Oh no, not the waggle!

Reviewed by mattun on November 14, 2008  |  report this review

One of the major criticisms levelled at the Madden franchise over the years is the lack of innovation in gameplay. Sure, the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” might very well apply, but effectively each subsequent title released in the series is a roster upgrade with a couple of gameplay tweaks that may more may not have a real impact. No matter how fantastic the game is at the core, this means that they are bound to get stale at some stage.

However, with the release of Madden 2007 on the Wii, EA has managed to create a title which is familiar, yet also very fresh. Thanks to the Wii Remote, a new level of immersion can be achieved, and it can be argued that the Wii version of Madden 2007 is the strongest amongst its next-generation brethren.

The main draw to this title is the Wii Remote control, dubbed FreeMotion by EA. Using the motion sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote, players control the game using hand and arm motions which are intended to mimic those which are being performed on the field. Players are introduced to the new controls through a series of tutorials which can be brought up in-game at any time. These are a welcome addition as it allows both newcomers and Madden veterans to become accustomed to the controls without diving into a game head first.

It is on the offensive side of the field in which this new control scheme really shines. To hike the ball you pull up on the controller, and then to make a pass, you make a passing motion. Your pass will automatically be thrown to the main receiver. One downside to this is if you want to throw to a different receiver, you must first press the corresponding button and then make the passing motion. This adds an extra action that is not required with a regular controller, but it doesn’t really affect the gameplay in a negative way as the difference is a fraction of a second. To throw a lob, you move the remote, slowly, and to throw a bullet pass, you move it fast. These passing controls work very well, with the desired action being performed almost all the time. To make a catch with a receiver, you simply lift both controllers up in the air at the same time. This motion fails to register sometimes, making it a tad frustrating. However, it is not essential unless you play the game on the highest difficulty level.