PlayStation 1
Released in 1996 by EA Sports
Grade: D+
This game is frustrating for all the wrong reasons, with gameplay elements that are completely broken.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the first of nine Maddens on PS1. EA planned on a 96 version but couldn’t get it together in time. It’s pretty amazing how much the series improved in the 32-bit generation. Read my review of Madden 2001 on PS1 to see how EA turned things around.
Praises and gripes
The graphics are grainy as hell, but they look decent in motion. The control is quick and has a nice fluidity to it. I want to like this game, but everything else about it is broken.
D-linemen consistently break through to the backfield. Most run plays lose yards. Quarterbacks run for their lives, and their passes NEVER go where they should. Receivers need to double back to get the ball. If they beat the defense deep, the pass never finds them, always a few yards short. In fact, I honestly think you have better luck throwing to the most crowded areas of the field. The more open your receiver, the less likely you’ll complete the pass.
If you decide to stick with this game anyway, you’ll be annoyed by finer flaws, like punt plays that result in something funky happening, penalties that are called constantly, and a dumb-as-rocks CPU opponent. If you’re looking for an old-school hidden gem, look elsewhere.
Published November 22, 2018
Updated March 13, 2023