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Madden NFL 07 is a marked improvement over the previous 360 version, but some design quirks and missing features prevent it from being the system's first great football game. The Good: A number of key features missing in Madden 06 have returned; highlight stick, lead-blocker controls are useful gameplay additions; superstar mode is reasonably compelling this year; having the hall of fame players is a nice addition. The Bad: Game still lacks features available in other console versions of Madden; some bugs and fit-and-finish issues that hamper the experience; defensive-back ai is terribly easy to exploit on the default difficulty; some animations look rather awkward. Madden NFL 07 brings back practically every feature that was in Madden 06 (not a tough feat, considering how little there was to the package), as well as the superstar mode, which was heavily featured in the other console versions of Madden 06 but was absent in the 360 version. On top of that, a number of new gameplay upgrades have been brought to the table, the majority of which are available in all versions of the game. By themselves, none of these individual changes or upgrades is particularly game changing, but taken as a whole, they add a nice dimension of depth to the gameplay experience. These features include the highlight stick, a new kick meter, and lead blocking controls. The highlight stick is a new version of the truck stick used for runners on offense. Here, you can use the right analog stick to pull off the sorts of crazy jukes and steps that star running backs are so well known for, and on top of that, depending on the type of back you're playing, you can opt to use more-powerful moves, or more finesse-based maneuvers. This feels like the natural evolution of last year's truck stick, though most experienced Madden players will be able to get by just as easily using the button-based moves rather than making liberal use of the stick. But if you take the time to learn the stick and figure out how to use it and the button controls together, you can be a very hard runner to stop. The new lead blocking controls are likely to inspire some new tactics from all types of players. Here, while on offense, you can opt to switch your controlled player to any of the available blockers during a running play. This includes offensive linemen, tight ends, fullbacks, or whoever else might be blocking on a play. When blocking, you can just do standard blocks, or you can even get dirty and do some mean-spirited cut blocks. This is an interesting mechanic, because it stops you from having to rely on CPU blockers, which as any experienced player will tell you, are not always the most reliable players on the field. You can also quickly switch back to control the running back once you've laid down your block, which is good, because the CPU running back doesn't always manage to find the holes you're creating. At first, you may find yourself unable to effectively use this feature, as setting up the right blocks isn't always the most intuitive thing in the world. But after some time, this control method gives the running game a really interesting new perspective, and those who love finding new strategies are bound to eat this up. Overall, with all of the new features combined with improvements of some of the old features the game as a whole is a good buy and you will not waste your money. Buy it Now. If you found this review helpful please click "YES"Read full review
this is my favorite game for xbox. i have played almost every older version of this game. negatives: *the kick blocking glitches are hard to do but is still possible if you know what you are doing. *same old graphics as last year *if you play this on xbox live, you will get disconnected 1 out of 5 games and EA isn't doing much to fix it positives: *new players with accurate ratings *easier to return kicks for touchdowns if you are good at it *it has the highlight stick, which is a great way to break tackles *theres alot more ways the players can make or break tackles than last year *the hit stick is a little harder to do, not like last year when you could get it every time if you tried *hall of fame mode doesn't let you call the plays and makes you the player by making it first person camera which is great only if you are a qb,rb or wr: it's almost impossible to play it on a hard mode with a defensive player. summary: EA hasn't put much of an effort on this game because their main concern was the xbox 360 version. if you will get this game for the original xbox, you might as well save your money because not much has changed since the 2006 version. if you don't have the 2006 version, this would be a good game to get on ebay or half-i bought it on ebay for only 45$ with shipping right after it came out when it was +52 dollars at stores.Read full review
Madden 07 has proven once again to be the very best in football gaming . This year's madden is almost a a copy of Madden 06 except the changes in QB vision and Blocking capabilities and other small things thrown in here and there . The endzone dances stay the same and much of the graphics and gameplay . The glitches from last year have been fixed thank god and it almost seems the all mighty hail mary bomb is a little easier . This is somthing some players may love and some may hate but so far in the game the CB's can be burned to a crisp . I'm not knocking Madden down at all , maybe over crituqing it some but that is my duty as a gamer I guess . The playbooks for most of the coachs have stayed the same . The superstar mode is excellent if your tottally into creating one person and concentrating on them and nothing more . It is difficult in some ways to build your player into the superstar especially if they are a defensive player I recomend this mode for gamer's only . Franchise mode is the same all the perks of trading and being the best owner and manager you can be of your NFL team. So far the only cheats discovered as of 8/24/06 are these . QB On Target card Enter "WROA0R" as a code to get the QB On Target card. This card makes your Quarterback have 100% accuracy for one half. Mistake Free card Enter "XL7SP1" as a code to get the Mistake Free card. This card makes it impossible for you to throw an interception or fumble the ball for one half. Lame Duck card Enter "5LAWO0" as a code to get the Lame Duck card. This card forces your opponent to throw nothing but lob passes for one half, which allows the defense more time to react to the ball, and leads to more deflections and interceptions. Better lead blocking The trick to effective blocking is learning when to use the different blocks. Impact Blocks (Right Analog-stick Up) are more effective if you have a size advantage against the player you are blocking, while Cut Blocks (Right Analog-stick Down) are more effective if the defender is bigger than you. Turn Blocking (White and Black) works best for offensive linemen when they are trying to create an interior hole for the running back. If you get beat and you must resort to dirty tactics, try Holding (L). Better running When running the ball, the Highlight Stick is the best way to beat a defender in the open field. Press Up on the Highlight Stick to cause the ball carrier to play to their strengths and attempt to either power through or quickly shake past the defender. Press Left, Right, or Down on the Highlight Stick to make the ball carrier do a quick juke move in the specified direction. These moves are great for keeping your opponent guessing. Cut Moves (L and R) are a quick way to change the direction of the ball carrier without having to lose too much speed. If you are running in a certain direction and the defense is closing in, cutting in a different direction can be a good way to get past the defenders. These moves are best done by quicker running backs with high agility ratings. I recommend madden for all ages and style of gamers I wish i could go even more into detail and so on and hopefully this helped you out in soem ways to choose or not choose this game please enjoy thank you .Read full review
People know John Madden in one of three ways. First, there are the die-hard football fans who remember him as "Coach," from his days with the Raiders. Then there are the NFL fans who know John Madden by his commentary for all those years on Monday Night Football, and welcomed "John" into their homes. Then there is the videogame generation, who know him simply as "Madden." John Madden is a veritable institution, quite possibly the most recognized man associated with the greatest of all professional sports. (Please write in to correct me on this.) EA Sports has been churning out their yearly Madden games since 1990, and this latest game, just like all the others, is supposed to be the latest and greatest yet. Shaun Alexander is on the cover of the game this year, following up on a record-breaking season. Last year was without question the year of the running back, and Madden NFL 07 follows suit, focusing the improvements in the game engine this year on enhancing the running game. The first upgrade is the highlight stick, which replaces the truck stick. The highlight stick enables those game-breaking moves that allow the top backs to evade tackles and break those huge runs. There are forty new broken tackle animations, allowing you to lower your shoulder and smash through a defender, spin your way around them, or perform one of a slew of other tricks to avoid being brought down. The top running backs in the game have their own unique ways to avoid defenders, and this is taken into account, as the highlight stick enables context-sensitive moves based on your back's size, ability and tendencies. Bruising running backs like the Chiefs' Larry Johnson can knock aside linebackers like bowling pins, while wilier backs like the Steelers' Willie Parker are better at dancing, darting and slipping tackles before breaking big gains. The downside to using these flashy moves to get past defenders is that you increase your chances of fumbling the ball (which I found out all too often while challenging human opponents on Xbox Live). These new animations are the visual highlight this year, as the character models and fields don't look much better than what we've seen on previous current-generation entries in the Madden series. This is a sharp-looking game, though, and the series has been for years. The grass in the middle of the field will deform and get muddier and worn as play goes on, for instance, and even on the regular old Xbox, it's hard to find fault with such great-looking character models, excellent use of reflective surfaces and some really well-designed stadiums. The new gameplay features steal the show here, though, particularly the aforementioned highlight stick and the new lead blocker control. With lead blocking, you can take control of an offensive lineman, tight end or fullback, and lay down the lead block for your running back, clearing a path towards a big gain. Teams (and their corresponding halfbacks) with excellent fullbacks will probably benefit the most from this, like the Chargers and their stud blocker Lorenzo Neal, who runs point for Ladainian Tomlinson, serving as his eyes and leading the charge through the defensive line (no pun intended). The system works well, for the most part, and there's some strategy to deciding what kind of block to utilize based on your situation. You can cut block to take someone's legs out from under them, and you can even intentionally hold the defender. Overall Rating: A 10 out of 10.Read full review
I have been a big Madden fan since the 90's when it came out. Every year it keept getting better and better..the game trick our getting better and better every year but the other options like Mini Games and the create a player,team and the Salary cap is dissapointing it has stayed the same since 04 or 05. I would really like to see them elaborate on the create a player all around and the team generic logos and Letters
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