Madden NFL 98 - PC Review - Gamecenter

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Madden NFL 98

continued
4th and Inches
My biggest warning about Madden 98 is for people with older systems. First off, there are three installation choices: 75MB, which is truly too slow to play; 270MB, which Madden NFL 98 is bordering on outrageous but runs well; and 590MB, which I can't even fit on my PC. The game runs very well on a P200 MMX (as recommended by EA) but moves sluggishly on a lesser system. However, Madden 98 allows graphics and sound to be removed for improved performance, and there is a 3Dfx acceleration patch on its way. I'm willing to accept higher system requirements in exchange for the benefits that come with Windows 95 applications, but for some reason, Madden 98 can't be minimized or switched to the background. This will certainly annoy countless bosses who now have to deal with employees caught playing games. There are also a few annoying bugs--I've had defensive players freeze and erroneous sounds pipe up now and then. Even though the problems are minor, EA should plan on releasing a patch in the near future.
Still, Madden 98 is an improvement over its esteemed predecessor, which is necessary to stay competitive in the crowded football market this year and keeps its rating from slipping. There's still a lot of time left in the season, but once again Madden looks to be a leader on the field. With great brawn and brains to match, this game will give you and your relatives something to do after Thanksgiving dinner. In that spirit, if my beloved Uncle Gary is reading this, I just want to say...how many times have I told you not to use my computer? Get your lazy butt out of my chair and get a job for God's sake!
Tips
-First a tip that should really have been in the manual: once you've played the entire 1997 season, there is no obvious way to play the season again. Use the "Restore NFL Rosters" icon in the Madden 98 program group on the Windows 95 Start Menu to reset the league to the beginning of the year. This not only resets the rosters but the schedules as well.
-The player statistics available in Madden 98 are better than any NFL scouting report. Learn your opponent's weaknesses and exploit them. For example, throw your passes in the direction of your opponent's weakest cornerback.
-Unlike a real NFL quarterback, you can see everything that's happening on the field (including sacks from the QB's blind side). Take advantage of this technology and pass more than you might normally think wise.
If you like this type of game, you might want to check out Front Page Sports: Football Pro '97.

Hugh Falk believes that all video games are really tests in which the best players will one day be swept up by aliens to fight for the freedom of the universe. He has dedicated his life to critiquing and hopefully improving games for the sake of Earth and the universe. Agree or disagree with the review? Let us know.

Facts

Madden NFL 98
EA Sports, 800/245-4525
Price: $55.00
Pentium-133, 16MB RAM, 75MB disk space, SVGA, 4X CD-ROM drive, Windows 95; DirectX 5.0-compatible sound card

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