MADDEN NFL 2004
| 9.3 |
Gameplay
Any sports game should be judged on gameplay first and foremost (everything else is icing on the cake) and Madden excels in terms of creating a deep but enjoyable game of football. The new element this year comes in the form of playmaker controls allowing you to make adjustments on offense that have hitherto been impossible. EA continues to innovate and add new elements and they should be congratulated for it. |
| 8.7 |
Graphics
The graphics are solid with a good level of detail and player models that are an upgrade on last year. However the overall improvement in graphics from last year is the reason for the lower than expected score. Perhaps EA has gotten as much out of the current generation of consoles as they can. |
| 9.7 |
Longevity
Franchise mode has become the most important mode for many football gamers and this year we can celebrate the new 'Owner Mode' feature. Owner mode adds a new dimension to the franchise forcing you to make financial decisions that will ultimately have a direct impact on your ability to be able to afford those big salaries and key free agents. Just like when EA added the mini camp feature, they've scored another winner with owner mode. |
| 9.4 |
Presentation
The menus are easy to navigate and the polished, clean appearance of Madden 04 makes this the best looking and user friendly interface of the series so far. |
| 7.5 |
Sound
The audio always seems to be the area of weakness in Madden and this year is no different. Al Michaels is a terrible announcer... bring back Pat ! The comments are reptetitive and often useless. EA needs to work on this. |
| 8.9 |
Overall
The biggest criticism with the Madden series is in terms of its evolution. The game often leaves you feeling that so much more could have been achieved and that the developers held something back. This year is different, with owner mode providing that extra element of longevity and playmaker controls giving you more options on the field football gamers have never had it so good. |
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