With the release of Madden NFL 2001 for the PlayStation 2, the Madden football franchise transitioned to a new generation of consoles. This edition has a brand-new graphics and physics engine, its own set of game types and teams, and several exclusive features.
In addition to highly detailed players, the new graphics engine now enables previously impossible visual features to be rendered, like players sitting on the bench, coaches pacing the sidelines, line judges dropping their markers, grass sticking to players’ helmets, and raindrop splashes. The game is now focused on momentum, and players’ height and weight are considered whenever they run or change direction. The position of the impact and the speed at which it was delivered also determine how the tackle is resolved.
The gameplay types accessible on this platform are a selection of those offered on other platforms and include exhibition games, seasons, franchises, and practices. A new mode called Quick Play has been added, which generates a game at random and very quickly. An Easy Play mode is available in the game for players just starting. This mode streamlines the playbook, makes it simpler to pass the ball, and provides automatic assistance when running and receiving.
The game offers many teams, second only to the PC version in terms of the total number of groups available. These include the 31 regular units of the 2000 NFL season, the 1999 All-Madden squad, 31 all-time franchise teams, the 6 NFL Europe teams, and 124 classic NFL teams.
In addition, the game contains the Madden Cards option that was included in the version for the previous generation, even though the tasks have been modified slightly: when players accomplish specific goals inside the game, they earn tokens that can be used to purchase collectible Madden Cards. These cards enhance the players’ attributes, unlock classic players as well as hidden teams and stadiums, and have the potential to trigger a variety of cheats and gags about gameplay.
