Today I finally got my grubby hands on Madden 2003, for the PS2!!! It is available on many different platforms but, in recent history, more attention and effort seems to be put into the PS2 version. In this year's version we now have Internet capability. This means you can IM, play, or download the most recent rosters over your 56K or high speed connection on the PS2 system.
Sony is releasing a $30 or $40 adapter at the end of the month but it's not required. A simple USB Ethernet box will do. Plug it in and away you go into the wonderful world of gaming online. There is no charge for the service either... it's included in the price of the game, $49.99. The interface and means of connecting are easy. I downloaded the most recent roster 06Aug02, with hardly any effort.
My general impression of the game in solo mode is that the AI seems much more intelligent. I've not found a goto play that will work every time. And if you do continually run the same play to the same player it will be a losing effort. For a running play, the DL's and LB's will contain you and you'll lose yards and have a higher likelihood of fumbling, and for a passing play the DB's will sniff it out and have a much better chance of intercepting the ball or at least making the ball fall incomplete.
There were not that many slow downs in last year version but when it did happen it was very hard to compensate. This has been further reduced as to only happen during one play out of about 3 games, at least for me, during game play. The graphics are outstanding with mud, snow, and the hometown "wave" filling the landscape. And these affects also have an effect on game play (Well, maybe not the wave). Duce Staley sloshes to the line of scrimmage during rain and snow but so do the defenders so a different measure of attacking the defense is needed than normal. A quick hitting running play or a long toss and catch seem to work best in these conditions. The generally very affective middle stuff, stinks during rain and snow.
The commentary and music is better in this years version, but after about 3 games, I turned both off... sorry Bon Jovi, I can't stand hearing your song twenty times during a real life day.
There are additional features such as Mini-Camp, which after playing with franchise mode and drafting, I've been stuck playing time and time again trying to forget my previous button smashing instinct, in order to unlock the "Madden Card" reward for a gold place finish. I cannot tell you how consuming this has been for me. Not only do you unlock cards but you become a much better player in the process... Probably ranks as the best "new" feature for me...
Also, you can save draft classes, in NCAA 2003, and use it in your Madden Franchise mode. The Franchise mode is cool and everything but it seems a bit too much work, like Civ3 does during the last hundred years. I thought this feature would be the real selling point for the micro-managing mind of mine, but it was too much like actual work. After looking at over a hundred names and comparing the 40 yard dash and bench presses it lost its appeal. You can automate this process though, and not even worry about this aspect if you only play against friends at home or online.
Overall I give Madden 2003, a 9 out of 10, which is the same rating I would have given Civ3 1.29 if I was to have written a review of it... And there are many parts of the game I've yet to explore... like Madden 101, Madden's commentary for defensive or offensive plays he suggest (Well I did a bit of this), the new and improved playbook feature which allows you to design "new" plays and organize a personalized playbook for your team. So this ranking probably will go up, during the next month or two, because I know I'll be playing it, time after time, and in the end that's what we, as game players, want.
~Matthew
Sony is releasing a $30 or $40 adapter at the end of the month but it's not required. A simple USB Ethernet box will do. Plug it in and away you go into the wonderful world of gaming online. There is no charge for the service either... it's included in the price of the game, $49.99. The interface and means of connecting are easy. I downloaded the most recent roster 06Aug02, with hardly any effort.
My general impression of the game in solo mode is that the AI seems much more intelligent. I've not found a goto play that will work every time. And if you do continually run the same play to the same player it will be a losing effort. For a running play, the DL's and LB's will contain you and you'll lose yards and have a higher likelihood of fumbling, and for a passing play the DB's will sniff it out and have a much better chance of intercepting the ball or at least making the ball fall incomplete.
There were not that many slow downs in last year version but when it did happen it was very hard to compensate. This has been further reduced as to only happen during one play out of about 3 games, at least for me, during game play. The graphics are outstanding with mud, snow, and the hometown "wave" filling the landscape. And these affects also have an effect on game play (Well, maybe not the wave). Duce Staley sloshes to the line of scrimmage during rain and snow but so do the defenders so a different measure of attacking the defense is needed than normal. A quick hitting running play or a long toss and catch seem to work best in these conditions. The generally very affective middle stuff, stinks during rain and snow.
The commentary and music is better in this years version, but after about 3 games, I turned both off... sorry Bon Jovi, I can't stand hearing your song twenty times during a real life day.
There are additional features such as Mini-Camp, which after playing with franchise mode and drafting, I've been stuck playing time and time again trying to forget my previous button smashing instinct, in order to unlock the "Madden Card" reward for a gold place finish. I cannot tell you how consuming this has been for me. Not only do you unlock cards but you become a much better player in the process... Probably ranks as the best "new" feature for me...
Also, you can save draft classes, in NCAA 2003, and use it in your Madden Franchise mode. The Franchise mode is cool and everything but it seems a bit too much work, like Civ3 does during the last hundred years. I thought this feature would be the real selling point for the micro-managing mind of mine, but it was too much like actual work. After looking at over a hundred names and comparing the 40 yard dash and bench presses it lost its appeal. You can automate this process though, and not even worry about this aspect if you only play against friends at home or online.
Overall I give Madden 2003, a 9 out of 10, which is the same rating I would have given Civ3 1.29 if I was to have written a review of it... And there are many parts of the game I've yet to explore... like Madden 101, Madden's commentary for defensive or offensive plays he suggest (Well I did a bit of this), the new and improved playbook feature which allows you to design "new" plays and organize a personalized playbook for your team. So this ranking probably will go up, during the next month or two, because I know I'll be playing it, time after time, and in the end that's what we, as game players, want.
~Matthew
