Madden 2008 Improves but is Dumbed Down

Author's Rating:

Pros: Best and only football game, great replay value, realistic graphics, realistic simulation.

Cons: Less options than previous years, long load times.

The Bottom Line: 
Want football on the PS3? Buy Madden 2008 and enjoy! The game has improved over previous versions. It does fall short in a few areas but the sum is positive.

Author's Review
Madden football is football period. The years go by, and as the anticipation for each new football season reaches its pinnacle, I go out, stand in line, and get my pre-ordered copy. Much like the hope and expectations for my beloved Jets I have similar prospect for EA Sports to improve over the year before’s copy.

They have changed many things with the 2008 version. Most of them are dazzling and truly enhance the game. However, not all of the changes are to my satisfaction. The graphics are simply amazing and it is become difficult to separate the game from telecast. With that said, that is all I will touch on in terms of graphics. My focus is game play. I desire in my sports games for a true simulation of the sport; the intricacies and nuances to be learned and subtle. Furthermore, I quest for that most perfect blend of difficulty and fun.

This year EA has added amongst other things the concept of weapons. All players are proficient in various attributes that are core to their profession. When they reach the upper echelon, around 95 rating in the skill, they will be considered a weapon. Do you want a speed receiver or a possession receiver? This is a great enhancement for the franchise mode player. Do you want pure run stuffing power on defense or do you want pass rushing finesse linemen who will get to quarterback? Build your teams the way you want them to be built. The addition of weapons also comes with a revamped training mode for developing your players that allows you to focus on which weapon skill set your players will improve.

Both of these changes are fantastic as they truly enhance the franchise mode and the long term replay value of the game. After all 2009 does not come out until August 2008. However, the coaching options have been cut back. You can no longer create custom packages or define substitutions based on the offense of defensive set. This is extremely disappointing because I would love to be able to specify which players are on the field situational. For third and one I am bringing all the run stuffing weapons on the field. Third and fifteen I am bringing on the pass rusher specialists. While this is still possible to some extent by using sets and pre-defined packages it limits the flexibility of the game. In previous years you could utilize players who are one-dimensional when their strong ability was best suited. Here is to hope that this flexibility will return in the 2009 version.

Some other features seem also to have gone by the wayside from previous years. You can no longer create custom play books, or custom formations, or custom plays. Again this is a real disappointment. Weather seems to take on a lesser role. The deep ball is much harder to complete.

Finally, the AI has improved. It is much harder to keep using the same play over and over. But even so, a core issue continues to plague the title. There is no good level to play on. The title has four levels, rookie, pro, all-pro, and all-madden. For yours I have been caught between all-pro and all-madden. On all pro I will dominate the computer and win 40-14 or so. And on all-madden I will lose by the same score. The folks at EA really need to find a way to make the game more playable at the advanced levels.

One last rant: too many interceptions, on both sides; it just gets ridiculous at times.

With all that said. I love the game. Still play it, 6 months after I bought it. And I can't wait to buy next year's version. Buy it and enjoy!