Madden NFL 97

After the disastrous Madden 96, I was glad to see the series return to form in 1997. The gameplay has been slowed down (thankfully) so players move at a more reasonable pace. In addition, the graphics have been enhanced with sharper-looking players and realistic animation sequences. As usual, there are more options in this game than you would ever need, but they're always nice to have. New features include player fatigue, the ability to save your greatest plays, and a five receiver passing mode. The quality of the sound effects, including Madden's commentary, is beyond reproach. I couldn't find any obvious flaws in this Madden '97. This may be the best football game ever made for the Genesis.

Unlike modern games, the crowd is fairly quiet, at least until the "D-Fense" chant kicks in. Most stadiums look generic, but the bright orange trees outside of Memorial Stadium in Baltimore look gorgeous. Madden 97 was largely overlooked in its day because flashier 3D games were stealing the spotlight, but it's one of the best sprite-based football games. If you're weary of the modern, cookie-cutter Maddens, revisit this classic and have fun again.

This game was well worth the wait; this new PS installment is better than ever. Now you have all of your favorite teams on one CD with no hidden codes to find like in previous Genesis versions. The gameplay is incredible and is a big part of what makes this game so good. The precision player movements and actual football formations will make this year's Madden stand head and shoulders above the rest. The graphics and sound are awesome.

Overall, Madden '97 rates a 90 out of 100 -- a definite recommendation for anybody who even thinks a computer football game might be fun. The graphics, audio and realism are all top notch, and EA has thrown in enough extra touches and customer-friendly considerations to warrant a look. This game should please die-hards and newcomers alike and is extremely easy to learn, but difficult to master -- my kind of game!

I can honestly say that I am set in the football game department for a long, long time. Unless Gameday 2 puts me in a trance and forces me to buy it, make mine Madden. This is the best football game on the market, period. Forget Gamebreakers, sell your Gameday, take back QB Club '97, and don't even think about getting TechmoBowl, (unless its for half price and plays on your gameboy, it's trash, really) and leave those other imitations on the shelf, and wait and see what Gameday has to offer.

Madden NFL 97 ist mit Sicherheit die realistischste und zugleich spielbarste Simulation des typisch amerikanischen Sports. Dennoch läßt sich am PC die Spannung und die Atmospähre dieses Spiels nicht annährend so gut vermitteln wie in einem Live-Spiel oder einer TV-Übertragung. Vor allem außerhalb der USA dürfte es EA Sports daher schwer haben, Freunde für Madden NFL 97 zu finden.

Kann eine Football-Simulation auch einem Nicht-Amerikaner Spaß machen? Sie kann. Auch wenn Sie nicht ein Jahr bei einem amerikanischen Football-Coach zur Untermiete gewohnt haben, Football aber aufgeschlossen gegenüberstehen, ist Madden NFL 97 etwas für Sie.

Elway takes a four step drop, his eyes light up as Sharpe comes wide open. He cocks his arm, wham, the next thing he is doing is sucking on some sod because Seau levelled him. You can almost feel Elway's agony when this situation occurs while you play Madden 97 on the Sony PlayStation.

For a first effort, EA's Madden NFL 97 is a fine offering. But despite its excellent features, graphics, and teams, players may wander back to NFL GameDay for a simple game of football.

The audio sucks in general. The quarterback sounds like he's yelling the snap count from the bottom of a well, and Madden tosses out idiotic lines like "that one's gonna give him nightmares for weeks!" The half-time screen shows Madden and Pat staring intently into each other's eyes, and you can almost hear the song, "I don't wanna wait... for our lives to be o-ver..." Madden 97 also incorporates a number of franchise-related features like player trades, scouting combines, and a lot of other stuff I could give a [expletive] about. The only thing I really like about Madden 97 is that it was the first to feature my Baltimore Ravens. All and all, this edition is very playable but unspectacular and slightly gay.

After 10 years of being the best football game in the 16-bit console arena, Madden's fast, helmet-crunching action has finally made it to the PC. Despite several flaws, it feels like football. The gameplay is addictive and the motion-captured graphics are great.

Although Madden NFL 97's logic flaws substantially impact play against the computer, the modem play option partially compensates for these deficiencies. In its defense, though, it's a substantially better game in two-player mode, and is simply a blast when you play against another person. Great graphics, good sound, and loads of options do make it entertaining. Madden NFL 97 is a fun football game, but doesn't make the top of the list as a football simulator.

Despite the problems with the AI and control, there are a lot of things this game does right: penalties, extensive options, stats, crisp sound, detailed stadiums and fantastic in-game highlights with player photos. The game's TV-like presentation is incredibly polished and a joy to behold. That's why it is so frustrating (dare I say maddening?) that the AI is as sloppy as it is. If the developers can tighten this area up for their next release, the franchise may be able to reclaim the football throne. In the meantime, Sony is keeping it nice and warm.

The sheer number of players keeps everything small and slow in Madden '97. The ball is atom-sized and players stagger down the field (if possible, play it on a Super Game Boy). The only license is Madden himself, which means generic teams and numbers. You do get realistic plays and strategy, making this a thinking gamer's game, but not one for bone-jarring action.