Madden 2004
 

I just got Madden 2004 today and all I gotta say is, this is an awesome game! This game is so much better than the clusterfuck of a game they released last year. Being the owner of a team is extremely fun and engaging.

Anybody else got this game and if so what do you think?

P.S. Anybody think the Madden cover box curse is gonna effect Vick at all this season?

yup...vick will suck this year. at least hes not doing a chunky soup commerical ;)

Maybe it's just me, but I really liked last year's version and this year's game is really...annoying. It just feels weird and not nearly as smooth as it was

I didn't think last year's game was a clusterfuck. I think this year has improved alot, but there was nothing wrong with last year.

The Madden cover curse isn't just for Madden... it's ALL EA Sports games. Consider:

MVP Baseball 2003: Miguel Tejada and Randy Johnson. Tejada was the NL MVP last year after hitting .308 with 34 HR and 131 RBI. Since Billy Beane is a OPS nut, I'll include that his OPS was .862. This year, Tejada's numbers are .255, 17, 72, and .737. Randy Johnson, after winning the NL Cy Young, has been injured for much of the season, and even when healthy, his numbers are awful: 3-4, 4.42 ERA, 61 hits, 60 K's.

NCAA Football 2003: Joey Harrington. Granted, the NCAA Football coverboy is always going to be an NFL rookie who got drafted high by a crappy team, and Harrington performed as well as could be expected for a rookie Lions QB. But still... 215 for 429, 2294 yards, 12 TD 16 INTs, 8 sacks, 59.9 QB rating. This year's coverboy is Carson Palmer, who probably won't play for the Bengals at all.

NHL 2003: Jarome Iginla. 2001 (MVP) stats: 52 goals, 44 assists = 96pts, +27. Last year: 35G, 32A = 67P, -10. This year's coverboy will be Dany Heatly.

NBA Live 2003: Jason Kidd. Seems to have been able to escape the curse, his numbers actually went UP last year. But he still came home empty-handed from the NBA Finals. This year's coverboy is Vince Carter. I don't see how the curse can further mess with an already disappointing career.

Triple Play Baseball 2002: Luis Gonzalez. After a great 2001 season (World Series MVP) where he went .325 with 57 HR's and 142 RBIs, he got injured near the end of the season, missed the playoffs, and finished at .288, 28, 103.

Madden 2003: Marshall Faulk. Rushed for less than 1000 yards for the first time since 1996. That's down from his career high of 1382 the year before. TD's dropped from 21 total to 10.

NHL 2002: Mario Lemieux. Super Mario returned from retirement the previous year and shocked the league by putting up numbers reminiscent of his glory days. He scored 35 goals in 43 games, and had 41 assists for 76 points, and was +15. The next year, he played in only 26 games, scored only 6 goals, and had 25 assists for 31 points, and was an even 0 for +/-.

I don't know shit about NASCAR, but this year is Tony Stewart, last year was Dale Earnhardt Jr.

-Mikey

I thought Madden '04 didn't come out until Friday. How intricate is the owner mode? I heard you could set concession stand prices.

Yup... you can also move your team, design the new stadium, use Mini-Camp mode to improve players during the offseason, lots o' stuff. HIGHLY recommended. The CPU has gotten ALOT better, though. Just warning you. Expect to throw lots of INTs and to get run on for over 100+ yards regularly.

-Mikey

Yeah, I just played it for the first time and had my ass handed to me. I haven't played a football game in a year, so I guess I'm either rusty or the game just got harder. :)

I'm buying this game tomorrow for PS2.

I heard Mike Vick has 99 rushing rating, is that true?

I will buy it today. Looks like it will be exciting friday night for baaa.

i'm gettin this thing somtime between now and wednesday

Vick doesn't have a 99 rushing rating. If he does then there is no point of having him start at QB, just make him your RB. That was just a rumor started by a Falcon's fanatic.

What are the "playmaker controls" that they are talking about on the commercials?

I'm getting it next week... I read about it today. Sounds like fun.

Can't wait to be Seahawks owner... :D

I'm getting it within a week, I just can't decide what team to be.

the curse strikes again!!! michael vick broke his ankle tonight, he'll be out for about 6 weeks. i don't about anyone else, but i find this to be unbelievably creepy

With playmaker you can supposedly run things on the fly. Say your running and you need a block, you just hit the analog stick in the direction of the guy you want blocked and there you go a block. The commercials make it seem like you'll be unbeatable if you use it but, for me it never works.

i almost pissed myself in laughter after reading this post and then watchin TV to see Vick break his foot. Shame on you EA

If only there was a way to buy a subscription to these games... They always put something in addition to the new rosters to make you want the next version. Damn them! :)

Once I can scrounge some money, I'll have the next version too.

FTR, Vick's speed number is 95. You ahve to remember, he is one of the fastest players IN THE LEAGUE.

I'll probably pick it up, if only because I only have a GC (of this console gen), and I don't think the ESPN Football (re-branded NFK2kx) game is coming out for the Nintendo.

Or is it? Gamespot only had PS2 and Xbox links, so I think us Nintendo guys are out of luck. Oh well, I like the gameplay of NFL2k better, but the special features (owner mode v. 1st person) is wayy tilted toward Madden. Plus the collegiate EA game is better IMHO, and I'd rather have the option of bringing my college guys that I've played for a while up to the NFL.

I bought Madden 2004 for the PC and am enjoying it a great deal. It is tough to win in this game, or it could be the fact that I'm playing with the Cowboys and they aren't that good.

One gripe, and it's because I'm playing with the Cowboys...Texas Stadium still has astroturf when in reality they use that new pseudograss. Also, Bill Parcells isn't in the game! I guess he isn't part of whatever union the coaches are in (kinda like Lavar Arrington wasn't in last year's game (not sure if he's in this one yet)).

I like the mini-drills that you can do before preseason, and the owner's mode is a welcome addition.

Owner's mode is fantastic...I just moved the Cardinals to Boston, because apparently Foxboro is too far away for those fickle Beantowners...

Man, I just own with the Cowboys man. I sacked Vick thrice, McNabb 4 times, intercepted Bledsoe 6 times, and I don't have it on EAsy either. Get this, Hutch has more votes for the ProBowl than Favre or Garcia, maybe I need to apply for some kind of coaching job.

Well, that confirms it then...I SUCK AT THIS GAME!

I can't move the ball downfield...Hutch has no time to throw the ball and when he does, the receivers have two to three guys on him...

Looks like I need more practice.

Here's a rule of thumb I use when I want to throw:
Run, run, run, and then run some more, when the coverage bites up to stop the run, audible to a pass play, and hit your tight end for a nice gain. That works about 90% of the time for me. Also, throw in a lot of Play Actions to confuse the defense. If you need more time and a lot of yards, go with a shot-gun set. Also, if you're in trouble big time look for your back to be open (if you have him running a route) or look down the middle for one of your receivers to come across the middle under the coverage. For general tips, (and this is for serious players) check who you're playing the next week, go back to the current week you're on and watch your opponent play another team. Take some notes, especially what kind of defense they favor, count how many times they blitz, how many times they use zone coverage, man to man coverage, how many times they get their safeties involved in a blitz, stuff like that. Take notes on their offense, how many times they run the ball, pass the ball, where they like to run the ball, how many times does the QB keep the ball, where does he like to run with it, who's the favored receiver, who's the safety blanket (generally it's the tight end). And if you're really desperate, ask good old John Madden what to do.

i bought the game the day it came out and i have to agree with the praise for owners mode. its a good time being able to hire new coaching staff and what not. With the whole playmaker option, everytime i use it get sacked it seems to turn whatever play i intended on using into a death trap. The mini camps are great, i think the tackle one is the best where you just sack the guy as much as possible. The game overall does seem harder than last years and i think i enjoyed last years soundtrack better too, maybe i just need to let this one grow on me considering it hasnt been out long at all.