Madden 2002 | DJcube

#1 For a reason

NA release: 18th November 2001
EU release: N/A
JP release: N/A
Developer: EA Tiburon
Publisher: EA Sports
NGC Magazine Score: 75%
Mods Used: None

While Madden 2002 also came out on Nintendo 64, that was just the previous game with some stat changes. The GameCube got the full fledged sequel, which feels like a much different product, even starting off with personality with its own rap song. Knowing nothing about American Football, I was expecting to mess around with it a bit and then move on, but this one features a training mode.

While the training mode doesn’t explain the complete basis (so I don’t fully understand when the ball passes to the other team, for example), it does explain each play in detail, with markers on the map, plays it out for you then gives you a bunch of tries to test it out. Due to this mode, I was finally able to figure out how American Football plays, how to look for passes and how to create gaps for running through. Although I did get told off for scoring a touchdown in one of the tutorials because I passed to someone that wasn’t the intended target, but luckily that doesn’t apply in proper matches.

With the simple to use create-a-team, it was then time for the Welsh team Llaneron Sheep to try their hand at joining the NFL. Thanks to their training and some handy assist functions (branded under EAsy play), they were able to perform quite well. Gameplay felt very smooth and with the button prompts for passing giving you four players you can pass to, it felt like I was fully in control of the situation.

For someone that doesn’t know much about the sport, Madden 2002 actually made me appreciate, and realise that it’s not a load of people flailing towards each other, but more like a turn-based tactic game where you have to plan your move while also anticipating what your opponent is going to do. I actually quite enjoyed it.

Fun

Madden 2002 offers an impressive range of moves on the field. You can perform hand-offs, jumps, spins, blocks and custom C-stick jukes, along with a bewildering array of on-the-fly tactical switches that will only make sense if you’re a keen follower of the sport, or the series itself. If there’s a weakness here, it’s that the game’s complexity will be off-putting to newcomers.
Martin Kitts, NGC Magazine #64

Remake or remaster?

I’m not sure what the current games are like.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to play Madden NFL 2002.