Madden 08, PS2

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Madden 08, PS2

POSTED: Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 9:00 PM

Filed Under: Video Games

Madden 08 Won, Too

Unvincable

Madden 08 (EA Sports, various platforms), the latest installment of the most profitable football video game franchise in the history of the modern gaming era (post-Atari 2600), is a substantial upgrade from its predecessors with the addition of a few nuanced features (Player Weapons, enhanced "Hit Stick" tackling) and better player movement.

Critics who feared EA Game’s exclusivity deal with the NFL would deter creativity can relax. Madden 08 continues to add bells and whistles to what has always been a very complex and intricate game. With each subsequent edition, Madden beefs up the defense, and the computer’s artificial intelligence gets smarter and more adept at recognizing (and crushing) your offensive tendencies.

To counter the super D, Madden 08 introduces the Player Weapons feature, which elevates superstar players to the levels of gods among mortals. Elite QBs are gifted with telepathy and can know an opponent’s defense before the play, weapon receivers have Spider-man fingers that allow them to pull in passes 8 feet beyond their reach (a slight exaggeration).

Lead blocking control, a carry-over from 2007, permits players on offense to control the lead blocker during run plays. Being able to control lead blockers only helps if you're preternaturally gifted at working 8 controls at once (nearly impossible for someone who grew up in the uni-button era and never mastered the QB bat radar mode in Madden 2006, which is thankfully optional in 2008).

From the franchise mode with imaginary rookies and reasonably-priced stadium food to the possibility that the Kansas City Chiefs might win the Super Bowl, Madden’s all about fantasy. After seeing San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson throw a touchdown pass in the Chargers’ first game of the season against Chicago, I swapped him for the whole of KC’s quarterback corps (adios, Damon Huard). With LT behind center and Larry Johnson in the backfield, I am able to run the most devastating HB option ever! And LT’s passing accuracy will only improve with the training camp and drills options.

Beyond the slick and realistic gameplay, Madden’s visuals are dazzling. The game looks amazing on a traditional television set, but the blue-and-gold Eagles jerseys and customizable Jostens rings really gleam in HD.

Devotees may disagree, but this year’s Madden game seriously contends with Tecmo Bowl as the best football game ever (Tecmo's returned for Wii and there are plenty of non-Wii Tecmo hacks on the internet).

And the Madden curse? Titans QB and Madden cover boy Vince Young went out with a quadriceps strain in a loss to the Bucs this week.

Fern

Posted 2007-10-18 14:49:59

Couldn't have said it better myself. I never thought to put LT in the QB spot. I'm sure I'll be up until 3am perfecting the LT boot. This gives new meaning to the term HB Pass!

Fern

Posted 2007-10-23 14:38:32

Hey, Wait a minute. I tried to make LT a QB and the game won't let me. I tried on PS2. Whats the deal.

Posted by jesse delaney @ 9:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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