A small gain for the series.
The game is very similar to Madden 05, but this year adds another mode, Superstar Mode. This puts you in the shoes of a rookie that will one day become a superstar. You create your character based on your parents charactistics. For example, if your dad was a Hall of Fame QB, and your mother was a sprinter, expect a dual-threat QB. You then get a small apartment in which you can check your email, appearance and calendar and other things. Former Bronco running back Terrell Davis is your mentor, and will help you along the path. After a few interviews and the Wonderlic test, and hiring a agent, the draft will begin. Once you are with your team you will participate in practices which depending on your side Offense or Defense you will gain some attibute points. The mode has it's problems, as you can't change your teams players, so if they decide to let go of the QB who threw to you the year before, you can't do anything. Also unless you are a QB or RB, the game really dosen't center on you, as you just end up playing as the team you are playing for and becomes Franchise without GM duties.
Gameplay is the same for the series, with two added functions. The QB vision now locks you to a WR who is your first option for the play. When you hike the ball a vision cone tracks the reciever and you will throw a great pass to him, and with the analog stick can put it in a position up left right or towards the ground depending on the defenders position to the target. Players outside of the cone if thrown to it's a inaccurate throw and bad throw. The truck stick is the second addition to the game. Like the hit stick on defense, the truck stick performs moves to juke your defenders. Hit up for a charge into your defender, left and right juke and down stutter steps.
Madden 06 dosen't bring anythiing revolutionary to the football genre. However this is Madden, this game really dosen't need to reinvent the wheel every year to be good. Fans will enjoy this one as much as any other, and it will be filling college dorms and houses for months after it's release, until the new season.