If you're running your Xbox 360 through a high definition monitor, then the first thing you notice about Madden NFL 07 is the stark raving graphics that boost the immortal franchise ever closer to visual realism. Not only do the stadiums look like they do in real-life, even the background scenery and skylines are totally telltale of each given city.

Meanwhile, the level of detail for each field and, more importantly, the deterioration of real turf fields that get chewed up through the course of a game is uncanny. It's all quite eye-popping to say the least.

Next, you notice that Mr. Hall of Famer himself, John Madden, isn't doing any of the commentary--a first for the long running football franchise. Don't be sad; that alone equates to a major improvement over the rank repetitiveness of in-game commentary found in all previous Madden games. But aside from that and the aforementioned visual splendour, other bugs from previous Madden games are still here.

Sure, Madden NFL 07 is undeniably this year's best NFL football game, but it's also the only NFL football game, thanks to EA's exclusive licensing deal. Still, 07 does maintain a modicum of the top-teir production values for which EA Sports is renowned and, as with each successive edition of Madden (mostly), it does contains enough subtle advancements to keep the game feeling fresh. Case in point: a new Superstar mode tasking players to make it into the Hall of Fame. So yes, winning a Super Bowl or five is great, but making the Hall of Fame is greater still, and now you actually have a chance to do so.

There's a catch, however. In Superstar mode, your view is fixed squarely on the character you're controlling which makes seeing anything beyond the severe myopia offered next to impossible (unless you're the quarterback). It's frustrating to say the least. Unless you’re running absolute north to south, the camera always seems at an angle that makes slipping into gaps and breaking into a big run as effective as a game of chance, hit or miss. And if you don't hit the hole just right, the running back gets hung up like a sitting duck, er, hanging duck. Hangable duck. Tackle dummy.

Another big new feature for 07 is the running back/blocking control. Though outstanding in theory, the execution is a disappointment. Even if you execute the most phenomenal, highlight-reel block that would land you on any sports station’s top ten list, opening a hole so big that a bus could drive through, the running back may not always follow you, opting instead to get tackled in the back field for a loss. For hardcore Maddenites out there, this is just like the old Madden game problem where the full back misses his block and runs off elsewhere, except now it's reversed. Either way, you’re losing yards when you should be stealing cheerleaders’ pom-poms and dancing in the end zone, Terrell Owens style.

Oddly, too, the Xbox 360 version of Madden 07 lacks a few features found in the other console versions, such as the Owner’s mode, the newspaper and the radio show. Then again, it does have some seriously specially-formulated online play, which is where the die hard Madden fans all go to play anyway, but if you're looking for the pinnacle of NFL football gaming in 2007, this is all you get.

Funny, but every year a Madden game comes out and every year it boasts some new features in need of polish and some old bugs in need of squashing. Every. Single. Freakin'. Year. Go figure.

• Tip: If you don't want to play in every position to unlock the Madden points, just create a player and keep simulating seasons (that you don't have to physically play) while you sleep (or whatever) until you’ve unlocked everything.



• Check out the Madden NFL 07 demo on Xbox Live Marketplace. You can play the Seattle Seahawks vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in one minute quarters.