Madden NFL Arcade Review

"That's right, I rock."

While we’re appreciative of how far the Madden NFL franchise has come over the years, there’s still something inside of us yearning for a quick, vicious game of football.  The last time we got a game along those lines was back when Midway produced its NFL Blitz series, with its over-the-top violence (we’re talking WWE level here) and wild gameplay.  Well, EA Sports may never reach that level of play (especially with the strictness of the NFL nowadays – it yanked its license from Blitz for a reason), but Madden NFL Arcade for Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network is the next best thing.

If you’re looking for deep strategy and coaching tactics, forget it.  You won’t find it here.  Madden NFL Arcade is all about two modes, offense and defense.  On offense, you have four downs to get your ball down the field and into the end zone, using three pass plays (short to long) and one running play.  Defensively, you’ll need to stop the other team from scoring, using one of four chosen formations.  While these plays are effective, both normal and flipped, more would’ve been a real bonus.

Still, you can’t go wrong with the gameplay.  Madden NFL Arcade moves at a very brisk pace, doing away with slower-moving parts of the game (like kicking and penalties) in favor of simply getting the ball down field or stopping your opposing team’s progress.  If normal tackles and techniques weren’t enough, you also gain access to Game Changers.  These boosters enable your players to execute special attacks, such as freezing whoever has the ball or zooming in for an unexpected sack.  Both sides can use them, so no one gains an unfair advantage.  With over ten to choose from, the game never gets old.

Several of your NFL favorites are here, but since the teams are made up of five-man formations, you might find some particular players missing.  Also, the teams are ranked, but it doesn’t really serve any purpose.  The Bengals, for instance, sit at a 67 (out of 100), but they still charge down the field and score just as easily as the Saints.  We don’t mind, however.  For a game shying away from realism, it’s great to see that everyone has an equal playing field.  Even the Lions.

Run for it!

Madden NFL Arcade lacks in options, however.  You have your choices of quick pick-up games or online play through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.  While it’s a blast taking on friends, some players might be looking for something more.  (With that, we humbly suggest Madden’s more-serious simulation cousin.)

Like EA’s previous downloadable sports game, NHL 3-On-3 Arcade, Madden NFL looks great.  While the field is smaller and there isn’t much fanfare going on the sides, the players themselves are fantastic, tackling and juking like the real deals.  The game runs at a silky smooth 60 frames per second, and the additional effects, such as the barrage of fireworks that go off throughout, are great.  As for sound, there are a few music selections here and plenty of sound effects, along with quick comments throughout the match.  While that may be less than you expect from a Madden game, it fits nicely with the quick style of play.

At $15 (1200 Microsoft points), Madden NFL Arcade isn’t an instant purchase for those thinking this is on the same level as Madden NFL 10.  However, if you accept its slight shallowness and know what you’re getting into, it’s jam-packed with ball-bobbling, player-tackling fun, especially with the unpredictable Game Changers and energetic presentation.  NFL Blitz is in good company.