By Alexandru Stanescu, Editor, Gaming Reviews (Consoles)
21st of May 2007, 09:27 GMT
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Madden NFL is an American football video game series developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon for EA Sports. The game is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, a well-known color commentator for NBC Sports and formerly a successful Super Bowl-winning coach during the 1970s with the Oakland Raiders. The game has greatly grown over the years, adding many new features. Among these is voice commentary, allowing players or watchers to hear the game being called as if it were a real game on TV. The commentary is by John Madden teamed with his regular broadcast partner, which meant Pat Summerall (Madden's partner during his days at CBS and Fox during the early 1990s on through the early 2000s) until he retired.
The role is now filled by Al Michaels, John's current broadcast partner on NBC Sunday Night Football (and former partner from 2002 through 2005 on ABC Monday Night Football).In Madden NFL 2005, EA Sports further utilized the right analog joystick on defense by creating the "Hit Stick," an option on defense that allows the controlled player to make big hits that can cause fumbles. When running the ball on offense, the runner can control the direction in which the blocker is going.
Tips and Tricks
Recommended players: To get a good team in the future you must get good rookies. Note: If you start them, they will get great very quickly. Some such players are as follows:
- Larry Fitzgerald - WR
- Eli Manning - QB
- Sean Taylor - FS
- Roy Williams - WR
- Keniche Udeze - DE
- Robert Gallery - LT
- DeAngelo Hall - CB
- Steven Jackson - RB
- Bob Sanders - FS
- Ben Roethlisbergr - QB
Faster player improvement: Before playing under the All-Pro or All-Madden difficulty settings, play your franchise under the Rookie or Pro levels so you can increase stats for your players easily. This will give them more attribute upgrades throughout the season. The more yards your receivers or running backs get, the more points their ratings will increase.
More effective running game: First, make a tight end. His name, college, etc. is your choice. When you edit his appearance, make him 6'8" and 275 to 300 lbs. Then, make him have a muscular build in his body and arms. If you set his attributes above average or better (overall between 84 to 99), when you run a play that involves running towards the side the tight end is set, he will open holes and lanes that will enable you to gain
6 to 7 yards a carry.
Tear up defenses: On the All-Madden difficulty setting, use the Redskins playbook. Select the Was - J.Gibbs playbook. In the game, run on first down then select the Shotgun Trips formation on second down. If the Nickelback is not lined up with the second receiver, he is coming to get you or he is playing flat zone. If so, put the first receiver on a fly/streak route and make the third receiver post to the sideline. This will work all the time if you have an accurate passer. Information in this section was contributed by Brandon Leach.
Easy deep routes: You can make an adjustment to your route in create-a-playbook that can make throwing the deep route much easier and the game more fun. In create-a-playbook, if you have a normal streak, adjust the route so that it is going to the side of the receiver (if on the right side, adjust the route to the right; if on left, adjust the route to the left). It is like a fade, and make sure it is at the maximum vertical yardyage. In a game, it usually works best with a play action, but it is also effective in shotgun against a normal man on man with a safety over the top situation. You should wait about two to three seconds, then lob it. It works well when you have a top speed receiver such as Bethel Johnson or Dante Hall, or against a cornerback about 93-94 speed.
Easy yards: Select a team, then go to the options and choose NYG-Tom Coughlin's playbook. Make sure your running back has at least 92 speed. Go the "I twins" and choose the "Off Tackle" play. It works all the time. Make sure there is no CB on the empty side and do not run it on third and long. If the hole is stuffed, always run directly at the tightened then spin and run toward and up the sideline. If done correctly, the only person that can get you is the safety. Also you should at least get a first down (depending on the level of the play), if not a 20 or more yard gain. You can also run it to the side of twins; just make sure that the LBs and the line are shifted all the way to the right. If not, keep audibling the original play. It does not do anything for you, but gets the defense to start shifting around. Keep doing it until all of the LBs and the line shift all the way to the right.
For easy completions almost every time, use Lovie Smith's playbook. In that playbook, go to "Shotgun" then the "Trips" formation. In the formation, use almost any play in it. You will get a 2 on 3 wide receiver mismatch. Be careful, as the CPU will learn how to move their players over there and will eventually know your play if you run it too often.
Use the following trick to get easy yards on the passing game. Make sure you pick a team with a good receiving tight end and at least one fast receiver. Also, make sure you have the play "Posts" on the Singleback formation. This play is very effective against any defense and especially on a third and long play. Once you snap the ball, wait until the tight end slants on the post route then throw him a bullet pass. Almost every time he will complete the pass and get enough yards for the first down. Also, if you see that the receiver on the right has a lot of separation from the coverage, you can tap the button he is assigned to give him a long lob pass, that if completed could be good for about a forty-fifty yard completion, and he may also have enough separation to go for a touchdown. Most of the time, just throw it to the tight end. It takes a very long time for the defenses to adjust and you will be racking up points easily.
Easy onside kick recovery: Get the power rating between 65 and 80; and the accuracy between 40 and 80. You should recover the kick about 90% of the time. For an even greater chance, try to get the power between 70 and 75 and the accuracy between 70 and 75.
Easy blocked punts: It is possible to block a punt as long as it is against an opponent. Select "Punt Block" if you are sure your opponent is going to punt the ball. Then, take the cornerback on the weak side and get as close to the line of scrimmage as you can without going over. Watch your opponent's meter and as soon as you think he will stop it, sprint across the line and just run directly into the punter. Do not try a big hit unless you want a fumble because you might miss him.
Select "Punt Block". The CPU will show audibles to bring in blockers. Take the fastest man from the left side and bring him to the right so that he is the last man on the line of scrimmage. Just as the last man is about to be set on the CPU's team, come from right off the line of scrimmage and avoid blockers by running straight down then hit the punter. Note: You may want to try this at 4th and 6 or longer so a 5 yard flag will not give them a first down.
Shifty jukes when running the ball: To have a higher chance of breaking tackles when running, press the Juke buttons according to which side you want to run to.
Avoid being sacked: When a defender is going to tackle you, go left and right as fast as possible. He will duck or break it.
Money play: The hook routes are the most successful plays to complete in the game.
Ground Attack mini-camp: An easy way to get gold on each level is to stand behind two pillars (linemen) that are bunched together and use playmaker to make your Full Back knock one of the other team's players down. After you have blocked them, it will be easier to score touchdowns or get long runs. This works most of the time.
Increased attendance in franchise mode: Before playing a home game, enter the "Owner's" menu and set your "Advertising" as high as possible. After you play your game, return to the "Owner's" menu and set "Advertising" to zero, then simulate the rest of the games for that week. You will not be charged for the advertising, but your attendance will be higher. Do this before every home game to keep your attendance high without paying extra.
Selecting a team in franchise mode: Always choose a team that has between three and five good players on both sides of the ball (for example, the Philadelphia Eagles). That team has a very good passing game with T.O. and you can usually score on the first play of every drive you have. The Eagles also have a powerhouse defense with Kearse, Dawkins and Simon. Another good team to use, especially if you like to pass is the Indianapolis Colts, with Peyton Manning. The Colts have the weapons on offense to be a great team, but their defense has held them back from making the Superbowl. Also, if there is certain player that is not on the team you selected, use the following tricks. Do a fantasy draft and draft the desired player (for example, Ray Lewis). Another way that is not as time-consuming is to create a superstar rookie with all stats maxed at 99, with your choice for the name, appearance and position. Sign your superstar rookie to your team for seven years and whatever amount of money you choose to give him. Note: you may take a hit in the salary cap if you use this method.
Glitch
Announcement misspelling: To have Al Michaels say Vinny Testeverde's name (Dallas Cowboys), you must change Vinny's last name "Testaverde" (default) to "Testeverde".
Check out the video below as it shows some great highlights from the Parkersburg Miners/USC Trojans game:
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