All Pro Football 2k8 impressions

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:41 pm

Is there anyone that can answer my questions without using "not 100%", "not sure", "I could be wrong", or "I doubt" in the reply

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:44 pm

matthewk wrote:Is there anyone that can answer my questions without using "not 100%", "not sure", "I could be wrong", or "I doubt" in the reply

I'm not sure and I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:51 pm

webdanzer wrote:
matthewk wrote:Is there anyone that can answer my questions without using "not 100%", "not sure", "I could be wrong", or "I doubt" in the reply
I'm not sure and I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:22 pm

matthewk wrote:I have a couple of questions regarding how the rosters are decided.

If you're playing an exhibition game, do you select your team prior to the game?

If you select Payton as you RB, could he still be on another team, or just yours?

Do the CPU get re-shuffled at all (exhibition or season), or are guys like Montana and OJ always going to be on the Minutemen?

1) No you create teams and then prior to the game you select one of our already created teams.

2) Payton can be another team even though you have him.

3) Nope, doesn't get re-shuffled at all. If there's a way to have them get reshuffled, I haven't found it.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:14 pm

JRod wrote:1) No you create teams and then prior to the game you select one of our already created teams.

2) Payton can be another team even though you have him.

3) Nope, doesn't get re-shuffled at all. If there's a way to have them get reshuffled, I haven't found it.

Wel that sucks for #2 and #3. I was hoping that season mode had some sort of draft. Even if they let you pick your 11 legends and then let the CPU teams sort through the rest it would have been cool. So not only is there no franchise, but your seasons will always be played against the same teams. It still sounds like a good game, but I can live with 2k5 and NCAA 08 on the Xbox for a little while longer.

Now I can go back to waiting until at least fall for a 360 (when the new chips are out). By then I should be able to 2k8 for around $40 too.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:33 pm

No way to draft during the season mode works is just a bunch of exibition games with injuries.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:52 pm

I am liking this game alot but I love 2k Sports.

I need some uniform codes though!!!

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:06 pm

I really like it as well. I agree with most said here: graphics aren't great, very reminiscent of 2K5, but there's a certain fun factor to the game that is hard to dismiss.

One thing I really appreciate that I hope EA would take note of is the attention to detail for the individual player styles. One of my favorites is the way Dan Marino holds the ball low at his side and just slings it in the blink of an eye, just like he used to.

It really feels like you're playing with these legends and not some drones with a name tagged on. Good stuff.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:15 pm

I love the game on the field but some things make me scratch my head:

I like being able to muck up field goal attempts but why am I coming up short on a 30-yarder? Shouldn't I at least shank it wide left or right? When's the last time you saw a kicker come up short on a field goal that short?

Why does Kenny Stabler sound like Spicoli in one huddle and Ol' Dirty Bastard in the next?

Why does Barry Sanders dance around like a fool after scoring a touchdown?

Is Joe Montana really that happy to see Walter Payton again?

Those having nothing to do with the actual gameplay though so I can overlook them. The on-the-field gameplay is top-notch. I've seen some insane animations. I was playing against Elway and he stumbled during his drop back only to regain his composure, step up in the pocket, and hit Jerry Rice in stride deep down the field since my cornerback hesitated for a split-second thanks to the stumble.

I've seen Payton drag 3 defenders for an extra 6 yards.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:50 pm

Some of this I've stated before but here's how I feel about the game.

The problem with the game is that they have all of the legends, who are great to play with but they didn't give you anything to do with them.

First off, I wish there was a playbook generator that looked at the legends you had and created plays for that team. If you create 5 teams that's a alot of time trying to your playbook right.

After you get your team the way you like it and have the plays you want what else is there to do with the legends. Play the same legends teams over and over again.

2k Sports have really screwed their own game here. The premise is fantastic but they didn't offer the user any options to use legends in their full capacity. There doesn't need to be a franchise mode but there needed to be a CPU draft mode that had a automatic playbook generator. So if a team has Elway and Sharpe it has a lot of rollout plays or passes to the TE. If the CPU gets Sanders, Munoz, it has a lot of runs to the outside.

Playing different versions of teams with different playbooks would have been great. Then you add the bland season mode on that. I could play the season mode over and over again if the teams were different. With an NFL game you don't want the teams to be crazy but with legends, there's a ton of room to do that.

It would have been nice to see a playoff mode. That would have helped.

Lastly if the CPU can have teams with 5 legends, 2 silvers and 3 bronze, than the human should too. That would have added legs to the game. Having a game where teams were not set with the 2-3-6 combination would have added another dimension to the game without a franchise mode. How about a team with 5 gold legends against a team of bronze legends.

Quite frankly with no CPU "draft" options the offline game is probably the worst offered in sports gaming for the next gen consoles. The saving grace is the gameplay but at the end of the day the user still needs something to draw him into playing with legends.

2k Sports released a game with excellent gameplay but completely missed the mark with legends. The legends idea is 100% fantastic but if the only highlite of that is online season mode, then whats the point for the rest of us that don't want to participate in a online league?

I think everyone sees the beaty sitting right at our fingertips of APF but we might not see that game until next year. (I doubt 2k sports will even touch this game with an update).

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:25 pm

Wow, drafting a kicker is a must. A bronze kicker is the difference between your kickoffs going to the 20 and to the goalline. It's got to be worth 100 yards of field position a game.

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:59 pm

not feelling it right now. i've ebayed it. i may pick up down the line in the bargain bin.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:36 pm

SoMisss2000 wrote:not feelling it right now. i've ebayed it. i may pick up down the line in the bargain bin.

Ya ...Im feeling the heavy lean to NCAA.

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:24 am

JRod wrote:Some of this I've stated before but here's how I feel about the game.

The problem with the game is that they have all of the legends, who are great to play with but they didn't give you anything to do with them.

First off, I wish there was a playbook generator that looked at the legends you had and created plays for that team. If you create 5 teams that's a alot of time trying to your playbook right.

After you get your team the way you like it and have the plays you want what else is there to do with the legends. Play the same legends teams over and over again.

2k Sports have really screwed their own game here. The premise is fantastic but they didn't offer the user any options to use legends in their full capacity. There doesn't need to be a franchise mode but there needed to be a CPU draft mode that had a automatic playbook generator. So if a team has Elway and Sharpe it has a lot of rollout plays or passes to the TE. If the CPU gets Sanders, Munoz, it has a lot of runs to the outside.

Playing different versions of teams with different playbooks would have been great. Then you add the bland season mode on that. I could play the season mode over and over again if the teams were different. With an NFL game you don't want the teams to be crazy but with legends, there's a ton of room to do that.

It would have been nice to see a playoff mode. That would have helped.

Lastly if the CPU can have teams with 5 legends, 2 silvers and 3 bronze, than the human should too. That would have added legs to the game. Having a game where teams were not set with the 2-3-6 combination would have added another dimension to the game without a franchise mode. How about a team with 5 gold legends against a team of bronze legends.

Quite frankly with no CPU "draft" options the offline game is probably the worst offered in sports gaming for the next gen consoles. The saving grace is the gameplay but at the end of the day the user still needs something to draw him into playing with legends.

2k Sports released a game with excellent gameplay but completely missed the mark with legends. The legends idea is 100% fantastic but if the only highlite of that is online season mode, then whats the point for the rest of us that don't want to participate in a online league?

I think everyone sees the beaty sitting right at our fingertips of APF but we might not see that game until next year. (I doubt 2k sports will even touch this game with an update).

I still say they would've done a whole lot better making this game something like Front Office Football. They could've created a completely ficticional league where you start from scratch drafting players from your team. I never thought i'd be into a game like that until I joined a FOF2K7 fictional multiplayer league

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:07 am

I don't think a fictional game would have sold quite like APF. The legends are a huge draw and well done.

However, if they would have taken the limits off the editor and allowed to create fictional teams and leagues with legends that would be great. I like your idea and would add legends with it.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:47 am

Agreed, the lack of edits has made me stay far away from this even if i think it would be fun, just not $60 fun.

I was hoping for a demo.

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:04 am

kicko wrote:Agreed, the lack of edits has made me stay far away from this even if i think it would be fun, just not $60 fun.

I was hoping for a demo.

This is supposed to be a demo close to release, but I don't know what the hell happened to it. Lame.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:18 am

I only had a chance to play a couple more games last night (bad time to be busy with work), but I love it. I admit that I'm actually getting a lot of enjoyment out of the RTTS mode in MLB The Show this year, and so I can see why people want more out of their sports games these days. But in terms of getting in a game or two of pure videogame football here and there, I just don't know how you can beat APF 2k8. The game is football.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:28 am

Well the good news is after 7 or 8 games and making 2 or 3 teams I am still enjoying playing the game. But there are plenty of warts with this game and some of them are on the field not just with lack of modes.

- DB still do dumb thigns at time, I am not sure if this is meant to be in there or not. I means its one thing for a Safety to jump the wrong guy on a route and leave the middle open, it happens.

But it is another thing for a guy in a 3 deep zone to just stand there while Jerry Rice runs by him. It could very well be that the gold legends are just too much for generic and Bronze DB's. It hasn't killed my enjoyment of the game yet because it doesn't happen everytime, which had already happened in 2K5 so thats good.

- Has anyone returned a punt, seriously? When I field a punt there are always 4 to 5 guys sitting there waiting to tackle me while my guys are up near the LOS.

- Big plays inseatd of drives is the way to score in this game. Maybe its my play style etc. But everytime the CPU scores on me it is a big play from a RB or Rice (Rice is too overpowered in this game) I've yet to have the cpu put together a methodical drive. Luckly this isn't the case in my online experiences.

- Player control is my biggest problem with the game. If you like playing LB or DB on defense the controls are just sluggish. Most of the time an animation is going to carry you out of the play. Hit Y or A on a pass and watch the ball go by your head before the animation even starts. You really have to react too early for it to be timed properly.

I find it best to not even touch the stick with my LB until he is actually near the play. Which kind of kills the fun and playing D-Line really bores me.

As always YMMV

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:52 am

Danimal wrote: But it is another thing for a guy in a 3 deep zone to just stand there while Jerry Rice runs by him. . . .

- Big plays inseatd of drives is the way to score in this game. . . .

- Player control is my biggest problem with the game. If you like playing LB or DB on defense the controls are just sluggish. . . .

I find it best to not even touch the stick with my LB until he is actually near the play. Which kind of kills the fun and playing D-Line really bores me.

As always YMMV

Hmm. So when people say 'it's just like 2K5' they aren't kidding, huh? Meanwhile, gamefly has shown the game as 'shipping' no so it looks like I should be getting it fairly soon.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:03 pm

Zeppo wrote:Hmm. So when people say 'it's just like 2K5' they aren't kidding, huh? Meanwhile, gamefly has shown the game as 'shipping' no so it looks like I should be getting it fairly soon.

It's identical as far as I'm concerned. That's weird, I got mine yesterday from Gamefly. Shipped release day...got it yesterday. I'm definitely glad I rented it. There is some fun to be had, but certainly not 60 dollars worth (as others have mentioned as well).

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:23 pm

Well, I'm in the small camp that thinks 2k8 is totally worth $60. I really enjoyed 2k5 and this game definitely reminds me of that game. I could care less about a franchise mode, CAP limitations, or lack of modes. What I care about is on-the-field gameplay and this game delivers in spades for me. I truly am in football game heaven with this and NCAA right now with Madden on its way shortly. The last time I got to play as an actually licensed Payton was in Tecmo Bowl so it's great being able to play as him in a current game.

I can understand why people don't think it's worth the money but I'm honestly surprised people around here would feel that way. This place seems to have adopted a features first then gameplay mentality. Not that that is bad, it's just so different than what the majority used to care about. Are we all still in this hobby for fun? I know I am.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:41 pm

I am already tiring of the game. The problem with me is that whatever team I create, it seems like they are too strong to go up against some of the other teams in the season.

I only have played a few games in my season against teams without that many stars, so maybe if I go up against a team with more stars, it'll get more challenging.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:42 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Not that that is bad, it's just so different than what the majority used to care about. Are we all still in this hobby for fun? I know I am.

Wow...talk about a soapbox.

I think the problem stems from the fact that 2k8 is 2k5 in a different package. If you're not going to give us the 'real' NFL, you better make it customizable. They didn't do that, so it just looks as though they put some new colors and logos and slapped a 2k8 on it and expected everyone to be happy about that. On the field, which you love, is exactly like 2k5...on the Xbox for crap's sake! I think we just expected a bit more, 3 years after the last one was released.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:43 pm

ScoopBrady wrote: This place seems to have adopted a features first then gameplay mentality.

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me 2K5 gameplay is simply nowhere near worth $60. Massless, 'air-filled' player characters, Track & Field 'tap tap tap' style speed burst, pure arcade 'charge up' special moves, and unplayable non D-line defensive players are my main memories of 2K football gameplay, not to mention that brain-dead D-back AI and the potential for a Ricky Williams style unstoppable player are all things that seem to have made the leap as well. The playbooks are great, the audio presentation is well above par (except the morning radio schtick was old for me about 5 years ago), and the legends idea is outstanding, but if the gameplay really is 'just like 2K5' like most seem to be saying, the legends thing just isn't enough for me to spend $60 on the game.

It's no ShadowRun, that's for sure!

Now there's a game worth $60!