• Realistic game play. The collisions, though over done sometimes, are the best in this game series since the '96 version. Player control is not that complicated like in past Madden versions.

• Tends to freaze in older Playstation Models

• Defensive AI is challenging, even at the easiest level.

• Some stats are not kept, such as kick and punt returns and interception yardage (which are official NFL Statistics) while tackels, though cool, are kept (tackles arn't an official NFL Statistic).

• Franchise Mode is the best feature, allowing the player to partisipate in 30 NFL seasons.

• Allowing the player to be involved in General manager decisions, such as the NFL Draft and free agentcy, make the off season experience realistic and as fun as the season games themselves.

Review:

I wasn't much of a John Madden Football fan until the '99 version came out last year. This years version improves on the previous edition and more. Overall this is the best football game on the market this year. Between the realistic sound effects, challenging computer opponents, responsive game controls, and near realistic graphics. The movement of the players is reminiscent of NFL Blitz, including the jukes and stiff arm moves as well as the player taunts and complaints when things go wrong.

The only thing I would improve upon is the lame side line player graphics. The two dimensional players (at least in the Playstation version)on the sidelines clash heavily in the three dimensional environment and there isn't enough of them to make the sidelines look realistic anyway (10 players with the same number 88?). The only time the bench warmers look cool is the random ground level camera shot after a big defensive or offensive play.

This may seem a bit nit picky, but if realisim is the goal, their are still a few cracks that need to be filled in.