Super Nintendo
Released in 1994 by EA Sports
Grade: C-
I don’t technically know what “processing power” is, but apparently Sega Genesis has more of it than Super Nintendo. And boy, does it show. The Genesis edition of this game is a favorite of mine, but on SNES it’s ugly.
Where it falls in the series
This is the fifth of eight Maddens on SNES, and it’s the first without the idiotic passing windows.
Praises and gripes
Madden from this era is known for simple controls, a logical playcall system, and a general football-like feel to the action. It’s also got some issues, such as passes floating way behind their targets and offensive linemen forming a pixelated mosh pit instead of protecting the quarterback. On Genesis, the game is very playable and (to some) charming, so we take the bad with the good.
Unfortunately, that delicious fluidity is gone from this version. The control is clunky and slow to respond. Players seem unguided by the laws of physics. Sometimes it feels like the game is playing you.
I knew that the EA hockey games on SNES don’t measure up to the Genesis counterparts, but I figured that football action would translate better (plus I had a friend who spent whole evenings playing SNES Madden, so I figured he must have been enjoying himself). But nope, it’s a disappointing mess.
Check out Madden NFL 95 on Genesis for the optimal experience.