A major complaint with Madden 06 and Madden 07 on the Xbox 360 is that they missed some of the features of their less expensive ”current gen” counterparts. You will be happy to hear that Madden 08 doesn’t suffer from this disappointment. All the franchise options and game modes are back and better than ever. One of my personal favorites is the superstar mode that allows you to control a single NFL player from inexperienced rookie to Hall of Fame inductee. This game mode even uses a different camera angle to get you closer to the action. Superstar mode isn’t new to Madden, but it is more polished this year.
Achievements in Madden 08 are not too hard to come by. Like most sports titles tons of achievements can be unlocked throughout a single game. Achievements are unlocked in any game mode as well, so gain 200 yards rushing online or kick a 50-yard field goal in a franchise game and you will rack up gamer points.
Madden 08 wouldn’t be complete without online play over Xbox Live. EA makes you register with their database before you log online, but it isn’t too much of a pain. Once in a lobby you can find games in your region or hook up with a friend. In the dozen or so online games I have played, I have not experienced connection problems or any dreaded lag issues. My only complaint with online play is that EA still has not provided gamers with online leagues. You do have stat tracking and leader boards, but it would great to set up a full fantasy league with some of your friends.
While Madden 08 now includes all the modes and features from the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game, it still fails to feel truly groundbreaking. The game play is making steps in the right direction, but it lacks a certain wow factor. If you think back to the first video EA showed as a concept for Madden “next gen”, you will realize even two years later the ideas are nowhere to be found. Even though the game play is improving and the graphics look good, it would be nice to see a true leap over the games from previous generations.
Overall, Madden 08 is an impressive football game on the Xbox 360 and it serves as a step in the right direction for the franchise. Madden 08 shines the most where it counts, in game options and the play on the field. While the game may not be perfect, it is a fine entry in the series and one that should not be missed by football fans.
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Smooth game play and more game modes make Madden 08 the best football experience available on the Xbox 360. I just hope that next year Madden can continue with the improvements and deliver a football title that is worthy of the "next gen" label.
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