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I haven't really enjoyed many of EA Sports' efforts for the N64. In basketball, Left Field crushed EA with Courtside 2. In baseball, Acclaim jammed em' up with All Star Baseball. Breakaway 99 from Acclaim had better gameplay than NHL for the N64. The one EA sports game that I really enjoyed was Knockout Kings-- yet even that game has major flaws (it needed longer rounds and endurance meters). In football, I initially believed that EA was going down the same path. Madden 64 featured half a license and some pretty nasty graphics. Not to mention boring gameplay. Then came Madden 2001. Put simply, I was floored by the unbelievable gameplay, AI and realistic representation of the sport of Football. Not only were the guts of this game, from graphics, to audio, to gameplay, kicked up a notch, but EA also added some killer features like Madden Cards and the incredible 2 minute drill. If you're a sports fan, then you should check out Madden 2001. The excellence of its gameplay is worth the price of admission.
With that in mind, Madden 2001 offers some solid visuals. From smoothly animated running backs and incredible wrap tackles, to a great framerate that is smooth and quick in the hairiest of scrims. One of the graphical touches that I really enjoy is the fact that you can actually look downfield and spot all of the routes that your receivers are running. This detail adds incredible reliability and a solid feel to the game. You can read defenses this way and spot double coverage and go to your next read immediately. Very nice. On the other hand, while the in-game graphics are solid, the menu screens are awful. For instance, I'm still trying to figure out how to save my game to my user profile, so that I can collect tokens for cards. A simple thing like loading my profile is a major pain. If the development team for this game would only simplify the menus and make the interface a pleasure to use, I'd not have issues at all. Yet on that subject, if anybody knows how to save your accomplishments and thereby collect tokens, drop me an e-mail and let me know. Despite this, overall, with great features like elbow tape to prevent carpet burn, representative player models and many other graphical upgrades, this Madden is pretty and functional. The only other complaint I have (besides the menus) is that in Multiplayer, it would have been nice to have more distinguishing player indicators.
The commentary is not nice. Not at all. Maddenisms is a synonym for shut the #()$ up. Geeze, if I have to hear "He was on the receiving end of a bullet there," or, "He threw it in there so hard that it just stuck," one more time I'll freak. While QBC's game calling is repetitive, it definitely gets the nod here. Madden is getting nasty folks, and with the N64's limited audio potential, the situation only gets worse here. Blah.
During gameplay there are so many control options. From directing receivers on hot routes, to adjusting your defense on the fly to run or passing offenses, to something as detailed as quieting the crowd. WOW. Unbelievable gameplay realism. Add to all this depth modes of play that are equally deep with situations, 30 season franchise mode, regular season, practice and the amazing two minute drill, and this is hands-down the best footballer on the market for any console. The two minute drill is particularly amazing. In this mode, you have two minutes to get down field and score as often as you can. You are then awarded points for how you work this drill. For the casual fan and even for multiplayer parties, this feature provides a new level of football fun. Very creative and very innovative. Madden is laden with ideas like this. Top all of this gameplay greatness with the fact that you can play one button rookie mode that plays like Blitz and you're in business. In the end, you can't really define how great play control and realistic gameplay make a game so great. It's almost like a magic that leaves you saying "WOW" when you catch a thirty yard strike. Madden has that magic.
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