Madden NFL 2001 Retrospective - Best Console Launch Sports Games

[ChaseB]

We have been doing our look ahead to next-gen sports games and what prior launches can...

Written By: Chase Becotte

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[scratchdidthis]

I think NFL 2K in 1999 was the absolute BEST launch sports game. I was 15 with a passing interest in the NFL and that game single handedly turned me in to a NFL fan for life.

[The Senator]

I always hated how the players looked like bobbleheads when their helmets popped off in the early PS2 era Maddens.* And I agree wholeheartedly that offence was extremely overpowered in those days, and it was insanely frustrating to try to keep an opponent from killing you on the deep ball for four downs.* *I still preferred NFL 2K at the time for those reasons.* *Agreed that once 04-05 hit, that Madden became much, much better, putting out some of the best games in series history.

[rev]

Sorry but the best Console Launch Sports game was NFL2k for the Dreamcast. People couldn't believe how much of an upgrade that game was.

[hyacinth1]

NFL2K was better but I did like the cartoony player models and bright colors in Madden 2001.*

[milkmanbonzai]

There is a small fun irony in Madden 01 (through no fault of its own) being part of maybe the worst launch lineup of a major console (although the XB1/PS4 lineups are part of the conversation with all the stuff worth playing were basically ports) while NFL 2K was one of the best. Soul Cali, NFL 2K, Sonic Adventure, Power Stone, Ready 2 Rumble, plus arcade-perfect-or-better (on top of SC1) Hydro Thunder, Blitz, and House of the Dead 2. Definitely no sortage of excellent offerings on 9/9/99

[Earl1963]

Still playing madden 2001 today., really**fun game.

[SageInfinite]

I was in love with this game. NFL 2K and Madden 2001 are my favorite launch sports games of all time. NBA 2K14 is up there as well.