DVD Talk Forum - Madden 2004 Celebration Thread!!! (2024)

Well, after finally having a good chunk of time to devote to this year's Madden installation, I've come to a few conclusions. I'll share them - maybe just for anyone still on the fence about NCAA or Madden this year.

#1. The player movement seems smoother than ever. Tackling, passing, running - smooth. I don't know if I'd say the graphics are better, but the animations definitely seem smoother. Unfortunately, the special moves like the spin are too fast, making it far too effective - this greatly contributes to #2...

#2. There seem to be too many big plays. Being good or not, doesn't seem to have any bearing on this. I've played an EA football every year since Madden '92. I wouldn't consider myself top shelf but definitely capable. The computer too often breaks short passes for touchdowns. If the receivers get a step, they're gone. Nevermind my DB's should be able to catch him and my safety should be covering behind... this doesn't ever seem to happen. The Colts and Marvin Harrison scored three touchdowns on me - all 50+ yard pass plays. (I still won 40 something to 27).

#3. I'm utterly boggled by the sims substitution tendencies. Halfway through the second I run a play action bootleg with Kordell Stewart - only to discover that Chandler's running (more like loping) the bootleg and to my utter dismay gets crushed by a big ole lineman who runs 10X as fast as Mr. Chandler. Stewart wasn't hurt. Just sitting out. He was also subbed out of all my formations. This didn't just happen to me - Brock Huard played three whole quarters in my game against the Colts. Where was Payton? He wasn't injured...

#4. The best part of the new game is the Mini-Camp. Frustrating at times because it seems like the computer completely refuses to let you win... but a great addition.

#5. The owner mode loses it's novelty very quickly. A great idea, but something that will surely be expanded in subsequent incarnations. I look forward to it.

Conclusion: I think NCAA is a fairer football game. This year's Madden is more "arcadey" and less sim. I'd go with NCAA... but rent both first. if you don't want to put your first through the TV after playing Madden for a few hours, that's the game for you.

I picked this up for the X-box Friday, and I love it. Easily the best football game I've played.

The Playmaker control is awesome, and actually gives you some control over your other 10 players. It's pretty tough to call out your blocks, but it works great for setting up your defense or changing the direction of running play/route of primary receiver quickly.

The graphics are great as well IMO, not the best I've seen in a football game, but the animation is top notch.

My only gameplay gripe was that the running game is too hard, but fiddling with the AI sliders solved this. I still don't get big runs, but I can at least usually get a couple yards when I need them now.

The playbooks are awesome. This is the first game I've actually been able to run the Raider's short passing game pretty much to perfection. In most past games the DB's and linebackers would deflect most short passes.

Another minor gripe was the lack of a season mode. Unless I just missed it there's only the franchise mode and play now (rather than season, exhibition, and franchise as in the past).

I'd have liked to have simply played this season without having to skip past the mini-camp (actually did it) and preseason (who want's to manually play 4 more games that don't count?).

But minor gripes aside, it's an awesome game. I'd give it a 9.5/10.

The game automatically substitutes in your back-ups after the first quarter in the preseason - like real life.

Were you playing a preseason game in franchise mode?

Hmmm... that's possible. I thought I'd simulated all the pre-season games though. I'll take a look tonight. That would be silly of me :lol:

I bought Madden for Xbox and the first couple of days I was really struggling even though I had always been really good in previous versions. Finally I started finding players I really liked and did the live draft with the Ravens. I got the number 2 pick and got some great players. My team is all offense with a weak defense that is good enough to hold the other team close to my scores. Offense in a nutshell is Vick, Ahman Green, Price, Shockey, Alstott, Az Hakim.

Vick is by far the best player in the game and deserves the cover on the box. Use a shotgun formation, tuck the ball in, and speed boost run along/towards the sidelines. I usually get 10+ yards per carry with Vick without putting him in injury danger. Also the big running backs are very valuable. I played a game with Ricky Williams and another game with Faulk. Big runners can make big plays. Use the juke button to find a running lane then speed boost and spin move in that lane.

Overall its a difficult game to get used to out of the box, but once you get used to it you'll start blowing teams out.

Vick=pure cheese online. He's rated 95 and has very high speed and arm strength ratings.

The problem is that it's not quarterback accuracy or receiver's catching... it just seems like when a receiver catches a quick in route (for example), my CB tackles and gets shoved off - the guy runs 80 yards - ain't nobody catching him. The CBs should have better closing speed.

Terrell Owens did it twice in one game. I can accept this. He's Terrell Owens.

Donald Driver did it to me twice in one quarter... in the same game I had an interception return for a TD where the Packers' CB ran like a linebacker.

I've never had plays like these happen so consistently in my EA games... I've nearly thrown my wavebird through the wall on a number of occasions. I don't mind long, grind me down drives... or even pass plays where TO scores because I accidentally dove with my CB when I thought I was still rushing the passer... but when they've had the ball for a total of 1:00 and scored three touchdowns, I tend to get frustrated. Particularly when I know I didn't really do anything wrong. Sure, I often come back to win these games but it's stuff like this that really frosts my cookie.

Oh and I get real pissy when the other team makes leaping, diving, spiraling interceptions everytime Kordell does something stupid... (which happens often - in my second franchise season, I benched him for Grossman) but when my guys come near the ball, everyone of them bats it down. Catching the ball never seems to occur to them.

Try turning up your tackling slider, and turning down the CPU's break tackle slider.

Nothing you can do about the speed though AFAIK.

So the Madden curse strikes again... poor Mike Vick...

seriously, I know it's just coincidence, but if I had a career year in the NFL in 2003/2004, I'd think twice before signing to be Madden 2005's coverboy...

I'm so mad!

I played my Madden for PS2 once last night and when I went to play it again today it wouldn't get past the "Loading" page. So I took it out and there are like 2 huge scratches on the disk. From the time I got it home it never left the machine. This freaking pisses me off!

Will I have any problem exchanging it at Circuit City???

except owner mode, new rosters, playmaker control.....it's definitely worth at least a rent.....

great game, and I have it for the Cube.

:D

Granted I haven't bought a football game since Bill Walsh College Football '93 for Genesis, but this game is so much fun. I love it.

Playing the computer is so damn though - stopping the run is really hard. I played with the Skins first game vs Cowboys. I lost 33-7 with Troy Hambrick running for like 250 yds. I played the Skins vs the Chiefs for one half and lost 31-7 with Priest Holmes running for 150 yds. However, I had more success when I took a more prolific offense like the Rams. I played one half vs the Jets and was losing 17-14. Of course Curtis Martin had over 100 yds.

I have a hard time running the ball, but I do pretty well throwing.

I played 2 friends. I beat one 102-20 (Skins vs Giants) with 9 INT returns for TDs. -eek- Another I beat 42-14 (Falcons vs Eagles). I couldn't bust any long runs with Vick but he had a great arm.

Is it that realistic? Probably not, but it is a heck of a lot of fun.

Yeah - Tony Gonzales did this to me twice in a half when I played the Chiefs.

I tried playing Madden again last night and it just does nothing for me. I'm spoiled by NCAA 2004.

Anyway, anyone wanna buy a like new copy of Madden 2004 for the PS2? :)

When someone mentioned that Terrel Owens whips out a sharpie and signs a ball and does his thing, was in it, i didn't believe it...

...Until he did it to me TWICE in a game.... :(