Rating: 
Summary: Fun game despite problems
Review: To tell you the truth, I think a lot of these people who criticize this game are too picky about every little aspect (graphics, how badly the computer cheats, etc.). I think this game kicks a lot of butt and is the best football game on the PC currently. The online play has gotten a heck of a lot better (and more fun) since Madden 2000. The players look nicer and the sidelines seem more detailed. What suprises me is how nobody's complaining about the ... kicking game! It is next to impossible just to make a 43-yard kick (unless you have Sebastian Janikowski or Jason Elam as your kicker), in real life no kicker would ever start if all the time his 43-yard kicks ended up SHORT! EA needs to come out with a patch to correct this BIG TIME. Other than that though, I enjoyed this game and think you oughta buy it at your nearest retailer.
Rating: 
Summary: Waste of money, waste of time.
Review: What a disappointment! I have a Pentium III 550 with and 8MB integrated video card (good enough to play every other game I've ever tried, EA or not), but that's apparently not good enough for Madden 2001. The tech support guy at EA told me that the video card must have full Direct 3D support, which means that everyone who has a Pentium III or lower and hasn't upgraded their video card (that's most of you, folks) won't be able to appreciate the graphics because you'll be forced to play the game in Non-accelerated mode, which is comparable to playing the game on a Sega Genesis circa 1989. As an example, if you try the game in 3D mode, you'll get no stadium graphics, no crowd graphics, no sideline graphics, and no indicators over your receivers when passing, among other missing features. For some reason, EA chose to make the game incompatible with the majority of the systems in use today. In addition, the installation process is very buggy (fatal errors with the Autorun on the CD)and doesn't bother telling you to update your video drivers before playing (I learned that the hard way, after several e-mails to EA's support group). For those of you with high-end video cards and a whole lot of patience, enjoy yourselves. For those of us with only a very good video card, it looks like we'll be forced to look to other software companies for football this year and in the future. Shame on you, EA Sports.
Rating: 
Summary: Madden 2k1 is da bomb
Review: With the buzz about Madden 2002, why bother with a bargain bin copy of Madden 2001? Despite the complaints, Madden 2001 is a decent football game (not simulation) well worth the current $15 price tag. If you buy a copy, you need to run the "update" function immediately after installation. On a 56k modem, it will take a considerable amount of time, but the update is worth it. Don't try to find an update file on the web... the only way to update is from the game itself.Madden 2001 runs well, even on older systems. Be forewarned, to take full advantage of the graphics, you will need plenty of memory and a good graphics card. I suggest a minimum of a 32 meg video card, with 64 meg preferred. For PC game play, invest in a Gravis game pad or similar control device. The console-style controllers make the game play much more intuitive and enjoyable. You'll also want to to around the web for updated and customized rosters for Madden 2001. For older players, it's fun to use the classic rosters with great players from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Once you have your PC, controller and an updated copy of the game, you'll be ready for the opening kick off. Football purists can find Madden 2001 frustrating because of the unusual statistics. Within the game, you can adjust sliders to make game elements more or less common. For example, the unadjusted Madden 2001 seems to have two penalties... face masking and offsides. You can reduce the number of face masking penalties (or increase the other penalties) by moving the sliders. My suggestion is to play a full season and then adjust the sliders based on your personal preferences. The documentation on Madden 2001 is slim, but you can find resources about the game on the Internet. This is helpful for those who don't understand the difference between a "Cover 2" and a "Cover 4" defense. Gameplay is decent, but full of the usual oddities I have found in most PC or video football games. The computer seems able to complete an inordinate number of long passes, but struggles to run the ball. Player control is decent, but the field goal kicking interface is terrible. There are play editors, hot "reads" and custom rosters for the expert. Franchise mode offers the greatest satisfaction, but computer "owners" are not terribly bright. Player development is decent, but unbalanced. As your franchise progresses, you'll see a high number of great fullbacks and tight ends, but few franchise offensive lineman. As a hint, the "awareness" characteristic of a player seems directly related to the player's overall potential. If you enjoy PC football, the discounted Madden 2001 is a solid deal. To enjoy the game, make sure you have the right hardware and understand that Madden 2001 is more a football game, and less a true football simulation.
Rating: 
Summary: The price is right
Review: With the buzz about Madden 2002, why bother with a bargain bin copy of Madden 2001? Despite the complaints, Madden 2001 is a decent football game (not simulation) well worth the current $15 price tag. If you buy a copy, you need to run the "update" function immediately after installation. On a 56k modem, it will take a considerable amount of time, but the update is worth it. Don't try to find an update file on the web... the only way to update is from the game itself. Madden 2001 runs well, even on older systems. Be forewarned, to take full advantage of the graphics, you will need plenty of memory and a good graphics card. I suggest a minimum of a 32 meg video card, with 64 meg preferred. For PC game play, invest in a Gravis game pad or similar control device. The console-style controllers make the game play much more intuitive and enjoyable. You'll also want to to around the web for updated and customized rosters for Madden 2001. For older players, it's fun to use the classic rosters with great players from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Once you have your PC, controller and an updated copy of the game, you'll be ready for the opening kick off. Football purists can find Madden 2001 frustrating because of the unusual statistics. Within the game, you can adjust sliders to make game elements more or less common. For example, the unadjusted Madden 2001 seems to have two penalties... face masking and offsides. You can reduce the number of face masking penalties (or increase the other penalties) by moving the sliders. My suggestion is to play a full season and then adjust the sliders based on your personal preferences. The documentation on Madden 2001 is slim, but you can find resources about the game on the Internet. This is helpful for those who don't understand the difference between a "Cover 2" and a "Cover 4" defense. Gameplay is decent, but full of the usual oddities I have found in most PC or video football games. The computer seems able to complete an inordinate number of long passes, but struggles to run the ball. Player control is decent, but the field goal kicking interface is terrible. There are play editors, hot "reads" and custom rosters for the expert. Franchise mode offers the greatest satisfaction, but computer "owners" are not terribly bright. Player development is decent, but unbalanced. As your franchise progresses, you'll see a high number of great fullbacks and tight ends, but few franchise offensive lineman. As a hint, the "awareness" characteristic of a player seems directly related to the player's overall potential. If you enjoy PC football, the discounted Madden 2001 is a solid deal. To enjoy the game, make sure you have the right hardware and understand that Madden 2001 is more a football game, and less a true football simulation.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: You'd have to quit your job and spend the next 50 years playing this game to come anywhere near taking full advantage of it. There's so much you can do. You have more than 100 teams at your disposal, and you can play in all sorts of leagues and seasons. You can use your knowledge of X's and O's, you can use your knowledge of personnel, or you can do both. It is true that fully capitalizing on this game's graphics requires a computer with a lot of horsepower. Even though I had to turn the graphics down on my computer, I LOVE THIS GAME.
Rating:
Summary: How many tries do they need to get it right?
Review: You'd think that after 6 years of the same game they'd fix some things.. wrong! I have to give credit where credit is due: The graphics are amazing and the features are great. But like most EA Sports games the actual gameplay is terrible. Running is tough, passing is mediocre and player control is confusing. The rosters are not up to date. Bottom line; the "bells and whistles" don't make up for the lack of a decent game. Go elsewhere for your Football needs.
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