Madden NFL 08 Reviews

• Well look at that...

  
  By A12RYA1QNP9HOG on 2007-08-15
  Ladies and Gentlemen... I give you Madden 06 for the XBox 360.
  
  Madden 06? Well... yeah. This is the version that should have been for 06. 2007 at the least. But we won't harp on that - we'll just go off of this game and what we have here now. And what we have here now is a pretty good game, I must admit.
  
  To start off, let's remember that Madden 07 SUCKED. Plain and simple. If you thought otherwise, then... well, to quote the late Rick James: "Cocaine is a hell of a drug." I reviewed it harshly, but accurately. (It's the first one that displays) I said - nay - SWORE that I would not buy another EA football or basketball title until they showed us, as consumers, that they were interested in putting out a quality product and less interested in that '#1 Selling Franchise' logo on the box every year. I missed playing football games, as I usually do around this time of year, so I picked up NCAA 08. I enjoy the college versions usually, and that one was no different. Some of the upgrades on there had me a little curious about what they had in store for this year's Madden, so I kept my eyes open. But I swore to myself - RENT first.
  
  So I did... played a few games, different modes, etc. Then a funny thing happened. I went right back out and bought it. Wow... didn't see that coming. And even more surprising than that, I guess, for some - the FAR BETTER version is on the 360 and NOT the PS3.
  
  So let's see... where to start. I'll start with the cons, since there aren't many of them this year, surprisingly. But the ones that ARE there are biggies, and keep this game out of the 'Great' category and firmly in the 'Very Good' area. (still better than last year's 'Rancid Camel $&?!#' rating)
  
  New England is rated at a 97. Okay, that's not really a 'con' but COME ON... a 97? Really?? Anyway...
  
  Presentation - pitiful.
  
  For a game that has exclusive rights to the ESPN brand, this is really horrible. Games past utilized FAR superior presentation styles - including those that were ESPN licensed. With all of the classic on-air/broadcast personalities over at ESPN, all they could come up with was Marshall Faulk doing a glazed-over pre/post game two-liner? All-Pro Football 2K8 was a half-hearted attempt by the 2K Crew, yet it is not UTTERLY behind Madden - why? Presentation. The audio commentary, the little subtleties in the gameplay: players actually talking to one another and the ref, players getting out of the way of oncoming traffic while standing on the sidelines, etc. Why does this seem to remain just out of EA's scope of imagination? Play-by-Play is still a joke this go-round. Madden was never on par with the classic 2K series, but this radio broadcast thing - doesn't work for me, and from what I'm hearing - doesn't work for most others. I actually miss Madden's painfully OBVIOUS-isms. ("What you wanna do is... you wanna score more points than the other team, because THAT will put you in a better position to win the game." Thanks for that pearl of wisdom there, JM) Also gone is the ability to truly customize your menu playlists. I hate that. I want my own music. Period.
  
  I don't play online as much as in the past, but one rather large omission I noticed was the lack of Online Leagues. Hmmmm... that seems like it would add MILES of replayability, yet again, it's nowhere to be found. Disappointing, moreso for some I'm sure.
  
  And of course there are a few gameplay issues, but that's to be expected. AI has been drastically improved, but there are still moments when your DB's and LB's will prove to be mildly retarded.
  You fumble FAR too often on this game - the ball is too easily jarred loose, thanks in large part to the Hit Stick controls, but after awhile you kinda get used to it a bit. (annoying in itself)
  
  EA 4th Quarters are still in effect: No matter how badly you've been destroying a team for 3 quarters, they will manage to drive down and score on you in the 4th. Bumping the difficulty up a notch or two helps somewhat this year - I keep it on All-Madden. Speaking of AI - how about a little AI upgrade for the crowd, coach and sideline players? The fans are still there, cheering like psychos, even though their team is down by 48 in the closing seconds of the game. Not likely... The sideline players are still over there in their overly-generic animations, all moving in sync with each other - looks like an old Michael Jackson video. And my coach, even in the snow, is over there getting his Kanye West on with a short-sleeved polo shirt and a headset. 36 degrees out, Coach...
  
  There's still no way to save mid-game, though they did incorporate the SuperSim feature from NCAA 08. You can (pre-game or pre-play selection) choose to simulate the entire game, quarter, half, possession or play.
  
  The other biggie (besides the presentation) is the Special Teams play. It effectively serves no purpose on this game. The kicking game is still overly simplistic, every kicker has the ability to kick the ball out of the stadium, there are no useful adjustments for kickoff/punt formations (wedge, etc.) Also, if the other team DOES manage to score, expect an onside kick. 50-point deficit in the 4th still? Onside kick... Why? WHY??? Football is, when you get down to it, made up of 3 elements: Offense, Defense and Special Teams. That's 1/3 of the game. 1/3 that they failed to represent. Can't have a 'Great' game with those percentages.
  
  Thankfully, the rest of the game is rather outstanding.
  
  Graphically, the game is so far ahead of last year's it's not even funny. Gone are the kickers with the 27-inch pythons. You can tell Peyton Manning apart from Brian Urlacher. Players are far more realistically portrayed in this installment. Slow down a HB in the open field just long enough for 2 of your DB's and a safety to swarm in and gang tackle him into the turf. (FINALLY!!!!!) The new animations (literally hundreds) make for a much smoother and free-flowing gaming experience, and the intuitive button configuration (fully customizable, of course) helps in just jumping straight into a game.
  
  The stadiums are very nicely done, and the field looks phenomenal - PARTICULARLY during bad weather. You see the destruction of the field in the heavy traffic areas, and it progresses throughout the game. Even the rain itself tapers on and off throughout. One suggestion: how about some splashing, and more evidence of the messy weather on the uniforms/helmets. The lack of water splashing kind of takes away from the beauty of the huge pools of water that you are being forced to hike the ball from.
  
  Aside from the radio broadcaster, the sound is brilliant. On-field trash talking, stadium announcer - everything is there. The tackling sounds will actually have you cringe occasionally... especially if it's one of YOUR players that just got their head knocked off.
  
  I mentioned the AI - leaps and bounds over 07. Minus a few lapses here and there, you really have to use some THOUGHT when playing. I actually enjoy PUNTING now!! Throw to a receiver near the sidelines, and watch him (gasp) actually make an attempt to stay inbounds while catching the ball. Loose ball? Be amazed at how a mad dash will instantly ensue. Gone are the days when a goalline stand was a mere formality. 1st and Goal on the one? Don't be surpised if you end up with 3 points...
  
  All of the other gameplay features appear to be back, more or less. Instead of a dedicated 'Owner Mode' you can check in the Front Office menu and observe how your Franchise is running. Check prices (can't adjust them though), revenue, expenses... even RELOCATE your team somewhere more profitable if your market is slow with the money. Drafts, stats, roster management - pretty much the norm. And all of the other little stuff, like the Rings, Trophies, yadda yadda - not that much into that crap, but they're there if you want them. Connect to XBox Live and the ESPN Ticker will keep you updated with current stats and news in real time. (I got several Michael Vick updates yesterday... nice)
  
  Madden annually introduces some new gimmick to the franchise in an attempt to make it 'fresh' - this year brings us the Weapons System. While it can use some tweaking for sure, this is - to me - the single best addition to this franchise since the ability to change your pass coverage came along. Along with the traditional ratings system, you now have a Weapons system, labeling players by their strenghts and tendencies. No longer are two 99-rated WR's mirror images of one another. Steve Smith and T.O. are both great receivers for different reasons. L.T. and L.J. are definitely different types of backs, but you'd never know it on previous Maddens. Power backs play differently that elusive backs; Speed receivers go differently than possession receivers. For every Weapon, there is a counter Weapon. Hard Hitters can counter a Power HB by taking their legs out from under them consistently, but would have a harder time taking out an elusive back - while THEY would have more trouble with a Brick-Wall defender or LockDown defender. See? And it's up to you to set mismatches and play to your strengths and your opponent's weaknesses. Smart players - there's nothing you can really do to counter them outside of choosing a vast variety of plays - don't become predictable. Once your Smart Player's icon illuminates fully, they are able to see the play art of the opponent. QB's will see the defense's plan - LB's will see the offensive play between the hash marks. This all adds up to provide a football experience than Madden lovers haven't had, arguably, ever.
  
  So how does it rate? A solid 4 out of 5 for me. The presentation and gameplay issues I mentioned earlier keep it from the 4.5-5 realm, but the KEY is that they are progressing. The REAL TEST will be when 09 comes out - what will that be like? Hopefully it's a step forward and not backwards, which has been EA's pattern over the past few years.
  
  Is it the best football game ever? No.
  Is it better than 2K5? Not hardly.
  Is it the best football game for 08? I'd have to say yes... slight nod over NCAA 08 (though the collegiate 'little brother' does more on the presentation end)
  Is it better than Madden 07? Ridiculously so, but again - that's not saying much. So how about this:
  Is it the best Madden ever? Hmmm... that's tough. It's at least where 05 was, which was arguably the best Madden. I've had more fun with this year's Madden than I have in a LONG time. So for me, I'd have to say... yes.
  
  Much improved - very good effort from EA. It's about time. This game is a few gameplay tweaks, a massive presentation overhaul, and some miscellaneous additions (tats, unique animations, custom soundtracks, etc.) from being something TRULY special. But thanks for finally giving me something to look forward to again each August.
  
  (**Why is this game not offered in the 1080p format?? Rather disappointing for 1080p television and XBox 360 Elite owners, especially since NCAA 08 was...**)
  
  
  
  

• Finally starting to look and feel like next gen

  
  By ALC6LWQXBHIPG on 2007-08-14
  See...all it took for Madden to be decent this year was a little competition. This is what we SHOULD have gotten 2 years ago...
  
  I played one game and wanted to weigh my 2 cents in before all the fanboys went nuts.
  
  For one.... 1up.com gave this game a 9....please....that's being too generous....the presentation alone showing signs of age killed that score.
  
  First impressions are pretty good with this version.
  
  I mean it's Madden
  
  - Graphics are vastly improved for the players but they still need to work on the crowd....ok so it's a small thing...but that is a small thing that 2K always seem to get right. Tackles are more realistic and the players move and react a little more without having to push too many buttons. Players tend to react and give you cues on when to push the buttons.
  
  - Weapons. wow....will take some getting used to but it's nice to se that read and react finally working...
  
  - Animation does look a lot better but.....I will come back to that in a min.
  
  - A 1/2 time show!!!! While not as robust as 2K's it's still nice to be able to see some highlights from the first 1/2.
  
  - Franchise mode is finally HERE!!!!! I didn't try the Superstar mode because if I did...I wouldn't be writing this as of now...hehe
  
  Things that could be improved upon....
  
  - GET RID OF THE FRIKKIN ESPN RADIO!! Come on...if I am playing this game in HD on TV...then what would it kill them to get a 2 man crew...and SINCE they have the ESPN Licence...just rip the page out of 2K5 and hook it up? What would it kill you to at least let me feel like I am playing an MNF game?? 2K5 did it...yeah I said it!!
  
  Presentation still sucks BUT...I do like the tickers that you can use all game....also...there are downloadable blurbs that can be streamed to you r360...like while setting up I was able to hear how Vick may get suspended and the Yankees beat the Orioles....nice step in the right direction...now if you can stream the NFL Network and ESPN to my.....hmmmmmm an idea....
  
  - Fumble-itis it seems a little too easy to get a nice hit and cough it up using the Hit Stick....on the other hand fights for loose balls are a little more realistic, I saw one being bobbled around between 3 players before someone recovered it.
  
  - While the new and increased animations are nice...for some reason the game moves.......fast.....thank you for the 60FPS but it looks kinda arcade-ish
  
  - Stil some stutter between frames....not too distracting but ok....
  
  - No online leagues.....hmmmmmmm
  
  On the whole with a quick playthru, it's easy to see where EA has made improvements and what they still need to work on...but all in all Madden is cool....I have no probs having two football games in the home.... it just makes too mych sense if one company would simply combine with the other to put out the ultimate football game......sigh...one can only dream
  
  This means if 2K puts out another game next year...Madden will have to try hard to be better...is that all it takes?
  
  Gee...I wonder what happens if EA loses the NFL licence...
  
  

• Good Potential, But Frustrating

  
  By A1E8ZHGZSMV3E0 on 2007-09-04
  This game had a lot of potential. Improvements include new animations for things like spins, deeper franchise mode, and a better superstar mode (mostly because the camera is pulled back more). So, basically, EA tried to add some content to a bare bones 07 game.
  
  Unfortunately, I found the game to be basically unplayable in franchise mode--or at least hard to enjoy. I'm a casual madden player, but I'm usually half decent. However, even at All-Pro the game starts breaking down for me. If you have a merely good running back, even with great speed (like Willie Parker), it's hard to go anywhere without a good line. And if you don't have a running back with good carrying, you'll fumble a lot. You also need a good line to protect your Quarterback, or you'll get sacked repeatedly. You also need a great Quarterback, since a middle of the road one (with, say, accuracy in the high 80's or low 90's) will cause a ton of interceptions. Then on defense you obviously need great players at the key positions. Now, this isn't anything new, and you can never have great players at all the positions (you just can't afford it). However, in past games, your great players could cover for the average players; but that's not the case in this game.
  
  Another problem is that the game just gives too much skill to the CPU. I had Devin Hester as my 3rd string WR, this guy has a 99 speed rating. And DB's STILL not only kept up with him, but would often be able to cut in front of him and make interceptions. Not just leap and knock the ball away or make a pick, but actually run faster than Hester and catch the ball. There is also the lack of times that you can succesfully make deep throws. There was only one time in the game where a guy going deep was wide open. Much more common is double or triple coverage--and with the DB's almost always in perfect position to make a pick or knock the ball away. Well, there are other problems (like 95% of my kickoffs were so deep in the endzone that there was no return, which is obviously unrealistic), but they are minor gripes compared to the above. If you're a hard core Madden player, you might be able to get past the difficulties I had; however, if you're just a casual player like me, you'd be better off going with the PS2 version from 07 or one of the past old gen versions.
  
  

• Madden 08: Signs that EA Sports Has Lost Touch with Fans

  
  By ASI0SMJGEW9EI on 2007-08-24
  $60+ dollars lighter in the wallet and no better for it--that's what you'll be if you plunk down the money for Madden '08. That's what I am. I bought Madden O8 for my 360. It was my first Madden purchase since Madden 05 on the PS2--why, you might ask? Well, to tell you the truth, I was angry at EA Sports because I feel like they continue to pursue their own ideas with little or no concern for what the fans want in a video game.
  
  So it was with much apprehension and angst that I bought Madden 08. I figured, sheesh with three years of fan mail, and three years to improve the game, and a brand new state-of-the-art game console--surely EA could make a game that would satisfy.
  
  Uh...not so much.
  
  EA Sports no longer seems to understand what the fans are looking for in a football game. And it seems they do not care either because fans, much like lemmings, will stream into stores and buy anything that has Madden Football on it.
  
  Here's why I say EA has forgotten its fans:
  
  #1: Madden Football no longer has Madden in it. Hello? Are you serious? Pop the game in and start playing. There's no "Boom!" There's no "Now that was a bigtime run!" There's nothing to give the player the sense that he is actually playing in a live NFL broadcast game. There are no cool graphics popping up. No in game analysis. No Al Michaels play by play. I'm serious. Madden Football does not have Madden in it any longer. All you get is this terrible tinny, radio announcer in the background. Turn on any real NFL game...you get an actual broadcast team, not some lame radio voice.
  
  Note to EA #1: Fans of football video games want to vicariously live out a dream of actually being an NFL football player--with all the pomp and circumstance of broadcasting goodness. Even if Madden and Michaels cost too much to get a new set of broadcast blurbs, 95% of us would rather have you harvest old audio from the many previous Madden games than have some nasally robot radio voice. At least put in a feature where you can toggle between the traditional Madden/Michaels Soundtrack or Radio Tin Man. You could even get a lesser known ESPN broadcast team. ANYTHING would be better.
  
  #2 There's NO Custom Playbook. Okay, I know that this will probably only frustrate die-hard Madden Fans. But for MANY of us, having the ability to design and use our own plays is exactly what gives Madden Insane replay value. We love to kick back like a mad scientist and conjure up plays to daunt our opponents. And we get pretty good at it. Some of us get delusions of grandeur, believing we could become offensive coordinators in the NFL. That's how much fun having the custom playbook feature is. But apparently, EA doesn't care about its die-hard fans.
  
  The lack of this ability is why I quit Madden after 05. With 06, EA left the custom playbook in, but made it so you could NOT use your custom plays in franchise mode. Who wants to play Madden only in exhibition mode?
  
  Note to EA #2: Hardcore Madden fans want to use their creativity and football knowlege to design AND use custom plays. I sent emails to EA to voice my frustration, but 07 didn't fix it. I went to my local video game stores and they told me that many fans have complained about the lack of custom playbook. And now 2008 comes along, and there is NO Custom Playbook at all. EA, come on, I'm willing to be a fan for life. But you don't seem to care.
  
  Instead, EA goes to great lengths to control the business side of the NFL. Yay, we can negotiate contracts, set stadium ticket prices--why we can even decide what food is bought and sold at the snack bar. Yay. I don't know about most folks, but I feel like I have enough beaurocratic crap in my life already. I balance checkbooks, pay bills, go grocery shopping, research insurance companies--who needs more of that stuff? Maybe some folks would rather be an NFL owner than a player...uh, but not most of us, I'll wager.
  
  This reminds me of how some bestselling authors get fat and happy with their stardom, forget the kinds of stories that made them big in the first place, and just start floating anything out there because they know their name will sell. "People are lemmings," they think...that is, until folks stop buying their product.
  
  Sad to say, but I won't buy another Madden Game until they fix these features. And the good news is I don't have to. I can enjoy playing Madden 05 on my old beat up PS2. I'll just use my free rental coupon to rent the new Madden games, hoping against hope that they will fix the game. But if not, I won't be buying anything.
  
  Bottom line: if you have never played Madden, go ahead and buy it. You won't know what you're missing. The graphics are pretty. The game play is somewhat interesting. But if you are a Madden Lifer, a die-hard, or a football geek--save your money. Remember, Madden 05 for the PS2 will probably cost you $3 at a used gaming store.
  
  

• Gamers Irate Over NFL Madden 2008 Glitches

  
  By A1YJJD4KU1BP1F on 2007-10-09
  Gamers Irate Over NFL Madden 2008 Glitches
  Bugs make nation's most popular video game "unplayable," fans complain
  
  By Joseph S. Enoch
  ConsumerAffairs.Com
  
  September 19, 2007
  
  NFL Madden 2008, the nation's most popular video game, has so many glitches that consumers are saying the Electronic Arts game is "unplayable."
  
  "After purchasing a video game produced by EA Sports titled Madden NFL 2008, and playing the game, I came across many problems in the programming which resulted in the inability to continue gameplay," wrote Paul of Wildomar, Calif.
  
  The game, which is available for almost every game console, freezes, miscalculates statistics and suffers enormous amounts of lag during online play, consumers say. For the Nintendo Wii version of the game, consumers on EA's forums page have listed over 50 glitches.
  
  Although every system including Sony's PSP and PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox, PC and Nintendo's DS appear to have glitches, it is the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 ports of the game that have engendered the most angst.
  
  The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, which cost $60, were created by the same studio, said EA spokesman Tyrone Miller. So many of the problems with those versions, are found in both systems.
  
  The major complaint from Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consumers is that in Franchise mode, when a team drops a player for whatever reason, he does not reenter the game through free agency, but rather, disappears. Over the period of two or three seasons, which amounts to playing about 40 games, the player pool becomes so slim that the mode can no longer continue.
  
  In an e-mail yesterday afternoon, Miller wrote that EA was aware of the problem and that a patch would be available for the PlayStation 3 this morning to fix it. On EA's forums, consumers said that their systems did download the new patch, which in turn, completely froze their consoles.
  
  By 1:20 p.m. all the complaints on EA's forum in regard to the patch's error, were removed.
  
  EA has issued a release warning consumers not to go online with the game and to delete the patch if it has already been downloaded.
  
  Miller said it is OK to get back online now, but that there will be no "fixed" patch available until "maybe another week."
  
  Xbox 360 consumers can expect a patch later today, he said.
  
  On the Wii, consumers say that in SuperStar mode, kickers only make about a third of their kicks, including extra points, while the computer they play against makes nearly all of them, like in real life. Because of this glitch, consumers say it is almost impossible to win a game.
  
  Wii consumers also say the system frequently freezes and that the game often confuses the system's unique motion controls.
  
  Chris Faylor, a reporter for Shacknews.com, an online gaming publication, said he's not surprised the game has so many errors.
  
  "Word of glitches and problems in the game does not surprise me at all, as its development is constrained by the yearly release schedule and will be pushed out the door when that time comes, regardless of its state," Faylor said.
  
  He said that while later prints of the game can be fixed, many consumers who own the game now may be stuck with a broken product.
  
  "It's not that uncommon for games to be fixed in later pressings and shipments after their initial release," Faylor said. "Most companies do this silently -- a minor bug is discovered and resolved before the next batch of manufacturing."
  
  Sending out downloadable patches is the easiest way for EA to fix the game, but that may not fix everything and will probably only work for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 users, Faylor said.
  
  The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have hard drives that can load some of the data and initiate a patch. But because most of the data is still loaded directly from a DVD, it's difficult to patch everything, Faylor said. For the other systems, which do not have hard drives, it is nearly impossible to offer patches. Miller said it's impossible to patch the Wii version.
  
  The other problem is that in order to fix the game through a patch, a user's console must have a broadband Internet connection. Miller said about 80 percent of Xbox 360 owners have a broadband connection.
  
  The only option for consumers, whose systems cannot be patched and for those without broadband Internet, would be if EA would offer consumers an exchange for a later, "fixed" print of the game's DVD.
  
  "A disc exchange is definitely possible," Faylor said. "It's been done before, but it's costly and time-consuming."
  
  Electronic Arts offered a disc exchange last year for its NCAA Football game for the PSP and for the 2006 version of Madden, again on the PSP. Miller said the game would spot the ball at wrong points on the field.
  
  "That made the game unplayable," Miller said.
  
  "What it comes down to, as always, is the relationship between how much of this will actually affect their sales and reputation," Faylor said.
  
  While consumers have filed complaints with ConsumerAffairs.Com and on message boards, the Better Business Bureau in California's Bay Area, where EA is headquartered, has received 443 complaints in the last 36 months regarding EA, and the company has an "unsatisfactory" rating.
  
  Here's a list of a few of the problems consumers say they've encountered on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 ports:
  
  * Players disappearing from free agent pool in franchise mode
  * Connection problems during online play
  * Substantial lag during online play
  * System freezes
  * Changing a player's uniform number changes his age
  * Yearly player statistics are greatly inflated, sometimes giving a quarterback 50 or more touchdowns in a year
  
  For the Wii:
  
  * Kickers missing many of their field goal attempts in SuperStar mode
  * Regular system freezes
  * Connection problems during online play
  * Substantial lag during online play
  * Offensive players, including quarterbacks, being placed on special teams plays
  * Quarterbacks often don't hand off the ball as they are supposed to during running plays
  * 'No huddles' occur at random
  * "No huddles' result in offsides penalties
  * Quarterbacks automatically throwing the ball as soon as it is hiked
  
  Many disgruntled consumers have posted videos of the above glitches, and others, on YouTube. One video shows the ball soaring through the air and then making a 90 degree turn, midair, into the stands.
  
  Miller said consumers should expect some glitches.
  
  "The nature of games is there are always bugs," he said. "We try to minimize them and make sure they don't interfere with gameplay."
  
  For those consumers who cannot receive patches, their only defense is to complain, Faylor said.
  
  "Make a big fuss about it," Faylor advised. "Complain on their forums. E-mail them. Call their customer service department. Companies, especially those as big as EA, have people reading forums and e-mails all over the internet. They are definitely aware of the issue."
  
  Many consumers say they wish EA would have shipped a working game, even at the expense of extending the deadline.
  
  "I am positive that EA is aware of the issues with their products," Jonathon of Independence, Mo. wrote to ConsumerAffairs.Com. "But a combination of greed, laziness, and poor product testing results in continually releasing sub-par and beta-like games,"
  
  Link:
  
  http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/ea_games.html
  
  
  
• This game Sucks worse than any game I've ever played
  By AZPW3X6IBXDVF on 2007-08-15
  The only reason I gave it one star was because there was no option for 0 stars. It took all that was bad from Madden 07 and made it worse. Good luck playing on superstar mode. You can't see anything when you throw the ball, so it's totally up for grabs. I also hope you have the hand-eye cordination of the world's most elite assassin to be able to do the rookie workouts they set for you. If you want to play a good football game play NCAA 08, I thought it was pretty good. Madden has successfully turned the once great tradition of NFL football games into an unbearable waste of time, money, and plastic.
  
  
• Better than some of what's being reported
  By A3CIVLV8XYSJDF on 2007-08-16
  I wish there was a 4.5 star rating, because that would be the pick. I'm a converted PS2 user who migrated over to the 360, and Madden represents %90% of what I play on the consoles. When I swithed during the last year, I couldn't believe how terrible Madden 07 was on the console. This year, the folks at EA have put out a FAR improved product.
  
  If you've played on the PS2 in recent years, you'll know what I'm talking about-- essentially, the folks at Madden took much of what really worked well on the PS2 in terms of play-calling and responsiveness and ported that to the 360. The result is far better gameplay, wrapped in an amazing graphical package.
  
  The weapons system is a nice touch, but it's the improved AI, particularly in the secondary, which really makes a difference. I think that it takes more skill to play this year, and I think that there is a bit of a learning curve that some players are going through.
  
  That said, this game is head and shoulders over last year's version and is certainly worth serious consideration for anyone who likes football.
  
  
• NFL football in HD gaming glory.
  By AV9SRGPNOD73Z on 2007-08-17
  I usually get Madden every year. The last few years have been unexciting in that respect. I got the games...played a few times and then the game collected dust only to be traded in a few months later. This time Madden is not following that trend.
  
  I played a season already with a created team replacing my beloved Packers with a dark green and white fictitious team The White Demons. The computer made my team up of young and talented made up players. I dominated winning every game through the regular season and all the way to the Super-bowl. I had a lot of fun working with the players getting them improved in skills and abilities.
  
  The graphics are amazing in this next-gen NFL experience on 360. The integration of the sports ticker from ESPN as well as ESPN Radio is pretty cool too. The online experience is good for playing head to head, but there still is no online season mode. Hopefully that will come next year. I don't understand why this has not been included. The injuries and referees are more realistic. The music is pretty good, but I am not happy that you cannot load your ripped songs from the hard drive into the game music system. You can only play your music from your play-lists by using the X button.
  
  This Madden is getting back to the glory days of the game, but I think next year's version will fix all the complaints I have this year to really be the ultimate HD NFL gaming experience...
  
  
  
• Frustrating yet WHAT OTHER CHOICE IS THERE???
  By A3E5DM9PBW40AA on 2007-08-18
  To start, I have been playing Madden since the series started and have been pleased with its progress. That is until it came out on the next-gen systems! Now it seems EA is more concerned with looks and graphics then gameplay. Example - Madden 07 for regular Xbox was GREAT, I still play it. Madden 07 for 360 was a lot more confusing and had a lot more problems.
  
  Now, Madden 08... been waiting months and was hoping not to be dissappointed. Well... EA Sports did it again. They failed on the little things and made BIG changes where tweaks were necessary. The defenses in this game are a little too overwhelming if you ask me! I did a fantasy draft and had a hard time passing the ball from Peyton Manning to Andre Johnson! Something wrong there! These are players with 94+ ratings. I barely got the ball to the receiver!!!
  
  Other big problems:
  *FUMBLES FUMBLES AND MORE FUMBLES... have not played one game yet without 3 or 4 fumbles and this is on ALL-PRO!
  *Injuries - I like to try a bunch of stuff when I first get the game and was sad to have my star HB hurt in each of the seasons I started in the very first game!! Way too many injuries.
  *Where is the accelerated clock?! I don't like to wait 30 seconds after I choose a play to hike the damn ball! But if I don't my players will get tired too fast!!!
  *Offensive Line Shifts- the best thing in Madden 07 and its gone!! Can't pick up d-line changes. FANTASTIC! You need Vick to get around the defensive packages thrown at you.
  *Superstar Mode- why can I not start Superstar mode in anything but ROOKIE difficulty???? I don't want my Superstar to be a SUPERSTAR that fast!!! He needs to work for it just like in real life!!!
  * The "RING" thing takes too much time and just gets annoying watching that screen come up every game! Show it once, that's it!
  
  The only good thing about this game as every year is the graphics are outstanding!!! But I guess that's where EA puts all its money seeing as how they don't have to worry bout any competition out there!
  
  ALL PRO FOOTBALL 2k8 was a joke and its concept pretty much sucked! But besides that there is nothing!!! Hopefully EA doesn't screw up it NFL Street Series as well. It's not realistic but its not supposed to be and you have to admit its fun to play with a bunch of people!!!
  
  
• Why the hype? This is Madden 07.1
  By A3H4TIVTTA5IBB on 2007-08-17
  Off the top, yes, I am a huge fan of the 2K series of football. That said, I still own Madden 07 for the XBOX 360. I am new to the 360 and bought it mainly because 2K football was coming back with All Pro Football. While initially disappointed with the graphics in All Pro 2K8, its game play is simply awesome. I then found a good price on Madden 07 and it was better than expected and it gives me my NFL fix.
  
  So, I decided to buy into the hype and try Madden 08. The result? I have already sold my copy. It is NOT worth the upgrade...it plays mainly like it could be Madden 07.1...the graphics actually look worse to me. This is Next Gen? I admit 2K8 isn't up to next gen standards either but this doesn't really look good. The players almost move too fast and not very smoothly...Madden 07 looks much better than this. Watch the D-Line go into their stance. They walk up and simply go down so fast that it doesn't look natural. And don't get me started on the fumbles. I've even encountered Brett Farve tiptoeing back and back and back and back for a 30 yard loss and it was counted as a no gain.
  
  I am not a Madden hater...I want it to be great...but until they adopt the presentation and tightness of play as 2K can do, it will always be sub-par football.
  
  
• Madden NFL 08
  By A2R2A84C2IZB9U on 2007-09-14
  I hate this game.
  
  Someday I will learn that the professional reviewers are nothing but shills for EA sports and the NFL.
  
  Now I have reverted back to playing Madden NFL 06 on my trusty Xbox, which is a far superior product to either Madden NFL 07 or Madden NFL 08 Xbox 360 versions.
  
  My review will be a comparison between Xbox NFL06 and NFL 08 Xbox 360.
  
  Features Xbox NFL 06 has that Xbox 360 doesn't have: Substitutions for each formation. This means I can put a player like Reggie Bush into the slot formation for Xbox, but not for Xbox 360.
  
  Can adjust camera view for Xbox. Not only that, but camera view can be adjusted independently for run plays versus passes.
  
  Can edit created team uniform any time.
  
  Can assign linebackers and Dbacks to individual receivers on man coverages.
  
  Xbox 360 has to many interceptions and fumbles compared to the earlier version Xbox. Similarly, the field is too narrow as the receivers continually catch passes out of bounds in Madden 08.
  
  Because I can't adjust the camera view, it is difficult to see sideline receivers.
  
  Special capability icons do not make sense, as one cannot assign Dback for one on one receiver coverage unless one makes changes to the depth chart.
  
  Madden 08 has an incomplete set of plays. Many of my favorite plays for Madden 06 Xbox are not included.
  
  The announcer makes repetitive comments.
  
  While the graphics are outstanding on Xbox 360, too much focus is spent on individual players between plays before the play calling screen comes up. Further, the play calling screen is difficult to use compared to Xbox version 06.
  
  Question: why does EA always change the gameplay button controls? Is it asking too much for more consistency among NFL games for each platform?
  
  It would seem with the power of the Xbox 360 that EA would have come up with a version of Madden NFL superior to a two year old Xbox version, but it is not to be. Maybe next year, huh?
  
  I won't waste any more money on these duds.
  
  
  
• Overall, a disappointment
  By ABAXJG385W33O on 2007-09-14
  First let me start by saying I've been playing Madden for years now, since '92 in fact, so I do know a thing or two about my beloved football series. One particular thing I've always loved about Madden was its accessibility, its customization. Pretty much anything I wanted to do with it, I could. It was 'My Madden' in the truest sense. If I wanted to edit every team, every player in the league, I could. I could look at my roster breakdown as I searched the free agent list for replacments. Its the little things that made Madden great. They, like many things of past Maddens, are now gone. But, I'm rambling. Those things don't mean anything, absolutely nothing, if the game doesn't play right. Has it ever played right? I'm tired of year after year tweaking and tinkering with the A.I. settings. Why aren't these set correctly when the game is shipped? Maybe I would forgive this if not for the huge oversight of this year's Madden, its fumbling. Even with A.I. motification this cannot be completely fixed. I've heard some reviewers say that its not a big deal, others fail to mention it at all. Well it is a problem. Turnovers in general get outta hand too often. This upsets me most of all because as a gamer and a Madden lover, I could tell EA exactly whats wrong with this game. So why don't they know? Bottom line: The fumbling in Madden '08 wrecks the gameplay. And I promise you this: EA will admit it, not now, but right before Madden '09 shipps.
  
  
  
• 360 version worse than regular xbox version
  By A2YBUANJJI7SJ2 on 2007-11-24
  Why does EA insist on creating stripped down versions of supposedly "next generation" games. This game lacks many of my favorite features.
  
  No coach mode!
  No computer controlled games. You have to have a user control one team, and because you can't do coach mode, and because the QB will NOT throw the ball on his own, you have to throw the ball youself. So your QB will only be as good as you are.
  No historic teams.
  You can't create players in franchise mode.
  There are fewer created team logos and color options.
  Lame radio announcers.
  
  To make things worse, the regular xbox Madden games are not backward compatible on the xbox 360. You're better off playing it on an xbox.
  
  
  
• Good not great
  By A1SAB09LNIOTU7 on 2007-09-03
  As an older gamer (in my 30's) I still fondly remember not only the early Madden titles, but earlier games like the Tecmo series. One of the things I liked best about those games was that they were both fun and SIMPLE. Madden '08 has good gameplay, but the endless features and in-game adjustments are a little overwhelming for someone who only wants to play a game every once-in-a-while. This seems like a game that would really benefit from commiting more of it's cache to gameplay and graphics and less to over-thought minutia.
  
  That said, the computer AI is much improved. AI players respond smoothly and efficiently to the action on the field and the basic gameplay is very good. The Franchise Mode seems solid.
  
  Overall, really good, but be prepared to spend a lot of time either learning the details or getting your butt kicked by people who do.
  
  
• Please give 2k its rights back...
  By A3ACMH51LIWS84 on 2007-09-07
  The Madden on the psp is better than the 360 for the second year in the row. Its unbelieveable that precision passers throw 2-5 a game in 08 for 360. This game is not offense minded at all. Randy Moss, Lavereneus Coles and even Devin Hester can be caught up in this game. Its a d@mn shame. This game looks great though, But until Madden relases its stranglehold on the NFL rights and have some competition, these are going to be some lean years for EA.
  
  
• With Alex Smith playing like Tom Brady and Niners playing like the Patriots, something is wrong with the A.I. of this game
  By A2NOIWPJDD7WIQ on 2007-10-13
  I've played this game for 2 weeks now and it's fun when you play online or against another human being. It's the same 'ol Madden formula that you're used to seeing in previous installments with a tad more detail and a few neat features but it's the same stuff. Playing against the computer however is a DIFFERENT story. Playing under ROOKIE difficulty makes the game just that, but ridiculously easy. When you set the game to PRO which is a step above ROOKIE, the A.I. is ridiculously too good! You can tinker with the A.I. settings so that the computer plays terribly, but it doesn't seem to do anything. I was using the Patriots and played against the CPU 49ers. Now, Alex Smith isn't exactly the best quarterback in the world, but with all the A.I. set to bare minimum, Smith consistently passed for 400 yards regardless of how well I played defense! Also, the 49ers were unstoppable and made my Patriots look like an NCAA team! I thought it was a glitch and just the 49ers in this game, so I picked Detroit. Same thing, Jon Kitna was passing on my Baltimore Ravens defense for almost 300+ yards and were unstoppable at PRO level. Of all the Madden games I've played, the A.I. is incredibly inaccurate and makes any team you pick for the CPU become very invincible. It's what made me sell my copy back to an outside vendor.
  
  
• too many glitches
  By A1K12918N81ACF on 2007-10-20
  I bought game a couple of days ago and was impressed with the gameplay and the grafics in exhibition mode but once i began franchise mode it all went down hill. along with managing rosters there were minor freezes where i played around with the button and reconnected the controller and some how got it to work but by the time i made it to year 2 the game froze in before i could get the opening kickoff. Extremly upset did research online to find out about tons of glitches and complaints and ea removing such complaints from thier forums. the only good news is the are releasing patches the bad is that the patches have bugs as well meaning i wasted 60 buck don't buy.
  
  
• Steps backward counter the meager improvements
  By AWQ094FM9FVYT on 2007-10-21
  I'm a pretty dedicated franchise mode player, so I'll just list what's changed in 08 for better and for worse for somebody like me.
  
  Improvements:
  1. Gameplay - Tackling, running, and receiving are improved. Playcalling has changed, allowing for play selection by formation, by type of play, by recently called, or by asking Madden. This throws you off at first, but you grow to accept it.
  
  2. Style - The menus and backgrounds are sleeker, but definitely not easier to use.
  
  3. Features - Weapons system differentiates great players by individual strengths, even allowing some defenders to read plays. More skill ratings this year are nice (all the old ones plus, for example, elusiveness, catch-in-traffic, stiff arm, route running, pursuit, etc.)
  
  Steps backward:
  1. Menus - I liked the old menu options and features. One small annoyance you find in the 2k series that has made its way into Madden this year is that when trying to make trades, once you select the players, if the trade doesn't work out and you back out to try to set up a trade with the next team, the menu defaults back to the Bears (1st alphabetical team). This is a small thing, but really obnoxious when you have to try to remember who the last team you tried was, then scroll all the way up to the next one. Also, the in-game audio and visual options are gone, so no turning on the blue line of scrimmage (you miss it more than you'd think), and no camera options. Normally the default cam is fine, but in 08 I can never see my wide receivers (even with my widescreen TV), so it would have been nice to be able to move the camera back to a wider view. AI sliders aren't available from your franchise mode menu, but I finally found them buried in the main menu, and, strangely, in the in-game pause menu.
  
  2. Gameplay - Too many fumbles and interceptions, as everyone is saying. Now that I found the AI sliders, I turned down INTs and CPU defensive awareness (no fumbling/ball carrying slider), but I still have, in week 15, 27 INTs versus 23 TDs. Next most INTs in the league: Chris Simms with 13. Passing is a joke, for several resons. First, speed ratings seem to have almost no effect, at least for receivers, because I can't get mine to outrun ANYBODY on deep routes. I mean, they're practically JOGGING the routes. Second, as in previous Maddens, it's hard to put any touch on the ball when passing, especially short and medium passes; it's either a bullet or a rainbow. This makes it hard, for example, to get the ball to a tight end about 15 yards downfield over the heads of the linebackers, who can pick it off in mid-flight even if they're nowhere near as deep as the TE. Third, defenders still fight a lot harder to get to passes than your receivers do, since they seem to be the only ones actually paying attention to the pass. Fourth, it's hard to get the QB to do route-based passing. He throws based on what the receiver is doing at the moment instead of based on what the route dictates. Even with "precision passing" (haha), you can rarely get the QB to get the ball out in front of the receivers so they can catch in stride. Especially on long passes, the ball is often thrown at the receiver's hip. It's too easy for defenders who are behind your guys to knock down or pick off passes that should have been out of reach. In-game offensive line play sucks. In 07, linemen with decent strength would end up with like 13 pancakes a game, but now I'm lucky if more than one of my O-linemen get any pancakes. My best lineman has 4 pancakes on the season; most of the rest of the league's starters have between 40 and 80. Remember, this is week 15.
  
  3. Experience - The retarded newspaper and email updates from 07 should have been vastly improved, not abandoned. It would have been satisfying to read about your overachieving franchise in the papers, or to get realistic emails from the coach and players reacting to last week's game. Same goes for the scouting report on the next opponent -- should have been improved instead of cut out. Michaels and Madden no longer announce the game, just a boring radio play-by-play guy. No color commentary = less immersive feel. Player ratings no longer improve during the season and only change very little in the off-season, and there's no more training camp to do it manually. So how do your young players get better? I haven't been able to figure that one out yet.
  
  I'm mostly disappointed (I want to change my star rating to 2 and the fun rating to 1). If EA could have kept some of the features of previous versions with this one's improvements, and fixed the passing, 08 might have been great. Instead, EA continues to show an uncanny ability to tweak their game toward merely different instead of tweaking it closer to perfection.
  
  
• another huge piece crap
  By A2NXECAVGJ86ZF on 2007-10-26
  ok the 360 maddens have been hard turds so heres why
  06 AI was stupid and game was slow and boring
  07 it was better but i would rather play with my a##
  08 i was happy thil it started freezing up in year 2 or franchize so don't buy ea's crap fest that is madden
  
  
• Better than Madden 07
  By AA7LVVFWIY8NG on 2007-08-14
  This game is what we all expect. Gameplay is just as good as previous years with great looking graphics. I rate this 5 stars instead of 4 because when creating a character you have a choice between doing the skills tests or simply customizing the player, which last year's game didn't have. I hate to say it, but I enjoy creating me as a star quarterback and missed being able to do this last year. Franchise mode is just that much better when it's me leading the Washington Redskins to three, make that four, consecutive Super Bowls.
  
  
• Madden is back!
  By AYQ7E9P8GXJFE on 2007-08-15
  So last years madden sucked, plain and simple. I bought it and played it maybe 5 times. So my neighbor picked up 08' yesterday, and I stopped by to test the waters. Needless to say Madden is back. First off you'll notice it's animations are awesome. Grahics are great, and there are so many upgrades. What really makes the difference is the speed of the game. It's fast! It feels like the good old maddens of old. Your flying around, like a real game. Plus the control of the players is great. No more trying to go one way and you go the other. I went out immediately and bought my copy. The 360 version si the way to go.
  
  
• Still Fumbling Along in Great Fashion
  By A166ROY4SVRLC4 on 2007-08-19
  No doubt about it, Madden 08 for the 360 is the best football game out there. Period. It's also the best Madden football simulation since Madden 05 (of current-gen consoles). Madden made its debut on the 360 two years ago. I still see too much of it in 08. First off, the color announcer is still the drone voice from 06; I'm still baffled by this because EA has ESPN license and should take advantage of using some of their broadcasters. The overall atmosphere of the game has not changed since 07 or 06 versions. The game engine is basically the same, too. It is, however, tweaked and improved since last year's copy.
  
  Overall, the game looks amazing!
  
  No question about the graphics. The game play too is quite good. However, there's still some glitches that pop up now and then, but it doesn't distract from the overall play of the game. I've read there's quite a bit of fumbling going on than should be, but I think that's good because it makes the game interesting and fun. I would like to see more injuries from all the hard hits, which by the way, are a nice touch of realism that lacked in previous versions. So far of what I've played, the injuries that pop up are really not from the hard hits.
  
  Madden 08 offers a little revamped Franchise. The only addition is now "Owner mode" features are added to teams' functions and financial statements. You can add various upgrades to your stadium or build a new one. For the most part, though, the Franchise mode has been untouched from Madden 07. Yes, you can still import your NCAA Football Draft Class as well.
  
  I give this game 3 starts because EA could have done a better job with its announcers and ESPN license. They also could have made for a better TV-style presentation. Keep in mind this is just cherry picking on my view, and I'm not complaining because EA had done a good job on its lucrative football franchise.
  
  
• Madden 08
  By A38F96T6FGDYA5 on 2007-08-21
  I have been playing Madden since 1993, and I've pretty much enjoyed it a lot. This game is a dramatic improvement over last year. After playing the game a little bit, here are my observations
  
  CONS:
  1. Like most people, bring MADDEN back into his game. "He got up looking out his earhole." I never thought I'd miss it, but I actually do. He's nowhere near as annoying as vitale.
  2. Put the referee and other officials back into the game. I miss using them as an extra blocker or getting stuck behind one like on the ps1.
  2a. It's nice that ea tried to at least put a ref in the game unlike
  ncaa, but it sucks when he comes on the field, and instead of
  facing the stands, he is facing the endzones. a lot of good that
  does.
  2b. i play the game with 5.1 dolby surround. I can not hear the his
  announcement of challenges. I have to go on the crowd noise to see
  which way the challenge went.
  3. speaking of challenge, madden use to give you the option to back out
  of a challenge. For example, it would say, "do you wish to challenge
  the spot of the ball?" Now it just goes straight to challenges the
  ball spot.
  4. if i lose a challenge, i do not need a cut away to the scoreboard that
  states that I lost my timeout. No duh.
  5. also, on challenges, come up with a different or better animation of
  the opposing coach giving the "what gives? hurry up." motions while
  everyone is awaiting the call.
  6. I might be missing something, but it sure would be nice to at least
  save a replay instead of just being able to see it at halftime or
  after the game.
  7. Please bring back the ability to do a squib quick. with the present
  kicking system which is great, i find it very difficult to pull a
  squib w/o just kicking it lightly and short.
  8. at least point out who gets injured.
  9. go back to the snes way to pick a play. the current way is way too
  easy for your human opponent to see your choice. I know that you can
  bluff, but it's not as easy as it was.
  
  Pros.
  1. fantastic animations. it makes you almost feel the hits that are
  taken in the game.
  2. fantastic stadiums as usual.
  3. graphics and gameplay are vastly improved.
  
  I don't want it to seem that there weren't any pros about the game. It just isn't as exciting as it used to be. ncaa is the way to go this year. I enjoy this game a lot. there were a lot of subtle improvements to the game.
  
  
• Madden is fun again
  By A337RMPC12S9UG on 2007-09-14
  I was pretty disenchanted with the last few versions of Madden, and I probably would've passed on the game this year if I didn't recently upgrade to an Xbox 360 (I wanted to try a football game on a next-gen console). I've had the game for a couple weeks now, and I'm happy with my purchase.
  
  On the offensive side of the ball, the game challenges you to read the defense and make quick, smart decisions. Using the default settings, the pocket collapses a lot sooner than previous versions of the game, and the defensive backfield AI is much improved - if you try to force a pass into double coverage, there's a very strong chance of a turnover. I've had to tinker with the CPU's defensive sliders just to give myself a fair chance of scoring. The challenge is much appreciated though, as I prefer playing a competitive game rather than continually blowing out the CPU.
  
  Playing defense is fun and realistic this year. If you're controlling a safety with an average speed rating and you're faced with the task of running down a quick WR, you won't catch him, even while holding the sprint button. Defensive tackles will frequently jump and bat down a low pass, a feature which I was lucky to see once a year in past Madden games.
  
  Special teams is the same as always, though you'll want to lower the kickoff slider, since seemingly any kicker can boot the ball through the end zone at will.
  
  If you're on the fence about this game, give it a shot for a good challenge. It still needs some work, but the future looks bright again for the franchise.
  
  
• Game freezes constantly
  By A3KMHBHRELWSFU on 2007-11-27
  I think it's important for everyone to know that this game freezes constantly. Franchise mode does not work for more than 1 season. EA does not have a patch for these fixes yet. Buyer beware, especially if this is a holiday gift.
  
  This game is essentially all looks, no substance.
  
  
• Not perfect, but what in this world is?
  By A2REKI34E8RT1Q on 2007-08-15
  I told myself after last year's debacle that I would rent this year's Madden first....but I impulsively got it the other night and I couldn't be happier. Yea, it still has its kinks; but they're easy to get over if you just play. Once you get used to the movement, improved defense, more difficult throwing - it's easy to sit there for hours. I think the weapons system is one of more better done experiments that EA has tried over the years, and the precision passing (while a pain in the rear-end) is pretty nice. It'd be nice if there weren't so many fumbles (even with LT/LJ), and the pre-play options were a bit more user-friendly....but overall it's a step in the right direction.
  
  
• a bunch of new features
  By A100JCBNALJFAW on 2007-08-15
  this madden has alot of new features such as.. "weapon mode" which is in a nutshell an icon over the player. the icon are things like smart qb, smart db, power back, speed, great hands, and shutdown corner and more. i want to talk about smart Qb and Db. the icon is a lightbulb and if you are a smart qb and the D keeps picking the same play the light bulb will fill up and you can read the play. you can do the sam if you are a DB,Lb,DB if they have the smart icon..
  
  
  Gameplay-- over all the graphics are good and the game play is pretty much the same and this time you can play for trophies and Build up your ring instead which is ur gamer level.
  
  superstar mode--- this time you can play as a real rookie like( Clavin johnson, peterson and more) or make them the only way. but in 08 you dont have to watch the whole game. you can hit Y and sim untill your on the field and that makes it much better!
  
  Fran-- pretty much the same but you can Now Can make your own team, take off the Cap, and do the Front office Thing if you like that,
  
  Co-op mode- play up to 4 players not sure if that works online or not ?
  
  Make your own Team-- about time!! u can make your own team
  
  
  
• Gettin back on track? Ehhh,
  By A23M0RSOL9Z5DY on 2007-08-16
  Just got it, popped it in, and, ehhhh. Its Madden, not to much different than previous versions (the framerate has improved over the last 2 next gen versions, so it runs smoother) but they still got a long way to go. The icons are ok, there are different icons for different types of players, such as; cannon arm quaterback, precision qb, elusive rb, etc, etc, along with the number 0-100 ratings(which I prefer), I dont pay much attention to the icons, as a matter of fact I'm going to see if there is an option to have them not pop up at all.
  
  The mini games to upgrade your players are enjoyable, although I have no idea what they were thinking with the reciever mini game. I can never track the ball, its like the screen jerks and throws me off, major improvement needed there, also playing the cornerback position is difficult. Now, this is just when you play as that specific player(legend mode). Its much easier to play the reciever/corner positions in regular game play mode by just switching to that player, and using them from that perspective, as the camera doesn't act all crazy on ya.
  
  Game play runs pretty smooth, and the animations are pretty slick. Some clipping between players still occurs, but I've gotten so used to that it doesnt really bother me, and it doesnt effect the overall gameplay anyway, ( I'm not one of those folks who complain "WHAT, his big toe just went thru that guys heel, this game is crap!") Get over it already.
  
  Presentation is what will take Madden over the top. For the life of me, I cant understand why they will not make any improvements to it. Whats the hold up on this? Sideline players still look retarded, I mean they have the coach over there walking around, and a bunch of generic sideline players all doing the same exact thing, and they have no detail about themselves either. Same thing with NCAA. Come on EA, step ya game up a little for once, please. Can we get real commentators, what the hell is this radio voice thing they have going on? NCAA 08s commetators are way better. 2ks commentary still trumps Maddens also. Crowd still needs major improvements also. These all seem like small improvements that're needed, I mean the gameplay is Madden, its pretty good. Just give us some action on the sidelines, crowd, ya know, the small details.
  
  There's some kind of build your own super bowl ring that I'm not to interested in, so you can play around with that when you buy the game or read about it in another review or something.
  
  Thats pretty much it, like I said, its Madden, not really downgraded, but could have been much better if they just crank the atmosphere/presentation up a little bit. You guys have the ESPN liscense, now USE IT!
  
  By the way, NCAA 08 is a much better game. Madden, better step your game up son, ya losin the race with ya little brother.
  
  
• nice!
  By AYJ4X8YZDUNLN on 2007-09-02
  finally a very good game for the 360 that rivals '05 for regular xbox (my favorite madden.. but this might top it). Gone is the choppiness (for the most part) and the horrible cut-scenes to a black tunnel or the back of a scoreboard or whatever. Personally, I don't care about the radio-announcer. Madden was totally annoying too. Yeah, I agree, they could improve here but the game is near flawless where it counts: gameplay, graphics and presentation. The new animations are great and I dig the realism: you have to think and strategize with this game, unlike any other Madden.
  
  Gripes are few.. personally, I don't like playing in the rain because the mud just looks fake and distracts from the players. Also, why can't we save a game mid-game? Previous Maddens allowed this.
  
  Overall, love it. I was so harsh and critical of 06 and 07 that I never thought I'd enjoy another Madden.. well, here is a vast improvement!
  
  
• Good - but AI needs work
  By A2FVHLVVM0YCT2 on 2007-09-24
  Some really good features in the game and overall it can be fun to play. The fumbles are a bit much - as I cannot tell you how many times I have fumbled the ball - WHILE I WAS COVERING IT. Plus - the superhuman abilities of the db's and linebackers to jump 6-8 feet in the air to intercept a pass. I always feel like I'm playing against the legion of superheroes - where everyone has a flight ring, except my receivers. I expect an interception if I'm throwing into tight coverage, or double coverage, or a safety gets me on a cover 2. But to see a ball go well over the head of a linebacker on it's way to a receiver that's 20-30 yards away and then to see that linebacker leap into the air like the Hulk - AND catch the ball like I just tossed him an apple - is very frustrating. It works both ways I know - I've had the AI for my defense pick off a pass - and they almost always go back for a touchdown! How many TD interceptions do you normally see in a game? Not 2-3 per team each game... hopefully they will come out with a patch!
  Other than the fumbling and the unrealistic INT's the game is pretty good - although I miss having Madden do the play by play. Why are the calling it Madden if he's just a tiny part of the game?
  
  

• 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

• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
• NCAA Football 08
• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Black
• Xbox 360 Pro Value Bundle
• NBA Live 08