Genre:
Football Developer: EA Tiburon Publisher: Electronic Arts ETA: August 9, 2004
Be
notified of site updates. Sign-up for the Newsletter sent out twice
weekly.
Enter
E-Mail Address Below:
Madden
NFL 2005
Most
NFL teams are just about to begin their training camp in preparation for
the start of a new season. To sport video game players, that also means
its just about time for the newest edition of the undisputed champion of
football gaming, Madden NFL 2005, to debut. As usual, instead of resting
on it laurels, EA's development team has yet again added more to the
already impressive design of the Madden franchise, now a
decade-and-a-half old. With
an aggressive attack from rival Sega Sports and their ESPN NFL 2K5,
which not only has already been released a full three weeks before
Madden but at a $19.99US price in an effort to dethrone the Madden
monarchy, Madden 2005 has its own upgrades. This year, the game's
defense has been tightened with a new tackling system and better overall
A.I. defensive smarts. By far the biggest news for Xbox owners is that
for the first time, Madden will be playable on Xbox Live, which is sure
to increase its market share on Microsoft's console, particularly since
Microsoft put its NFL Fever franchise (featuring online play) on hold
for at least a year. Add a more detailed franchise mode and stronger
online presence and Madden 2005 will be extremely hard for Sega to beat
in the overall football game sales title.
Here's the official game info tossed with a tight spiral from an EA
P.R.
rep:
In its 15th year and with close to 37 million copies sold, Madden NFL
Football continues to dominate as the most popular football videogame
franchise of all time with a combination of innovative new features and
the most authentic football gameplay. Madden NFL Football is currently
displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame-the only videogame to receive
this honor.
In the tradition of EA SPORTS innovation, Madden NFL 2005 introduces the
Hit Stick. By giving players the ability to turn a game around with a
crucial tackle, the Hit Stick delivers the power to take control of the
game fromthe defensive side of the ball like never before. Along with
all-new defensive pre-play controls and defensive AI enhancements, the
defense now has a diverse arsenal of weapons available. The incredible
depth of Franchise Mode grows with the addition of Storyline Central.
Madden NFL 2005 delivers unprecedented depth and upgrades, with hundreds
of new animations, even more Franchise Mode additions, major
enhancements to EA SPORTS online, and the ability to create your own NFL
super fan in the all-new Create-A-Fan feature. This is the deepest, most
complete and authentic sports videogame ever made, making Madden NFL
Football the ultimate judge for gamers.
Features:
Defensive Innovations make playing D fun:
-New Hit Stick: Use the right analog stick to deliver the big hit. Time
your hit right, and you can cause the key fumble. The Hit Stick can
change the complexion of the game, paying off with new visual and audio
elements as well as big time animations that will only occur with Hit
Stick tackles.
-New Defensive Playmaker Controls: Use Playmaker Controls on defense to
modify the assignments for any or all defensive players on the field,
including receiver jams, blitzes and QB spy calls.
Franchise Mode gets even more Immersive
-Storyline Central: Tony Bruno hosts a weekly radio talk show,
discussing current stories regarding your team and the league to make
Franchise Mode deeper and more compelling. You can also view hundreds of
stories regarding team personnel and league events in local and national
newspapers, giving you key information to act on. Check your e-mail for
important news from your coaches and staff. When your star player goes
to the papers to complain he's not getting the ball enough, trade him or
make him happy-it's your call.
-Player Personalities Come to Life: Player morale becomes a factor, as
players react to everything that happens to them in Franchise Mode, on
field and off.
-Franchise Mode Enhancements: The all new in-season progression system
rewards players for their performance during the season. Name team
captains, tag players with the franchise tag and sign away restricted
free agents to build your team.
Unprecedented Depth and Upgrades:
-New Create-A-Fan: Create your favorite team's fans by customizing your
fan appearance with thousands of possible options for clothing, hats,
face paint and wild team specific items. See your fans come to life in
new in-game fan scenes.
-Enhanced EA SPORTS Online: Compete Quick Tournaments or a mini-game.
Earn trophies and medals for special accomplishments.
-Authentic NFL Gameplay: Hundreds of new animations, an all-new balance
based running system, an all-new pass blocking system, custom packages,
custom hot-routes, formation shifts, playbooks with option routes and
improved AI make the game look and feel more realistic than ever.
-In-Stadium Presentation: All new skies and amazingly realistic
lighting, new dynamic weather that can change mid-game, and completely
revamped sidelines with player celebrations change the look and feel
this year. Feel the Super Bowl excitement from pre-game warm-ups to
post-game celebration, including fireworks and confetti.
-New Commentary from John Madden and Al Michaels, joined by Jill
Arrington: Get in the game with advanced analysis from the top
announcing football booth including Game Story where they will set up
the key match-ups and critical factors; Player Profile, where John gives
his thoughts and opinions of today's greatest athletes as you control
the action; and Franchise Commentary, where John and Al know the playoff
implications of every game.
Get the latest updates from the sidelines with new announcer, Jill
Arrington.
Game Boy Advance Features:
-All-New Game Engine: Specifically designed for the Game Boy Advance,
the new in-game engine delivers more control, animations and options
than ever for a handheld football game.
-New Gameplay Modes: New Two Minute Drill, Practice and Situation game
modes.
-Madden Cards: EA SPORTS Madden Challenge and Madden Cards make their
debut on the Game Boy Advance. Earn special bonuses with your in-game
accomplishments.
-Expanded Season Mode: Conduct trades, sign free agents, check team, and
season stats, or become the NFL Champion.
-Get on the Trailer: Earn game MVP honors as John Madden's Horse Trailer
Player of the Game.
-The Real NFL: New team logos and player rosters for the 2004-2005
season.
Madden 2005 is bringing it to the house this year to prove that it's
once again the premier football video game around. It has its toughest
challenger yet in ESPN NFL 2K5, and it will take a Steel Curtain
performance to hold Sega Sports yet again in the runner-up position. EA
isn't worried much though. Madden has gotten better and better,
especially in its last three
renditions and 2005 should continue that upward climb if the enhanced
defensive changes are the real deal. With a rabid fan base to go along
with the usual high EA Sports standards, Madden 2005 is the odds-on
favorite to find itself again crowned the champion of gridiron video
gaming. Only one question remains: Based on the infamous EA cover
athlete curse, who wants to place a wager as to what will be the injury
that hits Baltimore's Ray Lewis
this year? (Not that I wish him any ill-will myself, but the precedent
has been set for some malady to interrupt some portion of his season.)
