 |
When it comes to big time franchises, few can hold a candle to Madden. Likened to a religion and a holiday by its faithful fans, the latest installment of the football franchise is one of the most eagerly awaited titles every year. However, with the rise in attention being paid to the 360 and PS3 versions of the series, which are continually being touted as the future of football, this year's version of Madden on the PS2 was a radical departure. This year, Madden NFL 08 features a much larger emphasis on casual football fans than the hardcore player. While it doesn't completely abandon its roots entirely, it doesn't significantly build on them either, which makes this year's title somewhat disappointing for gamers on older generation systems.
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 10/10Read full review
I bought this game because in the past, I've loved playing Madden games, and I expected this to be no different. WELL, all I can say is, unless you are an expert on formations and audibles, this game will ware on you really quick. I have a hell of a time trying to run the ball, even on easy mode, and with LT. Throwing the ball is pretty simple and straight forward. Defense is tricky. I have NO idea how to make accurate kicks or punts, and I have no idea how to correctly cover on kick and punt returns. The controls and audibles are so complicated, if you are a casual football fan and prefer to let the analysts on TV tell you whether a play is good or bad, don't get this game. The graphics are great, game play is pretty smooth, and the realism of the game is pretty much right on. I myself am strongly considering selling it on here. I'm all about MLB '08: The Show. Grade for this game is a C at best.Read full review
Probably the best version of this game on the older (PS2) console . It’s fun and easy to play .
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The game is a step up from the good old Game Day series, boy I miss them. Learning again how to run the offense is perfect with this game because the drills allow you to practice without having to get frustrated with the computer when you try to call an audible or lead a receiver. The music is pretty good too, surprised me to hear Ozzy blaring in the background. Only let down was the juke function, had to nearly hit every button on the controller until I was able to see what "R" meant because the manual sure didn't point it out. Over all its a good game, I keep reminding myself it will be a while before I can stomp the computer again.
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Video Games
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Video Games
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
