Sports/Gaming
A Madden “Superstar”
By Mazi Chiles—SeeingBlack.com Sports and Gaming Writer
Aug 1, 2007, 09:10

If I wasn’t already hooked on the superstar mode on Madden ‘06, the 2007 edition guaranteed that I would be.

The superstar feature allows me to basically create my own NFL player, from his facial features down to his parents. Not to be confused with the classic create-a-player feature, this one allows me to actually be the player.

In a game, the camera view is right behind me, so I “see” everything from the player’s perspective. I have full control of the player and when I make plays or fail to make plays, it affects my influence on the team and my rating. The superstar is based at “my house” and, as I achieve stardom, my place actually gets nicer. In the end, my goal is to become the greatest player ever at my position and be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Don’t think that superstar mode is the only cool feature on ‘07. The classic franchise mode, which allows you to manage your favorite NFL team, is as good as ever, as is the mini camp mode, which takes you through various football drills and rates your performance.

The mini games section includes a little-known gem called the rushing attack feature, which allows you to work on your rushing and tackling skills. Set on a practice field, this mode has a running back, a full back, and a quarterback. The number of defensive players on the field, never more than four, depends on the level of difficulty. There are dummies set up between the offense and defense that represent the offensive line, and they are configured differently depending on the play. I get points for every yard I gain, touchdown I score and tackle I break. If I’m on defense, I get points for every tackle, hard tackle and every tackle made for a loss. The game keeps track of the score, whether I’m playing the computer or someone else, and announces the winner at the end. This is a great feature to choose if you want something to do but don’t feel like playing an entire game. If there is any glitch on Madden '07, it is that the game tends to lag between plays.

Of all the gaming systems I’ve tried, I’d say that Madden ‘07 was best on Xbox and Xbox 360. The players are pretty responsive to commands and the graphics are great on both systems.

Even with all of the features mentioned, the upcoming Madden ‘08, featuring Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young on the cover, is expected to debut even more playing options when it is released on August 14. I am particularly looking forward to the annual improvement in graphics, especially on Xbox 360 and PS3, as well as a wider range of moves, tackles and better player response.

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Mazi Chiles is a rising high school sophomore and football starter based in the Atlanta area.


Mazi Chiles is a rising high school sophomore and football starter based in the Atlanta area.

Discuss this article now on our message boards.



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