Madden NFL 2005

[chuddy_2001uk]

The Madden video game series is one of the biggest sports franchises there is. If you have ever owned a console (beginning with the Sega Genesis or the SNES), and enjoy the game of American football, chances are that you have probably played a Madden NFL game. However, the Madden NFL series has not been limited to consoles, as it has been released on Nintendo’s own Game Boy line of handhelds. The console versions have always set a high standard for the series, which in return made the hand-held versions look sub-par in comparison, at least graphically speaking. The gameplay has always been there, though, which always helped out a handheld Madden in need. Now, the Madden NFL series is making its appearance on Nintendo’s newest handheld, the Nintendo DS. So from what we have come to expect from the Madden series, how does the Nintendo DS version fare against previous versions? Well, I sense a review coming.


Graphics

Previous versions of have never been the best looking games, at least compared to their console counterparts. So, there is not much to be expected graphically speaking. When you first turn on Madden NFL 2005, you will find that the menus look surprisingly good. They are all evenly placed and are not too big nor too small. Some menus use both screens to display information, while others use only the lower screen, while the top screen displays the logo of the favorite team you have chosen. However, I noticed that some text was extremely small and shoved into a small corner and the like. The DS’ display makes up for it by offering a clear visual of the text. Also, some icons that appear in the menu’s look like cutouts, as if they were just cut using a paint program. It does look a bit awkward, but it is not completely distracting. The menu colors and overall appearance depend on which team you have set as your “favorite team.” An example would be to choose the Philadelphia Eagles, in which case the menus would be green color coordinated. This was very nice to see in the game, as it adds a sense of your Madden’s own “style.” Enough of the menus, let’s look at the part that you are all waiting for-the graphics of the game itself.


The top screen is where all the action is displayed, while the bottom screen either shows an X’s and O’s version of the field or the play selection, among other things. The in-game graphics look about on par with an N64 version of Madden NFL. However, there is one detail that just cannot be avoided. The player models are almost identical, no matter which position the particular player may play. So, for instance, an offensive lineman looks extremely similar to a wide receiver, which is contrary to the
reality of player sizes. The rest of the field looks like a normal football field should look like, and rarely ever (if at all) changes its appearance, except for the obvious changing of team logos in the endzone, midfield, and the division change (NFC or AFC). The stadium looks alright, although the sky has sort of a dome effect; the sky looks as if it has been painted onto a dome which sits on top of the stadium. The crowd is not much of a spectacle to look at either, as it is in most games. The in-game camera is fairly decent, as it provides a pretty good view of the field all its own. All in all, the graphics are fairly decent, at least for a Nintendo DS game. It has the “rush” feel to it that so many DS launch games have suffered. My one wish was they would have had more time to work on the visual presentation of the game, as they could have done much better.


Sound


As in any sports game, sound is also a big part of what makes the game enjoyable. However, this is where Madden NFL 2005 for the Nintendo DS ultimately falls short. With a football game, you expect large, cheering crowds and the grunts and grumbles of players. The other thing that separates Madden games from other football games is the wonderful commentary of John Madden himself. Well, you do not get most of those sounds. The crowds are nice and cheery, either happily screaming or
subtly booing. However, as far as player sound effects go, there is little, if any, sound the emerges from the players. Also lost is the commentary of John Madden, which has been stripped to only a few comments that you will repeatedly here throughout the game. It does make up for that by having some commentary by Al Michaels, but he too isn’t as verbose as he should be along with Madden when discussing the game. One high point of the game’s sound is its soundtrack. It sounds great on the
speakers, compared to its tinny-sounding predecessors. You really get the full effect of the entire rock soundtrack, which is a nice touch to see. Of course, you have come to expect this for many EA games. Other than that, though, there isn’t much to be enjoyed as far as sound goes. Again, it has the sort of limited work feel, the “rushed” feel.


Gameplay

The most important part of any sports game (as well as any game) is the gameplay itself. This is where Madden NFL 2005 stands out overshadowing previous flaws. The gameplay is everything you have come to expect from a Madden NFL game, with a new Nintendo DS twist. As previously stated, the main game view is on the top screen while all the touch action is utilized on the bottom screen. As far as how the game plays, if you enjoy football, you will enjoy playing this game. No matter what side you are playing, it is always fun to play. You are given the options of either Play Now, 2 Player over the DS’ wireless multiplayer capabilities, and the option Game Modes to choose other forms of play. Also included is My Madden and Extras, which deal with the personal statistics and accomplishments you have. Play Now is your normal way of getting into a game as quickly as possible. You choose your team (Home) and an opposing team to start playing. The game opens up and the coin toss starts. Afterwards, you choose a play on the bottom screen using the stylus to begin. 2 Player is, obviously, multiplayer. You can link up with another person via the DS' wireless capabilities. You choose your team, and your opponent chooses their team, and the football action commences. One thing that I noticed though, while in multiplayer I was not able to use the touch screen to select plays and the like. This was very disappointing to me, as it was the reason I enjoyed playing Madden NFL 2005 for the DS. However, the rest of the gameplay is solid, and I was able to keep up a very good signal while playing with not slowdowns noticeable.



Now we're onto the other gameplay modes available under the section "Game Modes" (imagine that). To start us off, we have Season. Now, anyone who has played a Madden NFL series game knows what this is. You get to play through the entire season for a particular team. Despite its console bretheren, this version of
the popular "Season" mode feels a bit stripped down in comparison. You don't have as much control as with the console versions, but you still have your essential seasonal powers such as trading players and modifying your team roster to suit your team needs. However, the absence of the more in-depth options is acceptable because of the fact that this is a portable game. One slight drawback though, you can only play though one season. After you complete one season, its back to the beginning. Not the biggest of problems, but it would have been nice to see more length to the season mode. Also included under "Game Modes" is Two Minute Drill, which allows you to try quick two-minute drills against either your own team or other teams. While this is an obvious inclusion, it does give you a lot of good game play. Now, what sports game would be complete without a practice mode? Well, Madden NFL 2005 includes its own Practice mode. You can choose which team you would like to be on, the particular playbook that you would like to use, the control of the ball (you are either on Offense or Defense), and if you chose Offense, you have the option to turn the Defense on or off. Occasionally, I experienced some clutter of players, but it really did not cause much of a distraction. Finally, we have Situation mode, which allows you to choose a particular situation that you would like to play through. The options range from choosing the score to the quarter that you are in to the time left. It really is fun to have that last down with only five seconds left feel while playing, and I particularly enjoyed this portion of the game. Moving on to the My Madden section (which really feels more like and Extras section), you can switch around rosters, view your Madden Cards, and even an NFL Record Book. Madden cards have particularly put
an extra amount of play time, as they need to be unlocked by completing specific challenges. Each card has its own effects, such as increasing chances for fumbles and opponent injuries. The NFL Record Book lets you view records set by individual players, teams, coaches, and even view Super Bowl History to see who the teams were and who won during previous Super Bowls. All in all, the gameplay of Madden NFL 2005 for the DS ensures that you will enjoy playing the game in any mode of play.




Lifespan

While this is a part of the Madden NFL series, it seems to end very quickly. You are going to spend most of your time either playing normal exhibition matches, playing through Season mode, or making use of the multiplayer included. Eventually, though, this will wear out quickly. Chances are, though, that you will have this game in your DS for a while if you enjoy football games. The multiplayer tends to get old fast, as it loses much of the innovation when you do not have all the touch screen features. However, the addition of Madden cards and the fun single player modes add many hours to the game's replay value. It's safe to say that you will be playing this game for a good while. For what it offers as far as a handheld game, though, you have many options to choose between when you feel the need to play. The only thing that may come up is the fact that football games tend to be on the lengthy side, even with short quarters. So, this probably will not be a game you can just open up and play a quick game without being interrupted. This is alright, as most football games were meant to be played for long periods of times. As far as actual lifespan, this game should tide you over for a few good weeks, but that is only if you are extremely into the game.



Summary


Madden NFL 2005 for the Nintendo DS is a great game and offers up some great American Football gameplay for any fan. Some graphical issues arise often, and this may distract some players. Also to note is the sound issues that could have been MUCH better. You are not going to get the full sound experience that you may get from playing a console version of Madden NFL 2005, and you can tell. The soundtrack is particularly satisfactory, however, and does make good use of the Nintendo DS' speakers. Madden NFL 2005 brings many gameplay modes to the table, each of which provides a good amount of play time. While the season mode may feel a bit thin, it is much more than you would expect from a handheld football game. The inclusion of Madden Cards adds more gameplay time and it adds more challenges for you to complete. Multiplayer also offers up some fun gameplay, but it does not have all the innovative touch screen gameplay, which detracts from the experience. The game will last a good while in your DS, but will begin to thin out as soon as you stop playing for an extended period. The game does play a good game of football, and if you are a fan, chances are that you will enjoy this game a lot. While this may not be the most visually appealing game in the Nintendo DS launch lineup, it does make use of the DS' touch screen for many thing, which is always an added bonus.




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

Graphics - 7/10

This is not the most graphically pleasing game you will play on the DS, but it does offer some pretty good visuals that are comparable to the Nintendo 64.


Sound - 6/10

Most of the commentary by Al Michaels has been stripped, and John Madden's voice is almost nonexistent. However, the soundtrack delivers some great sound and brings the sound back up.

Gameplay - 8/10

Madden NFL 2005 gives you some remarkably good gameplay and many modes of play, which greatly adds to the experience. It also makes good use of the Nintendo DS' touch screen.

Lifespan - 7/10

If you are really into football, you are going to have this game in your DS for a good while. However, it will eventually become rather boring unless you make good use of multiplayer among other things.



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


An average launch title in the sincerest of words, which has many graphical and audio flaws. It brings some new gameplay innovation and makes up for other flaws with its great deal of game modes. Speaking of sound, where's John Madden?