Madden NFL 2001 delivers a solid football experience on the N64, boasting smoother visuals and gameplay akin to its PlayStation predecessor. While it doesn't revolutionize the franchise, it refines the formula. New features like sideline coaches, customizable player accessories, and Madden Challenges provide enhanced depth. However, occasional clock-management glitches and somewhat repetitive commentary can hold it back. Despite its shortcomings, Madden NFL 2001 is a must-have for any football fan on the platform.
It’s a game. With people. It’s a game.
The character creator in this game is yet to be surpassed in a lot of ways I'm not even freaking kidding. John Madden would actually try to pronounce your custom name and do a pretty freaking great job at it and the custom face uploader was terrifying af but still I feel like no one else has attempted anything nearly as cool since (except maybe some of the Tony Hawk games?)
Mostly just clunky.
A severe downgrade from the previous entry which itself was already a middling experience. The actually sort of okay arcade mode from the former has been removed yet the atrocious render distance of the players from Madden NFL 99 is back, turning this into a barely playable slog. It's also pretty ugly for its era. Fun to laugh at with friends/family for like three seconds but that's it.
Solid
At the time, I really enjoyed this. At best, I've only ever bought one game of each sport each generation and I found this a perfectly satisfying choice for PlayStation 2.
Currently playing as the Minnesota Vikings in franchise mode. Having that Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss connection is a godsend.