The game is available on its own Multi-Media Card so there is no bulky download to your own system memory. The SD card has build in room to save game data and your progress.
WHAT’S HOT
Setting the game up is quite simple. Place the MMC/SD card in the slot and the game menu automatically launches. However, if you leave the card in the slot and work in other applications, there is a Madden 2005 icon in your games folder. The game is on a 16MB SD card and uses about 15MB of memory for the game leaving almost 1MB for gave saving. The review was done on the Axim X3i.
SETUP
For this review we used the handy and convenient MMC Card which came with full packaging as seen below.
IN THE BOX
Shown
here is the game box, which is similar to a DVD case, the manual, an
advertisement and the MMC/SD card. The six card capacity MMC/SD Card
carrying case is a nice bonus during times when the card is not in use.
Let’s start with the features that are listed on the mdm software website.
PROGRAM FEATURES
- Completely updated for 2004-2005 season – all of the NFL teams, new team logos, and player rosters
- Groundbreaking graphics! High resolution enhanced
- Choose between Playoffs, Regular Season and Exhibition Games
- Create your dream team – make player trades, acquire free agents
- Use real NFL teams, players & their stats
- Play both sides of the ball – offensive and defensive features add more strategy to every play
- Customize your play with an amazing array of options
- Choose the stadium, weather, and penalty frequency & more
- Allow for player fatigue, injury, passing and catching capabilities
- Al Michaels and John Madden comment on your game play…in their own voices
To start the game, simply
insert the MMC/SD into the card slot and the launch menu will appear.
By clicking the "Play Madden NFL 2005", the game will automatically
begin.
There is also a complete
manual stored on the card as part of the software package for easy reference.
After starting the game from the launch menu, three advertising screens cycle through.
Game Setup
The soundtrack starts
on this screen and the tune is pretty good, but this is a wasted screen.
Pressing the calendar button (default "A") will take you to
the main menu.
The main menu screen
features five options. It is recommended that you configure your buttons
and audio right away by selecting Options.
Selecting Button Config
will automatically walk the player through the assignment of all four
buttons on your device. It is assumed that the D-Pad will be used for
maneuvering.
The Audio Volumes option screen is a good idea if you want to limit the music or the commentators.
The about screen gives version release and copyright info.
Looking back at the Main
Menu screen the first three selections will take you into various stages
of gameplay. The "Play Now" option will get you right to the
action. We’ll cover the other two options later in the review.
The player
selects the team they wish to be and their opponent by moving the D-pad
up or down. There are only the current NFL teams available on the mobile
version of Madden 2005 as opposed to the dynasty teams and All Madden
Teams from years past available in the PC/console format.
There are plenty of options
on the Game Rules screen that allow game to be customized. A game can
be played on a neutral field in snowy conditions if the player chooses.
Controller setup determines which team will be assigned to the player and the cpu.
When looking at the Team
Matchup screen the player can see each teams strength and weaknesses.
Three checks are the maximum and one check is the minimum.
Once
the teams are set, we are brought to yet another menu screen. In the
Pre-Game Show there are more game play options. Most of the options
provide noticeable game differences although it would have been nice
to have a few more skill levels of artificial intelligence.
The ability
to substitute players is available not only before the game but during
the course of play. You can only substitute for the team you control.
The difference between regular offense and defense and the global options
is illustrated below.
When selecting offense
or defense substitutions the player can change players based on individual
formations, while the global option make the changes for all formations.
An example of switching Quarterbacks in the Near offensive set.
In Game
Are you read for some football? The coin toss.
Depending on the result of the kickoff, the player will choose to kick or receive, or which goal to defend.
The kickoff
and return. If the player is controlling the kicking team, the power
and direction meters appear, otherwise the cpu kicks off. One big component
missing here is the lack of play calling ability during kickoffs. It
would have been nice to have options for sideline wedge, middle and
onside kickoff returns.
Navigating
the play calling screen is done with the use of the D-Pad and the A
button. Each defensive package has 12-16 plays and includes a special
teams grouping for defending against field goals and punts. The available
defenses are adequate, but a seasoned Madden play-caller might miss
a few of the more modern sets.
On the
offensive side of the ball there are seven main formations and a special
teams grouping. But as you can see in the center screen capture, there
are modifications to the main formation. Most of the time the sub-formation
control moves the wide receivers to different starting areas. The third
screen shows the actual plays available and there are generally 12-16
different choices per main formation.
The B button allows for audibles on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The plays are set from the Pre Game Show menu, but can be quickly changed in the pause mode under Game Play Options.
The A
button is the action button and hikes the ball. Notice the star and
the name of the player who has the ball. In this case, Aaron Brooks
is rolling out right looking for a receiver. The numbers upfield are
above eligible receivers and the yellow numbered player is where the
pass is designed to go. The player can change this by selecting the
C button to rotate through the players on pass routes.
At the end of the play
the end result is posted and includes the player’s name, the gain or
loss of yards and a reminder of the down. Teams huddle again and the
play calling continues.
Touchdown!
The player does a little endzone dance but there is no cut away to high
quality video with a unique dance like there is in the larger version
game. We also see Al Michaels in the lower right hand corner and either
he or John Madden give some sort of commentary on the play. The selection
of available comments is limited and get boring after a while as they
repeat often.
After
a score the options are to kick or go for a two point conversion. Here
we see the setup and the result of an extra point try. The scenario
plays out exactly the same with the field goal units and surprisingly
the kickers have pretty good distance.
Game Option Screens
The D
button will pause the game and bring up this menu . The player can call
the Timeout or make substitutions and changes to the audible plays.
At the end of each quarter and at half time the user is presented with
the same menu and has the option of review the statistics.
There are quite a few statistic viewing options based on the team and the player available.
Here are some examples of the stat screens.
The game continues along
as any regularly played football game, with interceptions, fumbles and
penalties.
As mentioned earlier,
there are two other options from the Main Menu. The Season Play choice
puts the player right at the beginning of a full 17 week season.
Choose a new season and set the basic rule options.
Players
can choose which game they want to play each week. It is possible to
stay with one team or play a combination of teams from week to week.
You can choose to play every game of every week as well or you can hit
Accept and the week is simulated and the scores are posted. The playoff
function works exactly the same, but starts with the Wild Card Playoffs
and moves to the Super Bowl.
Trades are easy to execute from the Front Office selection of the Main Menu.
Choose
the team and the player you wish to trade and then select the team and
player to complete the trade. Missing from this feature is the ability
to view stats and compare players side by side within the trading screen.
Individual stats are available from the Main Menu but only if there
have been games played in a season. There is no multiple player trades
either, so it is roster position for roster position and no stacking
a team full of speeding running backs.
Trade complete. What a deal!
Once
a player gets into the season and completes a few games, the League
Stats and Standings feature starts to capture and calculate each category.
There are multiple views for each category depending on position you
wish to view.
While there is no in-game help, the complete manual being available on the MMC/SD card is quite handy and will answer just about any question. Further support is available from the mdm software website.
HELP SUPPORT
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
BUGS AND WISHES
My wish list is as follows:
- More
offensive and defensive plays, including kickoff/return schemes - Create-A-Play
feature - Additional
supply of voice comments for John Madden & Al Michaels - Endzone
dances – this is what made the original game fun - Ability
to create players and bring back the hall of fame rosters - Multiplayer
- Better
replayability by adding higher skill levels to the artificial intelligence
of the cpu - Franchise
tools including a draft, salary cap and multiple player trades
PURCHASING
2005 is available for $39.95 at the pocketnow
store. The game is also available on the mdm
software site and there is no download for the game or for a demo.
PROS
Popular game goes mobile
Controls are easy to use
- Everything is on the easy to use MMC/SD card
- Better than expected graphics during gameplay
CONS
Price
No multi-player
Lacks replayability as skills increase
This game plays well although it is a bit
OVERALL IMPRESSION
pricey at $39.95. Regarding playability, it is hard not to compare it
to the PC and console versions that have been on the market for so many
years. Condensing the game to a smaller screen of course reduces the
graphics ability and the players are not going to be able to jink and
slide, but the game still plays smoothly. It reminds me of the 1998-1999
versions of Madden. Since the game currently is single player and on
a mobile device, I do think that more attention needs to be on the "building"
of a franchise, building players and teams. The good news is that the
included 4 page, paper manual did state that the create-a-player and
multiplayer features would be added soon. So the answer to the question
about a large scale game being playable on the mobile platform is yes.
If football is your thing, then Madden 2005 should be a great addition
to your device’s game line-up.
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