So last week I went with the top 5 Madden Highlight Kings. This week in thinking about what I wanted to write about for my top 5, I kept coming back to the history of Madden NFL Football. Since we're on the 20th iteration of the game, I'd like to go back and take a look at some of the features that have been most memorable for me as a fan over the years. Some are on the list because of their impact on the series, while others were chosen simply because of the fun factor involved. I've also added a "just off the list" note for the honorable mentions that didn't quite make the cut. I got a bunch of questions last week about some of the players who were just off my radar, so I thought it would be cool to add that as part of the weekly blog.


Best Madden NFL Features of All Time


#5 Windowless passing: I'm going to start off my list by honoring a feature that is underrated in the history of the series, but ultimately had a huge impact. Those who have been fans of the series the longest may appreciate this one more than those who have been playing Madden the last few years. In Madden 95 fans were introduced to windowless passing. Prior to this feature, your receivers were seen at the very top of the screen in three boxes, somewhat limiting your ability to see all of the defenders who surrounded them. Windowless passing opened up the whole field, giving gamers a better view of how a play developed. I'll probably never know why the windows were there in the first place, but I sure was happy when they were no longer needed.



#4 360 Degree Instant Replay: Here's another feature you have to go back to the 16 bit days of Madden to remember the first time you saw it. Madden 94 was the first time you could rotate the instant replay screen 360 degrees, which to me as a 12 year old football gaming fan was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Instant replay had been in Madden in prior years, but this made it that much better. I can remember showing my friends how I burned their defense from multiple angles over and over again.



#3 Hit Stick: Has there ever been a better, simpler feature? Madden NFL 05 made it fun to play defense. Flick the right stick on your controller and make your opponent think twice about throwing that high pass over the middle. It's high risk, high reward, and most importantly extremely exciting. Only a few football gaming related words have entered the real world sports lexicon, but this is one of them. Try playing a version of Madden that doesn't have this feature and you'll find yourself reaching for that right stick when it's time to bring the pain. It just isn't the same without it.



#2 Franchise Mode: Is there any doubt that introducing franchise mode in Madden 99 had some of the biggest impact on the series? Single season mode had been available for a few years since Madden 94, but it's hard to imagine playing Madden NFL football without thinking about the trades, free agency, and everything else that comes with the NFL off-season. Once the ability to import draft classes from NCAA Football was implemented, it was all over. Nothing could keep me as engaged and excited about playing Madden as this. Unless...



#1 Online Play: This is the one that changed everything. By the time Madden NFL 03 became available in the summer of 2002, I was already a die hard Madden fan for several years. But the ability to play other fans from around the country or even around the world took the game to another level for me. I went from being a guy who like to tear it up in franchise mode with my Redskins, to playing games online in leagues, to eventually being so enamored with online play that I worked on a Madden fan site with a bunch of other people who loved to do the same thing. It turned a hobby into an obsession and that's why it's my #1 Madden NFL Feature.

Note:  Madden already had online play on the PC prior to Madden NFL 03.  Have to mention that in case any of my PC brethren feel compelled to correct me.


Just Missed the Cut


Superstar Mode (Madden NFL 06): A totally unique spin on playing a football video game. I've enjoyed many years of careers playing this.


Vision & Precision (Madden NFL 06): This one ultimately didn't shake out, but I loved the gutsy move in trying to change the passing game and make it more realistic. At the time I welcomed it as a new challenge after playing the game the same way for years.


Create a Player (Madden 96): I have to admit that I haven't used create a player a ton over the years, but the way it was implemented in Madden 96 was awesome. Create your player, have him run the 40 by mashing buttons, and then compete in a number of drills at that position. When you sign with your team you're shown a screen of you holding up your jersey at a press conference. Simply awesome.




That's my list for this week. As always, feel free to send suggestions for next week's topic. And don't forget to drop your own top 5 list of the best Madden NFL features. I want to see your lists as well.


-raczilla