Madden NFL 07

Madden NFL 07, like the rest of the game industry, is the best Madden franchise to date. We spent the majority of our time comparing the game's 2004 release to the year's fine-tuned version in a feature-packed play-by-play video presentation, but a lot of the major new features that are being included in the game are still under wraps. However, in one video, our Super Bowl champion Sean McAllister unleashes his touchdown celebrations to the world. When McAllister performs a touchdown pass to the NFC Super Bowl XLIX, the crowd is blown out and smacks the guy. McAllister's catching of the ball went off without a hitch, but one of the players caught with the ball was a torn-off sensation, as we were playing as the runner. He certainly pulled off one touchdown and showed off some new moves that will put this version of the game to shame. For example, McAllister grabs the ball, passes the ball, and unloads the whole package, ending with the touchdown.

Dynamically, the game seems to be evolving, with tweaks to the look and feel of the stadiums. There are new pass sounds and commentary from Jon Miller, Patrick Mahomes, and most of the Madden team. It all sounds really good, though we do wonder if there will be more changes when the game ships. However, if you have already played the previous versions of Madden, you may want to pick up Madden 06 this year. There is still a lot of work to be done in the game, but it looks like the folks at EA Tiburon are doing their best to give the fans what they want.

The visuals have been improved to a level where it is clear that there are new elements to this year's game. You'll notice a tremendous amount of depth to the environments, from the towering grass that is in the city to the debris that's still under the furniture that the game throws at you. A nice visual touch is the lighting. You can see a dramatic shot of a stadium lit up by a warming breeze as the sun rises. The addition of lighting really adds a nice sense of realism to the environments and gives you the sense of something is even under the ground. You'll also notice a cool bump on the field that makes it look even more like a bus than it does a real person.

The audio in the game is also getting an upgrade. This year's version has been designed specifically for the PS2 and focuses more on sound than just sound. The team has worked hard to create an authentic NCAA Football game with all of the bells and whistles of its predecessor, and the new music adds a level of depth that not many of the previous games couldn't. The changes made to the game come in two parts: first, the commentary from real-life top-notch players, and second, the new-and-improved announcer. One feature that's notable new is the color commentary. The coaches will once again talk about your players and how you're doing. This time around, you'll hear a more in-depth breakdown of your players, so you can see if they're good or bad. New to the game is the new AI for the running back line. Whereas in previous games the line isn't only about who you're running and how you run, but also about what your players are doing, the AI in NCAA Football 07 makes sure you've got the right to make sure their player is leading their team to the big leagues. Your team will use a whole new AI system that not only sees certain players make intelligent decisions that will affect what you're doing, but also make them even more intelligent. For example, if a running back has the tendency to hitch a huge yard in front of the goal line, the AI will clearly guide him, not just past the runner, which may seem odd in a game where the line is the best running back. As a result, the running back is faster than the runner and will look to avoid any odds or win any touchdowns that may come your way. To compensate for this, the running back also has some special moves that will help in making the run more realistic and prevent the runner from falling behind as he advances up the rankings.

You'll be able to make all the moves that you can in real life with NCAA 07's enhanced AI and make the big leagues even more realistic.

While we've seen the kind of amazing games that EA Sports has put together lately, it's hard not to be excited about the new artificial intelligence. The most obvious is "beacon," the computer-controlled coach who shows you a glimpse of the game before you decide to act, making it difficult to predict what you're going to do. But there's something more interesting to the AI of the game, such as the ability to run out of bounds. If you're running out of bounds during a pass, your player will become a sitting duck on the outside and will be subjected to a nasty press from the quarterback and some nasty flat tackles.