Madden NFL 08 Reviews

• Ah, the old Madden cheapness shines through once again

  
  By A3SP37JLGH5KFY on 2007-09-03
  I'm focusing on the player-vs-CPU gameplay & can tell you that it's an infuriating experience. Fantasy mode is nice, the create-a-blank features are fine, Madden cards again yadda-yadda, let's get to the backbone of this aging warhorse: the CPU AI. First off, Rookie and Pro levels are equally pointless: both levels are filled with acrobatic, unrealistic interceptions on the part of your squad, along with the ability to bust off a 40+ yard run almost at will. It's not worth your time. Step up to All-Pro, however, and watch as those awesome old-time Madden cheap tricks start rearing their old heads. On this super-duper difficulty level you too will get to experience/endure:
  
  A) compeletely shutting down the running game on 2 out of every 3 plays, only to have the CPU pull some phony BS passing play out of his posterior to beat you on 3rd down
  B) having any pass that results in a DB anywhere close to between you and your receiver either batted down or intercepted, as your WR just stands there flat-footed and lets it all happen. oh, and before i forget, your DBs can cram 3 of themselves in front of a receiver and if you are fortunate enough not to have it dematerialize through them and into the WR's awaiting grasp they might, MIGHT just bat it down, but don't ever expect an INT because if it happens it's a gift
  C) Have you ever played a football game where you have 3 downs to achieve "inches" and you never get there? well now you will, even with guys that supposedly have nifty icons declaring a decided ability to get such things done easily
  D) Enjoy the teeth-grinding hijinks as your special teams prove amazingly inept at even the simplest of maneuvers, like fielding a punt without either muffing it outright or fumbling after running half a yard
  E) do you like the 2-minute-drill? well you won't after even the most dimwitted of CPU QB's suddenly becomes Joe Montana when the clock strikes 2:00 (i'm looking at you, Mr. Leftwich)
  F) If the interceptions and atrocious punt-returns don't have you hurling your controller through the nearest TV screen, revel in cursing your players' seeming inability to ever pick up a fumble, watch them scamper around as if the thing is either radioactive or on fire or maybe both
  G) if the CPU DB does get the pick, don't bother running after him because you won't catch up. ever.
  H) and if you are adept enough to shut down their offense (which admittedly isn't horribly difficult, minus the cheap AI), neutralize their 3rd-down miracle plays, and you manage to pound the ball for a nice 60-yard drive down the field, all it takes is 1 mis-timed pass for the whole thing to blow up in your face, as his DB does a pirouette worthy of Nureyev & books 80 yards for the TD
  
  And that last one about sums it up: practically every game hinges on some complete and total case of BS CPU shenanigans. You can slaughter the CPU in time-of-possession, rushing yards, passing yards, everything, yet the CPU will completely turn the game with 1 freak play, leaving you to pull out every stop just to get even. Hey, i don't mind getting beat by the CPU, IF the CPU plays an honest game. But they NEVER DO. It's always some muffed punt return that gives them insanely good field-position, or some lucky fumble that your side will never recover, or the tried-and-true d-back jumping 40-feet vertically, engaging his anti-gravity jet shoes, and executing a miracle interception to run it back for a TD (did i mention that will happen AFTER you have completely owned them for the last 10 plays?) I wanted to like it, but EA can cram all the pretty special features in here they want, it's the gameplay by which the title lives or dies. And in this case you will be the one that suffers.
  
  p.s.
  As an NCAA guy, i am surprised at the lack of any sort of cut-scenes during gameplay. Makes the whole thing seem very bare-bones & unfinished, especially compared to NCAA which has an incredible atmosphere. Oh, and have fun counting the seconds of loading time between possessions, gotta love that too.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Same Great Game, But With Few Improvements

  
  By A6J7UPYUI96XO on 2007-08-14
  I have purchased all the Madden games over the past dozen years or so, and each year the game saw major improvements. That is, until Madden 2006 came out. That game was basically a re-hashing of madden 2005 with roster updates, that is about it. Madden 2007 was just as bad, the same exact game. And to make matters worse, all of the rookies were not in last year's game, so you had to create them. There were numerous glitches with rosters and stats in the franchise mode as well. However, the game was worth the price if you love football and enjoy the gameplay itself. And that is what makes the new Madden 2008 a bit better than previous years, although not by much. I am finding it more complicated to run the ball without using a proper blocking scheme, which was not evident in past Maddes games. Also, when stopping the run against the AI, you can read their blocking scheme and make the adjustments on the fly much easier than before. On Madden 2006, Michael Vick ran for 350 yards per game and nobody could stop him. He would break five tackles by pro-bowl defenders twice his size. But this seems to be corrected to an extent here. The dynasty mode and practice modes have been tweaked some, but I wouldn't call it an all out improvement from past years. In closing, this game is perfect if you loved last year's game. But for those of you who still play Madden 2007 and enjoy it, don't rush out today and buy this one thinking it is 100% improvement. It is still the best game on earth, but it is also a game that stays nearly the same each year, too.
  
  

• The Best Madden Yet!!

  
  By A328547P5BGZC on 2007-08-14
  The graphics are the exact same, the sound bites are the exact same, the plays are the exact same.
  
  Now, the good news. The player control is amazing! If your a gamer at Madden, you'll notice it right away. I play online all year round, this year should be great! The players are proportionately sized, meaning Ben Roethlisberger is way bigger then Willie Parker, but he is smaller then the huge offensive lineman. They gave outstanding players their unique skill, like blazing fast speed, power and route running!
  
  Also, there is a new training mode, its something new to mess with!
  
  If you have Madden '07, scrap it, the new one rocks!
  
  
  

• It's good

  
  By A279H6I75BVBC1 on 2007-08-23
  Don't listen to the guy who said that nothing is new. They've actually added a few new features that are pretty cool since 07, but he probably hasn't bothered to try them out or read the (admittedly limited) manual to even know they're there.
  
  First off, remember superstar mode where you could take control of a player, like a wr, te or whatever and just play as that player, running routes while the QB did the work of reading and throwing the ball. Well, they've made a huge step forward in now allowing you to control a receiver on a pass play, much in the same way you could control a blocker on a run play last year. You simply do the same thing, push the circle button until the receiver you want is highlighted. You can do this in franchise mode, the new fantasy challenge, etc. pretty much anywhere you're playing a real game. So often in 07 I would go to the line of scrimmage and see a good mismatch, but I didn't have the right route set in my audibles for hot routes. Well now I can just take control of that receiver, set him as the primary route so my QB will look that way first, and exploit the mismatch by running my own route! Very cool.
  
  The other major addition is Fantasy challenge where you can draft your own team and play through a tournament bracket in different levels of leagues. You start with a certain number of roster points that you can spend on your team and you can earn more roster points, trade players with other teams, earn skill points to make your players better, etc. But beware if you run low on roster points any team in the league can offer one of your players more points to play for their team. You can match the offer and just pay the player more, or decline and the other team will swap their worst player at that position. The only thing that kinda sux is you play these games without fatigue. So I didn't know before and drafted a sweet RB combo of Thunder and lightning, but it turns out that since there are no injuries or fatigue, the one guy never gets tired to give way to the 2nd, and I can't set depth charts for having a 3rd down rb, so all I can do is spell my RB manually in certain situations. This even becomes useless because as I earn skill points, it's best to just give them all to one RB instead of distributing between the two, so one just becomes a never used guy. This mode is really pretty cool, but I think it's missing a lot. They should really let you set your own depth charts and also turn on fatigue or injuries for the mode. If a guy gets injured you should be able to dip into a pool of FAs with your remaining roster points or something like that.
  
  So don't listen to the detractors that say there's nothing new here. Also don't listen to the crazies that say this is the best game ever. The reality is this is a very solid game. There is just enough new stuff to make it worth ponying up the 50 bucks and to get the updated rosters. The controlling a WR may sound like a small addition and it really is, but the added flexibility is huge for me. Yes, I would love for them to do more, and the fact that most of their development is going to next-gen now does irk me, but I don't place unreasonable demands. I just want consistent improvement. I haven't played enough to have encountered the glitches the other reviewer mentioned, hopefully it's just a defect in his CD or memory card, I don't know. I also haven't played enough to find out if they've fixed a number of bonehead things about 07 that really drove me crazy, the most annoying being how when you're playing a franchise and you're prior to the trade deadline the teams with better records value their draft pick more. This is completely backwards because you can trade a 1st round pick from a 6-0 team for a 1st, 2nd and 4th from an 0-6 team. I think they just got the logic wrong because it should be the other way around. Hopefully, they fixed this sort of thing, but I'm not optimistic about that.
  
  

• Incredibly glitchy

  
  By A25PTF8OHMLG77 on 2007-08-20
  I have always loved the Madden franchise. Every year there are enough improvements to an already great game that I stay satisfied. Well, there are still some nice improvements to this year's edition. However, I am already finding the game so full of glitches that I have actually become pretty angry. There have been glitches in previous years, but not many of any real consequence. But this one is just bad.
  
  The worst example is when I was halfway through my third season on franchise mode (playing as the Colts), when a game came up between the Falcons and the Saints. I had nothing to do with either team, and I couldn't care less what happened in the game. So, I tried to simulate through it. It failed. No score showed up for the game. I tried simulating the whole week. It failed. I tried simulating the whole season. It failed. I tried playing the game. It failed. I tried using total control simulation. It failed. I turned off my PS2 and loaded the same franchise back up. Same problem. Basically, I am being forced to stop playing with my franchise just when I started getting it shaped up the way I wanted to. VERY annoying.
  
  I have found several other glitches in the game, but I doubt you care to hear about all of them. Basically, it appears that EA put out a completely unfinished product. I wouldn't even mind that much if they put in some ground breaking new features. But the improvements are rather modest, just like in previous years (they did almost nothing to improve franchise mode, which is where they managed to create that nasty glitch!), so there is no justification for the massive problems with the game. If you even bother to buy this game, make sure to wait a few months so they can try to fix at least a few of the more serious errors.
  
  
• Another year, another Madden
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2007-08-19
  That train's never late. Like clockwork, Madden is back for another go around of NFL action, and thankfully, this year's edition manages to change a few things up to set it apart from it's predecessors. Madden NFL 08 may signal the franchise showing it's age on the PS2 (the graphics engine is more dated than ever), yet there are a nice number of gameplay tweaks and improvements to distract from this drawback. The players themselves control and act more realistically this time around as well, which is really saying something considering the game still suffers from the cardboard AI opponents the longer you play the game. Along with some frame rate issues, the flaws of Madden NFL 08 are outshined by it's positives. Online play is a breeze to set up, and there's still plenty of nuances and modes of play for armchair quarterbacks to enjoy. Not to mention that Madden is still the only NFL licensed video game around, so it's not like you really have much choice as it is (thanks EA). All in all, Madden NFL 08 is a solid entry in EA's big time cash cow franchise, and even in the late life of the PS2, Madden still comes out on top.
  
  
• DIFFERENT YEAR SAME MADDEN
  By A2FVPTS77ALKLV on 2007-08-21
  If you love the Madden Franchise then this version you will love because its just the same as 07,06,05,04,03,02 etc. Not much really new here. I think getting the exclusive NFL license has the franchise stalled and in no hurry to change the game. Not that theres anything really wrong with the game. The game is pretty fluid. You can determine how difficult to make it. Its very easy to jump in and play. THe graphics are still very good although they can use a bit of an upgrade by now. With no competition in the market Madden though very good is just the same. Nothing new to really discuss and thats sad.
  
  
• Pretty good overall
  By AJVQJNC5H604Z on 2007-10-31
  I have bought the Madden titles for the last 6 years probably. I really like the gameplay of this years for the most part. Listed below are my gripes, but note that I rate the game highly anyway.
  
  I just read a review stating how hard All-Pro level is. I have the exact opposite feeling. I get 4-5 interceptions a game and as soon as I score 2 touchdowns the computer stops running the ball. The computer rarely can beat a blitz. Also play action pass is ridiculously easy. Basically setting up a very fast team that has horrible receiving skills will make the passing game too easy. It would be annoying, but why not have the bad receivers run wrong routes or sloppy routes so they aren't where they are supposed to be? Instead, I can play with receivers with 70's in ratings but above 95 in speed and win easily by spreading the opposition out and throwing corner routes to slot receivers or with play action bombs. The computer is much better this year at taking away the slant though.
  
  Going to Madden level isn't really an option either. I can't stand the QB vision passing cone and I don't have the option to turn it off. I am just not good enough on a controller to keep track of that many things.
  
  Other gripe is the franchise mode. It seems like the user gets training camp, but the computer doesn't. My team gets better so much faster than the computer teams. Within one year my team dominates even without me playing. I even limit the total number of points I can get from training camp to 10 total. Also off-season takes too long. The roles are pointless, but it takes the computer several minutes to give each person a role (which is so helpful to tell you the guy with 95 in speed is fast). Evaluating prospects also takes forever and usually doesn't actually help.
  
  
• Madden...the same old something new
  By A2AQF58ESTZU16 on 2007-09-11
  So the game itself hasn't changed very much...but you can't expect it to change to drasticaly after all. The new features that have been added, along with what has been added over the past few years brings a new depth to the game though. The new offensive and defensive play/audible calling makes it tougher(in a good way) to just run a "vannila" type of game. Graphicly the game may be slightly better but not by much. The new "skill" challenges are fun. The kicking game would be my biggest complaint. It's at best spotty. If the meter says it's a great kick it should be a great kick and not some shot that sails 80 yards to the right.
  Even the superstar mode is fun now. Unlike last year you have the option this year of being brafted by your favorite team. So instead of potentialy being drafted by the team you most despise you can have some actualy fun.
  There are some glitches as well. Every now and again you can see what the defensive players are going to do when you press the "R2" button. Some of the voice over stuff is just plain sad. Evidently T.J. Houshmanzadeh is too long to be put over his head so they choped off the "deh"...the only problem is, so did Al Micheals so he says "T.J. Houshmanz". Some of the starters names are not even spoken, they are just called by number. And then there are the players pictures. Come on, I can understand not haveing a picture of the rookie class, but to not have a pic of all the players and haveing to make some up with the games player maker is just silly.
  But all in all it's still a fun game and is well worth the money.
  
  
• The Excitement continues!
  By A2DY32Y3SGR1YV on 2007-09-19
  My 18 year old *college student* has been a Madden fan for 6-7 years. Each year I get Madden for his birthday...it usually is released the same week in August. He and his friends anticipated the arrival. As soon as it arrived, he called them and I had 14 young men jockeying for a "turn" to play the game. They love it! Now that they've learned all the new plays and upgrades, they're preparing for some Madden tournaments. Indeed, the guys are SATISFIED with the latest version!
  
  
• madden 08 or is it 07
  By AZMB3CRIXI1Z8 on 2007-09-22
  Honestly after playing this game for a while there have been some changes to the game but it is really no different then playing 07. The Glitches and hiccups have not changed. As well as the game play and style of the game. It is really not worth the money. That is why I received my money back.
  
  
• Madden 08
  By A2IKLT1HTLPAOR on 2007-12-31
  I bought this for my husband and he loves it cannot say anything bad about it. He plays this game for hours building his team and playing through to win the Super Bowel! Recommend it highly!
  
  
• Madden = amazing!!
  By A23O9TNWFBS5S5 on 2008-01-02
  Every year they come out with a new Madden with more features. Over the past couple years I have enjoyed the game but the add-ons were not that great. This year they have made big changes finally! The new features, such as player weapons icons and hit stick 2.0, have changed the game for people who want to learn the special features. Now if you have a receiver in real life that makes wild catches, he gets a "spectacular catch" icon and will do it in the game. If you have a shutdown cornerback, he will have a lock icon and play great defense. Overall this is the best Madden to have come out and is definitely better than the last couple, in which nothing major was chanaged.
  
  
• A Step Backwards
  By A30VX6DLBAFQ4K on 2007-08-28
  If you don't mind punters having the same bodies as lineman, this game is for you. In oder to save space on the game, EA has removed some features to add some others. All the player bodies are now the same, and the stadiums are generic. If this doesn't bother you, then you'll enjoy this game.
  
  
• Madden 08 PS2 Review
  By A15N2JB9U4I95M on 2007-09-04
  I only played Madden 07 a little bit but Madden 08 is an improvment over Madden 07. The Fantasy Challenge is a nice addition. I haven't played Franchise yet because I am waiting for a roster update but looked at it briefly and it looks good. It is very similar to 07 but better at the same time.
  
  Ezio Fidati
  
  
• Madden review
  By A259BA3INW3V3M on 2007-12-28
  My son who is 8 loves the game and got it for Christmas. He loves the drills but the actual game is hard when playing with a friend. It is probably because he just got it and needs more practise with it.
  
  
• madden 08 playstation game
  By A2N5I7CBU4EGJ2 on 2007-12-28
  My teenage son loves to play sports games. I got this game at a great price and it came in plenty of time for xmas. No running from store to store, fighting the crowds, trying to find this game. It shipped straight to my front door.
  
  
• Madden remains king!!!
  By A1R3R04I1ZGO3V on 2008-01-07
  I purchased this for my husband in 2 versions - for PSP and Playstation 2. He plays this game constantly. I must admit that the graphics are phenomenal - the players look like actual people and the stop action looks like real sports photography. He is mad for the the play selection and is now never without this game, thanks to the PSP. A real must have!
  
  
• Ya Gotta Read the Book
  By A199KIXKD0BYF0 on 2008-01-15
  I bought this for my husband. Most of his games are driving games, so he's having to read the book a couple of times. He likes the game and believes once he gets the hang of it, he'll love it.
  
  
• Okay
  By A1BFUAPIW6G49A on 2008-01-27
  Not so sure the game was new. Didn't really look like original packaging. Game locks up occasionally and is kinda slow during replays and inbetween plays there is a delay. I know it's not my system. Other than that a great game. I love the new franchise set-up and the superstar mode is pretty cool.
  
  

• Madden NFL 08: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides)
• Official Rules of the National Football League 2007 (Official Rules of the NFL) (Official Rules of the NFL) (Official Rules of the NFL)
• McFarlane Toys 6" NFL Series 14 - Troy Polamalu Black Jersey
• McFarlane Toys 6" NFL Series 14 - Reggie Bush Black Jersey
• McFarlane Toys 6" NFL Series 14 - Steve Smith White Jersey

• NCAA Football 08
• NBA Live 08
• MLB 07 The Show
• NHL 08
• FIFA 08