Madden NFL '95

''Madden NFL 95'' is a football video game released by Electronic Arts in 1994. In addition to the usual home console versions that were released on the Sega Genesis and Super NES, this edition was also released for the portable Game Gear and Game Boy systems (although the Game Boy was released without the NFL license as ''Madden '95''). It was the first version of the game that portrayed black NFL players as black, rather than all white as in previous versions, and the first in the Madden series to portray black athletes on the cover. It was also the first game in the series to have the official NFLPA license.

Features

The Genesis version of ''Madden NFL '95'' is the first ''Madden'' game to have both the NFL team logo and NFLPA licenses, allowing players to be identified by their names in addition to their squad numbers. The game reflects all NFL rosters and attributes for the 1994 season. This version of ''Madden NFL'' is also the first ''Madden'' to showcase no passing windows, though passing windows can be retained using the options menu. Previously included "Past Championship Teams" and "All-Franchise" teams are not included. Player stats are tracked individually both in-game and throughout a season. The cover features John Madden along with two NFL players, Dallas Cowboys left tackle Erik Williams and San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Karl Wilson. Wilson has his number edited to show the number 70, which was not worn by anyone on the 49ers roster in the 1994 season.

It was released on the Game Boy, Game Gear, Genesis and Super NES.

The game features the theme song from the ''NFL on Fox'', which John Madden joined shortly before the game's release.

Reception

The two sports reviewers of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' gave the Super NES version scores of 85% and 90%, citing the improved animations and sounds from previous Madden games and the new rules and plays. ''GamePro''s Weekend Warrior gave the Super NES version a positive review, expressing approval for both the game's many new features (particularly the ability to substitute players in any position) and the retention of the same user-friendly mechanics as previous Madden games. Reviewing the Genesis version in ''GamePro'', Athletic Supporter noted that "unlike its SNES counterpart, ''Madden '95'' on the Genesis doesn't ''always'' generate high-scoring games." mphasis in originalBen D. Rules, also of ''GamePro'', commented that the Game Boy version, while having unavoidable portable limitations such as tiny, unrecognizable sprites and mediocre sound effects, has a surprisingly strong selection of teams and stats and well-designed gameplay. He concluded "While football on handhelds will probably never take off, this one's still a worthy effort." Fellow ''GamePro'' reviewer Tommy Glide similarly praised the Game Gear version as a worthy handheld effort which retains most of the options, teams, and plays of the home versions. However, he concluded that despite being "the best football game available for the Game Gear", it is not a worthwhile purchase due to the tiny, squint-inducing graphics and lack of multiplayer.

In 2012, ''Madden NFL '95'' was listed on Time's All-TIME 100 greatest video games list. In 1995, Total! ranked the game 22nd on their Top 100 SNES Games. In 1995, Flux magazine rated the Sega Genesis version 50th in its Top 100 Video Games writing: "The best in EA's seemingly endless football series."

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Madden Nfl '95
1994 video games
EA Sports games
Electronic Arts games
Game Boy games
Game Gear games
High Score Productions games
Madden NFL
Malibu Interactive games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Sega Genesis games
Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Tiertex Design Studios games
Tiger Electronics handheld games
Video games developed in the United States
Video games scored by Brian L. Schmidt
Video games set in the United States