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The Good * The new "weapons" feature is a terrific addition * A complex but fully manageable control scheme * Much deeper franchise mode with owner mode features * Excellent animations * Much more challenging game than last year. The Bad * Fumbles pop up more than they ought to * Audio design is lackluster * Still no significant additions to the online play. It's taken two and a half years and three releases, but Madden is finally back to form. In Madden NFL 08 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, EA Tiburon has put together the most complete version of Madden seen on either console to date. The gameplay is tight, practically every old feature that had been previously missing is back in some form or another, and new additions have been made that significantly change how you play the game--for the better. By no means is this year's Madden flawless; it's definitely got some quirks and underpolished aspects that will probably drive some people crazy. But taken as a whole, Madden 08 is easily the first great entry for the series on the 360 and PS3. You'll notice the big difference in this year's title the second you hop into a game. Marquee players have been given icons to specifically represent what type of "weapon" they are on the field. There are a ton of these different designations, separating out multiple types of players at each position. Wide receivers, for instance, come in a wide variety of forms. There are quick receivers who are able to nimbly duck and dodge around defenders to get open; possession receivers are good at catching the ball in traffic; hands receivers can grab onto just about any ball thrown their way; and big play receivers will leap up to make those really spectacular catches. Every position has at least a couple of these different designations, though not every player is truly a weapon. In addition, each weapon type has an opposite, a player on the other side of the field who can, in a sense, cancel out their abilities. Big play receivers, for instance, are vulnerable to big hitters, finesse move defensive linemen have a tougher time getting by top pass blockers, and so on.Read full review
the Madden series has come up with many new features this year that make's this a great game. Hit stick 2.0 allows defenders to lay out ball carriers(take out their legs, or go for the upper body). Also Player weapons are a huge cool new feature added to madden. with player weapons you can identify key players on the field by their strong skills, QB's can be accurate,cannon arm, fast, and smart. RB's can be fast,big hitter,elusive,good stiff arm, and hands, and wide receivers can be fast,hands, spectacular catch's, and route running. A defender can be a big hitter,brick wall defender, pass rusher, and smart defender. In addition, Madden is very detailed and has amazing graphics, especially for HD TV's. I would definitely recomend madden 08. Thanks
Madden 08 is yet another really good football game. There are some great new features in this years game. Gang tackling is a really nice addition and adds to the reality of the game. The lead blocker feature is really nice as well there is nothing better than being able to open up the whole and then blast your running back through it. Weather conditions do actually change game play like it should. The new ring builder is a nice feature as well to make yourself feel good about your accomplishments. Being able to import your senior class from NCAA Football 08 is back but now you can scout the rookie class through the entire year. The new skill icons are a nice addition as well. If an opposing linebacker has a brickwall icon under him you will think twice about running at him. The AI is much better in this game and the graphics and gameplay are amazing. One the downside this year; the Hall of Fame mode still controls really bad and its almost impossible to do well in the combine. In franchise mode you really have to pay attention to your salary cap because if you go over its hell trying to get back under. More than anything Madden 08 is a prettier version of Madden 07 with some new tricks. But nothing really new or inventive. Still as great game but hopefully next year we can get something truly new and innovative!Read full review
I recently had a chance to play Madden 08 for Xbox, and I must say I feel it is an improvement over the Madden 07 title. Madden 06 was somewhat famous for one of the easiest games to get achievement points on. You got achievements for visiting certain pages in the game (NFL recordbooks for instance), for getting a first down, scoring a touchdown, etc. Playing your first game of Madden 06 can easily earn you 300-400 achievement points. Obviously the developers were stung by the criticism of how easy it was to get points, because when Madden 07 came out, they switched to a much harder system. You no longer got points for a first down, or just a simple catch. You had to set records to get them - game, season, and career. That made it much harder to get. Madden 08, thankfully, has toned the difficulty down a bit. You can now get some easy achievements, like completing long passes, and reaching a predefined total for passing and running in a game. I enjoyed this game. The controls are easy and intuitive. And the graphics are at times unbelievable. Go Madden!Read full review
I was extremelly surprised when I sat down to play this for the first time. I was actually dissapointed. I figured it would be at least like madden 07 with better gameplay and controls, but its not even close. I like on 07 when you were approaching the line of scrimmage the camera would show your players walking up and getting ready for the set themselves. It makes it a better in game experience and feels like you're actually in the game. 08 does not have this and at the end of the play it is like espn 2k5 where it shows the players doing something rediculous and unrealistic. I just graduated and played football in high school so when I go to play a football game, I want it as real as possible. This madden 08 does not fulfill that want. The tackling to me is mostly unrealistic. You rarely see running backs doing a full flip when they are tackled. The graphics to me are worse than 06 and 07 except the players body structure is more realistic in this game, since in 07 it seemed like every player were on steroids. I have to say this game is way better if you are playing it on a large HDTV and that seems like the only way to get your full enjoyment out of it. The players are greatly detailed but their actions are just unrealistic, not "madden like". I think it is also time that John Madden and Al Michaels start announcing instead of the ridicualous EA radio guy who never even actually knows how many yards you actually gained. In conclusion this game is alright, the stadiums are alot better in detail which is what I look for because I have been watching football my whole life, and played, and I want it as real as possible, but this edition of Madden was just not it. Hopefully EA realizes and decides to come out with a totally different gameplan with Madden 09. Either that our let another franchise compete with them to make a possibly better game.Read full review
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