“The first score is always the hardest to get.” -John Madden
Playstation 2
Released in 2000 by EA Sports
Grade: B+
With intuitive controls and deep gameplay, this is a solid football simulation that laid the foundation for the superb PS2/Xbox Maddens to come.
Where it falls in the series
The Madden games on PS1 were highly regarded in their time, but they seem almost unplayable today. They’re definitely ugly. This game is the first on PS2 and Xbox, and it’s a night-and-day difference in every way. Each subsequent PS2/Xbox Madden built on the one before it, with Madden 2005 standing out as one of the best sports games ever on either console. PS2 versions lasted through 2011, but the series moved up to Xbox 360 for 2006 and PS3 for 2007.
Praises and gripes
The best way I can describe the gameplay — to help explain why this generation of Madden games were so good — is to say that it’s clear. It’s clear to you what is happening on the field and why it’s happening.
What’s happening? A defensive end is getting to your quarterback. Why’s it happening? Because he’s faster than your lineman.
What’s happening? You’re completing a 10-yard pass. Why’s it happening? Because the receiver found a gap in the zone.
This game gives you the ability to see what’s going on. That’s kind of an important piece of the puzzle, and I’m not sure any games before it achieved that.
The control is excellent, drastically different from earlier Madden. It’s extra responsive, and yet feels smooth. Perhaps, as tight as the control is, you may find the running control to be a bit stiff.
Throwing, running, tackling, coverage defense, kick returns, they’re all fun. And the football logic built into the game is really good. The plays play out kinda like real plays. It’s a good mix. The process of getting better at this game is a pleasure.
In comparison to later football games, there are some limitations in changing things at the line of scrimmage, and Monday morning defensive coordinators will think the defensive playbook is lacking.
Some of the little sleeknesses in later versions aren’t there yet. For example, you can view your player’s routes before the snap on offense, but it doesn’t zoom out enough, so you’re manually titling the camera back and forth before every snap. On defense, you can’t view your player’s assignments at all.
You see one-handed catches often, even when a normal catch animation will do just fine. That doesn’t sound like a thing to note in a review like this, but damn, it happens a lot!
The bells and whistles are a plenty. The game keeps track of records, like longest TD run or most passing yards, which you can choose to save after every game.
The sound is nice. The collision sounds are plentiful without being annoying, the crowd sounds good, and the Pat Summerall + John Madden commentary is comfortably simple and sparse. People used to complain that, “These announcers repeat themselves all the time!” and I used to respond by saying, “Stop complaining about the sound, you unaware hipster! This game is super fun! You can turn the commentary off and it’s just fine!”
Top teams
This followed the Rams’ championship win over the Titans in 2000. So, they’re on the top tier here, along with the Jaguars, Buccaneers, Vikings, Redskins, Colts, and Broncos. In the 2001 Super Bowl, the Ravens demolished the Giants.