Customer Reviews

Madden NFL 07

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Note: The Madden 07 Wikipedia entry says that Madden can corrupt your entire memory card. I didn't believe this was possible, but it just happened to me. Our franchises and superstar mode files are gone along with files from my daughter's game. It turns out that the internet is full of confirmations of this bug.

Very disappointing. EA does not seem to have a solution to this problem.

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Madden 2007 makes the most radical improvements to gameplay that I've seen in the series. It is absolutely worth the upgrade.

You are now freed from being only the QB or RB in the game. This opens new dimensions that were never possible before. Specifically, you can be any of the players on the offensive side of the ball. Now, instead of being the RB on a running play, I like playing fullback and blowing up a linebacker to let my RB gain big yardage.

My son and I have played on the same team in two-player mode for years. He was QB and I was RB. This meant that the running game was boring for him since he'd just hand the ball off and let me go. Now, he can play the FB on an I-Formation and we can run down the field together. What a dramatic difference in fun and teamwork!

This freedem extends to the superstar mode. In the past, if you were a WR, you would watch your guy play his games. Now, you can actually play as the WR, TE, or any position on the field.

Madden 2007 is the most innovative upgrade in years and I highly recommend it!

I like to play franchise mode with the fantasy draft. I completed my draft and moved on to training camp. After completing the first quarterback challenge, the game froze. I turned the system off, tried again several times - the result? Nothing but game freeze. Did a Google search and this seems to be a BIG problem for the Xbox 360 and PSP as well as the PS2 (which I own).

I tried emailing EA, but they want you to create a user account or else you can't reach them - why? I found a link to EA's warranty site and they want you to send them back the game and a check for $20 to get a repair/replacement. Are they nuts!?! To top it off, during my search of "Madden 07 freeze", I found message board postings indicating that when people did email EA, the response from EA has it trying to blame the game system, not the EA product. I then did a "Madden 07 bug" search and discovered EA KNOWINGLY distributed the game with major bugs! If you don't believe me, do the Google search yourself.

I printed off the Google search results, went back to the store where I bought Madden, explained the problem and got a full refund. It looks like an exclusive license with the NFL has made EA soft and this game worthless.

I would not recommend this game. As a big believer in customer service/companies that stand behind their product, I will NEVER buy another EA title again.

Waiting in line to buy the new Madden every year is like waiting in line to buy a new calendar. Sure, there are enough differences to technically call it "new". There might be newer or prettier pictures but it's still just a calendar, just like the year before - same stuff only with slight changes. I know all the Maddenphiles and football fans say that there really are additions and changes that justify another $50/$60 drop. I think they tell themselves that just so they don't feel ripped off. Now that online play is a regular part of console gaming, EA should just have yearly download updates and charge $15 or so. Oh but wait, there's no money in not screwing over the consumer.

Here we go again, another August, another new Madden release with marginal updates and modifications. Why am I constantly buying this game every year, if they don't want to enhance the few key things that the consumers are demanding every year??? Why Why Why???

Well, I'm sure everyone is aware of this, but EA sports has created a monopoly with the Madden series, buy buying exclusive rights to the NFL and licensing. So no other software company can offer competition as a result. With that being said, I had high hopes for 07 because I figured that EA would include a fancy presentation like that of the Sega 2K series to go along with the fluid gameplay of Madden.

Boy was I wrong. This is the same exact game as last year's with some notable downgrades. I'm not one for playing friends and people on-line, because I enjoy the Franchise/Owner Mode, building my dynasty. Here's some notable downgrades associated with this.

1. Scouting Rookies will take an eternity now. They decided to include Mel Kiper Jr as the analyst that provides the scoop on the incoming rookie class, but he serves no purpose. The entire process is extremely tedious. In order to obtain scouting reports, you have to work each individual player out with individual sessions (exactly the same as the training camp work outs). So now you have to sit thru more loading screens, just to get a report on someone that may have a negative scouting report. It's a complete waste compared to the previous Madden scouting systems, where you could get quick feedback on each college player. There's even a College All-Star Game available to play in the off-season, with the top rookies. This gives you an opportunity to actually test out players before you draft them. Let's be honest, this is a waste of time. Most of us just want to know the players 40 time, vertical leaps, Interview status, and bench reps. So that we can just move on.

2. The Tony Bruno Show- No updates, No new interviews, the same garbage from the past 2 Madden games. I feel like I'm about to have an aneurism every year after hearing the exact same radio show.

3. No significant updates to the John Madden Al Michaels commentary. Same ole comments.

4. Where's the beer in the concession stands. Beer has now been replaced with coffee. How soft and Politically Correct can a football game get?

5. The kicking controls have been changed. Now you must kick only by using the left analog stick. Please be prepared to miss plenty of extra points.

6. Constant game freezes still occur while playing.


Positives.

1. The gameplay is extremely fluid

2. I absolutely love the new player "roles" this makes franchise mode much more interesting. And allows each high, mid, to low rated player to have a distinguishable positive or negative trait associated with them (for example Todd Pinkston and Sean Springs are "injury prone" players, Patrick Ramsey is an "underachiever", Brian Dawkins is a "defensive enforcer" etc.)

Ultimately I'm satisfied and disappointed at the same time.
Let's be honest...how many of you would take the time to provide major mods and updates if you had a monopoly in place such as this? Especially if you only gain more and never loose any purchasers every year. Yeah you probably wouldn't either. It's just sad but true. Don't forget this game will be available for the PS3 which is probably set to drop this X-mas. Maybe they're holding all of the good stuff for that system...Yeah Right...read the X-Box 360 reviews those users got pooped on.

If you have 06. Keep it and create the key rookies for 07.

On its face, yes, Madden 2007 is basically a clone of Madden 2006. So why buy it? If you are a casual gamer, then you'll at least want updated rosters, and new players...simply "updating" your 2006 rosters is a lot of work, and probably, for something you'll be using for a year, worth the $50. Reggie Bush, anyone?

If you're a medium-level to hardcore Madden gamer, then there are significant changes to this game: did anyone else actually look at and play the game other than just review the look and feel after one day? The lead-blocker mode, where you take control of a lineman, fullback, or tight-end to clear lanes for your runner, is a tremendous new addition to the game, and takes some time to integrate correctly into your strategies.

The Madden game doesn't just upgrade on the surface: developers take note of what players abuse in previous versions, and try to equalize the game. If you're advised to "just buy 2006," don't. You will get SMOKED if you go to a friend's house and play 2007 expecting it to be 2006. Abusable plays like the high pass curls and slants are now better defended by the computer; the up-and-outs and tight end fades are now more difficult to use to run up 70 points on the computer or opponents as well. Elite or "nano" blitzes that were once used to lethal precision in 2006 to get sack after sack, now run based on the linebacker's awareness and other ratings, to see if they can their blitz holes as accurately in 2006.

Madden hasn't been at the pinnacle of video games for nothing; if it was just like a Mortal Kombat type game where you're simply looking for new players and new graphics, it would fade out, much like the Mortal Kombat franchise.

Ask the question: why am I playing this game? If it's for your own entertainment, and you just want to pretend you're Peyton Manning every other weekend, then go ahead and keep your $50. If you're playing against other people, and have the whole "bragging rights" thing going on against your buddies, you'll want to upgrade to 2007. There's no way you can play the new Madden well by practicing on the old Madden.

Pros over the 360 version: You don't have to "hide/bluff" your plays like on the 360, where your opponent can see what you've picked. The PS2 version has Madden analysis, where the 360 has a generic announcer. Yes, he can get annoying ("The best way to win is to score points...") but the feel of Madden play-by-playing your game adds that 1 percent to the realism.

Cons from the 360 version: Graphics, of course. The 360 single player mode is ridiculously beautiful. The running game is also much more difficult (see lead blocker) on the PS2 than the 360, where you can run rampant. Also, when playing in the All-Madden mode of the game, you will be REQUIRED to use the once-hated QB Vision option to pass. This is optional on the 360.

Remember, it isn't all just looks and player names. Madden goes a little deeper than that.

If you've played one Madden game you've played them all, for the most part at least, Madden '07 is almost a carbon copy of Madden '06. This incarnation contains all the essentials, Franchise mode, all of the NFL teams including all AFC, all NFC and NFL europe and historical teams. Create your own player, fan or team then play single games or entire seasons. All the usual Mini-Games and Madden Cards are back, as well as Online play for those who have the network add-on for the PS2.

NFL Superstar returns from '06, giving you the opportunity to create a player from a set of random 'genes' or parents, which give a wide array of player attributes, determining how good your player is and what position he starts at. You can also opt to load NCAA '07 Heisman players to continue their illustrious career in the NFL. Within superstar you control only your player when he is on the field, with the option of controlling or not controlling your team when he is not on the field. After several seasons hopefully you've gained enough statistics and 'cred' to make it into the hall of fame.

Both franchise and Superstar modes allow for the use of different 'roles' each player can aquire by meeting a certain criteria, these roles increase the attributes of your player and other players on your team, or decrease the stats of players on the opposing team. Some of these stats can be negetive too however, such as distracting players or under-achievers.

The control scheme hasn't changed in years. The 'truck stick' is now the 'highlight stick' and works pretty much the same way. The QB Vision cone is back, but this time optional (for better or worse). The hit-stick on defense is less picky this year as moving the stick in any direction will attempt a big hit, as opposed to hit-sticking in the direction of the ball carrier as in previous games, of course your chance for a clean hit is less than your standard diving tackle, and the AI seems better at juking this year. Playmaker controls and Lead Blocking controls are hangin' strong and are extremely useful, practically essential on the harder difficulties. Before snap audible control has far more depth than previous games, allowing audibles in formation, plays, or just individual routes. Playing defense is also a little harder, relying on the AI to play as your Defensive Backs will let up 3-4 big plays for TD's every game, and on the harder difficulties the AI is just as useless stopping the run.

I gave this game a 3 because of the apparent lack of effort on EA's part to deliver a reliable product. This game lags, freezes on some loading screens and is buggy in all sorts of ways. The graphics even seem a little choppier. Credit this to all the work being done for the 360 and PS3 versions of the game, both of wich are leaps and bounds ahead of this generation of madden games. In one game I had played, at the end of the third quarter with 1 second remaining (and ticking away), I snapped the ball only to have the ref blow his whistle. The game froze for a second, the ball was then snapped with 0:00 on the clock and I was allowed to continue playing normally, however the 4th quarter never started. The game would go on for eternity with 0:00 left in the 3rd quarter.


Overall it's the same package you come to expect from EA and Madden, and probably one of the last we'll see on the current generation of consles, which is a good thing in my eyes considering the lack of attention attributed to this game in favor of the new ones. The customer should always get what they pay for, and at standard retail price EA delivers a game which feels neglected, but is still Madden at its core, and contains enough of what matters to not collect any dust until '08.

I got 2007 this past Saturday. After I put the game in, I noticed that there is hardly any change at all from last year's game graphic wise, features, rosters, still no player introductions for the starters, no pre-game report on any players or the teams, come on the game needs some improvements! Also just like last years game if you release a player from one team, and then pick him up for another team it says in the players bio he was aquired in a trade instead of being pick up off waivers or free agency, now that's silly! Also, I noticed that only so many players even have their real face put on their body, that keeps getting worse every year, so I guess there is a change from last year's, but it's for the worse! Play wise it is still a decent game to play, but I still would prefer NFL 2K5. Madden 2007 also freezes for about 3 seconds after every 3 or 4 plays too, that's a little annoying! As I said NFL 2K5 is the better play still! 2K5 has the halftime shows, Sportscenter highlights done up in a quick NFL Primetime or ESPN Blitz style. Overall I give Madden 2007 3 stars for fun, but as a whole 2.5 out of 5. Please improve next year's Madden features please!!!

This year's version of Madden is not as bad as some people say it is, but if you have the 06 version, and aren't a diehard, have-to-buy-it-each-august gamer, i suggest not dropping the 50 bucks. The big innovations to the in-game play this year are the running controls and lead blocker controls. I haven't been blown away with the innovations to the runnign controls. Sure they're nice and a bonus, but not so revolutionary as the innovations of years' past (ie Playmaker control, precision passing cone thing, hit stick). The lead blocker thing is kind of cool, although I find the back that the computer controls is usually too fast (and finds openings quickly), thus rendering the block I make as the lead blocker pointless. This year's innovations are good ideas, but could have been executed better. I'd still like to see animations where the RB leaps over the pile on a goalline run. The celebrations (though being restricted in real life this year) could be better too, including more signature celebrations like the Lambeau leap (which occurs far too infrequently) and some of Chad Johnson's antics. I don't like the new kicking meter that was implemented this year in both Madden and NCAA Football this year, but that might just be me. Overall, if you're a diehard Madden fan, you'll buy the game regardless of what others say. For the casual fan, this is like the 2003 version - you say you'll get it, but when it comes down to it, you can live without Madden this year. Maybe 08 will bring better reviews.

After playing this game online for several weeks I haved noticed that the same flaws as in all previous verisons remain. Playaction passes don't work as your QB is hit instantly and cannot take one step. Outside running plays do not work at all as you have no blocking and your RBs are hit for a 2-3 yard loss each time. I have found that blitzing every time will stuff your opponents as no QB can handle any type of pressure without taking a sack or throwing the ball into the ground. People that give this game a positive review are likely under 20 years old and have no problem using the same 3-4 plays every time they have the ball. there are still certain money plays that will work 90% of the time like certain screen passes and quick slants. This was supposedly addressed by EA but clearly was not. Also, Michael Vick is still a god and can outrun every lineman and easily scramble for 10-15 yards per run. The game is very defensive oriented for the most part. The running game is still one big headache just to get more thna 25 yards a game. Most receivers are constantly double covered unless you use a "money" play and basically cheat. Overall I really tried to like this game, but I have found too many weaknesses that EA has not even bothered to address as they have no competition in the football gaming world.

With the opening of a new NFL season, pigskin fans and gamers alike got to rejoice a little early. EA Sports sticks to their usual script with their yearly release of Madden NFL 07 (EA Sports/PS2) right before the official kick off. Originally popping off only as a PC game in the early nineties, Madden NFL has grown by leaps and bounds. Currently the most popular video game franchise, Madden NFL 07 keeps the chains moving with updated game play and a deeper superstar and franchise modes.

In this year's installment, there is a big shift towards the running game. Added to the mix is the new lead blocker control. Players can now take control of one of their teammates (minus the eligible receivers) after the hike and manually creates holes for the back. This feature is greatly welcomed as the computer controlled tight ends and full backs were known to blow easy blocks regardless of difficulty settings. Another big upgrade is the highlight stick. This updated version of the truck stick gives the user access to all to the shake and bake moves on the right analog. On top of that, running backs will juke according to their unique aggressive or finesse style.

On the other side of the ball, the kicking finally gets a realistic twist. Gone are the days of just perfecting your stop and start timing with a meter. Now the accuracy is based on the precise motion of the right analog stick. A fluid down to up movement will get you through the uprights easily. Anything short of that will cost you the extra points.

With all the new features added it seems that the EA staff overlooked a couple glitches. The most flagrant is the constant slowdown. Sometimes when a down is finished the play will freeze for a split second. Missing this year is the traditional player of the game award and for some reason all plays can't be reviewed.

Stepping away from the button mashing, the overall cosmetics of the game unfortunately pretty much remain the same as last year's edition. While the graphics still look good, by this point in the franchise they should be great. The Madden and Micheals commentary from last year also went untouched making the play by play very predictable. Additionally, true Hip-Hop heads will also be turned off with the heavy Rock leaning soundtrack.

At the end of the day the game is a solid buy. Minus a few missteps Madden 07 is still the closest thing to putting on the pads and hitting the field.