Finally, you can now also adjust how a defensive lineman attacks the offensive line without actually having to shift your whole line. Individual presses and pullbacks on receivers can be performed, and you can also lock a corner on to a specific receiver, thus preventing mismatches. You can also give better pre-snap assignments to your defensive backs now. Want to push a linebacker into deeper zone coverage or bring a safety in for the blitz? Simply highlight the player, and tap the right analog stick in the desired direction. Similar to the offensive hot routes, you can now redesign a defensive player's assignment at the touch of a button. As a result, using the stick becomes an immensely fun way to play the defensive side of the ball.Īnother big-time addition is the new defensive hot route system. While this sounds like it could be a little over-complicated if not done right, in this case it is done right. However, you have to be careful, because missing with the stick leads to a supremely missed tackle, which consequently gives your opponent an easy way to dodge past you. Using the hit stick properly will also result in more fumbles and dropped passes for the offense. Get up a good bout of speed, and you will absolutely waylay the poor ball carrier. If you're just running alongside your opponent and tap it without getting much of a head of steam, then you'll just kind of shove him. What the hit stick translates into is context-sensitive tackling that you can control. The first and most entertaining addition is the new 'hit stick.' Essentially, when on defense, tapping the right control stick in the direction of your opponent will lay a nasty hit on him. The additions made to the defensive side of the ball are plentiful and all superb. If you've ever felt that Madden was simply a one-sided piece of pigskin in favor of offensive play, Madden 2005 changes all of that. Madden NFL 2005 is finally here, and it absolutely does the Madden name proud.

In many ways, Madden 2005 is just a bit too much like last year's Madden for comfort-but it's still a truly excellent game of football all around. The downside to this high emphasis on one particular area of the game seems to be that the remaining aspects of the game (of which there are many) are generally only slightly improved or altered, if at all. Nearly all of the additions and tweaks made to this year's game fall squarely into the realm of defensive football, and they're all great new features. For this year's edition, Madden NFL 2005, defense is the name of the game. Last year's Madden NFL 2004, in particular, is revered as one of the best installments EA has ever brought out-which ultimately makes it a tough act to follow. As the best-selling football franchise on the market for an umpteen number of years, Madden NFL is a name that is known by the masses as representative of some of the best football you can get on a video game console.

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