Developer: Tiburon Publisher: Electronic Arts

Released: September 7, 2000 7/10 Rated: E

There’s a definite concern heading into Madden 2001 that the focus on getting the version for the shiny new PlayStation 2 is going to cause casualties in the quality of other versions, namely this one and that of the PS1. Which is why it’s a pleasure to report that while the PS2 version definitely made an impact with its leap forward, the N64 at least is still left with a pretty nice polish that lets it shine on for another year at the very least. 

The transition to what I would probably consider an overall new era for EA Sports and the Madden series, though primarily due to the arrival of a new generation, still splashes back somewhat to these older consoles pretty much as soon as you fire the game up. The clean look of the menus and the tangible difference of John Madden himself indicate something in the way of progress, and presentation as a whole is definitely a noticeable change. Of course, this isn’t going to affect gameplay or any of the truly important parts of the package, but when you’re nothing if not consistent the way Tiburon has proven to be with the few entries we’ve looked at in the series, brushing up around the edges is at least the safe move. Players can still feel like they carry all the weight of a ‘70s electric football game, but the feeling of momentum and weight upon colliding with other players ensures that the essence of football is never actually lost. 

The most tangible additions in Madden 2001 are ones that would get further developed in future installments on later hardware, but are still iconic features nonetheless and fun to see in a classic entry like this one. The Two-Minute Drill is a simple but addicting score attack mode that would remain a Madden staple for years to come as offensive-minded players get to go all out until the clock runs out or they turn the ball over. User Profiles are boosted massively in importance with a returning play editor and the introduction of Madden Cards to the previous year’s Madden Challenge. The card collecting was always an exciting reward in these older EA Sports titles, and though they hit their stride a few years later, it’s another feature that’s impressive to see as far back as this. 

It’s a bit extreme to think that any of these N64 Maddens could be “ahead of their time,” but seeing a lot of ideas hinted at in the last few coming to fruition even as new hardware garnered the majority of development time and focus is just very cool as you move through each installment on the N64. Although gameplay isn’t going to vary all that much between any of these games, Madden NFL 2001 might be the standout entry on the console just for the way it reminds us of a time when this franchise was actually trying to stay ahead of the game.

Additional Information

Saves: Controller Pak

Compatible With: Rumble Pak, Expansion Pak

Players: 1-4

Print Guides: Prima

Aggregate Critical Reception: 84.82% (GameRankings), based on 11 reviews

Other Releases: NA exclusive on N64

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