Madden NFL 2007

American Football, played more like it should be – with a great deal of physical expression! We’re not sure if our home-grown version of the sport, soccer, would adapt so convincingly to Wii controls but certainly rugby could benefit.

In Madden NFL 2007 gesture-based commands are used to give defensive players more oomph to their tackles, and enable more gutsy performances from attackers running with the ball. Sacking the Quarter Back with a thrust of both arms forwards feels so much more satisfying than just tapping a little button. Shoving a guy off to the side using a quick nudge in his direction feels more heroic after the touch down.

Perhaps we’re over romanticising here, but the living-room sofa is going to feel much more like a sporting event when Madden is played on Wii. Friends might even select their best kickers and offensive/defensive guys to earn the points yard by yard. A sense of timing and momentum is more apparent when you’re taking a conversion kick, swinging your arm to imitate the motion of a foot, judging the force with the Remote while carefully aiming with the Nunchuck. Using the Wii Remote to perform lobs or bullet throws to your receivers also feels much more satisfying on completion.

Feeling rather sceptical we spent quite a while in the training mode to see how much of a sham this might be, but in fact came away entirely impressed that practice could make perfect. We also found that nerves can play a part, so keep ’em steely!

Hopefully we’re not showing our ignorance, but it seems to us that American Football and Wii form a winning team.

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