What Parents Should Know
The primary area of concern with this game is its
commercialism. It advertises other products and game tie-ins,
uses NFL licensed players, and even its soundtrack (with
introduction of each song) appears to be a commercial.
Common Sense Media Review
MADDEN NFL 2004 is the most recent in a series of popular
and realistic football arcade-style games. It provides great
depth of football strategies and possibilities, including star
teams that must be earned and ways to enhance players and
teams. It also provides a great deal of control over the team,
from ways to control multiple players on the field to ways to
control the team franchise off the field. Young football fans
will enjoy the ability to draft and trade players, hire
coaches, build new stadiums, and monitor fan support.
The game allows almost unlimited gameplay, according to the player's interest. One can simply play a football game, or build an entire football franchise. Controls can be complex at the highest levels, such as when one is trying to control both the running back and blockers, but this is not required. If one wishes to play in a simpler format, they can let the computer control the rest of team, and even have plays recommended for the particular situation they are in at that moment.
While the game provides an immense amount of depth in its playcalling and its ability to control the team, rampant commercialism is a major concern. As expected the game uses licensed NFL players, but it also advertises music, and encourages the player to get other EA sports games and additional equipment, such as that required to play online.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
