Madden NFL 06 (xbx: 2005): Reviews

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Madden NFL 06


5.9

based on 39 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 46 votes
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GAMES:

With enhancements to the passing game, defensive improvements, and expanded online options, Madden NFL 06 takes you onto the field and into the locker room like never before. The new "QB Vision Control" lets you scan the field, look off defenders, and make perfect throws withing your quarterbacks unique field of vision. "QB Precision Placement" allows you to put the ball exactly where you want it. Lead the receiver to an open area, throw it behind him so he can come back to it or throw a jump ball and let him go get it. [Electronic Arts]

PUBLISHER:	EA Sports
DEVELOPER:	Electronic Arts - Tiburon
GENRE(S):	Sports, Football
PLAYERS:	8
ESRB RATING:	E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE:	August 8, 2005

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

GamePro

Kudos to EA Sports for not being afraid to juice the complexity factor of an already complex game. Rookies will have to pay their dues, but veterans get treated to a brand-new challenge. [Sept 2005, p.82]

100

Maxim Online

Kiss the rest of your summer (and your loved ones) goodbye and get ready to spend all your waking hours indoors, sitting next to a giant bag of Fritos, agonizing over 4–3 blitz packages.

Stuff

Once again, EA and Madden manage to do the impossible: They made us fall head-over-cleats in love with this frigging game all over again.

Next Level Gaming

Instead of resting on its laurels, the Madden franchise takes a big step forward with Madden 06.

Talk Xbox

It delivers with an innovative new mode of play and superb in-game additions. The overall presentation is drastically improved as well, and Madden 06 has the best soundtrack of any EA Sports game to date.

DailyGame

Madden NFL 06 is still an outstanding game, but EA needs to re-think the reality and practicality of its Superstar mode, and it has plenty of work to do to make QB Vision both effective and enjoyable.

Armchair Empire

Superior controls and artificial intellect go a long way to making this a quality simulation of NFL football on the field.

Gaming Target

Electronic Arts took an amazing product, and instead of slacking off, they added a bunch of things to make this the most addictive Madden yet.

Team Xbox

Overall, it’s the best football game they have made to date, but it’s hard to gauge how it has advanced compared to the competition, for as previously mentioned, there is no competition.

GameSpy

Although it's true that the QB Vision system changes the game dramatically, it's not always for the better, especially when you're still trying to learn how to use it properly. If you can get over the steep learning curve (and trust me, it's a doozy), you'll probably learn to love it, as it makes the game feel much more realistic.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Still excellent despite the fact that its biggest innovation really amounts to an unnecessary step in the passing game. I'm more impressed by the little tweaks--precision passing, smart routes, the "truck stick" for those Jerome Bettis moments--that improve the overall experience.

Yahoo! Games

Recent releases have seen plenty of tweaks, but they merely nudged the gameplay. This year's implementation of a quarterback's cone of vision really changes things by rethinking the foundations of passing the ball.

1UP

It is far and away the most cerebral sports title ever released, forcing both the offensive and defensive coordination to methodically attack each other in order to achieve their respective goals. Careful and well thought out strategy is the name of the game, much more so than relying on frantic, on the field playmaking.

Cheat Code Central

For the first time in years, the game has been redesigned which completely alters the gameplay at its core. Tiburon appears not to be satisfied with just creating an entertaining representation of video football but to advance the realism so that the experience brings players that much closer to what it feels like being on the gridiron. They've succeeded.

Game Informer

Whether it's the first steps of an online franchse via your EA Locker or your life as the equivalent to Budweiser's Leon in NFL Superstar, Madden's exploration of new areas is not to be missed. [Sept 2005, p.92]

GameZone

The only thing is that it will take a lot of time to get used to the QB vision and precision passing, and you might fumble with the controls more than you are used to. While it is nice that this game is now more realistic, this sort of brings down the gameplay slightly making it not as fun, or just a lot harder than in the past.

Xbox World Australia

If you like your NFL Madden 2006 is an absolute must have.

GameBiz

If you love NFL football, then you HAVE to check out this game.

IGN

For those gamers who only buy Madden as their one game a year, maybe this could be your favorite installment yet, but for everyone else, 2006 feels like a stutter step or experimental addition to the franchise that has failed to outdo itself for the first time in recent memory.

XGP Gaming

Madden NFL 06 ultimately turns out to be a mixed bag of tricks, and your impression of it will likely depend on a few different things - not the least of which will be your previous experience with the series.

GamingTrend

This is still a great game and it is the only licensed NFL game out there whether you like it or not.

Game Over Online

While the inclusion of the vision cones and the concept of the Superstar mode were creative ideas, the actual implementation of the features ranged from inconvenient to improperly constructed.

Xbox Evolved

The best addition, the QB Vision cones will is also a definite change that will at least warrant NFL fans this game a rent.

Xbox Solution

The new options certainly were needed but some may need to be tweaked a bit in future version to retain the true football gamers.

My Gamer

No different from previous versions in terms of having much more pre-existing content than new, but the features introduced in this version make it worth a serious consideration from football game fans.

Game Revolution

At least the game makes you feel more like a quarterback than ever before, and that's reason enough for one hell of an end-zone celebration.

GameSpot

Ultimately, Madden NFL 06 is a highly playable game of football, but in comparison with the leaps forward the franchise has made in previous years, 06 feels like a false start.

GamerFeed

It doesn't all quite come up roses (QB Vision isn't all it's cracked up to be), but Madden, EA, and Tiburon still know how to produce a marvelous game of football.

Official Xbox Magazine

The problem - Madden is merely good. If you're the only NFL game in town, Mr. EA, you better bring it in spades, not in drips. [Sept 2005, p.78]

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

A superb game that'll only alienate those who don't really get American football. As that's loads of people, we're unfairly knocking off a point. [Xbox World]

Computer and Video Games

But, and this is the worst of it, EA has once again cut the Live element from the European release, leaving Madden fans in the UK without the opportunity to play online. Why? As the best and only official NFL game for 2006, why drop such a huge element for European Live subscribers? [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Operation Sports

No matter what you think about the other players in this game, tip your helmet to the folks at Tiburon. They did their job and they did it well.

G4 TV

The big addition to the series, QB vision, is a love it or hate it proposition, and we're not convinced it even adds to the realism. Most of the other additions are the result of EA playing catch-up with the "NFL 2K" series.

Inside Gamer Online

Unfortunately, the game’s visuals don’t have any noticeable improvements from the last game; it looks like Madden 06 uses the same graphics system from last season.

Play Magazine

Why risk changing an already perfect passing sytem? I guess when you're the only game in town, you can do what you want. [Oct 2005]

Kombo

While Madden NFL 06 has a few nice extras, for the most part, it feels like Madden 2005 Version 2.1. Sometimes being uncontested isn't such a good thing.

Gaming Age

Not the huge advancement many might expect from a new year and especially a year when they are the only game in town, but the game still plays solid, the rosters are updated, and the new modes may appeal to those coming over from the competition.

GameShark

With the Madden 360 version looming on the horizon, the swan song on the current Xbox is a solid game with some of the same old frustrations combined with some sharp new features.

PALGN

Tiburon have added a reasonable amount of new material for the 2006 edition of Madden, but we really feel as though they could have done more.

The average user rating for this game is 5.9 (out of 10) based on 46 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bryan M. gave it a1:
Not a big fan of this game. I rather play it on the 360 even though the 360 version seems sucky it is a lot better then this version and I must admite I was surprized when they relized 07 for this system too. but that is only because 06 on the 360 stunk and they wanted money from people. just get 07 madden if you must have a xbox football madden.

Will gave it an8:
Once i got used to the new passing feature i cant go back to the old one. The only problem i have with it is when friends come over, they dont have the time to get used to the new feature so they have to use the old one which gives them an advantage of seeing where my qb's eyes are. It makes quick games wiht friends hard to play bc i am too used to the new way but it is too complex for my friends to learn in a few minutes. Anyway i still love this game and have probably logged over 100 hours into it. I will definately get the 07 when it comes out.

D Parrott gave it a5:
Some amusing comments indeed. I was a dedicated Madden player for many years. But once EA decided to keep enabling online for PS and not the xbox despite the far superior XBL network I quit buying. Then I finally begrudgingly bought 2K5. What an eyeopener. There was not one thing that wasn't better than anything Madden ever had. I am certain that EA made all these exclusive rights deals so they can continue with mediocrity with no competition. There model has been for many years now make a pretty good game that catches the eye and plays nicely. Then EVERY year update a couple things add some fluff and resell it as the next years version. Even when I did play Madden I would only buy when there was actually innovation or something added that would actually justify buying the same game. EA made there name with Madden and has done nothing but crap on all its loyal fans since. EA in there present form and business practice are bad for gaming period. There is a reason why monopolies are often illegal. EA at the present time has monopolized the NFL with the exclusive rights deals so avid NFL fans/gamers will buy there product as there is no option. If they had competition EA would obviously have to try harder something there work ethic seems not to allow.

Matt W. gave it a10:
This game is absolutely amazing and the graphics are sweet it blows any other football game out of the water.

The Spoiler gave it a2:
Madden is bad because of these simple reasons... 1. Strafe catching still money in the game... all you have to do is send your guy on a comeback route.. gun the ball high and guess what.. he'll catch it about 90% of the time. 2. EA was stupid and didn't figure that when a team is in a 2RB formation (besides weak I and near) that the RB will have the R1 over his head on all running plays.. and the L1 over his head on all passing plays! Obviously people online have found this very helpful as all you see now is people audible-ing the second a team goes to line up. 3. Post corner routes are too money.. even if you have coverage designated strictly for the spot you know where the ball is going... they still catch it! 4. Outside counters seem to work a little too well. 5. QB causes nothing but inadvertant pump fakes and sacks... its no good.. I honestly dont think Peyton Manning's eyes see 270 degrees and his little brothers eyes only see a 15 degree window.. what was Eli puff puff passin' before the game or something? There about 10 more things I could list here but its not worth the effort... if you have bought this game.. SELL IT for whatever amount of money you can get... if you havent purchased it.. pat yourself on the back... and go spend your 50 dollars on something else.

Chris gave it a9:
BLAH BLAH BLAH you have to give the passing some time once u can get it down u will like it ten times more then 05 i can finally pass the ball over or under thrown depending on the safeties and backs or Lb's its great... do you all remember 2005 every play was 50 yd gain thats not football.... scoring 4 td's a game and 400 yds is not football... this game depicts the qb's awareness makes you appreciate usuing a better qb... and forthe rookies that you are all arguing that are not in the game ... well the game was released before they even made the final roster hello wake up... every1 hqas something to argue about why not clap for the makers for once this game is the best yet out of the madden series hats off to you guys....

David gave it an8:
Some of you people need to accept reality. EA didn't bully anyone. EA didn't buy anything out. The NFL decided to sell an exlcusive right this year. It went to the highest bidder. EA was the highest bidder. And think about this, EA is a pretty wealthy company right? What's ESPN, bankrupt? You telling me than a major network with how many freakin channels, broadcasting rights, their own exclusive rights, and College Gameday couldn't compete cash-wise and with EA? Please. If ESPN had wanted it that badly, ESPN could have had it. As for the game. Pretty good overall, not perfect. Biggest complaint, lack of quality rosters and/or updates. You can go through and find 3rd and 4th round picks that aren't even on the roster. Its now Sept. 13th and there still isn't even an official update. Still stuck with the 8/8/05 roster. EA needs to get with it.