At first Madden 2006 on Xbox 360 seems great. It has really great graphics and I like the play picking menu where you can pick ask madden, ask coach, by formation, etc. This game though doesn't have any practice mode which isn't something that's used a lot, but if you want to go the distance with your team practice can help. There are also no madden mini games. Inface it's pretty much just Franchise, or Play Now. One of the worst features is the lack of challenging a play or even the booth challenging a play, maybe they didn't put it in because they make such horrible plays. It's almost a bad idea to try to get a sack. Just about everytime you jump at the quarter back if he gets the ball out of his hands they call a roughing the passer. Also no matter where you hit him, if you hit him in the ankel, leg, arm, chest, it's always "a blow to the head" Also today i got called for encrochment and they weren't even back to the line yet. Also you will seem to fumble for no reason towards the end of a game. The computer always runs down the play clock I guess to try to get you to go offsides, but after about 10 games it gets old waiting 15-20 seconds for them to hike the ball. Then if you play against Payton Manning he calls 2 audibles on just about ever play. It is however pretty fun. If you can get passed the 2 or 3 bad calls a game, and the fumbles. I don't know if you can call for a fair catch they can, but i never seem to be able to figure out how.Read full review
Here's the scoop on Madden '06 for everyone with a 360. Buy it only if you have a bunch of people who LOVE to play Madden. If you have to buy only one Madden this year, better stick with the current gen one for PS2 and XBox. Heck, I'd even get the PSP version of this game before I bought this game, seeing as how the PSP version has a deeper franchise mode than the 360. I won't totally knock this version however, it does have its good moments. Also, this IS the engine EA will be working with for the next five years, so if you want to find a way to prepare for Madden NFL '07, this is it... I won't lie, the graphics are outstanding. When you first boot up the game and see the opening trailer, you kind of wish T.O. would have shut his mouth so you really wonder what a Super Bowl rematch between the Eagles and Patriots would have been like (This is the opening scenario of the game, as McNabb fires a ball to L.J. Smith for a first down, then spikes the ball on first and goal with a tick left on the clock in SB 40 vs. the champs). When you play the game, a lot of things have changed. For one, Michaels and Madden no longer call the game. A local radio announcer calls the game, even though he is much, MUCH more enthusiastic with the call than Michaels EVER could be (Yes, this even includes Michaels infamous 'The Giants won the pennant!!!' call. The radio announcer can be that damn annoying sometimes). One nice thing are the replays. They make you feel like your watching a classic NFL film, since NFL Film music is playing in the background (Think of the Burger King commercials where the King is pretty much running his own campaign to be MVP. That's how the replays feel like after a good play.) Also, in the running game, you are going to need to take the ball to the outside or have a quarterback that can run his @$$ off (such as a Vick or McNabb; be smart and pray they don't get injured). Just like the initial Madden for the PS2 (Madden '01), it is going to take EA at least a year or two to work the offensive lineman enough for effective running plays up the gut. What EA DID do that I appreciate is that they added more hip-hop to the EA Traks lineup, most notably Paul Wall's "They Don't Know" remix with Mike Jones. I bought Paul Wall's CD when it first came out, and it had the Chopped & Screwed version with it, but not the Mike Jones remix. Any fan of hip-hop knows that when it comes to EA & the rap game, you need to go to LIVE to get your fix. In addition EA added a bunch of underground artists, who got pretty dope songs. Don't worry if you like rock, Madden continues to stay partial to this genre as they added new songs to it as well (though I couldn't tell you what they are, seeing as how I don't listen to rock). Another new feature to Madden for 360 is the virtual injury chart. Whenever a player gets injured, about 7 of 10 times, a virtual X-Ray comes up over the injured body part and lets you know how long that the player will be sitting out. This is one advantage over current gen (one of the VERY FEW, I might add), since you don't have to wait 2-3 minutes or go to the depth chart on the pause menu to find out how long players have to wait. Finally, I will wrap this up with Madden 360's main weakness, a Franchise mode that is HOT GARBAGE. It reminds me of Tecmo Bowl for NES, it's that elementary. Again, don't buy this game unless you have 2 or 3 Madden buddies or XBox Live (If you have BOTH, this is good).Read full review
So, The new controls are fairly easy to get used to afterabout 10 minutes of play. Although, having the view area vary for each quarterback's pass rating is lame, it does add a new factor in for the hardcore Madden fan (and there are quite a few of those). This brings me to my next item, Xbox Live. There is an abundance of people who want to play this online, so you practically never have to wait for someone to play with. The graphics are great, and they're going to be for all 360 games, so I won't really go into detail about them. The plays are pretty much the same, except with different formations. If you are one of the people who buys 360 games for achievements, you'll be happy here; 11 achievements available, and you should be able to get at least 7 of them within the 1st game you play. overall, this is a little too easy, and doesn't have too much replayability. Great for kids or younger fans of the NFL, but not really great for fans of the older Madden games. I give it a 3 out of 5.Read full review
The graphics in this game are truely amazing. They did a good job with the new pull down menus in the menu screens. The passing in this game is very easy to catch on to, and very realistic. However, running is almost impossible. They did a very poor job with movments, when running the ball. Your back can easily get turned around backward. The running backs have no latteral movment when running. Very poor job on that. Also no run blocking at all. Lots of room to improve this game. Still worth buying though if you are a 360 owner and a huge football fan.
although it is still madden, wait.....is it? what happened? i am a bit confused. the graphics are stellar, but where are the features? man, its like they gutted this game like a fish!!! no play challenges?...what the f#$%!!! i guess i will keep playing it though, even though the franchise mode has been reverted to the sega genesis dayz. what a bummer, maybe next time EA should remember what keeps us buying there games: in depth features and not just hot graphics. but, however,-with all that said, lets talk about the good stuff. the gameplay itself is great. player moves are more realistic, and the atmosphere of the stadiums is engulfing. it is easily the best madden when it comes to feeling like a real nfl game. my only real complaint is the way the changed the hot route feature. it is a bit awkward, especially during 2 player battles. so more or less this game is still a great time. although you may get bored with the lack of depth in franchise mode (not to mention no fantasy draft! ouch!!!) and no play challenges, my bet is you will find a way to love this game.Read full review
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