Madden NFL 2006

by Electronic Arts

Product Features

• Start your superstar journey just like the pros do - Pick your parents DNA make-up, sculpt your body, sign with an agent, even take the famous Wonderlic test given to NFL prospects
• QB Vision Control lets you scan the field, look off defenders, and make perfect throws within your quarterback's unique field of vision
• QB Precision Placement puts the ball exactly where you want it - Lead the Receiver to an open area, throw it behind him so he can come back to it, or throw a jump ball and let him go get it
• New Adaptive AI gives you a stronger defense that adjusts according to the routes you pick

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00083G5BW
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches ; 1.6 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 8, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (139 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,343 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #12 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Sports > Football
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

For the first time in 10 years, the Madden NFL Football franchise has revolutionized its passing game-giving Madden NFL 06 the most groundbreaking and innovative offensive arsenal ever created. The new QB Vision Control lets you scan the field, look off defenders, and make perfect throws within your quarterback's unique field of vision. QB Precision Placement allows you to put the ball exactly where you want it. Lead the receiver to an open area, throw it behind him so he can come back to it or throw a jump ball and let him go get it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

121 of 147 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I suspected this..., August 9, 2005

By 

Brian Forrester "Brian Forrester, Noblesville IN" (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Madden NFL 2006 (Video Game)

I'm disappointed to say that I'm not surprised. As soon as EA signs an exclusive license deal with the NFL, they get lazy in their product. Sure, the new quarterback feature adds another level of realism, but it was poorly implemented and needs a lot of work to bring it to where it should be.

Pros:
- The new quarterbacking system (thankfully it can be turned off) is a pretty cool idea. Gone are the days when you can simply drop your quarterback 10+ yards behind the line of scrimmage and heave bombs to receivers you can't even see. Defenders will now read your line of sight, allowing you to 'look off' a defender, or throw easy interceptions because you telegraphed your pass by not looking to other receivers. I think this will be really cool when some of the bugs are worked out. It's just clunky and you have far too many controller operations to pull off in a short amount of time. Expect to be sacked 5 fold until you get comfortable with it.

- The Superstar mode. The ability to create a player, follow and shape his career. Hire and fire your agent , determine your player's genetic makeup, score a part in a movie.

- That's it...that's all that new in this freakin' game.

Cons:

This is where it get's fun...

- Absolutely no change in presentation. The game looks and plays (other than the quarterback mode, which thanfully can be disabled) exactly as 2005. The only changes seem to be updated rosters and player ratings. A huge disappointment considering they have exclusive rights to the ESPN presentation formerly held by NFL2K. The commentary even seems to be identical.

- Superstar mode kind of sucks. Decisions you make seem to have little or no impact to your players ratings. There just seems to be no logic in how different choices (and outcomes) affect your player. This mode, while cool in theory, really was not played out well.

- In the quarterback mode, if you throw a pass to a receiver not in your line of sight, you'll throw the most ridiculous 'dead duck' that you'll ever see. These guys are NFL quarterbacks...I've see children that can throw a tighter spiral.

- The online mode has a painful registration process. You basically have to pay $2 to keep ESPN from spamming your email. Infuriating.

Bottom Line:

Not only did EA get lazy as a result of the lack of competition in NFL video games (lack, how about none), but they bumped the price of the games back up to $50. Save yourself the money and rent first. I'll stick with 2005...

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a Disappointment, August 9, 2005

By 

Aaron W. Barker "OKPLAYA" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Madden NFL 2006 (Video Game)

Wow, this game is really a major disappointment. I can't say I'm surprised, however. Basically, nothing has been updated. Graphics, presentation, tackle animations, etc-- all the same. The QB vision cone thing is stupid. It just allows you to be sacked more often and if you run a draw play or a delayed handoff it is painfully obvious to the defense. Plus, lets say you are watching a receiver run his route and then out of the corner of your eye you see you TE break open over the midle. Well, by the time you swing your vision cone over it will be too late to make the play. Also, the "truck stick" slows down the RB so much that even if he breaks the tackle, the entire defense will be on his back. Superstar mode is bizarre. Random, pointless things happen that are not at all influenced by your actions. Then, you receive emails and voicemails that have nothing to do with what you've been doing. What a waste. Of course EA would release a big crapola as soon as they get exclusive license.

44 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Whatever happened to TECMO BOWL?, August 15, 2005

By 

C. L. Hanson (Ramsey, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Madden NFL 2006 (Video Game)

When I found out last year that EA Games had bought exclusive license with the NFL, eliminating their competition from the NFL2K series from Sega, I was upset.

I mean, what a cheap shot! Rather than go all out and spend the money and energy to make the game better than the competition, they basically eliminated the competition by being the only choice for the gaming public. Thanks a lot, EA.

My opinion is that NFL2K5 was better than Madden 2005, at least for the PS2. Superior in graphics, game play and price (at only $19.99). Sega finally did good and seemed to correct a lot of what people disliked about previous versions of NFL2K. I'm sure they would have only improved with the 2006 version, but EA knew that they had to do something drastic before the 2006 rolled around. And they did.

Anyway, on to the game. I have to say I was relieved that EA didn't just sit on their butt and allow the series to swirl down the drain. The graphics are at least better than last years version.

The passing game is probably the most drastic change. Now, to add to the realism, your QB's passing accuracy is affected by his vision. Your QB has more or less a "headlight" which shows which direction you're looking. This may improve the accuracy of the pass, and add to the realism, but if you're playing head to head, it would seem that you're basically telling your opponent "here's where the ball is going". You can switch your vision to another player fairly easily, and the better your QB (compare Brett Favre to Charlie Batch) the better your vision. This is a nice touch and does add to the realism.

Another new feature is the create-a-player which goes so far as to actually have you choose the PARENTS of your player! It's a nice touch, and my brother said it's fun (I haven't tried it yet), what are they saying here? Good genes equal a good player? That might be true in some instances, but what is this teaching here, that if your dad isn't a neurologist and your mom isn't a chemical engineer (if in reality your dad works at the local movie theater and your mom is a waitress), you're not going to turn out to be a good athlete? Give me a break. Half of the NFL have sob stories about their upbringing, and spent most of their time in jail. So if Madden is going to add extra realism to their games, why not add a parole officer or the occasional drug test?

The background music continues to suck. I am so tired of rap and alt-rock music in the Madden games! You want big name artists to participate, fine, get AC/DC for "Back In Black" or some good old rock tunes that you might hear at an actual game. You're telling me you're going to hear crap like "Chamillionaire" or "Memphis Bleak" at a real game?? Maybe in the player's cars when they drive off, but not during the game! It couldn't possibly cost that much different to get decent music. One nice thing about the NFL2K series is they had their own original background music, no famous artists.

Tecmo Bowl for the NES and even SNES was a classic. Cheesy music, poor graphics, but FUN!! If Madden kept the god-awful music and extra junk hogging up memory like the previews to other games, tutorials...etc..., nobody would ever complain about there not being any competition.

If you want the most up-to-date version with current rosters, this is the game to get. It's either that or continue to play last years versions and make a bunch of trades or pretend it's last year! Thanks EA for the big menu out there!