Preview: On the road with a Super Bowl champion.
A new console's success can almost be predicted by looking at the array of sports titles that are available to play on it. In most cases, you need to look beyond EA's staple outings like Madden, MVP Baseball, and NASCAR. However, I think that you must take these into account. Specifically, you need to look at how they are going to take the sport to a new level. Let's take the upcoming Madden 2005 for the DS for example.
Everyone expects an incredibly deep football experience from EA's venerable franchise. With that in mind, Madden 2005 will not disappoint on the DS. Like with it's TV tethered brethren, the DS iteration of Madden 2005 will offer an extensive season mode, single player Situation Mode, and detailed player statistics. However, it is the features unique to the DS that will make this version stand a head and shoulders above the rest.
Madden 2005 is going to take full advantage of the new handheld's unique features. First off, the dual screen technology will allow us to not only stay close to the action, but we will be able to see all 22 players on the field at once. Each screen will perform it's duty, not only while the action is rolling, but while you are planning the destruction of your opponent. Beyond providing the downfield perspective that will allow for well placed passes, the touchscreen will allow you to select plays quickly, call audibles on the fly, and set your kick meter. Of course, some of us are even more excited about the wireless head-to-head action than we are the touchscreen features. But hey, to each his own, eh?
