Madden NFL 2001 is 1 and 0
David A. Dodson

With Madden NFL 2001 for the PlayStation 2, EA Sports has delivered just about everything a fan of the series could want, and while it concentrates on the technical elements a bit more than the other games in the genre, the game stays faithful to the Madden fans.

The game has more features and options than any other in the series to date. It has all of the basic options, like exhibition and season modes, and all of the advanced options, like create-a-player, franchise, and Madden challenges. The Madden challenges have a bit more meat this year, since the beating of each one gets you tokens, which you use like money in the game. You can buy special items like teams, cheats, and secret players. You can even use the tokens as currency to bet with when challenging another player. The Madden challenge cards, which are displayed when you purchase items, were made in tandem with Upper Deck and look like actual trading cards.

The control in Madden 2001 is almost identical to any other Madden game, though some will find the overall feel of the game somewhat unresponsive and slow. The game utilizes a momentum-based physics engine. The only problem is that it plays almost too real - players have to completely stop their momentum when making a change in running direction, just like in real life. This puts a wrinkle in the fast-paced football action. With practice, you do learn to compensate for this, and the effect isn't as bad. The AI of the game is the same quality as other Madden titles. Its easiest setting will forgive a lot and teaches you early on that the game is about knowing the plays and your players. Later levels, however, will prove to be a challenge.

Madden 2001 on the PS 2 is unsurpassed visually. It's almost perfect in its replication of the fields and players of the NFL. The textures used for the jerseys, fields, and skin of the players are unbelievable. Grass from the field actually gets lodged in a player's facemask after he gets planted. During replays, you can actually see each bump of the texture on the football. All of these details make the game look and feel real. The actions of the players themselves are extremely animated and realistic. When you stick a quarterback, he goes down in a real "lights out" type of collapse.

The game's only fumble is in the commentary department. John Madden and Pat Summerall are either lame or downright cheesy. The rest of the sound effects, however, are all quite authentic. The crowd truly sounds very real, and their cheering intigrated into the action - they chant the name of a home team favorite when he makes a big play.

All in all, Madden 2001 is the most complete and realistic gaming facsimile of live football to date. If you like the sport in the least, this game belongs on your shelf. Either way, the game is easily the best incarnation of the series. Though it may be a little heavier on the technical side, it's still a Madden game at heart.

Buy it online at Amazon.com.