Customer Reviews

Madden NFL 07

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(24)
1 star:		(42)

 

 

Yep... I said it. Everyone seems to have the same ideas and views that I've been saying for years now. I think one of the other reviewers put it best: "Buying Madden every year is like getting a new calendar - yeah, technically it's 'different', but in the end..." well, you get the point. This review is a little long, but since I don't think I'll be doing another one for ANY EA title anymore - as I won't be buying them - I wanted to cover everything that I could think of, in case anyone is (like me) a longtime player and customer.

EA has effectively eliminated all competition by purchasing the NFL license - no need to push the envelope by putting out innovative and fun quality products now. Hell, they're bold enough now to even take Madden out of the 'Madden', so why are some surprised that other features are gone?? (RIP 2K Series... you were the best) But who's really to blame - the companies, who obviously are in this to make $$$ (and doing a good job), or the fools out there in line at midnight (saw it on the news - how retarded is that??) throwing all that $$$ away every summer? Me - I hate everybody in this equation equally...

I really wanted to like this game. I REALLY did... In the end, I think I received it in the best possible fashion - got it as a gift. Just can't see paying $60 for roster updates - that's essentially what this amounts to. Yeah, it's supposedly better than last year's version (which I hadn't played on the 360), but it's now just as good as MAYBE '05 on the regular XBOX. Why are we settling for moving backwards - ESPECIALLY when we're talking about the 360? Why are we so excited over possibly getting to a point that WE WERE AT 4 YEARS AGO? (Use the gas-price analogy if it helps you understand why so many people are pissed: You get excited now when you see gas prices at $2.25-$2.50, even though you were using the same or better quality gas for $1.10 or less a few years ago. Same general principle here...) Because people b***h and moan, but EA can count on them to be in line at GameStop or WalMart on release day, with hard-earned money in hand, hoping they won't be disappointed this year. PRAYING that THIS is indeed the year. No. EA knows this. (Yeah I can talk - I stopped purchasing Madden in '03 when I realized that they were more interested in that little "#1 Selling Football Franchise" tag in the corner of the game box than in keeping their customers satisfied.)

Overall, the graphics are nice - decent is maybe more accurate. I play this on my 62" HDTV... the perfect setup for those sports nights - this game just seems to fall a little short to me. Even my wife said, "This doesn't look like it's by the same people that did the boxing game." (Fight Night Round 3, which we love - the only thing keeping EA afloat as far as I'm concerned) Don't get me wrong - it's not the worse game by any means. (I disagree with the review that said it was like Gameday '99 - that's a little extreme.) I don't need the jerseys to get dirty, or care if I can actually see the field get torn up as I play... it would be NICE, definitely. Don't know why we CAN'T have that, but anyway... There was some detail put into the movement of the faces and all - I can see the effort there. Whoever said that these were spot-on, accurate representations of the real NFL players must have been smoking something highly illegal. These are detailed faces indeed, but of very ugly people. Cracks me up, actually... and why is everybody ridiculously cut on this game? My punter is the same size as my LB?? Is Balco in on this game too? I'm willing to deal with mutant players and the lack of certain other details. I don't think we should have to settle for average overall games though, especially with a title as established as Madden. Definitely expecting more from a system that's supposedly more powerful than any home computer you can get.

Gameplay is familiar; same running patterns, with a few new animations - still choppy and unrealistic, even on the "mighty" 360. Who do I have to talk to about getting some gang tackling on here?? Jesus... it's 2007 - this should've BEEN a part of Madden by now. ...but I digress. Button configurations are overly-complicated... the menu interface is probably more confusing than it needs to be, but you kinda get used to it. (much like a rash) Camera views, particularly in the Superstar Mode, are absolutely horrific. As a QB, you can't see a damn thing on either of the sidelines. I guess it's still a decent idea, but I much rather play the Superstar Mode from last year on the XBox - who really thought that giving players the ability to play as an OL was the one element that was missing from the series, seriously?? The idea of only controlling your 'Superstar' annoys me... I guess it is realistic in the sense that you only control YOU in real life, but in a video game? Nah... I'd still at least like the option to control the entire team on offense and defense. Glitches? The Fatigue button is a joke, and doesn't work realistically. (I mean seriously doesn't work - to the point where there's a patch in the works to fix this.) Why is such a hyped product still having MAJOR glitches before release, and still being rushed into stores?? Another thing - I unlock a Mr. Barry Sanders... not bad. But why does he automatically end up on another team (in this case, the Panthers) throughout the course of my Franchise? You have absolutely NO SAY in what happens. I don't like that. Again, this isht should be ironed out before the final product is released. I'm not a fan of patches and quick-fixes - you get enough of that dealing with a computer.

Gameplay interface still allows for ridiculous ease: beat the CPU 87-3 on All-Madden, my Bears (87 points??) against Indy with 5 min quarters. (Of course, an 80+ point deficit in the 4th quarter didn't deter the Colts from ONSIDE KICKING after their sad field goal... why does this STILL happen on every Madden game?!?!) First time playing - nothing new there. All of the little gimicks and everything wear out their welcome by game number 4, because at that point you've seen every (and I mean EVERY) item and animation this game has to offer. Remember 2K4 and 2K5, when you still found new stuff, or heard new commentary/saw new animations like 9-10 months later? Yeah, me too... (sniff) Another gripe of mine (maybe small to some) is the music and commentary. I know NO ONE, even die-hard Maddenites, could say with a straight face that Madden's painfully obvious play-by-play could be mentioned in the same breath as the 2K series', but I actually MISS Mr. Madden in this installment. The radio announcer thing... no. Doesn't work. Music? Well, I know everyone has their different tastes, but I'm not feeling this. Considering this is the 360, why don't we have more control over what music is played, and when/where? True, you can have your saved music playing, but guess what? It just plays continuously throughout EVERYTHING. (Compare this to the original XBox - on NFL 2K5 you could not only choose the individual songs you have playing, but assign different points in the game - after touchdowns, long drives, turnovers, etc. - that the particular song would be cued. You could even pinpoint a particular moment in the song and have it start from there! For my money, nothing was more fun than listening to Lil' Jon scream "WHAAAAT?!?!?!" after a big sack or Truck-Stick hit.)

You can say I'm nitpicking, but is it really, on a $400+ system? Why do we have to wait until Sony comes out with the "competition" (or arguably superior product - PS3) before MicroSoft actually cares enough to put out what we - as consumers - deserve for our money? If EA (and MicroSoft, for that matter) would like to get back some fans and loyal supporters (Yes EA, your NBA Live series sucks too... what the hell happened to you?! Those previews look promising... but so did Madden/NCAA 07.), they should offer - instead of ridiculous prices for garbage - maybe roster update/new feature patches for the 360. If you subscribe to XBox Live Gold (which isn't free), you should get this for no fee. If you don't have the Live connection, you should be able to download it on a computer and put it on a disc or something - charge about $15-$20 for this. I think that would be fair.

If you HAVE to buy the new version every year, then you'll go and get this, or already have. If you love Madden for whatever unrealistic reason, you'll find a reason to love this game, if only to defend your choice to purchase it. Having played Madden since SEGA GENESIS, I'm expecting more. For you Madden-heads out there whose hearts hurt when you read a negative comment about Madden, stop being so damn sensitive. Do you need a hug or something? Did your sister or son make the game? No? Then don't take it personal. These are MY opinions of a game that I own. Stop reviewing the other REVIEWS, and put your honest comments about the actual product. If you like it, then put why. (Other than the fact that you may secretly be Mr. Madden's lovechild)

How's this: Madden's gonna be the best football game for '07, guuaranteed. See? Feel better?

Madden '08 will be the one, though, right? LOL... yeah, right.

Overall, 2 and 1/2 stars... okay, 3. Looks pretty. The rest is kinda forgettable. Not the worst game ever, but nowhere NEAR where it should be... charging $60+ for this is insulting.

Due to Madden Football's strong following they think they can take advantage of us by putting out subpar games at top notch prices. Personally, I'm getting tired of this. This game use to be great! Now... for the last two years it has been terrible at least compared to the years between 2002 to 2005. I was hoping EA wouldnt start cutting corners once they got that exclusive deal with the NFL. I thought they were better than that. I guess I was wrong. I didnt buy this game this year however I borrowed it. If this or the 2006 version is the first madden you have played, you'll probably love it, however, if you remember the top notch games of the past, you'll be disappointed. This is a watered down version of past titles that has good graphics.... nothing more. I wont buy another until they up their standards again.

Cons:
1. No fantasy Draft (You can't make up your own team)
2. I have experienced this game freezing up on me numerous times before finishing a game... very frustrating.
3. During franchise mode, the draft and signing of free agents is hard to follow and poorly done which takes away from the overall franchise experience.
4. You still can't change individual defensive players assignments. For example in the past you could change each defensive player on the field to blitz, play deep zone, cover the flat, or quaterback sneak. Not being able to do this takes away from being creative defensively. You have to just run the play as is. You can still do things such as spread out the line, move all LBs and change cornerback coverage but it still isnt the same... not as good.
5. During Superstar mode, sometimes the camera angles doesnt allow you to see enough of the field to do what you need to do to be successful.
6. The game play, how the players move, still isnt as good as it was on the old XBOX. This is suppose to be a next generation system/game.... that doesnt make sense. Its better than last year though.
7. Madden still doesnt exist. How can you take Madden out of Madden football?.. that doesnt make sense. Instead of listening to madden, you have to listen to boring repetitve radio announcers.
8. They again changed what buttons do. Why do they have to keep changing what every button does? Keep the sprint button the same each year, keep how to do the hot routes the same each year!!! I have to relearn how to play the game each year because they change the buttons.... its annoying. Its not like they added anything over the years in order to have to change buttons... they took stuff away for crying out loud.
9. There are other things about the game I do not like, however, the above things are the most important. I'm sure you can find your own problems especially if you are not new to Madden Football.

Pros
1. Sad to say the pros of this game really arent pros at all. For example, the "new" superstar mode really isnt new. Its been on the old XBOX version for two years now. Its only new to this system because they stripped it from last year's base title.
2. This is an improvement over last years title in regards to game play. The players do move better and quicker. Last years title was way too slow especially running.
3. Of course getting the update rosters and new hot rookies is a plus. This is probably the main reason people will end up buying this game any ways regardless of how subpar it is. (I wont though)
4. Nice graphics. To tell you the truth, compared to the old title, this is the only thing the newer version does better. In all other categories, this title lacks.

Bottom line: Its sad I have to get out my old XBOX to play a really good football game. This is an improvement over last years game however that isnt saying much.... last year was that bad. This still isnt worth even close to 60 dollars. I guess you all can see that by looking at the 30 dollar used copies. In the past there is no way this would be selling this cheap so quickly. Come on EA... Lets do better than this.

I knew coming in that this game wasn't going to be the Madden of old. Since getting the deal with the NFL EA Sports has cut corners and produced shotty work. But I really wanted to play football on my fairly new Xbox 360 so I went ahead and traded in NBA Live 06 for 9.99 to purchase this game.

When I started the game things seems to be excellent. Beautiful stadiums filled with fans that at most times are full 3D rendered. Then the gameplay started. I experience horrid slowdown when picking plays. After it shows the players it lags horribly and feels like its going to quit. It think they tried to put too much on the screen.

Then the sound. The announcing I think is horrible. It sounds like hes speaking over a tin can and a piece of string. And you hear the same things over and over again. He counts down the yards starting at the 30. Only one announcer makes it bland also. And you would think Madden would announce on his own game.

Then while playing my friend the first time I played, the game FROZE at halftime. I was so angry that I spent money on this garbage I was ready to package it back up and go to EBgames and demand a refund. Or maybe call EA Sports and tell them how horrible their game is. What does it take to get a game that plays without major issues like this.

Despite the freezing, the gameplay is bad also. RB can run 80 yards without even a touch, quarterbacks that can't run like delhomme can bust out a 30 yard run, and tackling is near on impossible unless you are right on top of the guy and even then a little juke and you bounce off them. Mostly the fun factor is lost when I cant even stop them. Games are 40-32 or 55-45. That doesnt seem very realistic to me. When I play a sports game, I want the whole package. I want to feel like its a real game on TV and I'm controlling my favorite team to victory. You don't get this here because the announcer is not realistic, the scores, the tackles, etc.

My suggestion, if you dont mind slowdown, freezes, and bad overall gameplay, then pick this up. But if you require better gameplay for $60 protest this game and make sure to tell EA your displeasure. This has to stop. I cant even play a football game because its Madden or Madden.

The graphics are amazing. Yes that I will give the lastest version of madden. But where the Graphics win the game play suffers. I personally think EA's lock on football is going to turn a lot of people off the game. I just think EA if you have a lock you should do better and not offer up something like 07. Give us proof you wanna make quality and not a fast buck. Keep trying because this one isn;t cutting it.

Save your money. EA has done in the fans of the 360 again. Madden 06 was garbage, and Madden 07 is only a little better. The graphics are good, but the gameplay is bad for a next-gen system. The extra features, that fans have come to love, are missing or outright horrible. I fault the exclusive deal that EA signed with the NFL. Since there is no competition, EA can just do little and collect money off of little work and broken promises. Again, SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!

I made the jump from Sony's PlayStation to the XBox 360 last summer. I skipped out on the interim generation of consoles -- as a student, I couldn't justify the cost. I had almost every Madden title out there for the PlayStation, and so I did the same with Madden NFL 07 on the 360.

I was, to put it nicely, displeased. Madden NFL 07 actually made me want my PlayStation back. Sure, the graphics are somewhat better than the PlayStation's, but the gameplay is three or four steps back even from that era. Madden's funny, if repetitive commentaries have been replaced with the bizarre 'Ask Madden' feature that has no realism at all, the radio commentator is nothing short of annoying, the crowds are lethargic, and on and on.

This game really has nothing to redeem it -- the game modes are few and un-entertaining also.

I most likely will not buy another NFL game for the 360 should "Madden" be in the title, and I certainly won't buy it on name alone if I do.

Every year i buy Madden without playing it. I have been playing Madden football since Madden '92; every year it is one of my favorite games, and I will be playing throughout the football season, and into the summer to tide me over unitl next fall. Then I played this trash masquerading as a John Madden Football title. I dont even want to get in to it here, but I will never purchase another madden game again unitl I play it first.

When I got home and opened my copy of Madden, I was terribly disappointed. I'll list Pros and Cons to make this quick and easier.

Pros:
-the graphics on HDTV are pretty good (more detail could be added, especially player specific stuff). tackling animations could be alot better (more realistic wise). otherwise the running and passing animations are good.

-gameplay is pretty good for the most part. defense is a little too easy for me but I just bump up the difficulty. the lead blocking control is an interesting addition and takes time to get used to.

and that's about it for the Pros...

Cons:

- the modes included in the game seem watered down or almost "half baked" at sometimes. franchise mode is nowhere near as good as it was back in 2003, 2004, or 2005. a lack of fantasy drafting, salary cap strategizing, the trading screen is nearly unusable, also the lack of minigames to improve your players in the offseason, all contribute to a terrible experience in franchise mode. superstar mode is still in its infancy and needs to be tweaked to make it better. a couple of things are glaring to me in superstar mode; the "accelerated clock" against the computer isn't accelerated, the players are faster not the clock... the computer can score on a 9 play drive in 25 seconds during the middle of the second quarter! unacceptable. I also don't like the fact that you have no control of the plays going on while you're on the field. another big oversight.

-the commentary in the game is AWFUL! the "radio" announcer that replaced John Madden and Al Michaels adds absolutely nothing to the game and I often find myself annoyed when listening to him.

-the ingame intangibles just aren't there. there is no presence of referees or the "chain gang" on the field. the field doesn't tear up like it should especially during weather doused fields. players uniforms don't show wear after a whole game of play. the stadiums look fair, but the crowd and the scoreboards are very weak. i am especially upset with the scoreboards in ability to show "live" game action, or ingame replays, something I think has been missing always. sideline player animations are very rigid, mostly they all do the same thing, which is usually clap. FOR NEXT GENERATION I FEEL THAT MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED! this is not sega dreamcast or nintendo's virtuaboy.

-one of the biggest omissions is the inability to edit the players in the game. a large oversight that many users relied on to make the game more real for them.

Sadly overall this release is only marginally better than the HUGE step back we took with Madden 2006 for Xbox 360. Personally, I will not settle for a mediocre product from EA because they have bought the exclusive rights from the NFL. So much for the great American system of capitalism in video games.

The National Football League (Pete Rozell, et al) has cultivated a national passion for professional football that has reached unbelievable proportions that are witnessed in the hundreds of thousands fantasy football leagues world wide. But for videogamers, we got sold down the river! Now that MADDEN is the only game in town (since buying exclusive NFL rights) those of us who l-o-v-e football have begun to h-a-t-e football on video games. ESPN was on the right track: halftime highlights, exciting commentators, drafting, stadium music, etc. (Why can't EA sports figure this out?) With the technology in hardware and video capability there is NO reason that our only option is to put down $60 bucks on a $400 console to play crappy, third-rate football. The graphics are all over the place - anything but smooth. (Didn't you guys test this stuff?) It's insane to play your career as a tackle and see the game that way (what were you smokin'?) When you create a player (which all videogamers love to do) you have very limited control. Why isn't there an offseason draft, etc? (Didn't you guys notice that half the planet is involved with fantasy football and that the most fun is the actual drafting?) After all I have invested in music why can't I play it in this game? RECOMMENDATION: Don't buy this product. If you already have a football game (from any previous vendor or year) it works better than this - and you save sixty bucks. SUMMARY: It's pretty obvious we're being set up. We all know the technology is available and there are plenty of skilled developers, right? So, I think the process goes like this: 1) monopolize a sector of the gaming industry, 2) give them crappy products, 3) let them complain about the crappy product, 4) remarket a revised product with all the bells and whistles - and double the price. I realy wish the NFL would allow other developers to use their brand/logo/name, etc - so we could enjoy football the way the true spirit of the NFL would have wanted us to.

It may be unfair to rate this game based on 1 aspect of it, but since EA has been unfair to it's customers, it makes us even. Let me first say I do know a little about video football games as I have played just about everyone made since the early days of Magnavox Odessey, Bally Astrocade, Vic 20 computer, all the way up to the 360. The early days games were simple, and you just played them. Later it got to where you could coach them, then it got to where you could manage them, and just watch a simulated game. In recent years, it's the managing, coaching, and simulating aspects that I have become hooked on. So my rating for this game is based soley on that. It does look good, but I don't really like the way it switches from gameplay view to cutscene view so often, as it disrupts the flow of the game. As far as playing the game, most people seem to like it, but I absolutely hate the play calling menu. Now as for why I give it such a low score, and the reason I returned it the next day. There is no owner mode, and you might as well say there is no franchise mode either, because it totally sucks. The new menu system is cumbersome. There is no fantasy draft. You can't watch a simulated cpu vs cpu game. HOF players randomly appear on other teams, and the fatigue system doesn't work. Now, I would have forgiven all this if I could have just coached ( no coach mode ) and made player trades. Well, you can trade players, but it is totally screwed up. You can trade any dud on your team for the greatest player on any other team, and they will accept the trade. I don't know if the game was rushed and incomplete, or if EA doesn't care about people that like franchise mode, or they are just completely incompetent. All I know is, if you have a 360 and crave a good pro football game with franchise mode, you're out of luck, as they won't even make standard xbox Madden games, or 2k Sports games backward compatable. For EA to charge 60 bucks for this is disgraceful.