Madden NFL 08 – PS3 – Review

For a few
years now, the Madden series hasn’t been playing at full capacity when it comes
to next-gen consoles. Ever since the debut of Madden NFL 06 on the Xbox 360, the
next-gen iterations of the series have been criticized for offering a toned-down
game when compared with the current-gen versions, with several important
features being completely left out in favor of high-def graphics.

However,
Madden NFL 08 has taken great strides to bring the franchise up to speed,
offering a ton of great features as well as great graphics. The new elements add
a lot to the gameplay mechanics, even if they increase the learning curve quite
a bit for those who haven’t played a Madden game in a couple of years. Plus, the
PS3 version has some technical deficiencies when compared to the Xbox 360 one,
which are problematic for owners of the console. However, if you’ve been holding
out for the series to bring it on next-gen consoles, the Madden NFL 08 is
definitely one to pick up.


One of the
key new additions to the Madden formula this year is the weapons system. As soon
as you step on the field, you’ll notice that some players will have an icon
under them with a symbol. This signifies the player’s “weapon,” or basically
their special ability to give them an upper-hand on the field. For example, a QB
like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady will have a “Smart QB” weapon, which allows
them to see the defense’s course of action before the snap, letting them
effectively switch up their play and exploit holes. Another QB like Brett Favre
will have a Bullet Pass weapon that lets him throw a pass hard, fast and
accurately. Other positions have unique weapons, as well, like Big Hitters on
defense, and those that are better at picking off passes for interceptions or
charging right through the offensive line for a sack.

As I
hinted before, the pre-snap game has been greatly broadened. Right up until the
snap, you’ll be able to select a variety of options from a key on the side of
the screen. However, these go beyond audibles. You’ll be able to do things like
single out a receiver to prevent or even flip a play. The sheer amount of
options can be pretty daunting, but once you get comfortable with reading what
your opponent will do, they can become pretty fluid.


That
brings up some of the problems with the on-field play with Madden NFL 08. The
new additions are a little tough to acclimate to, even though they are very
necessary to the game’s formula. If you try going in without taking advantage of
the weapon system, expect to get creamed. Plus, there are some frustrating new
problems that arise with ball handling. The AI has been greatly improved, almost
to a cutthroat degree. The opposing team will pick off passes constantly if you
make even the slightest error in a pass, and fumbles are epidemic. Granted,
there is a new “strip the ball” button that will actually have your player
attempt to pull the ball out of the other player’s hands, but when they seem to
happen several times a quarter, it can be a little ridiculous.

Those
problems aside, Madden NFL 08 is an extremely deep football game in terms of
features. The franchise mode has really brought out its A game this year,
allowing you to tweak your team of choice in some brand-new great ways. In
addition to playing the season and drafting new players to your team, you can
even change the name, uniform, and logo of the team, and even relocate them to
another city. However, the coolest new addition to the franchise mode allows you
to draft retired Hall of Famers like Joe Montana, Walter Peyton, and Barry
Sanders to your team.



Graphically, Madden NFL 08 is an improvement over previous years. The animations
take the cake, looking extremely realistic and not canned as in prior Maddens.
Unfortunately, the PS3 version is noticeably weaker than the Xbox 360 version.
The PS3 iteration runs at 30 frames per second, give or take, although it can
drop below that at points. This has been somewhat of the standard for previous
years, but when compared to the Xbox 360 version that looks great and plays at a
smooth 60 FPS, the look of the PS3 version is somewhat of a letdown.

The sound
is competent, offering a robust and eclectic soundtrack featuring a mix of “it”
rockers like Queens of the Stone Age and Atreyu and “it” rappers like Mims
rounding out the package. The on-field voice work is a nice touch, and the
commentary is well done, seldom sounding repetitive and even noticing poorly
implemented play calling.

Madden NFL
08 is a great entry to the series, bringing next-gen hardware up to speed and
offering up one of the best Maddens in the past few years. However, the PS3
version is noticeably weaker when held up to the Xbox 360 version, which some
aesthetic shortcomings bringing it down. However, if you’ve only got a PS3 and
you’re a pigskin fan, then this entry to the coveted series is the one to check
out.


Review Scoring Details

for Madden NFL 08

Gameplay: 8.5
Madden NFL 08
offers some awesome new features to the series. The weapons system allows you to
take advantage of the strengths of your individual players in innovative new
ways, and the Franchise mode is extremely open-ended, allowing you to tweak your
team in some great new ways, even drafting in retired Hall of Famers like Joe
Montana and Barry Sanders to play on your team. The pre-snap elements are
extremely deep, allowing you to read the opposing team in many key ways, and
audible your play in order to keep the upper hand. The AI has also been greatly
improved, allowing for some truly exciting games.

Graphics: 7.0
The animations
are fantastic, and a huge improvement over previous years. However, the PS3
version stumbles when compared with the superior Xbox 360 version, running at
best at a boggy 30 frames per second, much less fluid than the silky smooth 360
game (which runs at a solid 60 FPS).

Sound: 8.0
The soundtrack is a
varied mix of rock tracks and some rap, which sound about par for the course for
Madden. The on-field voice work is good, and the commentary sounds great and
adapts nicely to the game.

Difficulty: Hard
The AI this time
around is very difficult, often anticipating your plays and picking off bad
passes every chance they get. This can be very frustrating at first, but once
you get into the game and become accustomed to the new elements (like the
weapons system), it gets a bit easier.

Multiplayer: 7.0
The game’s online element is a bit sparse, offering one-on-one play and no
real improvements over previous Maddens. However, the lobby system is nicely
done and very intuitive for creating and finding match-ups.

Concept: 8.5
Whereas previous
years have left next-gen console owners in the cold with few features and
virtually no added bonuses over the current-gen versions, Madden NFL 08 brings
the heat with tons of awesome new features.

Overall: 8.0
Madden NFL 08 is
a great addition to the series on any system you play it on. However, the PS3
version falters when compared to the much-better 360 version by slogging down
the framerate substantially. If you can, go for the Xbox 360 version. However,
if you’ve only got a PS3, then Madden NFL 08 is still a great addition to the
library of any football fan.