According to the Yanks, ‘soccer’ is a girl’s sport, and after watching some of the highest paid men in the UK diving around, clutching their limbs after a fellow overpaid sportsman tugged at their shirt a little too hard, its easy to see why. The real men in Britain play rugby, while the weedy ego-trippers kick a ball around pretending to bend it like Beckham, and the same can be said in the USA. NFL is a full-contact sport that makes a far more interesting subject for games, yet somehow, Madden still isn’t capturing our imaginations like it should.

Many would have thought that the Xbox 360 version would be an ideal chance for EA to convert UK gamers into potential American Football fans, by luring them in with the dazzling visuals, then hooking them with the in-depth action offered by previous efforts in the series. A simple prettified port of the Xbox version of Madden 06 would have indeed sufficed, and may actually have been a better choice over this builtfrom- the-ground-up effort. However, in the spirit of the new EA, which seems to be trying hard to win over hardcore gamers by making original concepts out of their seemingly endless licensed properties, Madden 06 on the Xbox 360 is a completely fresh (ish) game. Great news in some respects but a massive mistake in others...

From the start it becomes obvious that this is one of the most visually impressive titles on the console. Alongside NBA Live 06, Madden is flying the flag for graphical excellence on the Xbox 360 – something that is paramount to the console’s success, but underneath the gleaming sweat, the mesmerising crowds, and the epic stadiums there is a cheap, strippeddown version of the world’s most famous NFL franchise. However, arguing from the point of view of the average British gamer, who has little knowledge of the technical aspects of American Football, this shouldn’t present the game with too much of a problem. After all, if there’s two things that Madden 06 manages well, it’s accessibility and presentation. Yes, you can silence your mates with the ease of setting up an impressive-looking play; you can even show them that the quarterback has individual grass stains on his shorts from previous plays; and you can watch as the whole stadium erupts as your receiver crosses into the Endzone for a touchdown.

The new play-calling menu, which offers choices for just about any sort of tactical decision you could feel like making is a massive step forward for the series. Less experienced players can ask for advice from Madden, from the team coach, or simply make up their own mind according to the in-game players they think are in form for that particular game. This sort of simplicity makes Madden a dream to play for the novice, and because it is mostly spoton in its tactical awareness, it won’t offend the sensibilities of hardened NFL fans either. So, does this make the Xbox 360 version the definitive article? Well, for newcomers and gamers who want a decent sports game outside of the usual FIFA/Pro Evo choice, then the answer would be for them to consider this one carefully. However, anyone with an interest in the NFL should wait for next-year’s inevitable incarnation. Why? Well, the gameplay just isn’t as deep as previous Madden titles on the Xbox.

It’s clear that X360 owners will be paying an extra £10 for the fanfare of the glorious visuals, and neat menus, because this version lacks a worrying amount of important technical features. Surprisingly, there is no player create – something that many assumed was mandatory for an EA sports game. Also, the mini-games and practice modes that appeared in the latest Xbox version simply aren’t available in the next-gen game, which is something that many players will lament, especially with respect to online options. The most glaring omission is the ability to challenge plays. A game that relies so heavily on split-second decisions and strict adherence to rules needs the ability to question plays because these digital refs drop the ball from time to time. Will this offend the sensibilities of the average UK gamer? Probably not, but it’s another fault in a long list of niggles that have found their way into the Xbox 360 version of Madden 06. Whether fans will want to pay an extra £50 for a game that is technically inferior to the Xbox one, depends on how pretty they like their graphics.

Andy Hartup