Best PS2 era Madden? - Operation Sports Forums

Best PS2 era Madden?

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  • ESPOMAN
    Rookie
    • May 2010
    • 255

    #1

    Best PS2 era Madden?

    I have Madden 04, 05, and 06 on the PS2 and I think 2005 is the best out of them. I have the collectors edition so the other game modes are pretty fun. I was wondering which ones you think is the best. I have heard good things about 07 and 08.
  • TheButter
    Rookie
    • Nov 2020
    • 342

    #2
    Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

    Madden 08 probably.

    Sorry for the off topic question, but how football smart is the PS2 AI? Could someone give me a link or explain how they made it?
    NFL Head Coach 09 had a "Play Steal" feature.

    CPU teams stole your successful plays in your playbook and added them to their playbooks. That feature met with college playbooks from incoming college coaches and user created plays birthed a new meta evolution for playcallers across the NFL.

    Comment

    • Madden08PCgmr
      MVP
      • Feb 2017
      • 2386

      #3
      Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

      2005 is the strongest game in terms of the CPU. You REALLY have to work at it to win. Most complain the D is too overdone.

      2004 is the most unpredictable, but its just way too dated in terms of the gameplay/controls. If you've played newer versions, its practically impossible to go back that far.

      I would think the best info on how the AI works is in the slider threads.

      The Madden Manifesto for is also a solid resource, and probably the deepest dive on the nuts and bolts of the PS2 version of the game.
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      • TheButter
        Rookie
        • Nov 2020
        • 342

        #4
        Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

        Originally posted by Madden08PCgmr
        2005 is the strongest game in terms of the CPU. You REALLY have to work at it to win. Most complain the D is too overdone.

        2004 is the most unpredictable, but its just way too dated in terms of the gameplay/controls. If you've played newer versions, its practically impossible to go back that far.

        I would think the best info on how the AI works is in the slider threads.

        The Madden Manifesto for is also a solid resource, and probably the deepest dive on the nuts and bolts of the PS2 version of the game.
        What's a "Madden Manifesto?" Where can I find it?
        NFL Head Coach 09 had a "Play Steal" feature.

        CPU teams stole your successful plays in your playbook and added them to their playbooks. That feature met with college playbooks from incoming college coaches and user created plays birthed a new meta evolution for playcallers across the NFL.

        Comment

        • ripcandlestickpark
          MVP
          • Aug 2014
          • 1174

          #5
          Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

          Originally posted by TheButter
          What's a "Madden Manifesto?" Where can I find it?
          It's a document put together by an old OS user by the name of Sm27 that goes into a great amount of detail on sliders, settings, and house rules for M05. Here's a link to download it.
          MLB: San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics (Sell The Damn Team, Fisher!)
          NFL: San Francisco 49ers
          NHL: San Jose Sharks
          MLS: San Jose Earthquakes
          EPL: Brentford FC

          RIP San Francisco Deltas | 2017 NASL Champions

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          • Blakerboy12345
            Just started!
            • Nov 2020
            • 3

            #6
            Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

            Madden 07 most definitely

            Comment

            • bmanj
              Rookie
              • Sep 2017
              • 11

              #7
              Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

              Still working through these, but I'm liking '08 a lot.
              I'm a roster guy, so a lot of what draws me to a game is where certain players were that year. '08 has Favre on the Packers still, T.O. on the Cowboys, etc...

              Comment

              • PGaither84
                MVP
                • Mar 2009
                • 4450

                #8
                Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                Everyone will have different preferences. The short answer, for me, is either 07 or 08. When I went to Tiburon in Orlando Florida for the Madden 11 Community Event, I brought along my copy and box of 07 for Josh Looman and Phil Frazer to sign.


                However, it all depends on what matters most to you.


                SoftDrinkTV did a review of Madden 25 and featured me in the end of the video. For me, that game is the best Madden of all time.


                Generation 6 (PS2/Xbox classic) Madden is fun, but lacking in so many important ways.


                They don't have nearly enough position specific ratings - especially on the defensive side of the ball. The only thing defense has are physical ratings - Speed, acceleration, agility, strength, and jump - combined with awareness, tackle and "hands"/catching. There are no ratings for block shedding (run defense), power and finesse moves (pass rushing), play recognition - which is essentially awareness in reading run/pass/play action/draw/screen but also how they drop into zones and cover route cominations before the ball is thrown - man & zone coverage, press at the line, pursuit and hit power. That is a collection of 9 ratings missing on the defensive side of the ball in PS2 Madden games. As a result, when it comes time to sign a free agent, resign a player, or scout and draft a defender... what are you even looking for? Are they fast, strong, and smart? That's it. You don't build a 4/3 vs 3/4 team up front. You don't have specialty CBs like Antoine Winfield Sr. who were great at cover 2 man and cover 2 press that would jam guys at the line, cut underneath throws and could tackle the leagues best HBs on an island. you don't distinguish an Earl Thomas or Ed Reed that can play the middle third and cover sideline to sideline vs any other safety outside of thier speed and awareness ratings. PS2 Madden is about as basic as it gets on the defensive side of the ball.


                PS2 Madden doesn't even have logical scouting or reports. Without meaningful defensive ratings, scouting on defense is a waste of time. However, on top of that, you literally have to do a defensive linemen pass rushing drill to unlock the run blocking rating of an offensive lineman.


                Honestly, when you break it down, there is no point of scouting any player other than QB while playing PS2 Madden. Without an ability to beat the press, route running, catch in traffic, or spectacular catch ratings, what are you even scouting a WR for? Just look at their 40 time and Vertical to see if they can jump. Go to training camp if they have terrible hands. Zero reason to scout them or TEs or FBs. Why scout HBs? Again, look at how fast and agile they are. Improve their carry if you have to. Jut scout QB to see the throwing power and accuracy. There are no ratings for throw on the run, play action, different depths of accuracy or anything.



                When all is said and done, if you are happy with your QB, most people just sort by the fastest players available. Even as I type this, they do the same for QB too - looking for that next Vick or Llamar Jackson.


                Furthermore, the Draft in PS2 Madden is terrible. I forget which year the AI began to trade with itself and offer trades to the user, but they offer the worst trades. On the PC in Madden 08, I recorded a typical draft where the following happened:


                R=Round P= Pick > = for


                R1P3 > R1P17 + R3P17
                I was offered R1P5 > R1P11 + R2P11
                R1P8 > R1P25 + R2P25
                I was then offered R1P14 > R3P11 + R4P11
                R1P15 > R1P24 + R3P24
                R1P20 > R1P32 + R3P32
                R1P22 > R2P13 + R3P13
                R1P27 > R2P2 + R4P2
                I was offered R1P29 > R5P11 + R6P11


                That is right, I made three first round choices with selections 5, 14, and 29 in exchange for the rest of my draft (except Round 7 pick 11). this is normal behavior year in and year out for Madden 08. I will have to go back in and simulate Madden 07 on my Xbox Classic to see how it deals with the draft. However, I find it all a disappointing mess.


                ==========


                The off season is the heart of franchise, and the draft is the heart of the off season. With defenders being broken down to who is fast and smart and who isn't + a terrible draft experience each off season + free agency essentially being the same as the draft but with an "interest" meter on who will sign with you, the entire off season - and in turn Franchise experience - is very shallow to me.


                ==========


                Compare that to Madden 12 and 25 with ratings + player traits that matter + useful scouting and progression + the ability to trade future draft picks + the AI will trade with itself + the solid on field game ply of Madden 12 and 25, PS2 Madden feels like a relic of the past to me.


                The fun aspects of Madden on my classic Xbox that bring me back and just messing around with mini camp drills, being a user LB on defense, and being silly on offense for nostalgia.


                If you just want to play around and team building in franchise mode doesn't bother you, then have fun with Madden 07 and 08. They are just that: Fun. I still have fun with them.
                My Madden Blog

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                • thinwhiteduke
                  Rookie
                  • Jun 2020
                  • 206

                  #9
                  Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                  What I don't get though, is why in 2005 ,did they have to make the players all bulky and robot like?

                  I liked the 03,04 player models.

                  Comment

                  • PGaither84
                    MVP
                    • Mar 2009
                    • 4450

                    #10
                    Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                    Originally posted by thinwhiteduke
                    What I don't get though, is why in 2005 ,did they have to make the players all bulky and robot like?

                    I liked the 03,04 player models.

                    A big "problem" there is that the "Overall" body size is cranked up to 100% in 08. I went into all positions and cranked them down to 0, then painstakingly went in and adjusted that slider in relation to their weight. I found the lightest player at a given position and assumed that meant that was the bottom of the scale and each percentage point equaled 1lb. Yes, it took weeks of doing it one position group at a time every other day or so, but I listened to pod casts and relaxed. When it was done, the players look much better.
                    My Madden Blog

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                    • gth804f
                      Just started!
                      • Sep 2020
                      • 1

                      #11
                      Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                      Is there a way to fix them in 2005? I noticed this is when the player models changed. I too preferred the 2002-2004 era models and thought the ones from 2005 on were too blocky. This happened in the NCAA Football series, too.

                      Comment

                      • parkej13
                        Rookie
                        • Jul 2021
                        • 37

                        #12
                        Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                        Originally posted by ESPOMAN
                        I have Madden 04, 05, and 06 on the PS2 and I think 2005 is the best out of them. I have the collectors edition so the other game modes are pretty fun. I was wondering which ones you think is the best. I have heard good things about 07 and 08.
                        I've never played 04, but I heard the offense was too OP. I have 05, 06, 07 and 08 and I agree that 05 is the best of them, mainly because they started to remove features after that, otherwise I would say 07 for PC is the best one.
                        "Maybe someday, I'll grow up to be a moderator "
                        Currently playing:
                        NFL 2K4
                        Madden 10
                        Madden 12
                        NCAA Football 06
                        NCAA Football 13
                        College Hoops 2K8

                        Comment

                        • thinwhiteduke
                          Rookie
                          • Jun 2020
                          • 206

                          #13
                          Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                          Originally posted by PGaither84
                          A big "problem" there is that the "Overall" body size is cranked up to 100% in 08. I went into all positions and cranked them down to 0, then painstakingly went in and adjusted that slider in relation to their weight. I found the lightest player at a given position and assumed that meant that was the bottom of the scale and each percentage point equaled 1lb. Yes, it took weeks of doing it one position group at a time every other day or so, but I listened to pod casts and relaxed. When it was done, the players look much better.
                          Jeez, sheesh

                          Comment

                          • thinwhiteduke
                            Rookie
                            • Jun 2020
                            • 206

                            #14
                            Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                            Originally posted by parkej13
                            I've never played 04, but I heard the offense was too OP. I have 05, 06, 07 and 08 and I agree that 05 is the best of them, mainly because they started to remove features after that, otherwise I would say 07 for PC is the best one.
                            What did they remove/and/or add?

                            Comment

                            • thinwhiteduke
                              Rookie
                              • Jun 2020
                              • 206

                              #15
                              Re: Best PS2 era Madden?

                              Originally posted by PGaither84
                              A big "problem" there is that the "Overall" body size is cranked up to 100% in 08. I went into all positions and cranked them down to 0, then painstakingly went in and adjusted that slider in relation to their weight. I found the lightest player at a given position and assumed that meant that was the bottom of the scale and each percentage point equaled 1lb. Yes, it took weeks of doing it one position group at a time every other day or so, but I listened to pod casts and relaxed. When it was done, the players look much better.
                              Weight is listed?

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