Anyone who has ever played the N64 or PS One editions of this long-standing franchise will be on familiar territory here. If history has taught us anything, it's that "Madden" seems awfully outdated once a new generation arrives, and not surprisingly, the game seems one gen behind. AI glitches are all over the place, especially when it comes to clock management. For no apparent reason, the opposing team will just sit on the ball for the entire length of the play clock, whether they're down 27 in the fourth or just starting the first quarter. The running game is skewered far in the favor of the offensive squad and finding an open man is simple when throwing.

In-game audio is about as sparse as the graphics engine. You can play an entire game without even hearing the person endorsing the game and Al Michaels commentary is seemingly limited to "touchdown" and "first down." The crowd mumbles on, never changing their pitch. The menu screen initially sounds impressive, featuring a fully voiced music track. Then you get a bit deeper in and realize that it does nothing but repeat itself every minute or so.

Much like the other offering from EA Sports on the DS, "Tiger Woods PGA Tour," this game just screams, "wait until next year." At least "Tiger" has a solid foundation, one that makes it playable (and even enjoyable). "Madden 2005" doesn't have anything of the sort. It's forgettable, cheaply produced, and oh yeah, pointless.