After a long wait Madden '97 has graced my Playstation.  And with all
the anticipation revolving around the game I would like to add my two
cents about the game...or at least as much as I've figured out about
it in the one day that I have had it.
Graphics-Well there are players there, and they are much smaller than
on Gameday.  The graphics are for their own part very smooth and fast,
boy are they ever fast.  I do like the intro scenes when you turn on
the game, but Madden and Summerall could use some work.  I play as
Miami and so far every home game I've had, they have had the same
opening commentary for.  '97 took the Gameday role with the tiny
football too that flies during field gaol attempts, but while I
haven't blocked one yet, I have been able to break through the line.
Sound-Q-sound, loved it.  Even though the endless "Defense" chants
inside the 15 get a bit old and annoying, but I guess that's how the
offense is supposed to feel.  The play-by-play that I was hoping for,
like in FIFA is completely nonexistent.   But what do you really want,
Madden and Summerall babbling about some useless stat.  One thing, I
wish the crowd would really cheer after you make a crucial third down
stop, or score the go ahead touchdown, it's more like a sigh of
relief.
Loading Times-They beat Gameday, you can start an exhibition game
about twice as fast on '97.
Difficulty-Let's just say that like my initial Gameday experience I
couldn't complete a pass to save my life.  I did learn, but I learned
to control deep receivers and make them run back to the ball.  I guess
in this game Marino has no accuracy.  And don't even get me started on
Neil O'Donnel, while Bledsoe was rank and could hardly make a
completion, O'Donnel was on fire to this Rookie WR guy.  Needless to
say I almost lost to the Jets, something that would never happen on
previous Maddens.  I think that the computer knows what you're going
to run and assigns plays accordingly.  Everytime I would toss left, a
LB would come up on the left side and they would cheat left on top of
that.  The last game I played I rushed for -58 yards, that's after a
125 yard performance in an earlier game with a better front four.  The
computer also isn't as stupid, but it is still quite stupid.  You
can't go the length of the field using FB Offtackle, but if you squirt
in the occasional screen you can.
Reality-Can I say they have the most legitimate screen of all time,
you actually have blockers and the Defensive Linemen actually break
through like in real football.  It's a pretty handy play if you don't
use it too often.  The speed of players is great too, no more
outrunning the world with Barry Sanders and scoring 99 yard touchdowns
in the snow whenever you please.
Finally this game is really fun, you'll get beat at first, even all
you Madden veterans.  I sure did.  The only thing this game really
lacks from NFL Gameday is the defensive burst of speed, but then again
unlike Gameday the opposing players don't run twice as fast as you do.
Jack Pava