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Madden NFL 06

EMAIL PRINTxbox360

5.4 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 48 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 32 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Tiburon

Genre(s): Football, Sports

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 15, 2005

Summary

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]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Guide GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

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...

DailyGame

The graphics are great, the new gameplay mechanics are nice, and the playcalling interface is a fantastic change.

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PGNx Media

The game does lack a number of modes and gameplay tweaks that were incorporated over the years. If you can live without these modes, you’ll have a good game to showoff your new hardware with.

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Loaded Inc

A lot of fun to play. It did not blow me away because I was really disappointed with the lack of extras that I have come to expect from the series.

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Kombo

While the gameplay is out-of-this-world outstanding, there isn’t too much else to the game other than the basic exhibition and franchise modes.

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Gaming Target

HDTV owners will be blown away with every body blow delivered. Everyone that doesn’t expect a handful of new features over previous football seasons should be more than satisfied with the game’s unparalleled presentation.

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XGP Gaming

If Madden NFL 06 is the blueprint of what’s to come from this series, then we as gamers are definitely in for a treat next year and even further down the line.

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Next Level Gaming

There are some things missing from the game. No pre-season camps, a very basic Franchise mode, and the fact that you can't do small and meaningful things like challenge a play on the field! That I still don't get.

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GamingTrend

If you already have Madden NFL 06 for the Xbox, PS2, or Gamecube, you are best off waiting for next year's version of Madden for the Xbox 360. If you have the Xbox 360 and want to show off the graphics capabilities of the Xbox 360, then Madden is a fine choice to use.

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Game Chronicles

I'm glad to see that EA isn't taking their NFL exclusivity as a free ride to crank out mediocre sequels without fear of competition, and I really can't wait to see what they can do with the Madden franchise in 2007.

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Yahoo! Games

Madden is fun, no question. It looks wonderful, and the visual improvements make it a more entertaining game both for players and spectators.

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GamePro

Part of the fun in playing Madden NFL 06 on Xbox 360 is trying to figure out where it fits in the lineage of Madden NFL football games. What's clear is that for all its glitz and glamour it doesn't earn a spot at the front of the line.

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Gamers' Temple

Next-gen football with great graphics that seem to have come at the expense of gameplay options found in current-gen versions of the game.

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Boomtown

All in all I'd say that EA can do better.

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Games Radar (in-house)

The gameplay, as ever, is absolutely bang on and they've gone the extra mile in making this far more approachable for American Football rookies. You can select Madden's plays, which are demystified by the legend himself.

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MS Xbox World

I say this time and time again, if you don’t own a previous version of Madden than this game will have everything you want to play football.

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1UP

There are tweaks and features to look forward to in future versions, but one simple fact tells you all you need to know about this one: once you play Madden on 360, you won't be interested in playing it on anything else.

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IGN

For the casual Madden players, the football fans playing Madden in barbershops across the country, the guys that just want to play the game and talk trash to one another, Madden NFL 06 for the Xbox 360 is a must-have game.

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Team Xbox

The foundation for what will someday be unbelievable character models and environments, and the building blocks of spot-on football gameplay. If you are expecting more than that then you may want to hold onto that paper until "07."

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GameSpy

If you're the type of player who just wants to play the nicest looking football game in history, buying Madden NFL 06 is a no-brainer.

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GameZone

A real blast to play and some of the most fun I have had playing a Madden game in a while. The bad thing is that in order to ship this game out on time a lot of features that are normally in this game, and in other versions, have been cut.

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Gaming Horizon

If you can only pick up one or two of the 360’s launch games, you might want to hold off on dropping $60 on a bare-bones edition of a game you already played.

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Play.tm

Remapping of the control system has improved the flow of the game.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

The mesmerizing visual details--grass stains on uniforms, a mega variety of tackle animations, awesome stadium re-creations--more than live up to the hype, but the actual gameplay is why I'm planning to upgrade my hardware.

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Xbox Solution

It looks amazing and shows promise. It can only get better and if they add a few things.

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Game Informer

I wanted this game to give me a reason to stop playing the current-gen version of Madden - but it hasn't. [Jan 2006, p.142]

Planet Xbox 360

It definitely quenches any football thirst you might have, however it might fall short if you really want a good next-gen football game.

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Worth Playing

Those of you who have grown accustomed to the bonus features and covet the additional accoutrements that EA has been delivering for years will be sorely discouraged by the stripped-down feeling you will get from playing through this title's limited modes.

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Talk Xbox

The basic summary of the Xbox 360’s Madden 06 is the Xbox version with amazing graphics and a ton of cut out features.

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Gamezilla!

IF you are not concerned with these other options and are looking for a game to play against you buddies on or off-line, you should be pretty satisfied.

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GameSpot

Pretty graphics are great to have and all, but everything else about Madden on the 360 feels like a step backward--and one that makes its higher price tag very difficult to justify.

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Xbox Evolved

If anything, you should at least rent to see what you are willing to let go just so you have the visually superior version of the game.

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GamerFeed

It's easily the best looking football game to date and it plays good enough to warrant a purchase, but EA nixed the ability to challenge plays, so each time there's a bad call the ruling on the field stands. That definitely sucks.

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Gamenikki

This is an enjoyable game of football that’s great to watch and play. On the other hand the countless omissions EA left out of this game are maddening.

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eToychest

The graphics are fantastic, and the presentation is more realistic and immersive than ever before. However, there's no excuse for the gutting of the very features that made the Madden series great.

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ZTGameDomain

I would throw a red flag but unfortunately I do not have that option, in reality or in the game.

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Official Xbox Magazine

A marginally brushed-up verison of Madden visually, but stripped of everything they've worked for over the years to advance the game's sense of realism and fun. [Jan 2006, p.60]

360 Gamer Magazine UK

Occasionally shallow, its presentation is nonetheless faultless. [Issue #2]

My Gamer

A mediocre football game. Madden NFL 06 is the Xbox 360's first budget title, it’s just too bad the game isn’t priced that way.

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Armchair Empire

The best looking football game on the market. It's definitely not the most full-featured football game available.

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Computer and Video Games

It's a shame then, that the Franchise mode omits goals, mini-camps, morale, and spring training. Want even less? You can't challenge calls after a play, and the promised 'hard-hitting' animations during a tackle turn into a weird and glitchy dance. And tragically, there's no Superstars mode. Once you've done feasting on the visuals, you've got a bargain-basement Madden at a real-world price. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

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AceGamez

Whilst it is fun to play, you can't help feeling that they could have done so much more.

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G4 TV

It sure does look done, but once you slice it open you realize it's only half-baked.

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Game Revolution

As much as we love those menus, though, it bothers us that Madden 06 for the PSP, I mean Xbox 360, is missing so much content.

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Gaming Age

Very entertaining, very playable, and very pretty...it just does not feel very next gen when the meat of the game is concerned.

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Gaming Illustrated

The gameplay is pretty bad, the features of the game have inexplicably vanished, and the only good new thing about the title is the improved graphics - which really aren't all that groundbreaking when compared to other 360 titles.

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Operation Sports

Madden NFL 06 is not an awful game, but it's a jarringly incomplete and unforgivably buggy one. Obviously designed to look good first, foremost and last, Electronic Arts has sold out the game's soul - along with it's loyal customer base.

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GameShark

The onfield action is enjoyable but it’s tough to recommend when the game is not realistic in the least and so many options are removed from other console versions of the game.

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3DAvenue

At the casual level you're more likely to be wowed by the visuals and less likely to notice the omissions and gaffes; still, it's hard to overlook the fact that the older Madden games for the Xbox/PS2 actually offer more than this supposedly "next generation" title.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 5.4 (out of 10) based on 32 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bryan M. gave it a6:
It is not as bad as everyone says. shure it don't have the stuff the ps2s verson has but it is just like madden 07 without the $20 dollors more for it. if you where like me and where waiting for Madden 08 to come out. and you wanted a 360 football game. you picked Madden 06 becuase it was only $10 and still was like 07.

Nina M. gave it a0:
Absolute garbage. Eye candy YES! Gameplay NO! I hope they don't give a half of a game effort on Madden 07!

Kenny gave it a2:
I wish i had read these user reviews before i bought this game. This is a disgrace to the Madden franchise. instead of selling my copy on eBay, i should have paid someone to take it from me. The only thing this game focuses on is the visuals, other than that...its crap.

Rocky L. gave it a0:
This game has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. It pains me to give a 0 to a Madden game when the past dozen or so have all been solid 10's but somehow, EA managed to turn out possibly the worst sports game I've ever played. All the features from the XBox version are gone, the camera angles make the game useless, and the gameplay is so unrealistic and buggy that I can't play it for more than 5 minutes without turning it off, usually out of depression from thinking what a great game it could have been. If '07 is anything like this, then I may never buy another Madden game again.

Darren M. gave it an8:
So what if some of the bells & whistles are not there, after all it is a NFL FOOTBALL GAME.For us who only care about THE FOOTBALL, the graphics are amazing especially in HD. The game play to me, seems to be up to the madden standard. All the moves are there, dont see any major glitches.If you just want to play FOOTBALL,this is a good first up effort.

Mark R. gave it a1:
Worst...Madden...Ever. It's a joke how bad the gameplay is. The audible modes and shifts at the line of scrimmage that made Madden so cool and realistic in recent years are gone. The practice modes are gone. The camera angles are nearly unusable. I launch Madden on the original Xbox was more realistic than this one and the 4 play playbook 7 on 7 Madden on NES was more enjoyable.

Jesse M. gave it a0:
this game was horrendous. Camera angles were just awful. Graphics were superb though. Gameplay was brutal. This game was just horrible. Much better for the original Xbox.

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Madden NFL 06

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

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