PlayStation 2
Released in 2003 by EA Sports
Grade: A
Madden 2004 refines the tight gameplay and deep strategy of previous Maddens, and also throws a coat of polish on the presentation.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the fourth Madden on PS2/Xbox. The previous three are all good games, but they have their flaws. Its successor, Madden 2005, is the strongest of the generation, notable for adding more defensive tactics and controls.
Praises
The football engine was already really solid for three versions, and this version smooths out the kinks and throws a coat of polish on top. The controls are intuitive, there are a ton of plays, a ton of strategic options, a wide variance in player skills, the AI is strong, the physics seem realistic, and games are simply fun to play.
For the first time, the receiver vs. cornerback relationship seems natural. Receivers get about as open as it seems like they should, and cornerbacks react appropriately. Passes don’t artificially bounce off receivers like they did in Madden 2003.
The QB control is nice and tight, fixing the over-looseness from 2003. You can move in the pocket while ready to throw, but also get out and scramble intuitively.
Before the snap, you’ve got more ways to adjust your playcall, including new “playmaker” controls, allowing you to change the direction of a run play with a flick of the stick.
The crafty “accelerated clock” feature also makes its debut, which bleeds the play clock down to 20 seconds after a huddle.
The graphics are nicely upgraded, with new animations, natural-looking fields, and slightly smoother player models. The sound is solid as usual, but the Al Michaels/John Madden commentary shows its age with bits of awkwardness.
Franchise mode is nicely detailed and deep. Training camp is helpful in learning the game, whether you play it within franchise mode or just for practice.
Gripes
AI defenders don’t go after scrambling QBs enough, giving an unfair advantage to fast QBs. The cover athlete Michael Vick is especially overpowered for this reason.
I’m only picking on a detail like this because this game is so good otherwise, but the football logic is almost too spot on, lacking unpredictability. For example, a certain run play against a certain defensive formation will almost always pick up at least three yards. Savvy players will find certain plays to be so reliable that it takes away from football’s usual chaotic nature.
The football logic also favors the offense a bit, at least compared to how NFL football was played in the early 2000s. This is fine, just not fully simulation. (In fact, it sort of makes Madden 2004 a slightly more accessible version of Madden 2005). If you play a game with roughly the same number of plays as a real pro game, you’ll end up with scores like 37-34 more often than 20-17.