Madden 2005 makes its DS debut in rushed fashion, but the results are more than passable and easily offer the best portable football game thus far. Sure the game is missing some key elements like commentary, create an “anything” and a career mode, but the game does offer fair depth with a great season mode with complete stat tracking. If you are so lucky to have a friend with a DS and a copy of Madden, then this will add more to your replay value. Knowing that EA was pressured in getting their title out by the system launch, I can forgive many things that were left behind. As is, Madden does more than its fair share of bringing the sport for people on the go.

Visually Madden 2005 looks very similar to Madden on the N64. The game is offered in full 3D, but the polygons are a bit blocky for the systems power. The port from the N64 may also be the result of a forced to launch process, and we will surely see a more polished offering in future EA installments. The menus are done nicely with legible fonts for easy navigation through modes, trades, etc. Presentation on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired, as the cut scenes are also straight from the N64 version with the same taunts and celebrations. Overall, not bad looking for a handheld title, but for a new system, I was hoping for a new engine.

Audio is the game’s weakest asset. When you first boot up the game, you may feel as if this game is going to be a polished masterpiece as you hear actual rock music playing during the menu screen. But alas you must start the game which has very little audio to speak of. A constant roaring of the crowd like a sound machine that provides white noise is what you will hear most of all. You will hear some grunts, groans, whistles, and other minor sound effects, but nothing really noteworthy to speak of that you would not have heard in the GBA version of the game. Madden himself gives out some Maddenisms, but they are so rare that it just seems unnecessary, especially when there is not commentary otherwise. In the end, the sounds are rather dull and uninspired and do not really push the DS to its limits in the audio department.

Game play is Madden at its most basic, but still plays a grand game of the pigskin classic. The A.I. is tough, but fair, with multiple difficulty levels to choose from. The series has surely grown beyond these game play elements, but honestly, this game play style was when Madden was at its prime. You also can pick plays with the stylist pen, which seems to be the only touch screen feature in the game. The touch screen also provides all the play calling X’s and O’s as drawn up from professional diagrams, which is a neat feature.

In the end, Madden plays a solid game of football for the fan on the go. You do get all the NFL teams and players with the ability to wheel and deal them around the league. It is Madden true and true, even if it feels 10 years old. The season mode will provide a good amount of playtime, as will multiplayer competition, just do not expect anything beyond these two features as this year’s Madden on the DS is as bare-boned as it gets. Still it is fun, and that will fill the bill for a short car ride or two.