Variety isnt merely the spice of life, its the rare thing that gives us control.

Suddenly, we have options and choices.

Thats not to imply that theMaddenfranchise hasnt made any advances in the post Hit Stick era.

Maddenis a consistently lush and well-crafted experience, but is it the best that it could be?

Did I mention Bo Jackson?

The guy with the controller is surgical with that shit.

Look how he toys with the defense.

This is the most impressive sporting achievement that Ive ever witnessed and Ive seen all of theAir Budmovies.

So, I guessMaddendoes have some competition this year.

What is dead may never die!

Whats it gonna be, kid?

The one with the old man in a tie or the one with Joe Montana mid-roll out?

Its a wonder that theMaddenfranchise survived all those years before they finally started using cover athletes.

Where the Montana franchise really shined was in its presentation.

The game also had a bit of swagger, with taunts like Where you going!?

after a big hit.

You also had the ability to level another player after play had stopped.

I did that lots.

He was replaced by Deion Sanders and theNFLfranchise would linger for a couple more years with rotating cover athletes.

Quarterback Club

Evolution can be an ugly process.

When you look at the latest version ofMadden, the players look almost indistinguishable from reality.

Do we get there without these earlier experiments and boundary pushes?

After looking back at some of these games, I understand why.

On the downside, the gameplay was notoriously atrocious and ironically, passing proved to be incredibly difficult.

It also deserves some credit for its longevity.

It was meat and potatoes like a really good fullback.

That is until the NFL started clamping down.

NFL2K

Shits about to get a little emotional:NFL2Kwas my jam.

Lets talk about the Dreamcast and how it was handed down from the sky by future angels.

Graphics that looked like the great leap forward that we had all been hoping for?

The ability to call plays or play minigames on the VMU memory card?

Oh, and you got a game where a fish has a dudes face?

This wasnt a football game, this was a FOOTBALL game.

You had to know your team and the tendencies of the real-world players to truly excel.

With each succeeding year, theNFL2Kfranchise improved.

I can personally attest to the addictive qualities of the franchise mode inNFL2K2.

A move that leaves one with the impression that EA was willing to tolerate direct competition.

Is it still economically viable?