Madden NFL 07 - hands-on update

Let's say you've tried to sit down and play some Madden, but that damn playbook just looks like a bunch of scribbles and crazy alien words. Well, this 07 introduces the Play Type playbook, a way to look at the ocean of moves in terms everyone can digest. Instead of wading through the 200-plus plays (unique per team, even), you can cut that number down to 80 or so, each sectioned off in ways like short pass, deep pass, inside run or goal line.

Basically, you can play without knowing jack-all about football and still have a good time. But, for those who love the intense playbook and thrive on options, the traditional plays are there, ready for coaches who are a bit more seasoned.

The point-and-click interface does pose one problem - people seeing which play you just chose. To combat this, you can hold the B trigger while selecting a play and there's no visual clue that you just picked it. However, a slight rumble in the remote lets you know that the confirmation went through, so any eavesdropping player-twos will be in for a surprise if they think they've got your strategy pegged.

You can also psych other players out with fake snaps by whipping up the remote while holding the trigger - your opponent will see you make the gesture, jump the gun and probably get an offside penalty.

An extensive tutorial mode eases you into all these wavy moves, so within five to 10 minutes, you'll be ready to take on someone who's been a Madden fanatic for years. Multiplayer minigames, a fully licensed soundtrack and even more moves for advanced players round it all out, making this Wii-exclusive version a pretty strong lead in the November charge of launch titles.