Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360, 2007)

The past couple next-gen versions of Madden have been basically the same game just with roster updates. This is not the case with Madden 08. Fantasy draft is back and trophy case has been added. Also, a very noticeable difference from the Xbox 360 version of this game and the PS3 version is the FPS, or Frames Per Second. Madden 08 runs at 60 frames per second on the Xbox 360 and 30 frames per second on the PlayStation 3. There have been many complaints that the PS3 version and PS2 version are the exact same thing. The game is very smooth on the Xbox 360 and because of the new animation system, you are no longer locked into animations and you have more control over your players. Features of the new animation system include mid-air collisions, one-handed catches, hurdles, sideline catches and gang tackling. Season Mode and tournaments have also been added to online play. The Hit Stick 2.0 allows players to hit high or low by flicking the right analog stick up or down. In addition, the fatigue factor has been fixed in this year's game. No more scrambling around with your quarterback for 2 minutes without getting tired. Fatigue also plays a factor when cold-weather teams play in hot weather during the early months of the season. Co-op play has also been brought back so you and a friend can play on the same team at the same time.

The presentation in the game has improved, but they are not taking full advantage of the ESPN license they acquired awhile back. Look for them to take more advantage of this in later versions of Madden. Also, Marshall Faulk hosts a segment called "Marshall's Minute" where he discusses key star players and predicts the final score of the game. "Weapons" (certain star players have "weapons" which can enhance their performances and create game-changing plays) also get special introductions before games. John Madden and Al Michaels do not do the commentary as they are replaced by the same radio voice as last year. Lastly, you are able to take over the careers of select rookies from the 2007 NFL Draft. For example, you can import your player from Campus Legend mode in NCAA Football 08 and use him in Madden's Superstar Mode.

There have been complaints about the amount of fumbles and interceptions in this game making it unrealistic but here is a thought: if you throw the ball right to a defender, he should catch the ball in real life. Still, this makes the game interesting and gives people that like to play defense and are skilled at it a reason the control the defenders. This game is great but like anything else can improve. It is fun and has a lot of modes and features that will keep you interested and playing until Madden 09.

By this point, you’ve probably read countless articles on TeamXbox and other gaming sites talking about how the first few next-gen Madden titles didn’t [insert tired football analogy here]. It’s not like the games were bad or anything, it was just that they weren’t up to our lofty expectations. Before out first demo of this year’s game, many of my fellow editors and I were all ready to dump a cooler full of Haterade on it. However, even at that early stage, we had a feeling that we were finally seeing the game that we had been waiting on for 3 years. The only question was whether or not the team at Tiburon could follow through and give us what we wanted. Let’s find out if they did, shall we?

While some people care more about stuff like the Franchise and Owner modes, this editor is all about heading onto the field for some action between the lines. It’s here where Madden NFL 08 truly shines, as it offers the best action we’ve ever seen in a football game. Thanks in part to the new Hit Stick 2.0 (which allows you to tackle a ballcarrier either high or low), you’ll be able to dish out some absolutely brutal hits, and there will actually be moments when you wince after your star RB crumples to the ground. On the offensive side, your wideouts and tight ends will realistically twist their bodies to reach for thrown balls and will drag their toes if making a catch while falling out of bounds. All told, this game features some stellar animations that, while not always noticeable, help to make the proceedings feel much more authentic.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2007 Super Bowl Champions!


For the most part, the on-field controls haven’t changed very much, aside from a few new mechanics like the ball strip and “hurdle control” which is implemented by, you guessed it, hitting the hurdle button. However, if you’re one of those players that know the difference between a hot route and a Hot Pocket, you’ll be happy to learn that there are a number of new mechanics that give you great control over your team. On the defensive side of the ball, you can now “spotlight” receivers, which makes it easier to shutdown superstar wideouts. Beware though, as that will usually leave another guy open.

The biggest new gameplay mechanic is the Weapon system, which is a great way to make star players stand out from the benchwarmers. There are a bunch of different categories that player can fall into, and they'll excel in those particular areas. Rather than giving the player super powers that can be used or some nonsense like that, they are simply better than their peers. For instance, Randy Moss will leap higher than an average player, Rodney Harrison will hit harder, and Lawrence Maroney can lower his shoulder to power through tackles. The only exceptions are the ones that allow QBs to occasionally read a defense and linebackers to see what play is coming, but you (thankfully) won't be able to use those very often. It's a great system, one that we hope makes it into future games.

Superstar mode has returned in Madden 08, and the developers have obviously taken some of the criticisms leveled at them from fans to heart. You’ll now be able to take control of one of the studs in this year’s rookie class in an attempt to turn him into a Hall of Fame caliber player. Unfortunately, there’s no “embarrassing web photo” minigame for all of the wannabe Brady Quinns out there, though we’re hopeful that it’ll appear in next year’s iteration.
Overal Rating: Perfect 10/10

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!

This game is quite similar to Madden 07. You'll notice that the graphics have gotten a lot better. EA sports has done a wonderful job building new graphics and making the gameplay smoother. The sound is also pretty good. However, John Madden is NOT in Madden 08. Just like in Madden 07, you'll have to listen to the radio announcer. I was very dissapointed by this. Since EA Sports have an exclusive contract with ESPN, they should at least have some kind of pre-game and halftime show.
The gameplay features are pretty much the same as Madden 07. However, I love the create-a-team mode in this game. You can name the team, choose the colors, the logo, build the stadium, and when you're all done building the perfect team, you can either draft players using a fantasy draft or let the CPU create automatic players for you. After you spend much time perfecting your team, you can take it into dynasty mode and try to win some games!
Overall, I wasn't blown away by Madden 08 but it was a little bit better than Madden 07. Unfortunately there's still much work to be done to create the perfect football game but I think that EA sports is finally getting the point.

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. The system itself works beautifully within the context of the game. Sure, you'll certainly note the differences between QBs like Brett Favre and Vince Young, but that would have been the case in any Madden game of the last few years. Here, you'll notice the differences in just about every position. Power running backs and speedier running backs are more individually defined than ever before, as are the differences between run blockers and pass blockers. On the defensive side of the ball, you see more in the technical differences in play between a shutdown corner that guards against the deep threat, and the press coverage corners who prefer to jam up receivers at the line. And the big hitters? Yes, they hit big. These new weapon designations even go beyond basic techniques--they can actually give you insight into what the other team is doing. Specifically, the "smart" QB and defender designations come with a meter that fills up as individual plays on the other side of the ball are called throughout a game. After a single play or coverage scheme has been called four times, a quarterback like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady can actually see exactly what the defense is going to do, whereas a smart defender can get a glimpse of where the offensive play is going to go. Obviously the counterattack to something like this is to vary up your playbook as much as possible, which is in itself a great thing, since that's what real offensive and defensive coordinators are forced to do in the real game. The excellent new weapons feature isn't the only way the on-field action has changed. Madden's control scheme is more complex than ever before.