Rating: 
Summary: Great game, despite it's flaws
Review: I haven't played an NFL sports title for just about 10 years now. (Last one I played was ESPN NFL 1994 on the Sega Genesis.) I'll spare you my mumblings about how different the games are today (duh).This game really irritated me at first. The biggest and most glaring flaw would be the weird number of fumbles you get from people returning kicks. I've had motionless punt returners fumble the ball on a fair catch, it's so bad. Then there's the penalties system. Of course, except for offsides, it's almost totally random. You are free to go in and adjust the sliders to determine how often these penalties get called. But it's still a serious pain in the ass when you're 3rd and 17 and miss your 1st down because of a holding call that was randomly applied to your play. The sum total of this stuff will sometimes give you a feeling that the game is very much being decided by random factors, and this can be really aggravating, especially if you put some time into practicing and get good at the game elements. You can be left with the feeling that it doesn't matter what kind of skill you have, because maybe you'll get a major penalty for holding, not get the first down, and then fumble the ball (on a kick return) to your opponent that will run it for a TD. You can throw the controller, you can call the game a POS, but you still can't take those 7 pts off the board. After playing a lot of games vs. the computer and vs. a friend online, I'd say that there is a feeling that the randmoness evens out a lot. So you'll have a game where you get a penalty on a return, wind up on your 15 yard line, and then your superstar back will fumble the ball at the worst possible moment and give up an effortless TD to your opponent. And this will lose you the game. But then the same thing (or worse) will happen to your opponent. In fact, I've seen much worse thing happen in game. (Like for example, the CPU fumbling the ball on the kickoff twice in a row, giving up 14 pts.) If you see yourself more as the coach of the game - someone who just has to deal with the fact that this stuff does happen - then you just adjust your strategy. This is what makes the game frustrating though - you're both the player and the coach, and when you're the player, it leaves you feeling like you should be able to control more of the outcomes. So skilled / obsessive gamers who sit down and run practice plays for an hour a day are going to find out what I did: Just because you've got the skills on the play doesn't mean you're gauranteed an easy victory. And your game strategy has to reflect this, or you're going to lose a lot of games. "Stuff" happens, and if your gaameplan doesn't include the "stuff," you're in trouble. I gave this game only 4 stars, not because of any of the gameplay stuff, but because, like every other EA sports title, the interface is a mess, the EA sports website is a mess, and both the online and game-packaged documentation is a mess. I've seen chimps on ritalin with more organizational skills than the EA sports guys. This stuff is such a chronic problem for them that I can't give any game they make 5 stars if they're going to keep neglecting this stuff. Despite all this I've really come to love Madden 2004. The teams look awesome on the field and the game really feels like a football game. In the end the randomness has only made the game better for me. When it's 21-17 and you get that TD you need to take the game - and you get it despite a big holding call and an injured WR - you really feel like you've fought and won. And that feels great.
Rating: 
Summary: TWO MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I truly enjoyed Madden 2004. I am patiently waiting for the 2005, but I have had a ball the last year playing this game. The control you have over players and even the plays make for some fun filled hours. I strongly suggest that anyone who has not tried it to give it a go, the price is right and you will be ready for some football!!
Rating:
Summary: Madden 2004
Review: I want to know, can you have snow when playing online on the PC?
Last year that was not possible.
Rating:
Summary: Huge Improvement Over 2003 and the Best Madden Ever
Review: I've been playing Madden since the Nintendo days and while I've seen some disappointing sequels in the famous series, this year's version is probably the biggest annual upgrade ever. While the game has added brand new GM features that allow you to control ticket prices, coach hiring, stadium building and other fun stuff, if you truly want to experience Madden the way it was meant to be played, you need to play against humans. Unpredictable strategy, smart motioning and audibles, and jukes that will shake you out of your shoes are what make human opponents so much better than the CPU. Because Madden's online game matching service (EASO) is free this year, it's very easy to go online and find hundreds of random opponents ready to test your mettle. Perhaps the biggest improvement in this year's version is EASO itself. It's much more difficult for opponents to get away with cheating and quitting in this year's EASO. The eternal football sim battle rages on and everyone has their own arguments why their title is the best but I've tried all the popular titles and I still believe Madden is the most realistic football simulator out there. Just keep in mind that this game assumes you already know a lot of basic football techniques and strategy and while the game can be easily learned, it takes years to master.
Rating:
Summary: Playing this game...
Review: I've been using the keyboard since Madden 99. I feel that it is way better than using a controller. Every time Ive played any Madden game for any video game system I always have trouble. The only madden game on console i was good at with a controller was all the 99 and previous. Try the keyboard, practice will make it a sinch in about a week. Your hands will take over and you'll be busting moves left and right. Learn the keys, also you could always buy a similar controller that could work with your PC. Hope this helps. Madden 4 Life.
Rating: 
Summary: HORRIBLE gameplay
Review: i've bought all the NFL games since 1998, and this one is actually the worse of them all. It has a great franchise mode, but the gameplay is just awful. there are far too many bugs exploited by the computer that result in long BS plays. you will find yourself buying a new controller every week to replace the one you broke against the wall after a 90 yard TD pass on 3rd and 25.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Madden Yet
Review: I've bought and played nearly every version of Madden since 98. While it took madden a while to get up to a *good* game, I always felt it hit it's peak with the 2000 version and the subsequent releases just added style over substance. No more! in Madden 2004, while the graphics are truly stunning, gameplay has improved greatly as well. The computer opponents are challenging, sometimes it seems a bit too much.
There are a few annoyances to the game. For example, in the normal camera angle if the offense punts to you, you can't see the covering team coming for you as you catch the punt. If you don't call for a fair catch, there's a 90% chance you'll get hit and fumble the ball. For that reason, I call for a fair catch on nearly every punt return.
Another annoying feature is the number of sacks that the computer's defense can get on you. There are times when you might have half a second to get rid of the ball from the snap before you're driven into the turf. This is something you can live with but it's frustrating when the computer has the ability to get rid of the ball much faster (if you want to fire a bullet, you have to keep the button pressed down for about a second anway - by that time you're dead meat if the pass rush is blitzing).
And of course, there's Al and John's commentary. My #1 complaint about this game has been the same for years - Al and John repeat the same thing over and over. If you play 16 games, you're likely to hear the same quotes 16 times...sometimes even within the same game. That seems to have improved a bit in this version but it's still there.
On the positive side the game is challenging, seems fairly realistic. and most importantly, is a lot of fun. Unlike previous versions, an effective running game is a necessity to consistently win at Madden 2004. Clock Management is key to the game as the computer's 2-minute drill [is tough]. There are a multitude of other features besides pure gameplay. Too numerous to mention and that I haven't had a chance to dive into just yet. All in all, this is the best Madden yet, and probably the best PC football game ever.
Rating:
Summary: If you have Madden 2003 Don't buy this downgrade.
Review: If you have Madden 2003 stop before you buy the new version. After paying about $45 dollars every year you would think that they would try to improve the game but they missed the mark. More bells and whistles less user control. The one thing that they really screwed up was the ability to configure your controller. In Madden 2004 you can't remapped the controller sucessfully. I have contacted the customer support and they can not fix the problem. Also you are not even given the option of remapping some of the basic game controls. This is not an improvment, it is a step back.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of pluses, and a few minuses
Review: In response to "gamer's" August 8th note about using it for the PC over PS2 -- the solution is simple. Just BUY a game controller for the PC. You need a dual analog controller to be able to use the Playmaker feature on Madden 2004 -- that feature won't work on other PC game controllers. Anyway, here's my spin on Madden 2004 -- it's a GREAT improvement over Madden 2002, largely because of the added features. The improved franchise mode is the biggest selling point of this Madden version, and what a franchise mode this is! Great for control freaks who want to rule the world and leave no detail unturned. Graphics and gameplay are terrific as usual, but not much improved over already fabulous earlier versions. Here are my observations -- a lot of pluses, and some minuses (fyi, I've never played Madden 2003): 1. Graphics -- both front-end and gameplay -- work very well on my 64MB video RAM, 2.2MHz, and 512MB RAM computer. But having stadium detail at "highest" setting slowed things down, so I recommend to all that you only use "medium". (The only difference is the cheering, jumping crowds are eliminated, which is good because I found them very distracting.) 2. Gameplay graphics are marginally improved over the already fabulous 2002 (and I assume 2003) versions, so you can't go wrong here. A little more realism is introduced to players' movements. For example, when a defender intercepts a ball, his post-interception reaction time usually slows down as he assesses the new situation. Be careful of that jarring hit from the rather ticked-off wide receiver. 2. The accelerated clock option sped things up quite a bit in gameplay. Clock runs down quickly between plays. A big plus. 3. Playmaker feature is very neat, but takes some practice to get used to, especially on defense. As mentioned above, you need a dual analog game controller to use this feature. 4. Franchise mode went VERY DEEP in this Madden version, which is great news for those who want a very realistic NFL simulation. Training camp, preseason (yes, those useless games), overhauled NFL draft system, time-sensitive free agent period, stadium upgrades, finances, relocations, even the entire coaching staff, etc., etc. are at your beck and call. It does make for a very, very long game experience, but if you like it that way, it's for you. Training camp is composed of several drills where you can improve the ratings of a specific player. As for the draft, you actually get to research specific prospects via scouting combine and/or individual workout, and even then it's still a [blindshot] when you draft that coveted college star because the actual ratings are hidden until you ACTUALLY sign that pick. All you can go on are scouting reports and just a few physical attributes. I drafted a really top-rated college star punter in the high 5th round, only to find out during training camp that he was a bust. I had to cut him before the start of the season and sign a free agent. There's a lot less predictability in the Madden draft, and that's as close as you can get to the real thing (think Ryan Leaf). I'd have liked college stats and especially the influence of specific colleges on player development (e.g. NCAA Div I, II, III, etc.), but that's asking for a little too much, I think. You also now have control over the income and expenses of a team -- set ticket prices, concession prices, hire and fire coaches (and their staffs, too), upgrade or build stadiums, etc. The coaches and their staffs even come with their own ratings that have an impact on players' ratings & performances. It's fun to give Steve Spurrier the boot if he doesn't send my Redskins to the playoffs this year. 5. As for signings: signing bonuses are now part of the calculation. Use that wisely, because they hit your cap seriously if players are cut before contracts are up. 6. You can download stat reports to Excel. Great, easy way to evaluate the talent on your team, especially as they progress from year to year. Madden also downloads complete franchise reports -- rosters, stats, contracts, the shebang -- to text files. My gripes and suggestions for improvement:
1. GET A BETTER MANUAL!!!
2. Building a new stadium to replace your stinky and muddy football field is neat, but building tools are limited. More creativity in stadium design is needed. I don't want to build some generic Three Rivers Stadium knockoff (sorry, Steeler fans).
3. Every time you play a game in franchise mode, your controller configuration annoyingly reverts to default unless you select your profile at the start of EVERY game.
4. NFL draft information is not saved. Would be neat to see how the top picks fared over the course of several seasons.
5. Draft, trade, and even Pro Bowl/award history are not part of a player's stats in future seasons. Who would know the cheap free agent I signed was a MVP three seasons ago?
6. Madden only shows your team's cap room for the current season, and doesn't show you what the cap room would be like in future seasons. It's hard to evaluate the impact of accelerating contracts, which seriously hit the cap in later years.
7. The year-by-year salary and bonus contract structure is dictated completely by the computer. You can only propose total contract value and total signing bonus, which really hampers your flexibility in negotiations.
8. No comments offered on sounds and music. I always turn the sound off when playing the game, so I can't provide any critique here. :-) 4 out of 5 stars. If you care only for playing the football game itself, it may not be for you since you may already get a kick out of 2003's version. If you want the much-improved franchise mode, and the additional bells and whistles, get this game.
Rating: 
Summary: Football
Review: It is kinda fun, but it will only please hardcore football fans. Personally, I give it a C+. I don't like the inaccuracy but if you like football a lot, this is the game for you
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