MY VIEW
Games: 'Madden NFL 2005'

By Julius Pecson
Special to The Advertiser

The Verdict: 5. THE RATINGS 5 — Outstanding: Add it to your collection now. A must-have. 4 — Great: Buy it or rent it — definitely play it. 3 — Good: Worth playing despite some flaws. 2 — Fair: Unless you're a fan of the license or series, don't bother. 1 — Poor: You'd have more fun playing Pong.

Console: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox.

Developer/publisher: EA Sports.

Genre: Sports.

Number of players: 1-4, Xbox and GameCube; 1-2, PlayStation 2; online, 1-2 for Xbox and PlayStation 2.

ESRB rating: Everyone.

The premise: In its 15th year for the franchise, the single most dominant force in sports video games returns for another hard-hitting season.

Gameplay: While 2004's version focused primarily on scoring points, the gameplay emphasis with 2005 is on defense. With the new Defensive Playmaker controls, you can shift players around to cover different assignments on the fly, adjust mistakes in coverage or double-team any player on the offense with coverage audibles. The coolest addition is the Hit Stick, which launches tacklers into a ferocious hit with a simple flick of the right analog stick. The franchise mode is much deeper this year, as the players' morale and stature are affected by on-field performance. Franchise also gets an upgrade with Storyline Central, where you can get the inside scoops from local and national newspapers, and your games are affected by the stories surrounding your team. And, if you have "NCAA Football 2005," you can import your rookies over to Madden and continue their careers in the pros.

The good/bad: With the Hit Stick, the user can change the momentum of the game by laying that huge hit and possibly causing a fumble. However, there's a tough risk/reward system with it because if your timing is off and you miss your tackle, there's a good chance that the offense will pick up significant yardage. The defensive hot routes allow you to customize the defensive play you just called. Unfortunately, the offense doesn't see many upgrades from last year's game. It still takes a lot of skill to rush, and it's too easy to get "stuck" with your blockers and thus tackled despite an open hole. On the other hand, the passing game is a lot of fun this year, and feels very realistic. John Madden and Al Michaels return for some play-by-play, though they sound as stale and predictable as they have for the past two years.

Tips: The No. 1 rule of tackling is to face the offense with your whole body and strike him as square as possible. Use turbo when tackling to make a bigger hit; make sure you don't just glance off of the person you're trying to tackle. You don't want to take a bad angle and try to tackle from the back or side, or he may slough you off. As you approach, think about where the player is going to be rather than where he is.

My take: Each year, "Madden" delivers one of the most complete sports gaming experiences, and with its new defensive tactics coupled with fluid gameplay, 2005 continues the tradition. If you had to get only one football game this year, this is the one to get.

Julius Pecson, a student at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and a longtime gamer, reviews games on various consoles for The Advertiser, including Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance.

Have a game or CD you want to review? Reach Island Life deputy editor Dave Dondoneau at ddondoneau@honoluluadvertiser.com.