Madden NFL 2005 review:4 stars (Okay lay off with the bad reviews) - I believe that we have become a little spoiled with the Madden series coming out with big improvements for the past few years and this one was only a small upgrade from last years version. Listen folks...this is a great game. It's not leaps and bounds better than the previous couple of years but it's better and is still a damn good game. The Franchise mode is great, create a player is still fun, create a franchise is still annoying in that you get made up players instead of the players on the team you replace but you can just start out with the team you want to replace and then relocate them in the first offseason....that solves that problem. The rookie scouting is slightly improved and the draft is fun. I just wish you could trade future draft picks.

Yes the Tony Bruno show and the newspapers leave much to be desired but they are a nice feature and they have to leave some room for improvement. As soon as they make a perfect game...they'll put themselves out of jobs.

I bought this game before last season and am still happy with it. I will skip a year and buy the 2007 version so there are sure to be enough changes that it's worth it for more than just a roster update.

Bottom line...you shouldn't buy Madden every year, the improvements are small but they are improvements and the games are getting better as the years go by and anyone who says that 2004 is better than 2005 is on crack.

Showtime out2 stars (EA should be flagged for intentional laziness) - Madden has two things going for it: It has a more role-playing game feel with its interaction between players and the team owner in franhise mode, and through the weekly sports pages simulated each week. And the second thing? It's gameplay is more "arcade style" making it easier for button-mashers who can't make the cut on ESPN NFL 2K5.

My proof? Simple, I played ESPN 2K5 for a few weeks and then switched back to Madden and beat it like it owed me money. I faked every punt and threw touchdowns with my kicker as QB! After four games of crappy plays that couldn't miss I traded it in. Try it. NFL Street is more real.

Plus, EA Sports is looking more like an evil empire these days, since buying all gaming rights to the NFL for the next 5 years. This means more arcade style goofiness in their sports games for FIVE YEARS. And let's not forget the graphics that make every player, no matter what position, look like the Staypuft Marshmallow man.

Before you get all mad, understand this; I have been a Madden fan since the first game came out on Sega Genesis in 1992. Remember that one? You could run Buffalo Bills' Thurman Thomas on the pitch-out and be unstoppable. But face it, EA has gotten lazy. It recently came out that they treat their employees like "s" so it's no wonder they rammed this through QC and put it out. And I don't see things getting better now that they'll have NO competition for NFL games for the next 5 years. Think about that.

If you want a cool football sim, I strongly recommend ESPN NFL 2K5. It outdoes Madden in realism, graphics, franchise mode, music, play calling, voice acting and customization. Unless EA corrects it's mistakes, I'm going to wait until ESPN's Football Legends.

4 stars (Gameplay Rocks) - Gameplay 93% A-
Franchise 79% c+
create a fan 59% F
Stadium Upgrades 71% C-
Commentary 82% B-
Talk Show 89% B+
Madden NFL 2005 Features:
Video Games
Xbox (x box)
Microsoft
Sports
Outdoors
Create-a-fan feature lets you put your likeness into the stadium crowd
New Defensive Playmaker Control lets you modify pre-snap assignments for any defensive player on the field
Single player and multiplayer online modes
Football simulation/action sports game
New storyline central in franchise mode gathers game events into news-story presentations

Madden NFL 2005 is the Video Game version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 20.95USD.