Madden NFL 06 (Xbox 360)

To say Madden on the 360 looks good is an understatement

If there's one thing EA is good at, it's producing high-end visuals for its sports titles. Just like NBA Live 06, the first time you play Madden, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven. Now, make no mistake, Madden 06 bares the worst trait of all the next generation sports titles: a serious lack of features; however, unlike Live 06, Madden is still very playable and does offer up some unique 360-only features that may warrant a purchase.

If you've played any of the current-gen incarnations, you'll feel right at home with the 360 version. The classic Madden, more-arcade-than-not, gameplay, is back, but with a few subtle changes that any die-hard fan will immediately notice. Though the changes from the regular versions to the 360 version are, as I described them, subtle, the impact they have on the game is anything but.

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Take the new play selection options for example. Being able to choose a play based on its play type seems like a simple addition right? Wrong. For amateur players this is a dream come true as you no longer have to wade through formation types to find the right play. Even better is the fact that you can choose playbooks for individual star performers. So if you're playing as the as the Panthers, and you want to make a few passes to Steve Smith, you can choose a number of plays from his own playbook. The new play selection options make Madden more accessible than ever before.

The other noticeable difference is the increased difficulty in kicking. It's now a two-step process much like 2k - well, exactly like 2k. The arrow is constantly moving from side-to-side, so not only do you have to stop the arrow in the direction you want your kick to go, but you also have to deal with the kick's power; so setting up for those game winning field goals isn't as easy as it used to be. Aside from that, the game plays pretty much the same. The hit stick, truck stick, and precision passing are back. Surprisingly the vision cone, by default, is turned off. I guess EA took a cue from all the negative feedback it received - thank goodness.

... the game saves 30 seasons worth of your stats so you can check an individual player's stats for any previous year...

Speaking of negative feedback, I'm sure EA has received bags full of hate-mail regarding the omission of a few notable features - one in particular comes to mind. The mini-camps are completely gone. You'd think it'd be an omission that would go unnoticed, but having spent half of the past year fine-tuning my football skills at the camp, I felt scammed when I found out it wasn't included in the final build. I can't sleep at night; I can't eat anymore. I want my mini camps back!

What about play challenges? Where did they go? I've lost count of how many yards I've lost because the computer said I was out-of-bounds when clearly I wasn't. It's like taking the peanut butter out of the peanut butter cup; you simply can't do that. The franchise mode is pretty bare too, but has one feature that better make its way into every football game from here on out. I'll use Steve Smith as an example again. Say you're in your fifth season, and you want to see how many touchdown passes he caught in his first season, you can do that. In fact, the game saves 30 seasons worth of your stats so you can check an individual player's stats for any previous year at any point. How cool is that?

Despite the aforementioned features being removed, there is good reason to pick up Madden and give it a shot. From the opening cutscene, to the slick menu designs, there's no mistaking the fact that this is a next-generation title. Case in point: Madden for 360 has close to 140 new animations. Never before has a football game felt so real. It really does feel like you're watching an actual game, especially on high-def - I'm drooling just thinking about it. And like Live 06, Madden is a prime example of how powerful the 360 is. This is, by far, the best looking game of football I've ever played.

Just look at it. It's gorgeous. Plays well too.

Adding to the realism is the fluidity of the plays - especially passing plays - and the sheer amount of detail in the player models. When you get a chance, take a look at Tom Brady's face, and tell me that isn't the most realistically rendered face you've ever seen. Luckily, that kind of treatment extends out to more than just the superstar quarterbacks. The coaches look just as good and the stadiums are filled with the finest of details. Just as impressive is the game's sound. Hearing a quarterback shout out a play in his own voice is chilling, not to mention the adrenaline inducing roars from the crowd. This is what next generation football is all about.

If you can do without the mini-camp, the robust franchise mode, and the ability to challenge plays, Madden for 360 is definitely worth picking up. And even if you're not a huge football fan, I urge you to give Madden a shot just for the sake of seeing first-hand how realistic videogames are becoming. However, if you eat, sleep, and breathe football, much like I do, you're in for a real treat.