Genesis

Madden NFL 96

The story of this game is the aggressive A.I. which makes Madden '96 a must-have for true Madden pros. Just be prepared to get kicked all around the field.

You can't blame yourself for going back to this game. The whole package is here with Madden. The AI is definitely where it should be: hard as hell. Enhanced defense and offense makes this game. Because this title gets better and better, Madden should drink from the fountain of youth, so he can keep producing it.

In Madden '96, it's how good you are at rapidly hitting the buttons and dodging obstacles that decides how good the player you create is. Also, you an now act as general manager; try your luck dealing with a salary cap. A great update of the classic because the all-important gameplay remains intact. Isn't that what it's all about?

Believe it or not, Madden '96 was step backwards for the series. Yes the fields look better than ever, with realistic-looking grass and end zone insignias. There are some cool new moves including laterals, fair catches, and over-to-top dives. But the gameplay is way too fast, making the game virtually unplayable! There are other flaws as well. This game brags that it is the first to feature left-handed quarterbacks. Yes, you can now control a left-handed Steve Young. But he's also African American, just like every other player in this game (including the kickers)! If you can overlook that, maybe you can also overlook the fact that tackled players look like squashed bugs. This may be the worst Madden game ever. How the mighty have fallen!