Madden NFL 07

Written by Joe Comunale  on October 30, 2006

Final Glimpse: Slamming your controller in frustration could now result in a miscue on the field.

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The long-awaited launch of the PlayStation 3 is growing close, and one of the premier titles to coincide with its release is EA's heralded Madden series. While the Madden 06 title that coincided with the Xbox 360 launch a year ago was bare in features and inferior to its current-gen counterparts, the introduction of Madden on Sony's upcoming console won't be nearly as lackluster. In fact, the game will feature all the new additions found in the current Xbox 360 game, from lead-blocking to Superstar Mode to rushing attack.

Aside from the usual, Madden on the PS3 will boast a few new implementations. For starters, gang tackling is no longer wishful thinking, as the game will let defenders team up to take down a ball carrier. While one defender dives to wrap around the player's legs, another player can finish him up top. It will be great to now be able to close in and finish off the play, rather than unrealistically running right by a might-be tackle because the ball carrier is stuck in an animation with a solo tackler. Not only should this spice up the dynamics of the gameplay, it should help the series from an aesthetic standpoint as well. If everything bodes well, we presume the game will present more of a challenge on the ground.

More exciting tackling and added animations of players getting jacked up is great news, especially since the absence of any such feature hindered the gameplay of the 360 version; but the visual improvements don't stop there. New transitional animations between plays are also to be included, as well as augmented team introductions. And the crisper grass textures should complement the PS3's processing capabilities.

The other most notable distinction will be the way EA Tiburon utilizes Sony's Sixaxis controller. This motion-sensitive controller will let players perform certain pre-snap functions by a simple jerk of the hands. Jerking the controller backward or forward on the offensive side, for instance, will initiate a fake snap. The same will hold true on the defensive side for getting a quick jump on the snap.

The controller's new functionality won't be limited to just pre-snap commands either. Players will also be able to use it to lead-block and hit-stick, the same way the pre-snap functions are performed. It will be interesting to see if this intuitive addition gets in the way of those players who become easily disgruntled--the ones whom are already used to jerking and slamming the controller out of sheer anger.

While the fresh use of the PS3 controller is fairly cut and dry--jolt forward or backward--EA Tiburon is still exploring the possibilities of the Sixaxis controller, and they plan to expand on this functionality in future versions. One thing is for sure: not nearly as many controllers will fall victim to the hands of enraged players.