The build-up to the NFL season features all kinds of milestones and rituals, but one yearly development welcomed by gaming and NFL fans is the release of the new EA Madden game.
Since the first Madden title, released in 1988, each year’s edition has been more sophisticated than the last, and ever greater scrutiny has been placed on each element, including the yearly player ratings updates. In fact, some NFL fans spend as much time debating the ratings of their favorite players as they do studying the schedule or weighing up the NFL lines.
But as fans of the series will tell you, not every Madden game is equal. Some years are definitely regarded more fondly than others. So, which are the best Madden titles?
Madden 07
The 2006 edition of the franchise was doubly significant, as it served as the launch title of both the Wii and the PlayStation 3. With running back Shaun Alexander on the front, the game was notable for new gameplay mechanics, including lead blocker control, spins that enabled you to avoid tacklers, and the ability to put together consecutive evasive maneuvers.
Madden 09
Coming out in August 2008, Madden 09 had Brett Favre on the cover but was most notable for dividing opinion among gaming fans. There was considerable progress in the graphical representation and gameplay physics, but some fans felt that the gameplay hadn’t been changed enough. It was also notable for being the last game to come out for the Xbox in the US.
Madden 08
This version of the franchise was produced for an impressive 11 different gaming platforms, as it was released at the point when the sixth generation of consoles was giving way to the seventh. Those platforms included the PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, Gamecube, and PC. Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans was the star on the front of the game, which showcased a series of improvements and new features, as well as an increased 60 fps rate.
Madden 2006
Donovan McNabb was the cover star for Madden 2006, which introduced some new mechanics to the series, including precision passing, QB vision control, and the Superstar and Career modes, which became essentials over the next few years. It was also one of the launch titles for the new Xbox 360 and scored very highly with gamers and critics alike.
Madden 2001
Receiving widespread critical acclaim, Madden 2001 is one of the franchise’s best editions, famous for a series of firsts. It was the first Madden game to replace John Madden himself with a player (in this case, Eddie George), the first Madden title to be available on the PlayStation 2, and it was widely praised for its all-round gameplay and refreshed feel.
Madden 2005
Released in 2004, this was the final Madden game to be released for the original PlayStation. This was a landmark year for online games and this Madden edition was the first to offer Xbox Live functionality. In addition, the gameplay had become more complex and there was a new defensive setup. Above all, however, the live component was the first step towards a radical transformation of the franchise to the global online phenomenon that it is now.
Madden 2002
One of the official launch titles for the Xbox and GameCube, this was also the final Madden to be available on the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. It was notable for featuring the new Houston Texans team, but more significantly, offered a major boost to the gameplay, with stronger AI, better physics, and a host of gameplay mechanics changes that produced a more all-round playing experience.
Madden 2004
This edition of the game was the first to feature the owner mode, giving gamers the chance to take control of a franchise and deal with the ups and downs of owning an NFL team. The mode was surprisingly detailed, even allowing you to adjust the hot dog prices at your team stadium, and it was a welcome development for a franchise that had continued to reinvent itself.
Madden 2003
According to some ratings schemes, the 2003 version of Madden is the best ever. With Marshall Faulk as the player on the cover, this edition has received widespread praise and some reviews even gave it maximum points. With a fascinating range of game modes and some of the best sports gameplay ever seen, this is arguably one of the best sports games, as well as the greatest Madden edition.
