Game Review
Madden 2007: Another Disappointment

By Derek Blodget (October 31, 2006)

On August 22, every video game store in the world prepared for the day called “Madden Mania.” Madden 2007 was being released that day, and many people were already in lines as far as the eye could see to get their hands on the newest edition of Madden.

This year’s Madden was anticipated by a lot of people (including my friends Eddie and Ryan) to be out of this world. The new game was supposed to be more challenging, with better play controls, and better graphics. I am proud to say that I am one of many people who woke up that morning of August 22, took a quick shower and headed up to Electronic Boutique in Tysons Corner and waited with a couple of other fanatics until they opened the door to the store.

Yet, I am also ashamed to say that I fell for another year of disappointment, and in my mind, wasted $50 on the new edition. There weren’t any big changes this year, nor has there been the past few years. The only change this year was the new “lead blocking” control, and I find myself abandoning that and going back to the traditional running game that I have used in the past. The “lead blocking” was Madden’s main addition this year.

Another new addition this year was the “Hall of Fame” mode. Yet, the only thing new about it is the name! Madden had the same mode last year and all they changed was the name. I really thought that Madden would finally mix up their graphics a little bit this year. Over the years, they have had the same facemasks, sleeve types, fans in the stadiums, and faces for the created players. My friend Eddie hates the fact that the visors don’t fit on the Revolutionary facemask. I would have to agree with him because it is pretty annoying. We are living in a generation where technology is at a peek and the game producers can’t fix a little error like that? It’s not like it’s a new error either, it has been like this for the past three years.

The little stuff really gets to me, like the graphics, game play or types of modes they have to play. The music also bothers me. Madden 2007 is starting to lean towards more punk-rock for its soundtrack, I’m not trying to be a stereotype, but all the “skaters” that I know that listen to that music don’t like to play Madden… so why do they keep putting more and more of that music in the game? I don’t have an answer for it.

Madden 2007 is a real disappointment. Nothing big was added, nothing was changed or fixed. If you haven’t bought Madden 2007 yet, and are planning on buying it still, I would recommend you don’t and just keep playing your old edition. Playstation did a very poor job this year, but I believe that’s because they are concentrating on the new Playstation 3 that is coming out November 17. If that isn’t the reason, then their rival, Xbox, I believe, will take over and be the number one producer for Madden sooner than later.

Overall, Madden 2007 is just the typical game that it always has been. Fortunately, Madden in general is the best game ever made; it’s just that you would expect new and better things from the newer version.