GamesRadar - Reviews

Mabinogi (Review)

May 30, 2008

Dust off your lute and break out the sheep shears - the “fantasy life” of Mabinogi awaits you. A free-to-play MMORPG based on Celtic mythology, Mabinogi has been delighting Korean gamers with its rich fantasy setting since 2004, and now it’s our turn. You aren’t bound to classes like “wizard” in Mabinogi. ...

M.A.C.H. (Review)

Mar 6, 2007

When we see a game come across our desks with little to no fanfare, it's usually a sign that it's meant to be buried and forgotten. So, when a jet racing game called M.A.C.H: Modified Air Combat Heroes suddenly appeared in our PSP, we were rightfully skeptical. Imagine our surprise when the game's mixture of Burnout-style speed and WipEout -caliber sleekness fused into a totally playable, PSP-exclusive title. M.A.C.H. tries to be two different games at once - a balls-out racer and a ...

Mad Tracks - Xbox Live Arcade (Review)

May 31, 2007

May 30, 2007 was a red-letter day for race fans with an Xbox 360. Forza Motorsport 2, probably the most anticipated driving game of the year, hits this day. But the type of road rage found in that game appeals more to gearheads and purists; not to mention those with fairly deep pockets. If you want a lighter, cheaper driving fix on this day of all things fast and motorized, look no further than this weeks Live Arcade offering: Mad Tracks. Mad Tracks is less a racer and more a mix of ...

Madagascar (Review)

Aug 8, 2005

Although the pastimes of kids and adults are steadily converging - both play San Andreas, both watch SpongeBob Squarepants - there are certain places where the twain shall almost definitely never meet. Not all that many adults are ever seen drinking Sunny D, for instance, and you don't usually get hordes of eight-year-olds listening to Joy Division records. Similarly, there's not a lot of people over the age of nine years old who are going to get a great deal out of playing Madagascar.OK, it's ...

Madden NFL 06 (Review)

Mar 16, 2006

In the actual, real world, John Madden the man is known almost as much for the fact that he practically lives in his giant bus, the Maddencruiser, as he is for being a complete nut-case who happens to have a high football I.Q. How ironic, then, that it's taken until now to get a portable version of his football game that hasn't been strictly second-string. The Game Boy versions haven't made the cut, and the less said about last year's Nintendo DS fiasco, the better. Madden NFL 06 on PSP would ...

Madden NFL 06 (Review)

Feb 15, 2006

This year's Madden has gone on the offensive, and not just with an even more accurate depiction of big, beefy guys (or tiny guys with body armour) in indescribably tight pants. After revamping the defensive options last year, it's the offense that has undertaken a serious overhaul. The hit stick now doubles as a truck stick to help you on the ground, enabling you to smash into oncoming would-be tacklers or pull up, sending them flying. And when you're airborne, a precision stick helps you ...

Madden NFL 06 (Review)

Feb 15, 2006

Madden games have always been the market leader for digital translations of America's most popular sport and nothing seems set to change as we enter the next gen. Admittedly, there's not much competition. Or, in fact, any at the moment. So, as EA's leading franchise, what did we hope for? A game built from the bottom up specifically for Xbox 360? Yep. A Madden that looked absolutely gorgeous? Hell, yeah. A game that packed in all the modes we've come to love and expect over the years? ...

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Nov 22, 2006

There's an outrageously good chance that if you're reading this, you're already a fan of sports games. If that's the case, rest assured that all your updated stats and faithful stadium recreations are intact with Wii's Madden NFL 07, but the greatest accomplishment here is the genre-opening motion controls. Much more intuitive than anything on the PS3, these gesture-based commands deftly control passing, tackling and hiking in such a way that anyone can wrap their minds around playing a game of ...

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Nov 17, 2006

Is it even legal to launch a console without a new(ish) Ridge Racer and the latest Madden? Publisher Electronic Arts isn't taking chances, and takes the PS3 field on day one with Madden NFL 07... though 360 owners may feel they've played this ...

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Sep 1, 2006

Though the series hasn't had an easy time on DS, on the surface, Madden NFL 07 seems to stack up pretty well when compared to its console counterparts. Once the game starts, though, some big holes open up in the game's defensive line. But first, the good: there's a huge feature list with enough options to thrill armchair quarterbacks everywhere. Players can take their favorite teams through a single Season mode, or build a lasting legacy in the game's Franchise mode. You've got Exhibition ...

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Aug 25, 2006

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 ...

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Aug 25, 2006

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Aug 25, 2006

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Aug 23, 2006

Last year, Madden glitzed its way onto next-gen platforms with sparkling graphics - lifelike stadiums, impeccable players models, feckless animations and solid gameplay. But the extras that current-gen users took for granted were missing. This year, that's all changed - but not for the better. The gameplay is better than ever, but the Superstar mode isn't properly executed and the minigames don't have the same oomph. In fact, one of the game's greatest improvements spans all generations of ...

Madden NFL 07 (Review)

Aug 22, 2006

Last year, Madden on PSP was jerkier than Terrell Owens. It chugged and stammered like Warren Sapp. But that's all in the past. While the slowdown made last season's game a frustrating affair, 07 glides along smoother than the Bucs running back Cadillac Williams. Of course, load times are always a factor in PSP games, but you'll go from Main Menu to coinflip in under 35 seconds. When you consider that each game lasts a full four quarters (and around 40 minutes if you're playing 5 minute ...

Madden NFL 08 (Review)

Oct 11, 2007

Oct 11, 2007 It's easy to forget about that big black machine that we've had stashed away for awhile now. Remember the original Xbox? EA sure does, as they've given owners of Microsoft's first game console a swan song worthy of its short but spectacular lifespan. As what is almost certainly the final game to be released for the system, Madden 08 is the best football game you'll ever play on a current-generation machine (including its PS2 ...

Madden NFL 08 (Review)

Aug 28, 2007

Aug 28, 2007 It's a no-brainer, really – pair the quadrillion-selling Madden franchise with the wildly popular Nintendo DS, and you've got yourself a guaranteed money-printing phenomenon. However, as the old adage goes, just because you can make something doesn't necessarily mean that you should. This is more than evident with Madden 08 for the DS, a game sure to please very few (if any) football fans no matter what the demographic. Feature-rich but gameplay-poor, Madden is a clumsy ...

Madden NFL 08 (Review)

Aug 24, 2007

While so many of us have been getting all hot and bothered over the latest next-generation Madden games, it's kind of easy to forget that about a gazillion people still own the venerable PS2. What's more is that tons of 'em lined up for that console's Madden 08 - and, so it turns out, for good reason. Another year, another Madden, another winner. This season's title is as familiar as an old baseball glove (wrong sport, right analogy). Between the crisp visuals, tight controls, and Al ...

Madden NFL 08 (Review)

Aug 21, 2007

For all we know, the PSP was built for Madden. Because of its big, beautiful screen, powerful innards, and - gasp! - more-than-workable control scheme, the football experience on Sony's handheld has been one of the best to be found on the platform. Sure, this year's brand new Madden 08 may not be packed to the gills with features, visuals, or gameplay mechanics significantly different than last season's game, but it's a fundamentally solid gridiron effort that looks, sounds, and plays ...

Madden NFL 08 (Review)

Aug 20, 2007

Those of us who've been playing Madden for years tend to like things just so. We get comfortable with our button layouts, strategy selections, and kicking mechanics to the point of righteous indignance when any basic fundamentals change. Hell, we're still complaining about the infamous passing cone - and that was a couple of seasons back, for crying out loud. So it is with no slight apprehension that we approached Madden 08 on the Wii, for the concept of waggle-based football is enough to make ...