All Pro Football 2k8 impressions

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:30 pm

I'm loving the gameplay too except kicking is still too hard. Any tips? I struggle even with a "real" kicker.

I've learned a lot about my gaming over the past couple days:

- I forgot how much presentation, like the halftime show, adds to the overall package. NCAA is so dry.

- The *team* licensing means much less to me than I thought, but the *player* licensing means more. In essense, I need MORE legends and better player editing/creation. I would much prefer recreating or having someone recreate the classic 1970s teams than playing a generic high school game to Pro. Let's face it. Franchise mode is 2K's weakness. I see it taking them 3 years just to have a working, realitively bug free career mode.

- They really need to do something about having duplicate players in offline games. If I have Roger Craig then my opponent shouldn't have him.

- I really like the special abilities. It means *so* much more to me than stupid ratings numbers.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:46 pm

The game is now kicking my ass. Maybe my first few games were vs weaker opponents.

One thing I noticed is my first few games, I could run at will. but now I am having a hard time rushing for 50 yards.

In the rain, my team sucks. billy simms just put on a clinic one me.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:46 pm

I got the game yesterday from Gamefly, just a few days after they mailed it, so Gamefly seems to have improved greatly for me here in the east.

Anyway, I quickly slapped a team together and went online to play Slumberland. It's definitely 2K, and that. . . is a good thing! It's great to have a completely different type of football game out there, and in many ways I feel like the legends thing and the lack of an NFL license is better for me for this game. I don't know if I would really want to be playing 2 different NFL games, but since this is a different type of creature, I can see myself enjoying it from time to time as a change of pace from the NFL game.

That said, there are still plenty of very 2K things about it that drive me nuts. That's not to say there aren't plenty of things about EA football that drive me nuts, too. The old adage of the sports gamer is never more true than it is in football, that being 'if only they could take the good from both games and make one ultimate game.' But it's damn refreshing to have the 2K style back in the game. I hate the charge up dynamic, hate the tap tap tap, and so on, but there is indeed a lot to like.

I really, really wish they had an online league structure that included a draft for the legends (they could allow you to do the draft on a web browser through the league website function if they thought about it) and had injuries and trades, and had the undrafted legends out there as free agents. Oh well, maybe next year.

It's fun to think about putting a team together, tweaking that team, exploring all the different legends, and so on. There are a ton of guys I wish they had in the game, but nonetheless there are plenty of players in the game to keep me experimenting for a while. I took Artie Donovan, but unfortunately, he's not telling any funny stories.

Otherwise, there's a lot of personality going on. It's a bit of a shame it's taken them until this to add that heavy layer of personality to the players, but here it is now and it's a great addition to the football game landscape.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:12 pm

Here is the slider set I'm using for APF.

Things I wanted to address.

+ Help Bronze RBs and the inside running game for the CPU as well.
+ Contain gold RBs for both the CPU/Human. They are too good in this game.
+ Lower QB Accuracy.
+ Improve online push on run blocking.
+ Increased fumbles a bit.

Still a work in progress but I'm getting closer to balancing the game in terms of gold and bronze players.

Human / CPU

Blocking 50/100
Passing 0/50
Running 100/85
Catching 50/50
Coverage 50/65
Pursuit 50/75
Tackling 50/0

Kicking and Fatigue at default 50/50
Fumble 75
Int 50

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:31 pm

Leebo, what problems are you having with the kicking game? As soon as I realized that you have to keep the right thumbstick pulled back until the kicker gets close to the ball, and then push straight up as fast as you can just as he gets set to kick the thing, I've been doing a lot better in the kicking game. The small message on the side that tells you if you're slightly early, late or perfect with your forward right thumbstick motion should help if it's a timing issue for you.

At first, I didn't realize you had to keep the right thumbstick pulled back, but now my kicking game is much improved. I actually like the change which helps make the kicking game a little more interesting, IMO.

P.S. I've seen people ask for help on punt returns as well. One thing to try is to hold in the charge button after the punter booms the ball and while the ball is still in the air. I use Rod Woodson as my returner and I'm almost always able to avoid the first man down the field if I charge him up and then do a quick spin move almost as soon as he catches the ball. I almost broke one with him this morning but the punter was able to knock him out of bounds running down the sideline after he'd beaten everyone else.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:48 pm

My kicking woes are a combination of power, which must be timing because I generally have trouble getting enough power to kick 40 yard FGs, and direction. The direction is my fault. I wish Tiger Woods had this much sensitivity!

I've started drafting Woodson for returns as well (besides the fact that he is one of my top 10 favorite players of all time). I can usually get some yards and today I think I returned a punt 15 so I'm improving. At least my guys aren't fumbling every 10th return like the Ricardo Coclough-esque NCAA 08 returners.

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:55 pm

Leebo33 wrote:My kicking woes are a combination of power, which must be timing because I generally have trouble getting enough power to kick 40 yard FGs, and direction. The direction is my fault. I wish Tiger Woods had this much sensitivity!

I've started drafting Woodson for returns as well (besides the fact that he is one of my top 10 favorite players of all time). I can usually get some yards and today I think I returned a punt 15 so I'm improving. At least my guys aren't fumbling every 10th return like the Ricardo Coclough-esque NCAA 08 returners.

Woodson is a must have on my team. Shutdown CB, hitter vs. the run and a big time return man. Ran back a punt 75 yards for a score in my last game with him.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:21 pm

Any word on a demo?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:59 pm

best advice on kicking, draft a legend kicker. I used some generic guy and I couldn't even make a 20 yard fg. But with Jeff Jeager, I can hit them from 40.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:17 pm

I am loving this game...Did you guys know that you can shift formations before every play? You can come out in a shotgun formation but then shift into a power I when you get to the line. It works very well if you face a defense which uses a ton of audibles.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:24 pm

I'm not having too many troubles with the kicking game these days. It took some practice, but I think I have it down.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm still seeing some very questionable play in the secondary. Not as bad as 2K5, but it's happening too much during the course of one game. DBs running past the ball carrier to a blocker. DBs with their feet stuck in the sand as the ball sails over their head. DBs moving in position to make a play on the ball, and they don't put their hands up. It's very frustrating that this is still a problem.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:13 pm

Zlax45 wrote:I am loving this game...Did you guys know that you can shift formations before every play? You can come out in a shotgun formation but then shift into a power I when you get to the line. It works very well if you face a defense which uses a ton of audibles.

I did this once accidently. How do you shift offensive formations. I can't figure this one out.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:20 pm

JRod wrote:
Zlax45 wrote:I am loving this game...Did you guys know that you can shift formations before every play? You can come out in a shotgun formation but then shift into a power I when you get to the line. It works very well if you face a defense which uses a ton of audibles.
I did this once accidently. How do you shift offensive formations. I can't figure this one out.

Hit the right trigger on the formation you are going to fake with then go pick your real formation and then the play. It works well.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:40 pm

I have a generic kicker and I am banging 49 and 50 yard field goals. Its jus tthe margin for error is far less.

I think I am getting to good against the cpu, I just laid an ass whooping on the Rollers 49-0 on Legens. barry had 264 yards rushing and 5 td's.

I think this game is a solid 8.5 but I think I may be done playing it in a week or two. There is no single player component to keep me coming back if i keep winning like this and the fact I can;t fill an 8 man tourney from here makes me wonder how much I will play online.

It's just very hard to look at NCAA after playing this game, I think NCAA is a good game. But APF still makes me go "Ohh" or "Wow" on certain tackles and hits at least once a game. It's going to be tough to lose that in the quest for a solid single player experience.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:43 pm

I want in for the tourney but can't figure out how to enter... couldn't find the tourney from within the game, and there's no website for it. Help!

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:44 pm

In game go online, select tournaments, Join (I think of find) look for DSP Challenge.

Enter.

Maybe it filled up since last night, but there were only 4 of us last night.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:51 pm

That's exactly what I did. There were only seven tournaments listed, strangely. Maybe it was a glitchy night. I'll try again.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:55 pm

Zeppo wrote: I hate the charge up dynamic, hate the tap tap tap, and so on, but there is indeed a lot to like.

.

I agree 100%

I still cant past the stupid charge up the player crap before a spin move will work. If I wanted to play a game with combo moves I would have gotten a fighting game.

The tap tap tap speed burts is just stupid.

THe AI does really stupid things in clock management. It makes me wonder if they just werent finished with the game or they modeled it after Martz.

Now having said that I will agree that its a nice addition to the library. A great change of pace and really does do some things really well.

I do enjoy making out a lineup. Trying to balance offense, defense and my favorite player preferences.

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:49 pm

I confess, I really don't get the griping about tapping A for speed burst. How is tapping a button any more or less "sim" than holding a button, exactly? Is it sim when you bat by pressing B but arcadish when you bat by pulling a trigger or pushing a stick forward?

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:52 pm

I confess, I really don't get the griping about tapping A for speed burst. How is tapping a button any more or less "sim" than holding a button, exactly? Is it sim when you bat by pressing B but arcadish when you bat by pulling a trigger or pushing a stick forward?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:53 pm

seanmac31 wrote:I confess, I really don't get the griping about tapping A for speed burst. How is tapping a button any more or less "sim" than holding a button, exactly? Is it sim when you bat by pressing B but arcadish when you bat by pulling a trigger or pushing a stick forward?

I would rather they didnt have a speed burst at all. I never like track and field

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:02 pm

It took me a few tries before I found a team that I liked playing with - but once I did it really opened things up for me. I see what people here have been saying. This game keeps me going back for more. I will definitely play through one season, and since I suck at this point i will probably play another to try and get in the playoffs.

It is by no means perfect, but it does some things so well that it is hard to go back to NCAA after playing it.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:17 pm

XXXIV wrote:
seanmac31 wrote:I confess, I really don't get the griping about tapping A for speed burst. How is tapping a button any more or less "sim" than holding a button, exactly? Is it sim when you bat by pressing B but arcadish when you bat by pulling a trigger or pushing a stick forward?
I would rather they didnt have a speed burst at all. I never like track and field

All games need to take a note from NHL 07, which has no speed buttons. I hate having to press or hold a button for a speed burst.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:26 am

Just thought I would post a few things about the season mode.

There doesn't seem to be duplicate players. I have created a team with Elway, Sharp, W. Walker, Mecklenberg etc. So far Elway doesn't show up on the LA Legends. Sharp isn't on the Las Vegas Rollers.

Logos for CPU teams are changed or colors are different. I took my Sanders team, the Bronx Rhinos and the StL Rhinos were just the StL. R's. In another season I created the Rhinos where there but there colors were changed. I don't know why one season there were the Rs and another they were purple and red. In another season, the Denver Cougers were changed to the Denver murauders.

The league can have teams from the same city. Having the Denver Gunslingers doesn't knock out the Denver Cougers.

Schedules do change. You are put in a conference and division by location. There's pacific, atlantic with the division being north, south, central. This all seems determined by city. So there's going to be some redundency when you play season mode. If you pick DC everytime as your city you are going to be put in the Atlantic-Central most of the time.

There's no way to edit conferences, schedules etc.

The simmed stats are pretty believable. Star players are the best, of course.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:43 am

I'm actually REALLY impressed with APF after playing for a few hours tonight. I was underwhelmed at first, but it got better and better as time went on. On the field it is fantastic. Sure, there aren't many options, but it's damn good where it counts. It's the perfect game to compliment EA's efforts because it is so different. It'll be a fun diversion from the Madden and NCAA monotony. I need my real teams and players for the most part, so they will have to be in my collection, but APF is definitely allowed in that collection as well. Now they just need to polish it up a bit for next (if there is one) year and add a few franchise type features and a few more legends and we're golden.