The DP Challenge is a research project in which you play and analyze the top 100 games ever to hit your console(s). At the end of this project, I hope to be a better writer with a host of ideas for my own projects. I anticipate that I will learn more from the games that are in genres that I don't usually play or simply from games I wouldn't usually pick up than from the games I love. I'm looking forward to that education!
Information on the DP Challenge can be found at: http://www.dpfiles.com/dpfileswiki/index.php?title=THE_DP_CHALLENGE
**Note: As it takes a long time to evaluate 100+ games and new games are constantly being rolled out, my top 100 list continually changes. There will undoubtedly be discrepancies in the numeric rating of my list. As I catch them, I'll try to update them, but, I want to play all of the great games, so I know I'll be changing the list often.
#23 Madden NFL 2004
Madden NFL 2004
Game Info
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: Electronic Arts - Tiburon
Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Sports, Football
Players: 8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: August 11, 2003
As has become my usual with franchise
games, I will not write a complete dissection of Madden NFL 2004.
It is similar to Madden NFL 2003 in too many ways. The intro
begins the same as in 2003 and leads directly into the main menu, where
players will immediately choose a team. After the game saves and the
main menu comes up, we begin to see what's new in 2004. There are new
features in the Online Play and in the Franchise menu. The Franchise
mode now has an Owner's Mode. Training Camp is also new. Training Camp
is similar to Mini-Camp except now the player can level up the stats of
certain players doing player-specific drills. The Features menu also
features a new Create-A-Team mode and Historic Teams.
In
actual play, we find greatly improved graphics including close-up views
of coaches on the field as well as load screen pictures of actual
players. For enthusiasts, this game now offers even more control over
the coaching and franchise experience with the Owners Mode,
Create-A-Player and Training Camp. Player animations are improved,
giving a better feel for actual control in gameplay. Flashing colors
over the receiver icons let the QB know who's open at a glance.
Sound has lost some of it's luster in this version, however. A challenge on a play found my referee so quieted that he was difficult to hear. Overall, however, Madden NFL 2004 delivers a sound football experience for those who like these games.
Ideas:
I
don't know if I've mentioned this in another dissertation, but EA's
assets are easy to spot in a multitude of EA Sports games. Although the
games in the Burnout franchise are developed by Criterion Games,
Madden's kicking gauge duplicates the engine rev gauge in one of
the Burnout games exactly. Burnout and SSX
feature identical arrow markers to guide player movement. This creates
player familiarity and an intuitive user interface while ostensibly
saving the company time and money.
In : Sports
Tags: ""ea sports"" ""electronic arts"" sports football ps2
