Introduction

Thirteen years. Atleast 16 system. Atleast 58 games. Thats how much Madden-goodness has been spread around the world, compliments of EA Sports. From "Maddenness" on the Atari 2600 to "John Madden Football" on the Commodore 64, to Madden NFL 2003 across 5 consoles this year. Thats alot of Madden. One would think EA would be running out of things to put into Madden, but each year the game STILL only gets better and better. This year is no different. Tiburon has retained the classic Madden gameplay, made enough refinements and tweaks to make it deeper and more realistic, and added enough modes to make even the most jaded Madden fan weep with joy.

Presentation

What is there to be said people wont already expect? EA treats presentation just as importantly as any other area, and as a result gamers expect only the best. The menus are still incredibly easy to navigate, with enough background action to still keep you interested.

The stats and in game presentation of this game blows the socks off any competition. Al Micheals and Melissa Stark(beautiful!) join Madden this year, and it makes the game feel more like you’re playing out Monday Night Football than playing a game. The new 3 camera replays and more cut scenes dont hurt. The level of customization and controls have been increased even more than last year, rounding out excellent presentation.

Graphics

Compared to the other Playstation2 titles, Madden2003 gets the best show in graphics. While NFL2K3 has the more realistic looking player models, Maddens models arent far behind, but they excel in facial detail, as well as sideline action, and the best crowds and fields in the business.

Animation has been greatly improved over last year. You now have gang tackles, better animations for players being tackled(that weak animation where players simply fall down is long gone). Finally the RBs in Madden can "get skinny", where they work their way through tight holes in the line by side stepping. It beats running around their fat asses or getting stuck behind them.

EA has improved the speed of the game also. The game runs at a constant 60fps almost all the time. The only times Ive noticed slowdown are on FG attempts near the endzone, and its only slight slowdown.

Sound

The #1 area Madden has needed improvement on in sound has for years been commentary. When Pat Summerall ratired, it left the door wide open for someone with an actual pulse to takeover and Al Micheals fits the job perfectly. With him, he brings Melissa Stark, the sultry vixen of MNF, who comments on injuries and coach interviews. While Madden doesnt reapt as often as usual, he’s still not on par with the other 2 people with him. But nevertheless Madden 2003 features the best commentary of any game to date.

The other sound effects, such as hits and crowd noises, are improved and still remain leagues above the sound the competition offers.

Gameplay

While there hasnt been a real "breakthrough" in gameplay change like there was from 2001 to 2002, Tiburon simply took everything people complained about from 2002, and tweaked it and enhanced it to make Madden 2003 the deepest in gameplay yet. That said, Ill simply focus on the improvements.

On offense, the running game is much smoother and more realistic, thanks mostly to the increase in game speed. The blockers also follow thorhg on defenders and block much better. More animations make it even better. On passing, the QBs do alot less of that "spin" when you pump fake the ball that surely got you sacked alot in Madden 2002. The line blocks much better on passing as well. Hot routes have been increased, giving you more routes to choose from and more ways to confuse your opponent. Recievers can now do "stand still" catches, which is where they, well... catch the ball standing still.

On defense, there are numerous upgrades to the gameplay. First, Tiburon included a "strafe" feature, where with the press of a button your defender will face the line of scrimmage. It helps in a few ways. First, you can square up with a runner out of the backfield for a better tackle. Two, if you’re in a zone you can line up with a pass for a better INT shot. Also, if you’re running with a WR, it gives you a much better shot at making a play. Another improvement is defensive line play. Its much easier to get to the quarterback now, but not too easy. Special moves look much more realistic and make playing as a lineman actually fun. Try taking a big guy like Sapp and running full speed into an offensive lineman, boom, Sapp will knock him flat on his butt. Line audibles, LB audible and DB audibles are all handled with different buttons now, making them easier to manage and call.

Its not all good though. On offense, there are still times when, even though overall theyre much improved, the lineman sometimes just seem to want to run around on their own with no care for the play you called. The QBs will still comepletely spin sometimes when you pump fake, or even lurch 3 yards forward, usually resulting in a sack. On defense, players still seem to only be able to dive two yards, and sometimes a full head on hit to an opponent will do little more than bump them off their way. Minor flaws at best compared to the stellar gameplay but flaws nonetheless.

EA has outdone themselves again with a new mode: Mini Camp. Drives Maddens bus from city to city across the country, participating in loads of skill based tests, from corner punting and clutch kicking, to passing and running. For every practice, theres three difficulties, each with different scenarios, challenges and Madden Cards for winning. In passing, you’ll start in KC with Trent Green and 3 easy to hit players. By the time you’re gotten good enough to go to All Madden though, you’ll be in Indianapolis with Manning trying to hit 3 speedy WRs on very difficult routes. The mini camp mode is a great addition and helps players become all pros at the game immensely, much more effective than the practice and training modes ever were.

Aside from the mini-camp mode, the franchise mode has been improved also. You get 30 seasons of gameplay, along with a ridiculous amount of stats and records to keep and break. EA added a college combine, and a recruitment system similiar to EAs NCAA Football series.

The most important mode added is definantly online play, enabling gamers across the country to meet online for a virtual pigskin game. EAs adding deep stat tracking that puts NFL2K3 to shame. The Network Adapter is unreleased so unfortunatly I havent played it online, but everywhere Ive seen it commented on assures people its a great system with little lag.

Conclusion

With tried and true Madden gameplay refined to perfection, Madden is, as always, in a league of its own. There isnt a football game around with as many modes as gameplay as deep. Online play is the main draw, but even without it Maddens wealth of modes and insane attention to detail with stats and presentation would keep gamers playing well into the year 2003. Just in time for EA and Tiburon to blow our socks off again with Madden NFL 2004.