Madden NFL 07

January 11,2007 - Madden and the Wii. Is it even possible for the two to mix? What happens when a nearly stale series is brought to a console that checks for innovation at the door? Apparently, EA goes and reinvents Madden 07, and—more literally than figuratively—places the gamer in the game with its new Free Motion controls which fit right into the classic Madden mold.

The adaptation works for the most part, but can sometimes feel overly complicated. Passing, running, and kicking are the best parts of the game, while running defense and receiving are too intricate to be fun or rewarding.

Passing the ball requires a simple movement—just motion with the remote like it’s actually the ball in your hands. Quick throws result in bullets while slower throws create lobs that work best when intended for long distances. Free Motion controls for running takes care of the special moves that running backs have to aid in the elusion of defenders. The nunchuck and remote simply represent the back’s legs and arms, respectively, resulting in easy jukes and stiff arms. Move both controllers left or right for double jukes and achieve the ultimate in finesse running. Get into a stalemate with a tackling defender and you’re alerted to drum the controllers to win the battle and gain extra yardage. Kicking requires a simple upward swing while pressing the A button down to put as much or as little power and angle into the kick as you’d like. These are all pretty easy moves to remember after a few warm-up games. A lot of cool touches have been added to make the game more immersive, like waving the remote above the head to call for fair catches on returns or to call for the pass while receiving.

It’s not all sunshine and happy times, though. Once the defense comes onto the field, the yearning for a quick stop just to get back in the fun of playing offense comes over you. When all your pre-snap adjustments and controls are handled by just the A button, there’s a problem. Even though it seems like it’s all context-sensitive in what the A button actually does, it usually results in frustration. Simply trying to control a different player becomes a chore. There’s no excuse for phoning in this part of the game by shoving so many controls into one button. Once the ball is snapped, it doesn’t get much better. The developers seemed to forget about making the controls fun—instead, they included every thing they could. The offensive controls need to be fixed in next year’s game or it may just fall flat.

Receiving is another sour note, as the Superstar mode displays quite well. Concentrating on running the route you’re given while trying to catch the ball is just too overwhelming for its own good. It’s a result of the camera set-up or the controls, but messing up either one is bad news.

Luckily, the features outside of the gridiron field manage to brighten up the game and make it worth the price tag. The Wii version of Madden 07 takes after the PS2 and Xbox versions rather than their feature-reduced next-gen cousins, so expect all of the modes and features that those games included. Superstar is a fun diversion, though only a few of the positions are worth exploring. Franchise is the same as it has been over the past few years, so it’s solid, if a bit too familiar. Tutorials get you into the game’s new Free Motion controls quick and easy, appearing in both the menus and in-game for a quick refresher on what to do. The new mini-games are where the game really bests the other versions of the game, mainly for the uses of the Wii controllers and the fun multiplayer experience. Two-on-Two replicates the backyard football games of the good old days. It comes fully equipped with the drumming of your controllers to speed through the five Mississippi count, because everyone likes to rush the quarterback.

Don’t come into this version expecting visuals on a par with the 360 Maddens and you won’t be disappointed. It’s all about bringing fresh gameplay to a game that has been around for years. However, the visuals can’t be overlooked in some areas: textures and player models constantly pop in and out in a manner that can not always be forgiven. The Audio is similar in that there’s nothing here that sticks out from the other versions, though it’s nice to hear the quarterback’s calls at the line of scrimmage through the Wii remote’s speakers.

Madden 07 for the Wii may be just innovative enough to require a second purchase of the game. This is in comparison to the many other versions available out there. However, while it’s not going to be a technical marvel in any aspect, the fun offensive controls make up for it. The potential is huge for Madden 08 to step it up and go for the two point conversion with online play and intuitive defensive controls. Until then, the Madden 07 test for the sports game market on the Wii is a successful one. Tell the rest of the sports developers to go ahead with their games and make the Wii the place for the sports fans to get their fix.

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