Madden NFL 07

Last year's Madden 2006 felt like a photocopy of Madden 2005. While we were concerned this was just a case of EA completely shifting their focus from current-gen to next-gen systems, Madden 07 has done plenty to rebound from a gameplay perspective.
 
Thing is, one of the game's greatest improvements spans all generations of consoles: updated rosters. Usually this wouldn't get a mention since it's a given, but what football fan doesn't want to take it to the defense with the once-in-a-generation Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints?

Of course there's Titans QB Vince Young, Cards QB Matt Leinart, and Broncos' QB Jay Cutler. But if you saw Bush run the ball for USC, you know he's a complete freak of nature - one that's nearly impossible to tackle. Just the chance to juke defenders into next week with Bush is worth the $50 price tag.

One of the reasons star running backs like Bush can excel is the newfangled "highlight stick," which lives on the right analog. If you time it right, your player will turn into a whirling dervish of indefensible, ripping off one of forty broken tackle animations.

And the moves differ depending on the back. Smaller backs like Warrick Dunn will try to evade when a tackler gloms on, while big-timers like T.J. Duckett will bring the pain by trying to crash through the would-be tackler.