Customer Reviews

Madden NFL 2006

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

Madden NFL has been around for quite a while, and has built up an incredible reputation. The XBox 360 launch release has great graphics - but a few flaws.

Let's start with the great parts. We have a high definition TV and the graphics were just gorgeous. You can see the details of the face, the definition of the muscles, the details of the uniforms. The stadiums have signs in them promoting the home team.

That being said, we noticed some issues with graphics right away. Some of the camera angles are just awful, and made it really hard to connect a player with a ball. The fans in the stand look like robots. Also, with the incredible detail they put into the character models, some simply aren't right.

I'm happy to deal with even mediocre graphics if the gameplay is stellar. After all, it's the gameplay that keeps you going for months and months. We ran into problems here, too, though. The XBox 360 console crashed only halfway through our first game - and that was only the beginning.

You can't challenge plays, either, even though some seem mighty suspect.

There might be some players who really like the changes, and who can deal with the crashes and bugs. If you think that might be you, then certainly rent it for a week and see. After a week you should be able to tell how well you enjoy it and if you want to buy it. I definitely feel this is a test-before-you-buy title.

One word describes this game, "rushed"! It is so blatantly obvious that EA "rushed" this game to the market to coincide with the release of the XBox 360 just to show off their new and improved player models. As some of you already know this happens, but I really didn't expect it from a company like EA. This game was absolutely horrible. Here's the funny thing, before a game that I played with Pittsburgh they were showing "Big" Ben Roethlisberger standing beside Hines Ward and they were the exact same height, mind you Ben is 5 inches taller than Hines. Now normally this wouldn't bother me so much, but if the only purpose in releasing the game was to show off the realistic player models, how could this happen? Oh yeah, the camera sux!!! On the plus side, the fans look pretty cool (sarcasm). They totally stripped down the franchise mode. I dont' like the new play calling menu screen. We've been using the same system for how many years now, and i've never heard a complaint about it, why change now?

People, don't waste your hard earned money on this title. I'm sure that next years will be a gigantic step up from this one because quite frankly it couldn't get worse

How disappointing... What a beautifully polished turd.

Why is there even a franchise mode??, they cut so much from it that its just a shell of its former self... I'll put it this way, there are so many flaws, and it is so unbalanced and clunky (gameplay wise), that ESPN football from last year was more enjoyable than this.

all this game does is look good. The low point of my favorite series ever.

This is one of my all-time biggest disappointments. Say goodbye to everything you liked about Madden. They axed a ton of features that seperated this game from all the other football games. Online play has suffered, the fantasy draft is no more, you can't even challenge plays! Graphically, it looks amazing but that's the only improvement. It honestly feels like you're playing a demo and you're denied access to all the functions that make the game worth buying.

Being a hardcore gamer like myself, this Madden NFL 06 on the 360 is the worst Madden game I have ever played. So many features were taken out of the game that doesn't make it enjoyable.
Pros:
1. Excellent graphics
2. Radio commentary average but needs extra play by play man.
3. NFL Sounds of game were pretty good.
4. EA Trax(Every track was perfect for the game!)
Cons:
1. No Instant Replay.(Receivers get away with too many out of bound passes!)
2. No deep franchise mode.
3. Offensive and Defensive Playmakers controls removed.
4. Madden cam was very poor. It zooms in on the running back more than the whole field. U have to press the Right Trigger to see the whole field. By the time you do that play clock runs out sometimes.
5. Players don't move real enough like in the first-gen Madden 06 on the PS2 or Xbox.
6. More offensive minded game than defensive minded. I prefer a more balanced game like the first-gen Xbox/PS2 style.
7. The Playbooks menu was a bit confusing at times during gameplay.
Save your money on this game and buy I different Xbox 360 game that's worth it. I'll trade in my Madden 360 game very soon. If you really want Madden this year than buy it on the PS2/ Xbox.Wait until Madden NFL 07 for the Xbox 360 comes out next year.

There are lot of "unfortunates" in this situation...
1) It's unfortunate that i just got my 360 and this is the first game i played
2) It's unfortunate that my bank account had to lose an additional $60 b/c i thought that the game would at least be comprable to ESPN's X-box version being that they assisted with graphics in this Madden game
3) It's unfortunate that the game doesn't even have the simple things like.. "CHALLENGING A CALL!!!" How the heck can you make a football game in the year 2005/6 without a challenge option is beyond me. That's like making a swimming game and having no false starts!
4) It's REALLY unfortunate that I am taking the game back tomorrow to trade it in...
5) Unfortunate that i am so disappointed in this game that i am writing this...
6) Unfortunate that the NFL sold their rights to this crappy developer for 10 years.. STUPID!! ESPN's version was soooooooooo much better, graphically and amenities wise.

Bottom line, i wouldn't even rent it b/c it has nothing to offer except for a good graphic display... and i can always watch the real thing if i'm really bored. lol

First of all I must say that the game is beautiful. The upgraded environments and player profiles are stunning. With that said however; EA....what were you thinking with this game! I am a lifer when it comes to this series and I could not be more disappointed with the removal of certain game features (just ridiculous). The camera modes and lack of them are just awful, the movements of the players look like they are power walking when running, and the playcalling menu really should not have been changed. I'll buy your next release but don't break my heart again.

There is something wrong when I buy an XBOX 360 and I have to go play my old madden 2006 on the old XBOX to get a quality game. Other than the graphics this game sucks majorly.... a huge step backwards. The players move slower, you can't change individual defensive assignments, no challenges, the offensive line movement doesnt even seem like the lines moves at all, you have to relearn what every button does on the controller, (Why would they change what almost every button does? The controller isnt that much different), performing hot routs is harder, Offensive Juking doesnt even look like the player Jukes at all, no fantasy draft, no superstar mode, no create a player, dang I could go on and on. EA SPORTS games are the reason why I bought the XBOX 360. I bought two titles so far: this one and NBA LIVE 2006. They both sucked. What a waste of time. All I know is that EA better do better than this regardless if they are the only ones with the NFL rights to make games. I'd rather play a generic back yard football game and edit the names in. Ridiculous, Ridiculous, Ridiculous!!!!

Okay...a lot of reviewers have stated the flaws of this game, I'll get to some of the specifics. As a Madden fanatic, I found it dissapointing that all of the great features Madden has added over the years, suddenly didn't appear in this game.
1. Madden isnt in the game. The commentary is terrible. It reminds me of NFL Blitz...uggh.
2. No superstar mode.
3. No individual playmaker abilities. I loved being able to blitz which ever LB or Corner I wanted using playmaker. Now it seems like you call the defensive play and have little control over how it turns out.
4. No Madden. Can this be emphasized enough!
5. Yes the camera is bad....but its not horrible.
6. No play challenges.
7. When you run the ball it seems like the player AI takes over. Once the runner has contact with the defense you cant control him.
8. QB vision cone is really awkward. I liked it on the original xbox, in this game its so difficult to use, every time I use it my QB pumpfakes, and then gets sacked.
9. Online and vs the computer in the playcalling screen it is hard to tell what formation the offense is using. You have to back to the first playcalling screen, by the time you do this online you no longer have time to call a decent defensive play suited for your opponents personnel.

That said, yes the graphics are pretty, and I actually like the new playcalling options. But overall this game is terrible.

If the gameplay was as detailed as the PS2 version, this game would have rocked. The graphics are superior. They really dropped the ball of gamming options....some of the key things missing was no Superstar mode. You can't build and devolpe you own player for a career. No challenge of plays. I am sure there are several other things missing, after playing it about 4 or 5 times, I quit playing because it was no fun. I hope the 2007 edition will be better. Re-wrap it and give to someone as a present.