Pros: It's Madden.
Cons: ...Madden 2004!
The bottom line: Madden 2005, I mean Madden 2004, I mean Madden 2005, I mean.....gah! Find 2004 in the discount bin instead.
This is my review on Madden 2004. I mean Madden 2005. Oh, what's the difference?

The answer to the rhetorical question I just posed is: Not much! This is what's different.

1. Madden Curse

This is by far the most important change in this game from Madden 2004. In case you don't know, the players featured on the cover of Madden invariably come down with injury the next season. Or just suck.

Case in point: Mr. Michael Vick graced the cover of Madden 2005. I mean Madden 2004. He was also featured on the back in a drawing that had his skin color like that of a tanned Vinny Testerverde. Anyways, he came down with injury had mustered a measly 69.0 passer rating. This year, he only had a 78.1, but managed 900 yards rushing as he continued to be the most exciting quarterback in football. Though not the best. That award goes to the aforementioned Mr. Vinny Testeverde. Bwhaha.

This year, Mr. Ray Lewis posed in an oh-so-intimidating stance on the cover of Madden 2004. I mean, Madden 2005. Darn, why do I keep mixing them up???? Anywho, he posted so-so stats this year. For Ray Lewis standards. It would've been a career year for anyone else.

This is the most important difference I can think of.

2. Playmaker Controls

Madden 2005, oops, I mean Madden 2004 introduced "Playmaker" controls. Basically it's EA for "hot route." When a company has a monopoly, they're allowed to make up words like that. So, using the joysticks, you can change plays on the fly. You can hot route wide receivers, change the direction of a running play at the line, set your D to cheat against the run or long pass. In 2005, you can change coverages and stuff. Change defensive assignments and whatnot on the fly. While this is all well and good, this can be performed in ESPN NFL 2K5 with some hot routes and audibles.

Only a little has been added to this feature. Also, my gamepad doesn't work with Madden, I have to use the damn keyboard, so this is really a moot point. Moot. That's a funny word.

3. Hit Stick

This year's Madden is supposed to revolve around D. So now there's a hit stick. Use the right analog stick and lay a big hurt on the ball carrier. If you get it, you might cause a fumble. If you don't, well you missed and look pretty stupid as the ball carrier high-steps his way into the end zone. You just got posterized.

I know this from playing Madden on some kid's Xbox. Once again, my gamepad don't work!!! You produce a few too many fumbles this way, but it adds a new dimension for risk-takers. A neat little thing I guess.

4. Gimmicks Galore

Okay, the rest of the differences are little gimmicks. Sports Radio with Tony Bruno is stupid. People call in and ask questions. If I want to know how many ____ (I forgot the stat) Walter Payton had, I'll go look it up on Google. I don't want to hear someone call in and give a wrong answer and hear Mr. Bruno make fun of him, listen to another caller and hear the right answer. By that time I could've looked up the Payton stat, and how many teams Testaverde has played on in his career, the stock price of Yahoo.com, bake a little cake, lose 5 pounds, etc. Doesn't compare to the halftime show in ESPN. The halftime show in ESPN got old after a few days. Tony Bruno got old from the start. Commentary is limited, recycled, etc. LAME.

Let's see, what else is new about Madden 2004, oh I mean Madden 2005? Hrmm...oh yeah! Newspapers. After each week there's a newspaper. They told me that Jason Witten was upset that I traded Darren Woodson, an NFL "icon". Apparently Keyshawn is mad. I can't imagine Mr. Keyshawn getting mad unless they just aren't getting him the damn ball often enough. Did they all become best friends all of a sudden? The different stories must have been written in 5 minutes by the EA crew. While they were doing their nails, chatting on AIM, etc. It kept telling me about injuries that didn't exist. I was like "OH NO! Keyshawn's injured?!?!?!" I check my roster, and he's not. Though he's still complaining.

Yeah, there's a player morale meter. You get to see Roy Williams say "I am ready to step up and be a leader of this franchise." You get to hear Keyshawn complain. Oh boy oh boy oh boy!

Create-a-fan is a nice little gimmick I guess. You can create a custom fan that shows up when you play at your stadium. Make them fat, white, black (no Asian or Hispanic though....grumble, grumble, grumble), shirtless, pantless (just kidding), and give them stuff like those big foam fingers, cowboy hats, etc. It's pretty nice I guess. But it's just a gimmick! But a nice one at that. It doesn't add much to gameplay though.

There's new music of course, but when are they going to make a game with more than 12 songs? After a few days, you get really sick and tired of hearing "Take Me Out" with half the song cut out.

What's The Same?

Graphics. EXACTLY THE SAME. I seriously cannot tell the difference. AT ALL.

No room for improvement? As if. I know my computer's not the greatest (64 MB ATI Radeon 9200), but at least there should be a difference! I can't read names on the back of the uniforms clearly! I recall a game I bought in '98 that boasted "See the players' names on the back." As Napoleon Dynamite would say, "That was flipping 7 years ago! EA, you fat lard!"

Gameplay. It plays exactly the same. This is to be expected of any franchise sports game though, with an occasional leap every 4 years or so.

Sounds. I'm going to scream the next time I hear a "ca-chunk" sound when I tackle someone. ARRRRGHHHHHHHH! (something like that).

Glitches. Glitches galore. When I'm setting up for a field goal, the placeholder's back reads "Henson" and then switches to "Testaverde". Gah. Also sometimes I see a cut scene of a coach talking to my players. With a clipboard. Except there's no coach! I KNOW Bill Parcells isn't in any games, but just make someone up! Put a stick figure in there! EA, put some effort for God's sake!!!!!!!!!!

Commentary. I'm tired of hearing Mr. Madden tell me that third downs are crutial. Tired of him telling me that an 80 yard drive is "short". Tired of him suggesting that I line up for a punt return on 3rd down!!!! If virtual Madden were a coach, the New England Patriots would play like the San Francisco 49ers. No joke. Hey EA, I got an idea. Get rid of Madden.

Conclusion

This is not a bad game really. Just almost the same as 2004. Unless you got money to burn, don't buy it. In fact, I can think of better ways to get rid of money if you have too much.

1. Donate it to charity.
2. Light it up to light a cigarette.
3. Use it as toilet paper.
4. Give it to me. Naw, do #1 instead.

Yes, I am in a little bit of a bad mood, in case you haven't noticed. But I will stand by these words. Football fans get ready for another 5 (or was it 10) years of this as EA just signed an exclusive contract with the NFL. Now the EA guys are going to be even MORE lazy. I think I'll just preorder ESPN NFL 2K10 (or is is 2K15).