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Are you ready for some football?
October 30, 2006 | 7:52 PM PSTby: Matt Furtado
Another year has come and another Madden has been released for consoles and handhelds once again. This time EA has brought Madden 07 with some new additions to the series and has made some adjustments from last years portable version of this grid iron game. So another year has passed and another Madden is out on the PSP but does this yrs version improve over last year’s version?
Features:
All-New Running Controls—Level defenders in the open field with elusive, tackle-breaking Truck moves.
PSP Exclusives—Return kicks, avoid tackles, and aim for the High Score in a PSP-exclusive mini-game, or transfer an entire season in Franchise mode back and forth between your PSP and your PlayStation 2.
Gameplay
The gameplay for Madden 07 for the PSP remains overall the same as last yrs title but with several big changes that make all the difference. Players will still play the basic game of football with running, passing, and well scoring touch-downs. However, EA did add new features to the game and some exclusive PSP content for those of us who like to take our games on the road. One of the new features to the traditional Madden formula is an all-new running control system. Fans of football know how important a solid running game is to win a game and now with the improved running system players can finally feel immersed in the running aspect of the game. In order to improve upon the running game EA now allows the player to ability to burn a defender, take them down, and even duck under a tackle. One of the key aspects of a players running game is to also be able to break a tackle. EA has included a feature to be able to break out of a defenders grip by continually hitting the X button. Very simple to use and it will make all the difference in your running game. With these new additions it brings the football realm of gaming on step closer to reality. But if aren’t big on the running aspect of football Madden still has the same incredible passing system from previous titles. New to the passing game is the precision passing system. By having your analog stick aimed the direction of the receiver the QB is more likely to throw a perfect pass which in terms lowers to the percentage of an interception occurring.
EA also included other new features such as the new Highlight Feature and PSP exclusive mini-game. The highlight feature allows the players to run-over defenders or juke your way to a TD. However, by using the technique you raise your chances of forcing your player to fumble and lose possession of the ball. To activate the technique you have to have the ball in your possession and then hit the triangle button and up on the d-pad to run-over defenders, press down for a back juke, and then left/right for a big juke to the corresponding sides. Players will also be able to execute a double move by pressing triangle and moving the analog stick to the left or right. This move is highly dangerous and should only be done by the most agile ball handlers. Besides all the new additions to the series, EA has also thrown in an exclusive PSP mini-game, End-2-End. End-2-End players will have to complete the goal of running back a kickoff while evading defenders. In order to complete this mini-game you will need to juke your way to the end-zone. For each successful juke the game will give you a grade and will then base your score on the grades you received. Players will be able to increase their score by breaking 2 or more tackles in a row. After playing through the games 15 rounds, or 15 tackles, you will get your point total which will in turn unlock music tracks and AFC/NFC Hall of Fame teams for the game.
The game does have one flaw to it and that is its loading times. The game has noticeable load times at nearly every menu screen. After completing a play it will take approximately 5 seconds for the move selection screen to appear. That is the longest loading time in the game after the initial boot-up. Other than that the gameplay is very solid.
Graphics
This year’s edition is a huge leap over EA’s previous Madden offering on the PSP. This version is very comparable to the PS2 edition of Madden 2007 and is easily the best looking portable offering of Madden. Although the game still has some blocky animations here and there it is nothing that makes the game look or play horrendously.
Control
The controls are simple and very precise. The analog stick control works very well in the title which many PSP titles haven’t gotten down quite yet. The passing controls and simple same with the running controls. Simply hit the corresponding button shown on the screen on the PSP and the action is done. Not much else to worry about. The kicking control make take a second to get use to on the analog stick seeing as though the ball goes in whichever direction you end moving the analog stick. So a tad too far over to the right or left and you may miss your mark. Other than that the games controls are very solid.
Overall
Madden 2007 is the best portable football game available and it must-own for any football fan who wants to take it on the road with them. PSP owners can’t go wrong with EA’s latest rendition of Madden with all the upgrades and new features this is light years better than last years title. We can only imagine with EA has in their minds for next year’s edition.
Features:
Gameplay
The gameplay for Madden 07 for the PSP remains overall the same as last yrs title but with several big changes that make all the difference. Players will still play the basic game of football with running, passing, and well scoring touch-downs. However, EA did add new features to the game and some exclusive PSP content for those of us who like to take our games on the road. One of the new features to the traditional Madden formula is an all-new running control system. Fans of football know how important a solid running game is to win a game and now with the improved running system players can finally feel immersed in the running aspect of the game. In order to improve upon the running game EA now allows the player to ability to burn a defender, take them down, and even duck under a tackle. One of the key aspects of a players running game is to also be able to break a tackle. EA has included a feature to be able to break out of a defenders grip by continually hitting the X button. Very simple to use and it will make all the difference in your running game. With these new additions it brings the football realm of gaming on step closer to reality. But if aren’t big on the running aspect of football Madden still has the same incredible passing system from previous titles. New to the passing game is the precision passing system. By having your analog stick aimed the direction of the receiver the QB is more likely to throw a perfect pass which in terms lowers to the percentage of an interception occurring.
EA also included other new features such as the new Highlight Feature and PSP exclusive mini-game. The highlight feature allows the players to run-over defenders or juke your way to a TD. However, by using the technique you raise your chances of forcing your player to fumble and lose possession of the ball. To activate the technique you have to have the ball in your possession and then hit the triangle button and up on the d-pad to run-over defenders, press down for a back juke, and then left/right for a big juke to the corresponding sides. Players will also be able to execute a double move by pressing triangle and moving the analog stick to the left or right. This move is highly dangerous and should only be done by the most agile ball handlers. Besides all the new additions to the series, EA has also thrown in an exclusive PSP mini-game, End-2-End. End-2-End players will have to complete the goal of running back a kickoff while evading defenders. In order to complete this mini-game you will need to juke your way to the end-zone. For each successful juke the game will give you a grade and will then base your score on the grades you received. Players will be able to increase their score by breaking 2 or more tackles in a row. After playing through the games 15 rounds, or 15 tackles, you will get your point total which will in turn unlock music tracks and AFC/NFC Hall of Fame teams for the game.
The game does have one flaw to it and that is its loading times. The game has noticeable load times at nearly every menu screen. After completing a play it will take approximately 5 seconds for the move selection screen to appear. That is the longest loading time in the game after the initial boot-up. Other than that the gameplay is very solid.
Graphics
This year’s edition is a huge leap over EA’s previous Madden offering on the PSP. This version is very comparable to the PS2 edition of Madden 2007 and is easily the best looking portable offering of Madden. Although the game still has some blocky animations here and there it is nothing that makes the game look or play horrendously.
Control
The controls are simple and very precise. The analog stick control works very well in the title which many PSP titles haven’t gotten down quite yet. The passing controls and simple same with the running controls. Simply hit the corresponding button shown on the screen on the PSP and the action is done. Not much else to worry about. The kicking control make take a second to get use to on the analog stick seeing as though the ball goes in whichever direction you end moving the analog stick. So a tad too far over to the right or left and you may miss your mark. Other than that the games controls are very solid.
Overall
Madden 2007 is the best portable football game available and it must-own for any football fan who wants to take it on the road with them. PSP owners can’t go wrong with EA’s latest rendition of Madden with all the upgrades and new features this is light years better than last years title. We can only imagine with EA has in their minds for next year’s edition.
February 8, 2010
