First Encounter

Madden NFL™ 2005 is the first title in this insanely popular franchise to feature online play via Xbox Live™. But Electronic Arts (EA) didn’t stop there. They also retooled the game from the ground up to make it sleeker, faster, and more like real pro football than any previous Madden NFL title.

Big hits in the house.

Madden NFL 2005 is a whole new ball game that puts the emphasis on defense. Previous titles in the series introduced offensive Playmaker controls that gave receivers an edge, but now the odds are even with the new defensive Playmaker controls. When on defense, you can give your linemen an unprecedented amount of information, tweaking the extensive Madden playbook with defensive hot routes for each player. Defensive playmaker controls can change things up before the snap, assign specific hot routes for each back, switch from zone coverage to man-to-man, and even fake a blitz. Defense also has new on-screen arrows that show how mobile the quarterback will be once the ball is snapped, so you know where to focus the rush. Carrying the ball has also been tweaked by adding momentum-based running, which means that if your rusher is moving at top speed, he won’t be able to change direction as quickly. Star players with superior speed and agility can still manage the trickiest jukes and spins while running all-out, but in general, you’ll have to balance your speed with maneuverability—and since the defensive running and tackling has been improved, momentum-based running makes the difference between a few yards and a major rushing gain.

Another huge defensive addition is the Hit Stick. When you’re going for that big tackle, you can apply a more force by flicking the right thumbstick toward the ball carrier. A successful big hit means the carrier is more likely to cough up the football, plus it looks awesome. You run the risk of missing the victim and taking yourself out of the play by committing to a big hit, but it’s worth the risk if you can clobber an opponent’s best player while increasing the chances of a fumble or an incomplete pass.

You make the play.

Madden NFL 2005 also has a more immersive Franchise Mode, which includes the Storyline Central feature. Now each player in your roster has a backstory that can, and often will, affect the way he plays. As the manager, owner, and coach, it’s your job to keep tabs on all the things that might affect a player’s ability to perform: how much they’re being paid, how much they’re playing, how well they’re delivering each week, and so on. You want to keep your stars happy and train your rookies so they’re ready to step up in case of injury, or if a free agent takes an offer from another team. During the season you’ll need to keep up with the sports page in the in-game weekly newspapers, and you’ll also be able to tune in to Tony Bruno’s weekly radio talk show for the inside scoop on your players (and other players you’d like to sign). With media coverage and a steady flow of tips and ideas from your coaching and scouting staff, you’ll have all the information you need to create the next pro football dynasty.

Blast through the line.

Among all the new additions and improvements, the most exciting new feature in Madden NFL 2005 is online play. XboxLive subscribers can now compete against each other in full 32-player team tournaments or in quick 4- or 8-player contests. The EA ticker (a crawl of text across the screen) keeps players up to date on the winning and losing teams, which on-field players are dominating and which are injured, as well as other tourney-specific information. Add this functionality to the famously intense gameplay of the Madden NFL titles, and you have enough online action to satisfy the most die-hard football fanatic.

Madden NFL 2005 is the most Madden you can get—improved graphics and player models, more plays in the playbooks, online play, and even a create-a-fan feature. When you’re ready to get your football on this year, be sure to draft Madden NFL 2005 for your Xbox console in the first round.

By Mickah Wallace