Original Release: EA, 1991, Genesis
Other Releases: SNES (1991)
The sequel to EA’s console football pioneer really didn’t change much, but did have a number of small tweaks and additions.
Madden ’92 (Genesis, EA, 1991)
Where to Buy: Amazon
How to Emulate: coming soon!
Review by: C. M0use
This is very much a rehash of the previous game, with mostly small cosmetic differences. A digitized Madden gets in there now for detailed team breakdowns rather than generic text prior to each matchup, but he tends to say the same stuff over and over, and digitized voice wasn’t added to the game yet.
Playoff mode has been fixed – you can use any team now, but there’s still no season mode. There’s also still no NFL or NFLPA license, although the team colors are more accurate now. I can’t recall if the first game actually had all the NFL cities of the time represented, but if it didn’t, they are in place now.
There are a few new formations like the 3-4 on defense (which was sorely missed in the first game) and the run-n-shoot offense, but for the most part the gameplay is virtually identical so it still has the same strengths and weaknesses. It’s easy to pick up and play, but get ready for some frustration in the passing game with the “window” system and interference rarely being called. It also still takes players too long to get on and off the field and for the computer to call plays.
On the whole only a tiny step up from the first game, but I suppose it was nevertheless a step in the right direction. It’s easier to damn in hindsight knowing that EA would eventually spam minimal changes for each year’s release of the series in this manner, but at the time it was a welcome follow-up.
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