Madden 08 Hands On

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:02 pm

way to make eat my words. I guess what I was trying to say was that I thought we would be graduating a few more since they were staying out of trouble, unlike the other schools in the state Wink

There is NOOOO doubt about that. Hopefully their new coach (well new to head coaching anyway) can fix that.

Okay, back to Madden.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:08 pm

sportdan30 wrote:
wco81 wrote:TRU Coupon worked!

Not only that, they are letting you buy a game for 50% off at the same time.

But the second game can't be another Madden 08 or the 08 versions of Nascar and NCAA.

Too bad there was nothing else I really wanted. Would have gotten Lair maybe if it came out today as originally scheduled.
Did you pick up the game for the PS3 or 360?

As for the radio announcers, he's gone after this year. Thank goodness.

The radio announcer is better than anything they've ever had. The game actually has more life and atmosphere than NCAA and the radio announcer is a big reason for that.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:36 pm

My very early initial impression is that if they can patch the fumbles then there may be a great game here. BTW, don't hesitate to challenge fumble calls because I've had two overturned already. Graphically, it's a big improvement except for the out of focus effects that they *really* need to give up on. It looks ridiculous. I also thought it was kind of odd that Santonio Holmes was tired after the first play of the game and Larry Foote was "red" tired after about 5 plays. It doesn't really hinder my enjoyment at all but it just seems to be classic EA over-compensation after really not having much fatigue effect in recent versions. I've seen a lot of cool animations so far that aren't in NCAA. The running game is as good as it's ever been.

I've never been one to do a lot of pre-snap adjustments, but I can see how it would drive some crazy who do. I actually prefer the quicker gameplay.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:44 pm

Well, if you're happy with the radio announcer, more power to you. There's been an out cry to get rid of the radio announcer since his inception in the first 360 Madden game. Finally, EA is supposedly listening.

I wouldn't have had as much of a problem with the radio announcer if they would have included a color commentator to provide more insight. There's just too much dead air during the games IMO. Plus, why not give the current radio announcer a place on the f.m. dial? He sounds like he's in a tunnel.

I just think it's pathetic on EA's part to not at least try and use the ESPN license in the Madden franchise. Anyways, we've discussed this topic before. No reason to beat a dead horse.

I am glad to hear the game plays well on the 360. It gives me hope things will catch up next year on the PS3.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:57 pm

The fumbles are out of hand. Mostly becuase they all come from your player fumbling when he hits the ground. Oh and the fun part is the CPU doesn't challange them that much. So you are getting freebies some of the time.

The passing game, as many have said, is no where near as realistic as APF's. And that's a sore spot. Some of the problems from past Madden's are still there. Mostly defenders are too good and jumping the route for th ball. This needs to be worked on - its not realistic and the defense is cheapened by it.

Oh and I think we are in a bad NCAA cycle. Remember back to NCAA 05-06 where the game wasn't that bad but its wasn't fun to play. NCAA is there. Madden seems it might be fun for those that were turned off by NCAA. And it has pros so there ya go.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:12 pm

JRod wrote:The passing game, as many have said, is no where near as realistic as APF's.

I will say this at least. It took me a grand total of one game of Madden on All-Pro (default, 7 min qrts) to play a game without an interception on either side...something I'm still not sure I can say about NCAA.

The crowd noise is a lot better. I don't mind the radio announcer, but agree with Dan about the quality and lack of a color commentator.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:34 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
JRod wrote:The passing game, as many have said, is no where near as realistic as APF's.
I will say this at least. It took me a grand total of one game of Madden on All-Pro (default, 7 min qrts) to play a game without an interception on either side...something I'm still not sure I can say about NCAA.

The crowd noise is a lot better. I don't mind the radio announcer, but agree with Dan about the quality and lack of a color commentator.

I love NCAA. Question: Is Madden a good companion purchase? Does anyone know how it handles the 'Legend' upload? I'd heard from one site that it was a pain for them, and wanted to know if it's universal.

I haven't had both NCAA and Madden in a long time, but am considering it this year. Just played some APF-blechh. Not my thing anymore. Yeah, it's the 2k5 engine, but...it's the 2k5 engine, and I HATE the running in APF, the powerup crap and all that.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:38 pm

I dislike the radio announcers. They sound distant, as if they're following the game from Cambodia, the hissing radio sound is passe, and for that matter I would prefer Madden-Michaels.

I don't have as much trouble fumbling the ball as much as the interceptions where some LB's cover you as if they were all D. Sanders. Strange, but on long passes, I have more success at completing my passes.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:38 pm

http://kotaku.com/gaming/for-those-who- ... 289436.php

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:54 pm

Is there anyway to avoid the drills in Madden Legend Mode? I like how you improve skills in NCAA by actually running plays. I have no interest in running the 40 or bench pressing mini games. I would also like to import my NCAA player but just start using him and not going through a bunch of nonsense.

BTW, I actually went to a SUNY school as an undergrad and UNC Chapel Hill for my Masters. My wife grew up an FSU fan and I married into it.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:16 pm

Those of you who have the game and have played it, a purchase or not?

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:17 pm

The bench pressing mini-game makes me want to tear my hair out. And I can't tell if the dash mini-game wants me to freak out on the thumbsticks or use a more controlled, steady pace.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:22 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
JRod wrote:The passing game, as many have said, is no where near as realistic as APF's.
I will say this at least. It took me a grand total of one game of Madden on All-Pro (default, 7 min qrts) to play a game without an interception on either side...something I'm still not sure I can say about NCAA.

The crowd noise is a lot better. I don't mind the radio announcer, but agree with Dan about the quality and lack of a color commentator.

The int problems are still there in Madden. However here's a 5 dollar explanation why I do think INTs in madden will be less.

The QB accuracy in Madden for the most part is very good. You can throw behind, high, low, and just about every where. I think its a bit much for rookies or average QBs but I can live with it. That said, in NCAA you practically had two outcomes when a ball was thrown, hard and not so hard. The ball was basically on a rope after you made that choice. Because madden has more outcomes you can play around the INTs.

I think I can stop throwing INTs. I just hate it when there's the cheese INTs from the CPU. You have one-on-one and it jetpacks to grab pick. That makes me turn off the game.

But f*** that lob in this game. It has no speed and floats allowing the 5 defenders to show up and swat the ball. In APF, the soft throw makes the out route too easy. In this game its next to impossible to throw fades and soft outs. You can throw over the top of a defender in madden but that just means he will have time to run and swat the ball later in the play.

The quick passing plays are worthless too. For the life of me, I've never been able to do a quick slant in this game without having some LB be able to swat the ball even though he was in man with my TE.

It's the same passing madden crap that we've seen, so I'm just venting here.

However, I'm having fun this game. I just had a 6-3 into the 4th game before the fumbles, ints and general madden CPU cheese showed up.

One funny thing, what's going on with fatigue. Some players get fatigued on the first play.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:29 pm

I like how the game moves along after each play. You go right to the play selection screen and then the players line up right away.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:29 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Those of you who have the game and have played it, a purchase or not?

Yep it's worthy. It's much better than NCAA.

Tim

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:33 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Those of you who have the game and have played it, a purchase or not?

If you want the total package, bells and whistles, it's a definite purchase, best Madden on the 360. Gameplay wise I still like lots of things about APF.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:34 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
JRod wrote:The passing game, as many have said, is no where near as realistic as APF's.
I will say this at least. It took me a grand total of one game of Madden on All-Pro (default, 7 min qrts) to play a game without an interception on either side...something I'm still not sure I can say about NCAA.

The crowd noise is a lot better. I don't mind the radio announcer, but agree with Dan about the quality and lack of a color commentator.

Im having completely the oppsite problem. Im not getting the ints at all AA in NCAA. I just popped in Madden(granted first game so Im using pro so I have to check out All pro after my nap time)) and so far the AI has turned the ball over on 5 consecutives possesions with 4 going for TDs.

The other problem Im having is with my eyes. Im having problems seeing.This game is not as clean as NCAA.

I also prefer the radio guy to hearing corso say "not so fast" 54 times a game.

The game does feel good and I liked last years so Im hoping the turnover thing is just an abberation like my early NCAA games on varsity were before I switched to AA.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:38 pm

Definitely the most polished version in a long time.

Have not played that much, but I do like the new presentation and the game pace. My hands are still in APF mode so it's going to take me some time getting use to the controls.

But I would get it if I were you.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:48 pm

XXXIV wrote:The game does feel good and I liked last years so Im hoping the turnover thing is just an abberation like my early NCAA games on varsity were before I switched to AA.

XXXIV, I was winning my first game of Pro 35-7 with 3 or 4 picks when I turned it off. All-Pro is a lot better.

I just played a game with only 1 fumble each. The other fumble should have been overturned but it was inside of two minutes and there was no review.

I *really* like the game so far.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:52 pm

The PSP version is pretty damn sweet as well. It's the only one I can play at work, so I've been playing it all afternoon. It is very similar to last year with a few more animations and some control tweaks. I'm impressed.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:31 pm

Key player attributes make teams feel slightly different. I don't think it's anywhere as good as APF. That might be because APF might have over done a few legends. But in Madden this was sorely missing. Last year there was no difference between Champ and another CB except for speed.

Just like APF, LBs and linemen are "present" in this game. Urlacher is almost on every play.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:40 pm

Thanks, might see if Gamestop has a copy on the way home tonight.

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:59 pm

seanmac31 wrote:I spent a lot of time in the replay mode checking out how defenders respond, and it seems like they are consistently getting jumps on passes that they don't see thrown, whether in man or zone coverage. A nickel back running trail behind a streaking slot receiver will nevertheless peel off as soon as the ball is thrown and somehow get over to the hash in time to make a play.

The replay mode db check is the first thing I do when I play a new Madden because the last-gen versions were ridiculous about it. I've been impressed with 06 and 07 on the 360 because they really toned down the eyes in the back of the head garbage that was just a deal breaker for me in the last-gen versions. It sucks to hear its a problem with 08. I became very suspicious when I heard from the producers during interviews how they "tightened up" the defense this year. Looks like they took the easy way out again.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:11 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:The PSP version is pretty damn sweet as well. It's the only one I can play at work, so I've been playing it all afternoon. It is very similar to last year with a few more animations and some control tweaks. I'm impressed.

Indeed. I picked up my PSP copy today and it run very smoothly. They even managed to get the weapons icons in there too. Madden-Michaels do a decent job commentating for a portable.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:10 pm

btmmayor wrote:I became very suspicious when I heard from the producers during interviews how they "tightened up" the defense this year. Looks like they took the easy way out again.

I actually think they are heading in the right direction. They just need to give the offensive players the same reactions and instead of picks there should be plenty of instances where the WR "have to play defensive back" and knock it down.

On the surface I think the weapons system adds a lot to the game. It may be overdone, only time will tell, but it's a good move IMO.

At the risk of offending anyone by making it seem like criticism, EA never seems to amaze me at how wonderful they can make things but yet miss the simple details that any casual NFL fan wouldn't miss. I have All-Pro offensive lineman missing key snaps due to fatigue and players "red" tired after a single play. There's no way Alan Faneca or Santonio Holmes pull a "Joakim Noah" and get winded that early in a game.