Madden 97 - PC Review - Gamecenter

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Madden 97

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Madden 97 also includes a second CD-ROM, which contains John Madden University. JMU features video clips of the master himself explaining football terms, plays, and the abilities of each team. Hey, when I say "Madden 97," I'm not talking about the guy's IQ. Any man who can make the Raiders look good for ten years knows his stuff, and JMU goes a long way in making up for a seriously skimpy manual.
screen shot When it comes to coaching, this title went beyond my greatest expectations--nearly everything in the real NFL is here. The game is packed with statistics (and years of Thanksgiving leftovers...but I digress). Each team and player is tracked throughout a season for yards, tackles, fumbles, and interceptions. The game goes even further by keeping a running tab on dropped passes, kicking statistics, and injuries.
Change is key in Madden 97. You have the option to change the player's team, as well as a team's city, name, and stadium. You can even alter the makeup of the entire league, including which teams are in it and which they play. For example, you could turn Madden 97 into an NCAA college football title and fix it so that teams meet only once during a season. Or you could play great historical teams of the past, which are already included on the CD. You can save all of your changes and replay them at will. Although this level of customization is nothing new on the PC, I was expecting this game to be little more than a console port. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the functionality Electronic Arts added to the title.
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The only complaints I have are minor. For instance, changing a player's position isn't easy. If you want Deion Sanders to play wide receiver (who would want that?), you have to run through a rather tedious five-step routine. And after you make the change, he won't have his playing card or name announced on offense. The interface to make such a change is excellent, but if I'm paying Deion $10 million to play both ways, I don't think he should be so difficult about it.

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Madden 97

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