The most fundamental change to the standard Madden control scheme is the revamping of the right stick. The appropriately named Hit Stick 2.0 differentiates between high and low hits. With the ball, pushing the stick left, right or down jukes, while up causes power backs to lower their shoulders, and agile backs to dodge. A new feature this year is the “Receiver Spotlight”. By holding the right trigger and selecting a receiver, the defense can call for a double team.
Game play modes have gotten a little deeper in this installment of Madden. Superstar mode is back for those who want to create a player, select an NFL rookie, or import an NCAA 08 player, and follow that one player throughout his career. You’ll be that player on game day, and play his position only. The same Minigames that I didn’t play last year are back again this year. Franchise mode has undergone a retooling to deliver more in-depth play. The gamer will have to scout the upcoming draft class, manage finances and upgrade stadiums. Franchise mode also features “Bust” or “Gems” rankings for new players in their first three years. If a recent draftee is labeled a “Gem”, he plays beyond what his skill level was projected to be (e.g. Tom Brady). If a player is a “Bust” you essentially wasted your first round pick (e.g. Ryan Leaf). If you find your player is a Bust, you can try to reverse it by putting him in situations where he will succeed. The improved Franchise mode will be welcomed by many, but those gamers that just want to play through an NFL season, without the added complexities, will be disappointed by the lack of a Season Mode.
Xbox Live play is decent and entertaining, but it falls short in its offerings. Ranked and unranked matches are strictly a one on one affair. Two on two, or even four on four game play would be a welcome addition. Madden 08 is missing any online season or tournament modes. It would be great to play out a full NFL season with one – or 31 - of your closest friends, but unfortunately, Tiberon does not offer it. You can still get a lot of satisfaction from one on one matches, but the online play is lacking in a lot of things that could make this one of the best Xbox Live sports game to date.
Turnovers seem to be a big issue with this year’s Madden. While the AI is prone to throw a lot of interceptions, fumbles seem to be the order of the day for both teams. You can somewhat moderate the fumbling by holding the right bumper to protect the ball, but this helps only to a degree.
Madden, more so than any other game, brought TV style presentation mainstream. That’s why I call into question EA’s use of a poorly executed radio commentary to accompany game play. Instead of hiring a TV announcer and color commentator, we’re left with a boring, tinny, uninformative radio voice that is entirely mute-worthy. Although John Madden seldom gave the gamer any real pearls of wisdom, at least he brought a personality to the presentation. I’ll settle for Paul Maguire. Please just give me something!
Madden 08’s soundtrack is eclectic and decent as always, with a predisposition towards the upbeat. The gameplay sound effects deliver the big hits and the on field chatter very well. Marshall Faulk takes you through a very stiff and negligible post game wrap up.
Speaking as one who had all but written off the Madden franchise, I’m very pleased with 08. It took three tries, but EA finally gave us a solid NFL game for next gen consoles. The fact that our Madden is better than the other guy’s is just icing on the cake. Madden 08 finally gives us some fantastic graphics and animations, with some great new features to keep the game from getting stale. Fans of the Madden franchise should be pleased with 08, and the cynics, such as myself, should add it to their libraries.
