Madden NFL 97

Critics hailed the PlayStation version as a strong comeback for the series after the cancellation of the PlayStation version of Madden NFL '96, citing outstanding gameplay, graphics, and options. The two sports reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) were pleased that all the teams are available from the beginning, as opposed to having some teams unlocked via hidden codes as in earlier installments. GamePro wrote that "Madden PlayStation is not only the best football game on the market today, it's the best 32-bit sports game, period." Next Generation was particularly impressed by the control and skill demanded by the gameplay, though they criticized that the AI can be consistently beaten by one specific play, something they said had always held back the Madden games from being as outstanding in single-player mode as they are in multiplayer. EGM named the PlayStation version a runner-up for Sports Game of the Year (behind Wave Race 64). Reviewing the Saturn version, GamePro praised the gameplay, playbook, animations, sound effects, and "full-motion video that looks TV-real, even with its typically Saturn graininess." Paul Glancey of Sega Saturn Magazine echoed Next Generations criticism that the AI can always be beaten by one play, but recommended the game on the basis of the large selection of teams, motion captured animation, and combination of strategy and action. GamePro was much less pleased with the Super NES version. They said that while the game is good in absolute terms, with a wide selection of moves and attention to detail in the backgrounds, it is inferior to Madden NFL '96 due to its weak AI even on the hardest skill level, slower gameplay, awkward graphics and animations, and limited number of voice clips from Madden. GamePro called the Genesis version "an immensely enjoyable game with great action and stat-soaked strategy", going so far as to suggest that it made buying a next generation system unnecessary for football enthusiasts. They particularly praised the fact that the game is not a simple update for the series and offers new features and more realistic graphics. GamePros brief review of the Game Boy version criticized the overly small ball and players, prominent slowdown, and lack of any licensing apart from Madden himself, but praised the realistic plays and strategy. It was #4 on PC Data's monthly PC games sales chart for December 1996.