We bought Madden NFL '07 for the W...ii recently for my 8-yr old son, after he had rented and tried the '07, 08, and '09 editions. He preferred '07 because the movement for "stripping the ball" using the Wii remote was easier than the later versions. These Madden NFL games are similar to one another in how you select and implement plays, and feature optional tips from Madden in selecting plays. The others do have some nice features that '07 doesn't have such as easy play (one or more players can play without a nunchuk) and 5 on 5 mode, in the case of '09. But for people like us who are neither hard-core football fans nor experienced gamers, it is a fun game and a great way to learn more about the game of football. The only reason I would not give it a "5" is because there have been some nice improvements and additions made to the later versions, as you would expect. But being an older game, you can get a good deal on this one. And gettting the Wii version is a plus because well-timed movements of the nunchuk/remote give you bonuses to your movements, so you feel more like you are in the game.
I've tried to play Madden with ...a game controller on a PC and failed miserably. The Wii controller is a much better way to play the game for the uninitiated. Hiking the ball, passing, running, kicking, are all pretty intuitive. I still make dumb errors, but the game is very fun to play. The graphics are fine on the Wii ... not stellar but that is not why we have a Wii. The music is the same old, tired Madden rock score. I just turn that way down. My biggest complaint is navigating into things like the Franchise mode, where there is no explanation and I am left wondering how to get started. I can't start training camp because I lack a full roster. But I can't figure out how to fill the roster. So for now, I am not using franchise mode. All of this is probably very obvious to Madden old-timers, but I am a newbie and I can't figure it out. The manual is no help. The game is much easier to play in offensive mode than defense. I can't seem to do much yet on defense. The computer's AI makes most of my tackles. Gradually, I am sure I can learn more. Right now I play a defensive end and I try to rush the passer to no effect. On offense, though, I am getting the hang of running the ball, calling audibles and finding open receivers. There is a steep learning curve, but it is learnable and a nice experience. In summary, the Wii version is newbie friendly. And I think the 2007 game, which is the first using the Wii controllers, is a great choice given the cheap price you can find on eBay. Much more fun for your dollar than the later versions.
Wii motion control makes Madden not only simpler to control, b...ut also a blast. Madden 07 for Wii is a very solid first effort. The game includes all the options as the other console versions including lead blocking, create-a-player/team/fan, hall of fame, tons of training sessions including two minute drill and NFL network, and a full-blown franchise mode just to name a few, and throws in an intuitive learn madden tutorial, multilayer competitions including the amazingly addictive 2-on-2 and Y.A.C. Attack, as well as tons of motion control specifically built for the Wii-mote and nunchuk. There are still a few issues with kicking and big hits that could be a bit more polished, and the general stigma around Wii is that some people will love it or hate it simply because it offers new game play over improved graphics, but the game is simply awesome despite the countless naysayers out there.
From the moment you boot up a game in Madden 07, you'll find a... heaping helping of tutorials showing you the basics of the game's controls through some of the familiar minicamp games. In fact, all throughout Madden you'll find little tutorials about individual actions. Once you jump into a full-on game for the first time, before each and every play, a new tutorial icon pops up in the upper right corner, and by pressing a button, it'll bring you to a screen where it demonstrates a new action and lets you try it out. It's a phenomenal system, especially since anyone who has ever played a standard football game will need some adjustment to this new control scheme. In most cases, the movements you make to perform an action in the game are completely intuitive. To snap the ball, you flip the Wii Remote upward with a quick snap. To pass, you simply press the button of the desired receiver, and flip the remote forward in a passing motion. When you're carrying the ball, the Nunchuk acts as your body, while the remote acts as your arms. What this means is that by tilting the Nunchuk from side to side, you'll juke in the appropriate direction, and by tilting the remote from side to side, you'll perform a right or left stiff arm. Basic tackles are handled by simply running into other players, but you can level them with big hits by holding down the Z button and pushing both the remote and the Nunchuk forward. Kicks are handled by simply swinging the remote upward after pressing the A button to start a kick. These are just the basics, mind you. There are tons of motion-control moves to be found here, including moves for lead blocking, catching, swiping at the ball, and pulling off various presnap offensive and defensive moves. It's a complex system, but many of the moves are so easy to use that it becomes second nature after a couple of games. For instance, even though it might seem counterintuitive to use the D pad for receiver assignments, it's just as easy as it ever was with the normal button assignments in other versions of Madden. The running moves are fantastic and feel completely natural. The timing's a bit tricky in the early goings, but once you get a feel for it, it works like a dream. Even better, the game actually brings up icons to signify when you're doing something right or wrong with the running controls. If you're too late for a stiff arm, it tells you. It also occasionally pulls off a "smart" move for you when it thinks it feels a tilt but you haven't necessarily moved the controller over far enough to pull it off right.
Madden NFL 07 for th...e Wii isn't just a quick-and-dirty port. It's an excellent use of the Wii's motion-sensing capabilities that revitalizes Madden in a number of ways. The Good: Tons of motion-controlled moves that are responsive and intuitive; the new minigames are a blast with four players; all the features found in the gamecube version are present here; awesome tutorial system that teaches you everything you need to know. The Bad: Graphics engine is getting a bit long in the tooth; time to get some new commentators; superstar mode still has a number of annoying issues.
