Madden 64
Reviewed by Phil Kehoe
Ever since I posted an editorial at this site about Madden vs QBC '98,
I have been getting a lot of email about the subject. Well now I think
it is time to give my opinion of the game. I have been playing Madden
not stop since the day it was released and a kid in the apartment next
to me bought QBC '98 so I know which is the better game...Madden 64.
Graphics (4.6/5.0)
My room mate owns the Saturn version of Madden and I must say its
quite and improvement to have polygon models present in the game.
The animation is very well done and 100x better than QBC. My
favorite thing is to see receivers actually stick out their hands
to catch the ball. The stadiums are also very well done. It looks like
EA learned something from FIFA 64 because the field scrolling is
very smooth and a great improvement.
Sound (4.0/5.0)
Now I did have some problems with the sound. After listening to
the Saturn version I kind of wish that Pat Summerall said more
stuff after the plays. At least say the down and how many yards
to go so that I don't have to look for it. Some of the crowd noises
are very strange and sound like noise makers from a New Years Eve
party. I also wish the crowd would chant something else besides D-Fence.
Gameplay (5.0/5.0)
This is why Madden is the preferred football game this year over
QBC '98. The artificial intelligence is awesome. Every time I
though I had found a money play, the computer began stopping the
play regularly. I also don't understand how people say it is impossible
to run in Madden. I just played week 10 of my season on pro difficulty and
Curtis Martin ran for 150 yards on 30 carries. Yes you can only break
a long run once in a while but that's what makes the game real. The
only problem I had with the AI is that the computer tends to pass
way more than they run which makes life easy for me because I just
drop into a Nickel Man with that great Foxboro secondary.
Extras (+0.1)
Madden has lots of extras that will keep you playing this game
long after you beat a season. First of all its got three difficulty
levels and let me just say that Madden mode is hard. It's got
Fantasy Drafts and custom leagues where you can play with
the greatest teams of all time in one league. Very cool.
Overall (4.6/5.0)
I am really starting to like my N64 as a sports machine. I now have
ISS64 and Madden 64 to keep me happy. If only Ken Griffey had come
out then I would have been in heaven. If your one of those people who
reviewed QBC over Madden (Next-Gen, N64.com) then your not a football
fan. Graphics can only go so far, in the end all us sports addicts want
is to play the game. EA Sports definitely lived up to their slogan "It's
in the game" because I have never played a football game as real as
Madden 64. Acclaim you have a lot of work to do because next year
Madden WILL have the NFL license.