Football video games
Let’s face it: football has eclipsed baseball and basketball as America’s true passion. Those Super Bowl numbers don’t lie – the game is without question the single greatest unifying force in American media. With such popularity has come a renewed interest in the game itself – not just its highlights and turnovers, but the nitty gritty of offensive lines, screenplays and special teams. Coaching and playing are often mentioned in the same breath, proof positive Americans have grown more sophisticated in their understanding of the game.
No surprise, then, that gaming manufacturers see football titles make up some of their biggest profits. There was a time when football games were many and diverse, dating back to the old days of handheld versions that used tiny LED dots for players. Further efforts followed for every console from the Atari 2600 to Neo-Geo and Nintendo64, and nearly every one did brisk sales. Everything changed, however, when legendary coach/broadcaster John Madden lent his name to a cover.
EA Sports’ Madden NFL ’07 is the latest version of this distinguished franchise, now available on all three new platforms. Fans of the game already know what to expect here – tons of strategy, diverse controls and outstanding graphics. Camera angles and diverse play modes take you on the field and back, offering crunching thrills and plenty of pile-ups for the fans. And of course, your favorite players are all in attendance, including a number of titans from seasons past.
The controls are markedly different for the latest Madden, offering greatly increased options for players who take the time to learn them. Running backs can throw wicked feints, make hairpin turns and even glide gracefully through blockers with the proper combination of analog stick action and well-timed button hits. You can even control the lead blockers with astounding precision, ensuring you make just the right hole for your brash young starts to exploit.
Everything is different for Madden ’07 on the Wii, however, and here is where the game has truly been remade for the first time. More than just a basic port with added throwing motions, the Wii version of this wildly popular title revisits everything about game play from the ground up. Motion control reigns here, from the center’s snap to stiff-arming that safety while you run. Lead blocking has its own choreography, and you can even hit harder by combining the remote and nunchuk into a colossal blow. The game is still rife with strategic and back-office complexities, but in this version, gridiron finesse shines. Critics cite it as the first time Madden has foregone evolution for something like revolution.
Football used to be far too complicated for game systems. Today the consoles have caught up and put their own innovate touches on the game America loves. If you’ve been searching for a game that rewards months of play, you owe it to yourself to check out the latest stable of Madden titles.