Games Database
GameCube
Sport: Football - American
| Also for: | PC, PS2, Xbox, PlayStation | ||
| Viewed: | 3D Third-person, floating camera | Genre: | Sport: Football - American |
| Arcade origin: | No | ||
| Developer: | EA Tiburon | Soft. Co.: | Electronic Arts |
| Publishers: | Electronic Arts
(GB) |
Released: | 11 Oct 2002
(GB) |
| Ratings: | 3+ | ||
| Accessories: | Memory Card | ||
Video
Summary
Another year, another improved Madden NFL game. This policy of Electronic Arts may seem a little repetitive, but it ensures that year on year, gamers are getting the best virtual incarnation of their favourite sports games. NFL is not a big sport here in the UK, but it’s one that EA has been pushing, with notable success, for the last thirteen years. More than a decade on, and Madden NFL 2003 is ready to play, but more importantly, it’s on a brand new platform, Nintendo GameCube.
With a primary focus on in-game graphics and gameplay, this latest incarnation of the series claims to be the best looking, sounding and playing football game ever. Not wanting to break the annual cycle of improvement, EA has made the effort once again to deliver the goods. Just a selection of the new visual overhauls include new signature player animations, new cut-scenes with high-poly cheerleaders and additional emotion-based bench scenes, more than 300 realistic player faces, and a more cinematic approach to camera positions.
Underneath the sexy new visuals however, the usual familiar gameplay mechanics are still to be found, albeit with a few updates themselves. A faster and more realistic game presides, with players following through, making hits on players without the ball and generally presenting a more finely tuned passing game.
The audio department has not been overlooked either. The great John Madden himself, along with fellow Monday Night Football star Al Michaels, takes care of the commentary via a new audio engine, which delivers appropriate commentary based on current game situations and player/team statistics.
All in all, this is a John Madden Football game. It was the first really popular NFL experience all those years ago and is still considered by many to be the definitive American Football sim. As with most of EA's sports games, it receives a yearly makeover and continues to improve - which isn't bad at all.
With a primary focus on in-game graphics and gameplay, this latest incarnation of the series claims to be the best looking, sounding and playing football game ever. Not wanting to break the annual cycle of improvement, EA has made the effort once again to deliver the goods. Just a selection of the new visual overhauls include new signature player animations, new cut-scenes with high-poly cheerleaders and additional emotion-based bench scenes, more than 300 realistic player faces, and a more cinematic approach to camera positions.
Underneath the sexy new visuals however, the usual familiar gameplay mechanics are still to be found, albeit with a few updates themselves. A faster and more realistic game presides, with players following through, making hits on players without the ball and generally presenting a more finely tuned passing game.
The audio department has not been overlooked either. The great John Madden himself, along with fellow Monday Night Football star Al Michaels, takes care of the commentary via a new audio engine, which delivers appropriate commentary based on current game situations and player/team statistics.
All in all, this is a John Madden Football game. It was the first really popular NFL experience all those years ago and is still considered by many to be the definitive American Football sim. As with most of EA's sports games, it receives a yearly makeover and continues to improve - which isn't bad at all.
