Specifications
T
he evolution from Madden 2003 to
Madden 2004 represented a quantum
leap, a redshift of sorts that resulted in the
finest football game ever. While not putting forth
as dramatic an improvement, Madden 2005
adds some unique new features that reinforce
its reputation as the ultimate football game.
This year’s upgrades focus on defense play-
calling and play-making. New play-making controls allow you to modify your players’ defensive assign-
ments before the snap, meaning you can change a player’s blitz into a zone drop if you think it won’t work.
Another plus is the addition of the Hit Stick—a means of using the right analog stick on your controller
(you do have a modern Xbox/PS2-style controller, don’t you?) to deliver bone-jarring, fumble-inducing tack-
les. It’s guaranteed to put a wicked smile on your face the first time you use it.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking that coaching is just as much about managing people as calling
plays, Madden 2005’s improved Franchise mode incorporates players’ emotions and attitudes into the
simulation. As you play through season after sea-
son, players occasionally gripe or even demand to
be traded if they don’t receive enough playing time.
How you react to these predicaments influences
your entire team—kowtow to spoiled stars, and
your team chemistry rating will plummet, affecting
the team’s performance.
If you’re a football fan, consider Madden 2005 a
must-buy.
—GEORGE JONES
E
ver since the release of Chris Sawyer’s
RollerCoaster Tycoon in 1999, its fans have
clamored for one crucial missing feature:
The ability to ride the coasters you create. Finally,
developer Frontieral, under the tutelage of Chris
Sawyer, has made a 3D extravaganza that sur-
passes a coaster-head’s wildest dreams.
Not only can you ride an astounding lineup of
steel and wooden coaster types, but you can expe-
rience any ride in your park from a first-person perspective. For many, this feature will be the game’s sole
selling point, but RCT3 doesn’t scrimp on the management side of gameplay.
Starting out in either Career mode (with six missions available initially, and 12 more unlockable) or the
open-ended Sandbox mode, you’re put in charge of building and managing a theme park. Career mode
asks you to satisfy certain requirements—such as increasing attendance, profits, or park worth to certain
levels—before you can “win” a mission.
Ultimately, you succeed by keeping guests happy and running the park smoothly. As a manager, you’ll
hire employees, set prices, research new rides, implement advertising campaigns, and even deal with
“celebrity” guests such as the politician Clint Bushton.
Graphically, RCT3 is the best-looking tycoon game by far. As day turns to night, your park lights up with
flashing bulbs and, if you’ve set one up, a spectacular fireworks display. For the first time, your camera is
fully dynamic; with a twitch of the mouse, you can
view your park from any angle and zoom in from a
birds-eye view to a close-up of a coaster’s rust stains.
Even though coaster-building is much easier here,
we have some quibbles with the game. Laying out
queue lines is still too tricky, and Atari shipped RCT3
with an inexcusable number of minor bugs, most relat-
ing to guest AI and graphics. Atari deserves a spank-
ing for its premature launch, but that doesn’t mean
you should skip RCT3—it’s still a thrilling ride.
—CHUCK OSBORN
You can ride attractions; fantastic visuals; and insane detail
and depth in management mode.
THE VOMIT COMET
THE TOOTHCHIPPER
There were so many bugs in RCT3 at launch that a beta
patch was released on the same day. Placing paths can
be frustrating.
$50, www.atari.com
7
MAXIMUMPC
VERDICT
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3
Chris Sawyer’s baby receives an
extreme, yet buggy, makeover
Madden 2005
Now this is big-time football!
Tight controls, realistic play, great-looking graphics.
JOHN MADDEN
PAT SUMMERALL
Not the gigantic leap forward that the 2004 version was.
$30, www.easports.com
9
MAXIMUMPC
VERDICT
The night time is the right time: Flashing
ride lights brighten up the park.
Denied! This year’s version of Madden
features an emphasis on defense.
Now this is big-time football!