Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Tiburon
Genre: Sports
Release date: Available now

It’s Sunday. It’s halftime and the Bears are down by 24. Cutler has already thrown three interceptions, but you still have hope for a strong second half. Your phone rings. It’s your fiancé. She wants you to pick her up at the airport. You have to leave in 15 minutes, but you need to know how the game is going to end. You think to yourself, “I need a simulation. I’ll play Madden and see what happens.” You don’t have time for a full game of Madden so you decide to play Madden NFL Arcade instead. You win by a landslide, and your hopes for a Bears comeback soar. Unfortunately, in real life you can’t turn your opponent into a block of ice or make your receivers fast as lightning. You get home from the airport and find the Bears have lost by 40.

While Madden NFL Arcade can’t be used to simulate any actual game results, it can provide 15 minutes of good times. In Madden NFL Arcade, you play a cartoony, bare-bones version of Madden. Each team is limited to five players, and there are no penalties, substitutions or time outs. The field is only 60 yards long and there are no first downs. When you score a touchdown, you are given the option of taking an automatic extra point or manually going for a two-point conversion. Play-calling is limited to four types of plays on each side of the ball.

Alongside these football limitations comes a new feature called Game Changers. These are power-ups randomly assigned to you and your opponent several times throughout the game. Each of these 13 Game Changers can have different effects on you or your opponent. One slows everything down for one play, another freezes one of your opponent’s players in place. There is a Game Changer that lets your quarterback throw three balls at once, while another prevents your opponent’s QB from seeing where he is throwing. You can even turn your 21-0 game around if you are lucky enough to get the “Swap Scores” Game Changer.

While very limited in terms of what you can actually do, the game is still very fun for a little while. Games go to 30 points and rarely last longer than 15 minutes. You can play by yourself, against a friend, or online against a stranger. I played a ton of games both by myself and against others, and I found Madden Arcade was much more enjoyable with someone else next to you in the living room. It makes the smack-talking between points much more enjoyable.

The limited play calling hurts the longevity of the game. On offense, you can only rush or pass short, medium or long. On defense, you can only blitz or defend short, medium or long. Rushing is great if you hate gaining yards and love wasting downs. The small field and the incredibly tight AI-controlled defenders make a successful rush very difficult, so most of your game is spent passing. The team ratings are useless as well. There are no individual stats, and it feels like everyone throws with the same accuracy and runs with the same speed.

It’s tough to give Madden NFL Arcade a “Skip it – Play it – Buy it” recommendation because the game is download-only and can’t be rented. While minimal in its play selection and game rules, it’s a great Halftime Show substitute on Sundays. It’s easy enough to be played by anyone, and the game’s quick pace and varied Game Changers can keep the fun going all season long.

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