mmccree's Full Review: Madden NFL 2002 for PlayStation 2
Usually I do not care to play sports games that much. I might play one game once every two weeks on the average. However once I started playing Madden NFL 2002 on the PS2, I could not stop. This is one game that I believe I will not get tired of playing it. When I play this game, it reminds of my days of high school football when I lived and breathed football. This game makes me feel like I have total control and it is challenging and fun to play.
One of the best things about Madden NFL 2002 is the gameplay. The large variety of the offensive and defensive plays are executed in a flawless fashion. If the AI defense calls a blitz, the defense makes every effort to crush its enemy. The AI is so good that it makes you think you are playing a real person. It is very important that you learn how to call the right defensive and offensive plays, the pass routes, the defensive coverages, the weakest sides of the ball. If you are playing the Raiders, the wise thing to do is throw to the opposite of the ball that Charles Woodson plays on. If not you are subject to turnovers, believe me, I learned the hard way.
For the me, the thing that most makes Madden NFL 2002 fun to play is the control scheme. It is very easy to learn how to play effectively if you spend the time to go through the detailed practice mode. In no time at all, you will be playing like an NFL veteran. The controls are of course customizable but I have yet to adjust from the default scheme.
By far the graphics in Madden NFL 2002 are great. The players and coaches look and act like themselves. The benchwarmers on the sidelines react to the play on the field. The guys that carry the first down markers are constantly being run over by the players. When someone unlucky receiver attempts to make a reception in the middle of linebacker country, you can bet your money that the receiver is gonna get slammed. When the DBs make a decisive stop, they might just push the WRs around just to intimidate them a little more. When Eddie George is in the middle of a run, if he isn't hit squarely, he will continue to make more yardage and or a touchdown. The absolute coolest thing is when you hit someone so hard his helmets pops off. The various forms of weather and its effects on the gameplay are executed in a near perfect fashion. The stadiums and the results of playing in them are very obvious.
In addition, the regular gameplay options of exhibition, season and franchise, Madden 2002 has the following new modes and funcitons: challenging a close call, detailed training, two minute drill, situation mode and Madden card mode. Make sure that when you score a touchdown or get a first down, because if you don't the computer is quick to challenge a close call. I am in my first season of my franchise, the Little Rock Tigers (aka a transformed Tennessee Titans) and up to this point, I have had a 100% rating the the redzone TD category. Well during one uninspired series of plays, I in a fourth down and two yard line situation and I decided to run the ball with my second string running back. I really a power sweep and I barely make it in. However the next thing I know my AI opponent is challenging the play. Of course, you know what happened. I lost the challenge and now my redzone TD rating is at 98%. I was mad at myself but impressed with the game AI. During the detailed training, players are taught the basics and fundamentals of football and the best way to run the plays with success. During the two minute drill, you earn points for everything from scoring touchdowns to getting out of bounds to save time on the clock. In the situation mode, you can duplicate any situation that you can imagine and see the results. It is a wonderful tool for recreating famous football events. By far the most unusual yet useful mode is the Madden card mode which allow to buy fictional Madden trading cards that access player performance boosts, favorite stadiums, cheat codes and historic players.
The sound effects are very good. I really enjoy the comments that John Madden makes as I crush my opponents. They usually make comments that adequate access the situation. The overall music and sounds in the game are very good. If I use Jevon Kearse to sack Doug Flutie, I really enjoy the instant replay function so I review how hard and how violently I sack Flutie. I really enjoy replaying the moment of impact as I hit him. They add to the overall sense of what I could imagine would it would be like to play in the NFL.
Madden NFL 2002 for the PS2 is one of the best games and is the best football simulation to date. It is also fun to play!
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