Play Madden '97 Online

Summary

Madden NFL 97 on the Game Boy packs a surprisingly deep NFL experience for a handheld. You can run a full season, battle through the playoffs, and even watch a TV‑style Super Bowl broadcast with live commentary from Madden and Summerall, plus a studio segment with James Brown. Over 100 teams, 500+ plays, multiple camera angles and 3‑D rendered stadiums give the portable version a surprisingly rich presentation.

The game introduced a salary‑cap system for roster building and added the brand‑new Baltimore Ravens, who inherit the classic Browns franchise. A cheat‑code unlocks a free‑agent squad led by semi‑retired quarterback Randall Cunningham, while classic teams span from the 1952 Lions to the 1990 Bills. Stat tracking covers more than 60 categories, and the Dallas Cowboys top the overall rankings at 85, with the Ravens at the low end.

Graphics are built from 3‑D models and motion‑capture data, then turned into 2‑D sprites. GamePro noted the tiny ball, player sprites and noticeable slowdown, but praised the realistic play‑calling and strategic depth that make Madden ’97 feel more like a console experience than a typical Game Boy title.