Extremely repetitive game play with LAST gen graphics and hollow "new" features make this game an instant classic for the bargain bin. Bottom line; a complete waste of time and money.

Madden 08 is a great footbal sim. For people who are crying over fumbles and interceptions your complaints are completely bunk! In the NFL, when a quarterback throws into double coverage, what happens? An interception! That's exactly how Madden plays out! When I first started playing, I was throwing 2-3 interceptions a game because I was used to the old Madden, where the secondary had butter fingers! This year you have to wait until a receiver is open. I rarely throw interceptions anymore. Fumbling is also realistic. I Reggie Bush is your halfback, expect fumbles. If Larry Johnson is more up your alley, than expect none. It's that simple. Madden 08 is greatly improved over last year, and is one hell of a footbal sim. So stop crying and start practising!… Expand

what do mean you want madden's voice. he is the most anoyying person to lissten to in football histrory. The only thing i am really P old about is that the ps2 verson still has more stuff in it. I mean come on Xbox360 diskes are sapost to have more room on them. the mode i love is Fantasy mode but it is not on the 360 verson.

Really 8.5, but I'll round up. The bad: Too many turnovers, 10+ in a game is not unusual. No online replays, nothing....unnacceptable for 'next gen'. TERRIBLE announcing/presentation. Other than the player intro's, which are cool, there is no halftime show, post game show,...in game tv style announcements. Don't they have the ESPN license,..you would never know it. THe GOOD: silky smooth framerate, tough pass AI, INCREDIBLE depth of play calling/audibles. GREAT animations, gang tackling, flying collisions, gorgeous. Overall, it's solid, but far from perfect. I cannot fathom why they left out replays and these other STANDARD features known to previous Madden's is suspicious. Wait til next year should be EA's new motto... very Good, not GREAT. 8.5.… Expand

Overall, a much more solid game this time around. WAYYY smoother on the 360 (unlike the PS3) compared to 07, no stuttering during transitions, and much more animations. I think the passing game is also much more balanced, but the DLBs are more active (like 7 Int's total in the first game) and tackling is more precise. Much prettier and improved overall package.

What a joke E.A. has become. ALl this hype for a game that no where puts the 360 to maximum capacity. All these people that gave high scores are a joke as well, if you like this as a $60 game then you should have you head looked at. With the money that E.A. has to throw around to buy rights to certain thing to corner the markets should be a crime. They continue to rip people off again and again and game after game. Maybe they should dump that money into their development instead of buying the market.… Expand

Terrible game. First game I have bought and sold within a week. Shabby game play, tons of glitches, and it constantly froze up in the middle of the game. The graphics are pretty, I'll say that much. Check the EA Madden forums and you can see all the "happy" customers that feel the same way. Don't waste your money.

The only reason I gave this steaming pile a one was because according to the cover its a football game. I can't even tell you how lame it is to BUY a game called John Madden Football, yet there isn't any Madden commentary. What the hell? It tells me he just wants to make the money because he knows his games have stunk the last few years. It gets to a point where you should be able to expect a break through with graphics and game play, and I just dont see it. A lot of people are touting the pre snaps reads, but I just didn't think it was that cool. And on top of that the game play just seems, slow? I understand the last few Maddens were really unrealistic, but come on. It felt like my guys were running in quick sand. Another year, another disapointment from a classic franchise. It wasn't always this way kids, once, a long time ago, you could count on Madden to bring awesomeness to the table served with side of holy s**t. Now its just repetitive game play, poor design choices, shallow online modes, and no Big Guy to real you in. Stay away from BOTH major football titles this year. A sad sad day.… Expand

i agree with other people about how we should be able to control ticket prices and stuff and how slow the load is but because Madden is the only pro game there is nothing to compare it to so you cant say its good or bad. another thing, what is up with the ring thing??? ive played like 500 games and only have part of the 2nd ring. i also agree that there should be different refs but if there were more the game would probably be slower. other then the things listed above i like madden and think its fun and i cant wait to see how crappy Madden 09 is.… Expand

the game is way better than any madden before. better than 94, 96, 2000, 2006, 2007. that includes graphics, new kind of franchise mode which allows you to own 1 team or all teams and in between in the nfl. plus you could do more with the game than the past ones.

This is the worst version of Madden realeases since Madden 98. I guess buying exclusive rights left EA feeling that they could shell out a completely sub-standard product. The franchise mode has been completely dismantled, and every screen loads terribly slow. The 'alerts' you used to recieve during franchise play are gone, as are mid-season player progressions, position battles, and just about everything else I like in the previous Franchise mode. The game play is choppy and incredibly sluggish. Every huddle break or in-between-play animation has a brief pause before it. The passing is near impossible, and receivers and DB's can make the most ridiculous catches. Computer teams can always find gaping holes in your coverage, and blanket cover anyone themselves. The run game feels and defensive pursuit feels like I am watching one retards chase the ice-cream man. NCAA is no better. AGAIN, BY FAR THE WORST MADDEN TITLE SINCE 98! I'm playing Madden 06 on original X-Box if I want a fix... until this complete failure of a new game engine is scraped or re-worked. .… Expand

For some reason, some very odd, very naive reason, I thought that this Madden would somehow be better than the horrendous outing in 07. I thought that everything would be fixed and that the game wouldn't be a broken mess, boy, was I wrong. I know I'm not going to steer away any fans of the series, and seeing as how this is the only NFL game out there, there really isn't any option, anyway. To start off with, the turnover mechanic is woefully broken. Not only will you fumble two, three, four times a game, but you will also throw about three or four interceptions a game. This is, however, nicely balanced because the computer QB will either throw 7 INTS or none at all and eight touchdowns. QBs will consistently throw lame duck line drives that will end up in the hands of a middle linebacker. Balance is way, way off, with the computer being really bad and your team being really good, for the most part. The recievers will, I kid you not, turn around with their hands out infront of them like a cowboy holding two six shooters and watch the ball hit them in the helmet. On one replay, I watched Larry Fitzgerald's eyes actually follow the ball as it hit him the thigh. Playing as a secondary defender is next to impossible, because when you press the Y button you jump, you more than less wait three seconds then shoot your hands up in the air, like you're doing the wave. The only positive: it's the only real, liscenced pro football game out there.… Expand

Great concept, horrible execution. fI you do buy this game, expect for come craziness when you play online. I play with the Atlanta Flacons and Joey Harrington is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league. Guess what, in Madden land I don't think so. Throw the ball to an open receiver, five people will crowd him. Throw it over the middle a defender not even on the route will jump ten feet in the air and grab the rock.and run it in for a TD 50% of the time. Don't get me started on the horrible O-line play. This game is just garbage.… Expand

right now I am really geting p od at this game. for some dumb reason madden 08 is starting to frezz will I am trying to do mini camp. and I dont know why it just started duing it one day. and then the next thing I know the lazzer burnd it . and now I got another madden and I still have the same problem. EA fix this now!

Great game, that while lacking a few minor features, still manages to finally bring Madden football to next-gen levels.

This game is excellent. It has great addictive gameplay, cool new features, and good graphics. This is a must buy for all NFL fans, and a must have for all next gen consoles.

This should have been what we got in Madden 06 for the launch. Passing is still not as crisp as current gen or the WII for that matter. They keep saying that the gameplay is tight. This is NEXT GEN Game Play shouldn't be an issue. I love the TV style presentation, and online leagues the strong points of the game. If its in tha game its in tha game. What does EA not understand about their own motto. Another cowards attempt from the EA STAFF. I will stick with the current gen or the WII version. I really feel BAD for the PS3 owners they have really been screwed this year.… Expand

Great gameplay. The game is a blast. However, there aren't many new things in the game besides the animations and the "weapons." The animations and the "weapons" really help the gameplay move forward in the right direction. I love the game but I hate the commentary. The commentary is absolutely lousy. I will probably be playing the game with it off.

Same sh.t, different package. It should be called Roster Update 08' as that is the only significant change.

THis years Madden is leaps and bounds above previous next gen efforts. THough it still has a ways to go such as still missing online leagues, or actual ESPN integration, (what did they pay all that ESPN money for if they are only going to have those four letters everywhere, with nothing else.) Madden is finally up to snuff for NextGen but still has a little ways to go to catch up to its little brother.… Expand

First off, the game grows on you quickly, but at the same time, you'll notice that some things are missing. Like, no scoring summary - so who knows how long that field goal was or how specifically how many plays the last drive took. Minor quibbles aside, this is a great game for all the little things that are done right. Hit stick 2.0 takes some getting used to, but once it is second-nature, you'll be cracking ribs in no time. Also, the game AI is pretty impressive. You'll slip in the rain now, and you MUST cover up the ball in order to prevent coughing up a fumble - VERY realistic. Suggest re-mapping the buttons and running several practice sessions to really ingrain the stick skill muscle memory. Now go get your addiction on!!… Expand

I just purchased madden for the 360, now i'm trying to return this crap. To me the game is missing still all of things for example in the current the gen superstar mode you get you own room everything as you move up your room change, when you playing the game they don't show you your stats you have to pause the game and go to game stats, and where the f*** is john madden isn9;t the game name after him the announcer sucks. it's sad to say but i've just purchased my last madden game and i hope 2k come back cause madden fan keep getting cheated.… Expand

No it isnt perfect, and it wont be perfect for atleast 2 more years, its a step in the right direction definately, and this game unlike the previous two on the 360 is good enough to be worth 60 bucks. the graphics are great on an HDTV, the tackles are all smooth unlike the 07 and 06 and the invincibility is pretty much gone(you know when you are breaking a tackle, nobody else can tackle you) now when more people attempt to tackle you at once you will be brought down. and to people complaining its not realistic because of fumbles and interceptions you should learn to not throw picks and be protective of the ball, its not the game its when you try to truck stick ray lewis with clinton portis, you will fumble. maybe instead you should cover up the ball like slingblade says. and if nobody is open throw it out of bounds not into double/triple coverage. and for those of you who prefer jon madden and his 46 IQ commentary then you must not realize that madden is a moneymaking product and it is only named madden 08 because everyone who knows football knows jon madden.(and i prefer people to not tell me how great brett favre is 62 times in a game which the packers arent even playing in) OH and to the ones who want a half time show/ post game show/ computer vs. computer games then you truly TRULY must need a life because most people who play madden either to franchise mode, or play against friends, neither of which are as fun as watching computer simulated cheerleaders waving their pompoms or watching the computer play the computer(this is almost as good as an NFL preseason game because it doesnt matter except, IT ISNT REAL, and id rather be watching computer programmed cheerleaders.)… Expand

I really like this game compared to the earlier versions of the game and I agree with most people on this post that their are way to many fumbles. I mean I am averaging a fumble a game with m y running back who might have had 3-4 fumbles all year last year. Interceptions I don't have such a problem with as I think if you throw it into tight coverage that it will be picked off and should be.

I hate this game. Someday I will learn that the professional reviewers are nothing but shills for EA sports and the NFL. Now I have revered back to playing Madden NFL 06 on my trusty Xbox, which is a far superior product to either Madden NFL 07 or Madden NFL 08 Xbox 360 versions. My review will be a comparison between Xbox NFL06 and NFL 08 Xbox 360. Features Xbox NFL 06 has that Xbox 360 doesn

This game has what it takes to be an amazing game......... but its not! I have thrown roughy 8 interceptions in less then two games. I've fumbled at least 5 time, again thats only in less then two games, WITH THE PATRIOTS. Im on pro and my opponents keep out scoring me by two touchdowns. I love the graphics but the game play is poor. Seems to be a common trend in this years games.

Amazing game. how dont you like it i really thought his wa the best nfl game ever It was the funest and most exciting it also had big hitting and insane catching.

You can't change camera views at all. Superstar (SS) mode is the worse ever. If you play Defense all blockers will try to block you and forget about the guy in their face. This was a problem on 07 too. I was hoping they changed that. Plus trying to create a SS is harder than ever. You have to pass drills that are very hard. You end up with a slow MLB that can

Incredibly BAD BAD BAD. There was some serious potential here, but with a game PROGRAMMED to make players fumble nonstop it is simply unplayable. Its honestly like they didn't even test the game. BEYOND BELIEF that EA is so lazy that they put out untested garbage (perhaps more unreal is that I keep buying it). Im done with Madden...sold it back already.

I'm from Australia, so NFL isn't really well received as the US. But I've got to say, that this is one of the better NFL games. I'm really getting into NFL at the moment and, even though the graphics aren't the best I've seen it's just so damn fun to play.

The graphics are amazing, but with the problems this game has I would prefer the problems to be fixed and have Madden '96 graphics. Terrible AI, lineman are useless, recievers don't put their hands up, you can't change the positions of players. Brian Urlacher was a safety in college! Manny Lawson and Terrell Suggs were ends! Hines Ward played quarterback! No one releases anyone to free agency. This game is terrible but it's the only pro football game so by default it's the best.… Expand

It is nice to see some attention finally being paid to gameplay on the next gen maddens. It is by no means perfect, but it is passable. -- The AI is still very one sided, as the computer's AI plays zone like every Tampa 2 coach's dream, yours on the other hand will look like kids at fat camp trying to play football. That being said, there are still the AI sliders in the game to help balance things out, though the effects are minimal. -- My biggest beef with this game is the lack of useful features. One of the new features (to me, didn't get 07. Don't know if it was in there) is streaming sports news via ESPN radio. While this is neat, it does not provide anything at all towards enjoyment of the game. The ring feature is pure unsaturated stupidity. Why? Why? Why? -- Features that have been standard on the PS2 are lost in this game, most noticeably for me was the loss of the ability to change a player's position. In sports, football most of all (i'm sure we have all heard the buzz word "tweener" every year during the draft), no one's position is set in stone until you reach stardom. Example: I have a star linebacking crops in terms of ratings, and solid depth as well. My DE's are bloatful at best. I would dearly love to be able to take one of my LB's and make him a DE, or a SS, hell even a HB. While i am aware i can play an OLB at DE, that player loses ratings because he is playing out of position. In Madden 07 for PS2, if you changed a players position his stats were unchanged with the exception of the overall rating. Scouting and finding a player's true position is part of what makes football so great. -- I would dearly love to see EA stop giving us bells and and whistles until the meat and potatoes are cooked and worth eating. I strongly recommend people check out the college game if you need your football fix. IMO NCAA 08 is far better than Madden, hands down.… Expand

Not a good game. Weird glitchy play if you change control button assignment. Jetpack receivers ridiculous. Players do weird things when audible called in offline games. QB won't pass sometimes. Some receivers won't catch balls when hit in the hands time and again. No formation changes in this version that I can find documented. No hot audible pick ups of plays(why would PS2 have this LAST year?). The smart route as documented gives you a drag route. If you want a smart route you have to highlight and then right stick down. When controls are modified you lose every on screen menu including audibles which makes it tough to play with a new team. Weapons system is dorky and just a gimmick. Ball is intercepted too often by guys in single coverage but when opponent throws into a receiver who is double triple quadrulple covered it seems to bounce around and into the receivers hands too often. You can count on a fumble occuring if you are running well and closing in on the goal line even if you are covering up. For instance LT is a fumblemaniac in this game. Since when does Addai or Reggie Wayne or Anthony Gonzalez not get separation on a linebacker when isolated. Once again, a very glitchy game and they seem to occur at the worst time if you're big on using audibles. Give this game Hot Audibles and formation changes like in last gen PS2 and you might have a real game that does not frustrate. Better documentation is in order as well.… Expand

This game didn't fix anything! The rosters weren't even accurate. The ratings were horribly ill-proportioned (Carson Palmer a 90! Phillip rivers an 88! Rex Grossman above 75! come on!). The training camp mini-games (if they can be called games) are still impossible. I barely got under five seconds with devin hester! Also it is Bullsh*t that they call features like create a team that have existed since '04 "new". And if I cant change positions (which is complete bull, by the way), why isn't there any flexibility t ohave players play as "tweeners, ie:Rodney Harison playing WR. The AI is so broken I'm not even going to talk about it. The only redeeming quality is it is football (barely). Come on EA get on the ball and stop ripping us off.… Expand

Wow just got the PC version and it was nothing I hoped it would be. The AI is flat-out terrible and favors the computer for sure. Players make impossible defensive plays - like instantly changing direction the instant your QB releases the ball only to cover 15 yards and make a play on the ball before your receiver can catch it. Blockers are retarded and let obvious threats sack/tackle you while stopping obviously benign defenders. The comp always gets good protection in the pocket, even with a crappy O-line, while your first four draft picks were O-linemen and you get sacked every other play. The computer also seems to become invincible as soon as you are up by about 14 points, generating turnovers and making impossible plays like the cheater it is. The mini-camp games are still largely impossible and you need to play them if you want to level up your players. I chose to skip them and screw my player's stats rather than deal with the frustration. This year you can't switch the positions that your players play. WTF? It was nice to be able to move your players around in previous versions, especially on defense. Franchise mode still generates statistics that are completely unrealistic. Custom playbooks are still limited to 11 formations and less than 80 plays. Custom play building is still buggy and frustrating. The one thing that is new, player "weapons," is actually just a useless gimmick! For instance, if a player has a 95 speed, he gets a little foot icon above his head! If he has a 95 break tackle, then he gets a little bulldozer icon! It has changed nothing significant at all! This game was a disappointment across the board. I have been unsatisfied with the Madden franchise for years, and this years release proves to me that EA has ceased trying to make it better. I will go back to playing Madden 06 for now, and pray to God almighty that the NFL has the sense to let someone else use their signature in the future.… Expand

Finally next gen has caught up to the current gen offering and given those of us who invested in the new technology the game we deserve! Now add online leagues!!!

Predictable Madden with a couple new features. People will revolt against EA if the format doesn't change. Heres to hoping the NFL has enough cash and doesn't need to license exclusively. I think some competition would help.

One of the most solid Madden iterations ever created. The gameplay has finally caught up to the technical improvements afforded by the current generation of hardware. Overall a great game of football.

The biggest issue, IMO, was the laggy in-game menus. Most notably was the laggy lobby within '07 ('06 was OK, though, or some reason). When there's 50 people in a lobby online, you can't even type a message or view user's stats. It's practically unusable. And god forbid I'd like to have a responsive menu system while trying to set my lineup before an online game starts. They didn't fix this in '08. I'm mostly dissapointed in the major reviewers for not acknowleding this issue. This is a real problem that needs to be addressed in Madden '09. Graphics are tight, and the new animations are good too. I like the game, don't get me wrong. But the lobby and online menu lag is so bad that it really turns me away from the game.… Expand

It's not in the game. It's obvious that EA will continue to open its coffers for the beggars. In this case, the beggars are simply the fans. EA refuses to provide a complete game from beginning to end because they want to force gamers to buy the latest and greatest offering each year. Of course, the development team graces us with little bells and whistles. How can EA possible leave out solid commentary, a half-time show, and a post-game show as features? The answer, please deposit more of your hard earned money in the collection bin. We promise to improve upon the game next year by added all the features we promised last year. To be honest, I'm sick of it. EA needs to stop sitting on its laurels and start giving the fans what they deserve and desire. It doesn't matter what EA thinks, it's the fans that determine the success or failure of a game.… Expand

The gameplay is smooth for the most part, but this game feels like it was rushed. Your average game will have around 2-3 fumbles and 4-5 interceptions(that your teammates will pick off) making the game highly UNREALISTIC. Also, the Read And React system means absolutely nothing. Outside of the Smart QB/DB/LB weapons, the other "weapons" do absolutely nothing. Darrel Jackson is a quick receiver? Well, w already knew that. And judging by his ratings, he would've been a quick receiver regardless of the "weapon" he has. Beware, this game feels rushed and has added nothing new(except features that have been in the PS2 versions for the last 3 years that they added and act like they're new).… Expand

I get tired of EA rehashing the same bad football game. There is no difference from 2007 in this one. And the gang tackling animations are still light years behing the last 2K sports game, and that was in 2005. Good job EA in continuing to give us a completely mediocre game. Keeping my 07' since there really is not any differece. Glad I rented before buying it.

I am a true madden hater(if you didn't know), but I have to give this game credit... This is the best madden game I have ever played! I still don't like it much, but I bought it anyway cause I had to have my chicago bears. The game gets bonus points for presentation, because the opening scene should touch every football players heart, cause it gets you emotionally envolved. The gameplay for the most part is still not great, but it seems like EA sports may be trying to work on it(a little). The online is kind of funky, cause it will do wierd things at times. The passing game isn't that great. The running game isn't that great. The overall speed of the game just doesn't feel right( too slow). The A.I. however is a bit better this year. EA still has a long way to go with this series in order for it to be a great game... They just better do it before 2k gets back in the picture! I still think 2k has the better football game. All that all-pro football was missing was an NFL title and some polish.… Expand

PLEASE 2K bring back your NFl game, ESPN NFL 2K5 greatest football in the history of video games. I can't take this anymore, i'm paying 50 bucks for something i can play on a PS1, no one cares about front office, or superstar or any of that Bull Madden, don't you make enough money from announcing. Im begging you 2K,bring it back, me and every other football fan will buy your game, I buy your NBA 2K titles(all amazing). First off Create Player for Madden 08 looks like PS2, and no, the graphics arn't that good, it's just average, you can't customize anything, the game feels half done, like playing a football game with the sound turned off, the field/stadium/fans looks horrid. Oh gameplay where art thou, the gameplay feels like an arcade game not a sim, this game confuses you to the brink, the passing game in 08 is flip a coin, why have all this depth/Plays when you can't pass correctly to an all star receiver. I'm not a football freak SO THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST MADDEN GAME, if you want this game look at all the loyal fans that stuck with basically sh!t for 4 years and nothing is changed.Terrible passing, messed up AI, ok graphics,loading screens, no announcers, terrible music, game looks like it was bulilt for the original Xbox, What more can you ask for, oh right it's a Madden game, go head bring Madden 08 or 09 fresh to a bunch of friends, 30 mins later you'll see everyone looking at each other and putting down controllers, thats what happend to me with Madden 08. ESPEN NFL 2K5 was way different, it was everything this game, almost 4 years later is not. YOU LIKE PLAYING FOOTBALL, YEA THEN THIS GAME IS NOT FOR YOU.… Expand

Anyone who knows video games will like the new madden, but if you like and know football the old one is so much better. I don't understand why they got rid of substitutions, if my MLB sucks I don't want him in on 1 or 2 linebacker sets. Also I like having me best WR in the slot on some plays, for the mismatches. Madden 08 for regular xbox is still the same, just to let you know.

Madden 08 sucks! the game graphics are great but the sideline and stadium graphics look like nfl 2k2... franchise mode is useless.. why can't i control it like in madden 05 (prices, tickets, advertisement) where is the newspaper thing?... another thing that simply drives me crazy is that i can't change a players position even though i have a need and also i can't change a player's height like in past madden... after a week i get tired of hearing marshall faulk's stupid intro and after game ring what it's called thing..stupid!!! why is there only one frikin official in the game? that sucks too... and finally madden is too slow for my taste.. loading takes forever and every single thing you do like changing a players appearence takes for ever... and it runs slow in my ps3 meaning sometimes you feel it freezes... simply awful!!! the only thing that keeps my buying madden is the draft class. Period.… Expand

I was a superstar mode fan because of madden 07, now that I bought 08, I'm tempted to not buy madden again. Not being able to pick your own difficulty in superstar mode in training and in games, and the major downtweak with NOT being able to raise your stats (trucking, carrying, speed, strength ect) from performance institute, and simply playing good, completely wrecks the superstar mode. Along with NOT having any button to show the routes of the players on your team before the snap. Makes it quite difficult to ascertain where the defense will mostly be (should they be in man coverage or combo coverage). All in all, as a gamer that buys at least 1 game a month, I feel I wasted my money.… Expand