Official Madden 08 Thread

Xbox 360 version of 'Madden NFL 08' sticks it to PS3

By Brett Molina, USA TODAY


It took a couple of next-gen tries, but Madden has finally punched one across the pylons.
Electronic Arts' cash cow, Madden NFL 08, returns with a fresh arsenal of weapons and gameplay as silky smooth as a LaDainian Tomlinson scamper into the end zone.

The release of Madden 08 marks the first time owners of Xbox 360 have a truly complete version of the NFL franchise. The 06 iteration, released with the console's launch, was horribly thin on all fronts. Last year's release, while markedly improved, still felt liked a neutered version of older-generation versions because of little options.


SCREENSHOTS: See some of the hits

On the surface, the releases on 360 and PlayStation 3 look identical. However, when you stack them head-to-head, it's clear which is better. Madden on 360 is fast and fluid, thanks to a sharp jump in frame rate that allows the game to move twice as fast.

PS3 owners, unfortunately, are greeted with a Madden that is sluggish in comparison. Action stutters far too often, particularly on injuries, penalties and turnovers. There's also a half-second delay between pressing the hike button and receiving the ball in your hands. Even close-ups between play look dull when lined up against the 360's sleeker cut scenes.

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Overall presentation hasn't changed much since last year. Textures in uniforms look sharper, although they don't flap and flutter as fabric should. Facial details on some players is improved, although very few pixellated pros look like their real-life counterpart. And could EA please sit John Madden and play-by-play sidekick Al Michaels back in the booth? The radio announcer just doesn't feel authentic enough.

Madden 08's latest features brush aside notions that the franchise has turned into an NFL roster update for the first time in a couple years. The Hit Stick has been tweaked so defenders can aim high and low to deliver crushing hits. And the improved animations make those shots well worth it. You never get tired sending a receiver into a 360-degree flip after a low hit with your safety.

Madden's read and react system further pushes the ability to fine-tune your offensive and defensive gameplan on the fly. Pull the left trigger and view on-field mismatches to determine your best point of attack. You can also spotlight specific offensive opponents for tighter coverage. The audible system has migrated onto the right analog to really mix up defensive schemes.

Perhaps the game's most notable addition is the player weapon system, a gauge of player strengths separating the stars from average Joes. Each strength is represented by a player icon. For example, a giant hammer represents big hitters, while a lightning bolt represents elusive running backs. Players can also have multiple icons depending on their skills.

Eager to throw the deep ball? Aim for Randy Moss or another Spectacular Receiver who can lunge into the air making one-handed grabs. Need to move the chains an extra yard for that first down? Plug in your Power Back who steamrolls defenders in his path.

Game modes have broadened as well. Franchise mode adds a little more depth, and a much-needed fantasy draft option. Superstar mode allows you to not only create your own stud, but control one of this season's top rookies. EA imports the Supersim option from NCAA Football 08 onto Madden, letting you simulate portions of a game. The online offering remains solid, although a season mode involving multiple online players would have made it mode more robust.

Madden was def a big improvement this year. Im having fun with it. I just got to get more used to some of the controls .

Ugh, i'm starting to not like this game. I can't get out of the second half without being down 30-0, and have thrown at least 2 picks. And when I do complete a pass, i fumble it. It's impossible to to stop punt returners from getting a good return, and anytime they get good field position off a punt, it's inevitable that they score. And it's bad enough that the D picks off passes left and right, it's even worse that almost every interception is taken all the way to the endzone.

I like a challenge, I don't like not being able to even put up a challenge though.

I still have fun with it, but I can't get good at it at all, after playing about 10 games so far.

How's create a player? I haven't had a Madden since the Vick cover (2004 I think). Is it easy to assign a "weapon" to created players? How do you do it? Do you just up their attributes until the system determines that they are a weapon? or do you just assign them weapon status and the computer adjusts their ratings accordingly?

It may be wierd but I always create an entire 53 man roster of ficticious players that I made up from way back in high school (more than 10 years ago). So the more features in create a player the better for me.

Yay. I finally got it! I just played a game, NE (me) vs. OAK, and lost 20 to 13


It's a fun game. Takes some getting used to. WAY too many turnovers.


BTW, can someone explain the whole 'weapon' thing? What is it? How do I use it?

Well, unless you messed with them, it should be on the All-Pro difficulty setting. What team are you playing as?

I've been playing madden since 03. I'll admit i've never been really good at football games, but i've managed to get by before.

I'm playing on all madden, which is what I always played on, but i'll probably move down to all pro and try to get better at the game.

They still make it for x box and ps2?

Yeah, well Amazon and IGN have it