the game, Madden 2004 is definitely worth consideration.
One of the more notable features of the game is the Playmaker Control - an element that gives you more control of the action both before and during play. Before the snap, you have the option to quickly change plays, routes and defensive coverage, and once the action kicks off you can then call out blocks, direct receivers or make quick adjustments to the defence. Another new feature is the Deep Owner mode, which allows you to take over the full bottom line responsibilities of the owner, in addition to the manager, coach and players. Subsequently you can find yourself getting immersed in such duties as building a new stadium, organising car parks and even setting prices for food and merchandise.
Where Madden 2004 stands out most, though, is in the overall presentation - the developer has clearly aimed towards broadcast quality visuals. As such, transitions between the end of play and the play-call interface are now seamless, and the overall visual style is enhanced by other such features as split-screen replays, speciality animations and new quarter back scramble transitions, designed to improve throwing the run. The detail of the player models has also increased and now includes such minute details as tattoos and dreadlocks. Rock and roll!
As far as features are concerned, probably the most important addition to Madden 2004 is its support for online play. If you've got your network adapter in place, you can now go online and show off your footballing skills to the world. One particular mode, Quick Match, allows you to quickly connect to other players of similar skill, and you can also take part in a host of online tournaments, see yourself presented on a new ranking system, and benefit from features such as EA Messenger and a USB headset-enabled voice chat.
It's not always worth buying into games such as this on a yearly basis, but with the inclusion of the network support, as well as the overall polish of the game, Madden 2004 is definitely worth consideration.
