The Madden monopoly

When looking back upon childhood, it's strange to think of all the stuff that got old so quickly. Building tree houses, playing hide-and-seek, and looking at non-Internet porn are things that I just don't do anymore.

But one thing that will never get old is videogame football. Thinking back on all those sleepless nights playing "Tecmo Super Bowl," which rapidly stunted the progress of my early education, brings shivers of nostalgia.

Having played every Madden game since 1996 when Sega was the thing to own, I, like many of my generation, am quite knowledgeable on the evolution of videogame football.

The newest and only football game for PS2 to premiere this year is "Madden NFL 06" by EA Sports. Last year, EA Sports signed a deal with ESPN giving EA the rights to ESPN's "NFL 2K5," which gives Madden a monopoly over the football gaming industry.

Last year's critically acclaimed "NFL 2K5" was Madden's only credible market competition. Like the Roman Empire swallowing up towns and cities on the edges of its realm, the Madden Empire, and its horde of faithful followers have swallowed up "NFL 2K5," eliminating the opposition with the stroke of a pen.

Hardcore Madden enthusiasts worried that the quality of the game would suffer because of the lack of competition. This happens to be the case with "Madden NFL 06." The graphics from "Madden NFL 2005" haven't been touched or improved upon, much like the rest of the in-game interface. But since "Madden NFL 2005" was one of the best Maddens ever, there's not much to complain about with this year's Madden except the lack of change.

Though EA's programmers took it easier this year with no competition, they still fitted the game with some revolutionary elements. "Precision passing" and "NFL Superstar" are the main additions.

NFL Superstar is a feature that allows the gamer to create a player and watch his gradual growth from a rookie into a hall-of-famer. To begin, the gamer must select the superstar's DNA by choosing a set of parents. Each set of parents has a specific profile that details their professions, unique characteristics, and IQ scores. For example your mother could be an Olympic track star who enjoys hiking with an above average IQ. These details contribute to the configuration of what kind of football player the superstar will be.

If the details of this feature continue to be enhanced at this rate, by "Madden 2010" the gamer will be able to select the brand of liquor the father drank the night your superstar was conceived.

After selecting the superstar's DNA, the gamer is able to modify the superstar's face and body. Once drafted by an NFL team, the gamer guides the superstar through interviews, psychology tests, and movie scripts. Hiring an agent, getting tattoos, signing contracts, and receiving telephone calls from former NFL superstar Terrell Davis are also unique aspects of the feature.

NFL Superstar is the most highly inventive and addictive feature that the Madden team has instituted since the Franchise mode. But unlike the Franchise mode, Superstar can get boring quickly. If one actually wants to watch one's rookie turn into a superstar, come equipped with sufficient Pepsi and Doritos, and be prepared to abolish the sun from your daily life.

Precision passing, the other new feature in Madden 06, has been touted to "revolutionize the passing game." Though a revolution may be an overstatement, it is a useful and valuable addition to the Madden dynasty that will likely stick for future generations of Madden games.

Precision passing allows the player to throw precise passes to a specific receiver or to a number of receivers as long as they are situated within the quarterback's field of vision. The QB's field of vision varies from QB to QB depending on their awareness rating. If the opposing secondary is covering a particular side of the receiver, the gamer is able to throw the ball away from the defender's reach so that he is unable to deflect the ball.

At first, the feature may seem dauntingly complex to beginners or Madden traditionalists, but it is easy to get the hang of, and makes for a more realistic passing game

The rest of the game is roughly the same as last year's, with a few new additions and modifications that will only be noticed by hardcore gamers. The franchise mode remains the best in-depth simulation of a long-term sports team of any game on the market and is paramount to all others in consuming time, and intensifying one's pallor.

The actual football game, though barely modified from the 2005 edition, is still the most realistic football game ever. The grunts of the offensive line, touchdown celebrations, and those beloved Maddenisms contribute to an overall satisfying gaming experience.

The lack of changes may please fans of 2005, but it may be a bad sign of things to come for future Maddens. Regardless, Madden will continue to dominate the competition.

Even if there is none.