Sega Saturn
Released in 1997 by EA Sports
Grade: C+
This is, along with the PS1 version, the last Madden that uses 2D sprites before the shift to 3D polygons, and it does a decent job with smooth-moving animations. It’s got simple controls and simple logic similar to the 16-bit Maddens, but plays looser and more difficult on offense.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the second of just two Maddens on Saturn, but the series hung around on PS1 through the 2005 edition. Madden 97 started off on the wrong foot with out-of-control action and lots of bad quirks, and those issues are massively improved upon here.
Praises and gripes
I wanted to review Madden 98 on PS1, but I bought TWO copies and neither one worked! So, I had to bring Saturn off the bench for this. Luckily, Saturn’s second-tier technology doesn’t take a toll on this game, which looks pretty good.
It’s easy to hop in and get started with familiar AI, responsive controls, a quick pace, and straightforward playcalling. There’s a healthy level of football-like chaos as the play unfolds, an EA football staple.
The big fun-sucking issue is that offense can be tough on the higher difficulty settings. Passes often miss their mark, especially with the mid-to-low-tier QBs. Defensive linemen close in fast, wrecking both pass and run plays routinely. You don’t see defenders making too many mistakes out there. You have no tactical adjustments at your disposal, except for sending a man in motion.
You have a quick moment to scan the field for the open man, move to avoid a sack, and make the right pass. You may as well forget about run plays, which usually lose a couple yards.
There are other little issues like questionable collision detection and pileups of indistinguishable nonsense, the type of stuff you should expect from 32-bit football.
For some reason, the constant sound of players clashing sounds more like a crackling campfire. Pat Summerall is surprisingly on-point with his bland, classy play-by-play, and John Madden is curiously shy, hardly saying anything.
Overall, I liked it enough, and I could see it being a sentimental retro favorite for some people.