Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1691 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2007-08-31
• Platform: Xbox 360

Customer Reviews

Too complicated for its own good...
As a late arrival to the next gen consoles, I was eager to pick up the latest Madden and really see what has improved. Firstly, the graphics are AMAZING. Note: beads of sweat running down players necks, and grass fields being torn up during a game. Never has a 300lb man looked so beautiful. So, visually, no problems, very nice.

However... understanding EA sports games has always been difficult, and this is by far the most difficult one yet. The controls havn't been set out in a way which makes gameplay simple (trying to do too much with the extra shoulder buttons perhaps?), and are often slow to responed in game. For example, running backs are often tackled and fumble the ball (which happens A LOT) before attempting to spin, or linebackers often over-run a play before attempting a big hit on thin air. This becomes frustrating, especially in superstar mode, as you never feel connected to the players you control.

Superstar mode is, as always, a hit and miss game mode. A brilliant idea, if you make a player worthy of a NFl career, but if you are bad at button bashing, your superstar will fail the combine badly, and turn out to be crap (a 44 overall rating is inevitable). This used to mean your career was over before it began, but don't worry! I made a running back who was 52 overall, but was still drafted and made first string of the Patriots! How realistic!

Even the in-game lay out is poor. Chosing a play is overly difficult, and unless you are an avid NFL fan, you won't have a cat in hells chance of choosing a decent play. I constantly received delay of game penalties trying to find a specific play for a situation.

I don't want to harp on about how complicated the game is, because if you play it enough you will pick it up, but long gone are the days when Madden was a pick up and play game. It's a decent enough game, but why does EA have to change everything everytime a new one comes out? Maybe they reached the perfect recipe many years ago? The contols were fine, don't change them!

Madden 2006 was, and still is, the best Madden for ages. Fact. It may not be a next-gen title, but it will please. Buy it, rather than Madden 08.

Next gen fun
After recently updating consoles from PS2 to 360, I also updated my version of Madden NFL 08. All I was expecting was the same game with improved graphics. But I was pleasantly suprised. EA have taken everything that makes the Playstation version good and updated and improved on it. Good gameplay, specific playing styles and a realistic franchise mode.

Improvements include Hall of Fame mode, which actually has a license this time. So you get names, profiles, stats and even highlight reels for some players, instead of the very poor PS2 system of QB #2 for example. You can now improve your players stats weekly. In previous installments you could only improve one player per drill at the start of the season. Now you can train 3 players per week before you play your game. Drills are a lot better now. You can train your player specifically to improve on areas of weakness. For example, members of your OL (Offensive Line), you can choose to train them in run or pass blocking. Drills for this particular position include bench press and blocking for a RB against defenders.
The last main difference is the Ring system. Instead of earning tokens and buying trading cards, you now earn points and gain rings. There are 5 rings to be unlocked. Each by achieving goals in the regular season.

But EA still managed to frustrate me. In every Madden game ever released you never feel youre in control of your own destiny. If youre up by 3 or 4 points, have the ball and start to run the clock down, after a couple of short rushes you tend to fumble, loss the fumble and the defender with the ball never gets tackled by the first man. Which ultimately ends up with you being down by a field goal with under a minute left. Robbed of the victory. What I said in my review of the PS2 copy still stands. Coverage is very hard, no matter how good your DBS are. And it seems whenever youre in need of points or a defensive stand, you simply cant acheive it.

This aside, Madden NFL 08 is a very good buy. Better than the PS2 version, you get more for your money. Graphics have been improved greatly. And those fortunate enough to have HD will get extra enjoyment out of playing. But be prepared for a hard time playing this game.

Dont buy madden for franchise mode
Ive purchased the game twice because my first franhise kept crashing in the 3rd season of franchise mode- wasnt able to train players and the disk would crash in game situations.This is reason I purchased it a second time thinking it was just a bad disk but I had the same problem. Look around on the internet for reviews of customers who have played franchise mode and you will find it happens to everybody. EA acknowledges this glitch and the other 79 which are apparent throughout the game and have released a patch which means you have to pay a more money to heal an imperfect game which you have already paid &25-39 for. Buy the game for playing but if you want to get frustrated try and play franchise for 3 straight seasons. Apart from that the graphics are brilliant but interceptions and fumbles occur constant. Many features are also missing from last years version such as limited create a logo options,player analysis, adjusting prices in franchise mode.