The dirty work finally gets its due in Madden, Blocking. The fellas at EA Sports do a fine job incorporating it seamlessly into the game.

For some, spending the yearly $50 on yet another installation of the Madden franchise is a foregone conclusion. However, another year comes with groundbreaking advancements to the game play of the beloved foray in pixilated pigskin, “Madden NFL 2007.”

In game play, “Madden” creeps along with minor improvements each year. In 2004, the Playmaker stick made audibles on the fly. 2005 brought the Hit Stick, or as I like to call it, Instant Momentum. The '06 version of Madden moved the Hit Stick to offense and named it the Truck Stick, where you controlled a running back and bowled over every player on the field wearing a different jersey.

This year, the Truck Stick was revamped to the Highlight Stick. In short, the right stick now acts as all the running back's juke moves. Pushing forward on the stick is different for each type of back; larger backs continue to murder defenders, and smaller backs, like Reggie Bush, duck and weave leaving would-be tacklers in the dust. Running backs also have the ability to break certain tackles by tapping the X button (PS2). This also goes for the tackler; tapping the same button drives that little back into the ground.

A popular addition to last year's game, Superstar Mode has gone to even further lengths to individualize the game play. Your goal now is to carry a legend through his career and into the Hall of Fame, judged on the influence you gain through performance on the field.

While your player is on the field, you only control your superstar. Wide receivers run their routes and you have to call for the ball. If you're a running back, you control them no matter if it is a pass or a run. The most boring position to play is quarterback, surprisingly. Once you throw the ball, you become a spectator, and your thrills are pretty much reduced to pancaking a defensive lineman who is looking the other way. Which brings me to the next topic ...

The dirty work finally gets its due in Madden: blocking. The fellas at EA Sports do a fine job incorporating it seamlessly into the game. Choosing what player you control before the play, you lead block for your running back and attempt to set up one or more blocks so the tailback can break the big gain. Don't want to be the blocker all play? No problem, just hit the circle button (PS2) and switch back to the running back.

The blocking scheme is easy to learn, simple to control, and extremely easy to make yourself look like a complete idiot by pancaking fresh air as your running back gets slammed for a five yard loss.

A problem plaguing the Madden franchise for years, and has never been cured still lurks within the game; the short yardage situation. On fourth and one, or at the goal line, it is too easy to gain a first down or score that tenth touchdown. Whether they need to change the play calling or game play in these situations, the fact remains that merely hiking the ball and pushing forward on the stick with a QB sneak is good enough to score.

While the franchise mode has been revamped every year, with such additions as Owner Mode and the always fun Fantasy Draft, other small things need an overhaul.

Create-a-anything can go. The fan creation can be pretty funny, especially when you forget you created a 500-pound man wearing a cheesehead and sporting chest paint that reads I heart Mom. It spurs a satisfying laugh when you score a touchdown.

Options for creating a playbook are still too small. Who wants a playbook that has a total of 30 plays, and they all consist of three running backs or five wide receivers? The team creation mode hasn't changed since 2004: the stadium options are the same and the uniforms haven't changed either. The cartoonish logos remain from 2001.

Creating a player has always been solid, but it would be nice if Madden and Michaels could actually pronounce your last name. If it's not in the long list, you can always add syllables together and make a name. For instance: for my name, Lemke, you could add “Lem” and “key” together, making a name that I can hear in the game. This shouldn't be too much to ask for when the Playstation 3 comes out.

All in all, Madden 2007 is like any other annual sports game; you don't notice many differences unless you play versions of the game at least 2 years apart. If you have Madden 2006, I wouldn't recommend buying this year's game until its price is down to $30.

> Comments