(continued from previous page) ...the shape and size of the calves, biceps/arms, shoe sizes, helmet types, etc. to create your perfect Gridiron god.

Once the Super Star is created, you must give him an agent to help him along the path to become, well, a Super Star. Enter training camp to assess their overall abilities in throwing, blocking, speed, strength, and so on. Then it's on to the NFL draft where they will be signed to a team based on where their agent puts them. Along the way you'll enter daily events ranging from talks with your agent, training camp, and taking interviews with news reporters. Super Star mode is a unique gameplay element taking you away from the traditional Madden way of playing football.

In Madden 07 there is a new gameplay feature called Gamer Level. The Gamer Level will keep track of everything you accomplish in Madden 07 whether its progressing through franchise mode, playing Super Star mode, or winning games online. You can also earn points to go towards your Gamer Level by completing goals in a normal game, this includes things like; completing a 60 yard pass, returning a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and running over 300 yards in a game. The max level tops out at 50, and is the point in the game in which you become tired of Madden and move to something better in life! 

What about Online play?

With online being a must have for any sports game nowadays, Madden 07 is no different. Online features include Play Now, Lobbies, Madden Profile, and Offers. The Play Now feature plops you right into a game lobby with an equally skilled opponent and puts you into a game automatically. This is nice if you trust that the EA match making will be nice to you and not put you with someone 3-4 levels above you. The other option is to join a lobby. Here you can choose West Coast and East Coast or choose a lobby from Beginner, Intermediate, and Pro rooms - there is even a way to create a custom room.

While the Online service as a whole is quite decent, there are one or two points where it really fumbles the ball. Firstly, the game seems to have a crippling problem with lag where other titles do not. This makes the experience somewhat choppy and frustrating. Also, it can be difficult to actually find a game online with someone of the same skill level. This writer had to play a number of different times before he was pared with someone of the same skill level (god-like, of course).

So, overall?

Overall Madden NFL 07 provides a gaming experience worth it's price tag, and since it’s the only officially licensed football game in the industry, gamers don't - unforunately - really have an alternative choice to satify their hunger for true-to-real-life football.