by
Ted Kritsonis
Faze Video Game Editor

It’s really a testament to EA when they’re able to improve on what is arguably the best sports franchise in video games today. The Madden franchise has been so good the last few years that it’s hard to imagine how it can achieve anymore than it already has.

Instead of going for a touchdown by overhauling aspects of the game, Madden 2005 underwent a series of tweaks that makes the game easier to get a hold of, especially on defense. One big addition, the Hit Stick, is as brutal as it sounds. Flick the right analog stick in your opponent’s direction and you’ll see him get trounced by a massive hit. That is, of course, if you time it right. The Hit Stick packs no guarantees, and is based more on timing than on positioning. You’ll have to keep in mind that this feature usually works best with bigger players, so a cornerback or even a safety may not be able to slow down the freight train coming their way.

Going even further, you can now give specific instructions to individual players on both the defensive line and the secondary. For instance, you can have a lineman blitz the quarterback while also instructing the safety to cover a certain zone. The multitude of options here make for as realistic a football game as you can get because like any coach, you have to be crafty and try to outmaneuver your opponent through sound positioning.

The defensive A.I. is also much improved, bringing the days of freewheeling wide receivers to an end. The secondary will be far more aggressive and double-teams will be common, depending on the receiver.

Storyline Central is a new addition to the Franchise mode, which gives you insight into the morale and happiness of your players. You can access local and national papers to see what your guys are saying or if they’ve become a cancer in the dressing room. All the aspects of running the team are still here, with minor changes to keep things fresh.

Online gameplay is much the same as last year, with the notable addition of a feedback system, which serves the purpose of rooting out the troublemakers. People who act like idiots or constantly drop out of games will likely be inviting negative feedback. It’s an interesting concept and one that will probably be emulated elsewhere.

Despite the low price for ESPN NFL 2K5 ($29.99 Cdn.), Madden 2005 is still worth every penny for football fans, even if it costs $40 more. The improvements made here are significant enough to warrant its higher price.

Publisher:
EA Sports

Platform:
PS2 (reviewed)
GC/GBA/XBOX/PC

Rating: 10/10