Madden 08 Preview
Thanks to loyal Arrowhead Addict and Kansas City Chiefs Fan Tim Cudmore’s suggestion, I have decided to give you the best and most Madden 08 information that I can deliver. This game is apparently tons better than the recent releases on the next gen systems. Since all the systems (Wii, 360, and P3) have been out for over a year it seems like the companies are more comfortable developing games. I hope this is true for Madden and it’s not over-hyped like it tends to be every year. Don’t get me wrong, I love beating up my thumbs more than anyone, but the last two years (on the 360, at least) I’ve been disappointed. Supposedly a couple of key highlights:
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Franchise Mode is back and in business. They revamped last year’s and it is back to having a strong franchise mode. Lets just hope revamped doesn’t mean they just added a feature to increase hot dog prices.
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Fantasy Draft is back. I remember when my six college roommates and I drafted teams on Madden then had a Madden tournament. I don’t believe we ever finished because the games got so ugly we thought someone might end up in the hospital.
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WR and RBs are more like their real-life counterparts. Check out the full review.
There’s no more running in place like the Wiley Coyote when you hit the back of your O-lineman. The highlight stick has also been redefined to utilize player specific abilities. A smaller back won’t be able to truck over a safety, so flicking up on the right analog will now allow him to break off a nasty little juke move, while bigger backs will still lower the boom.
Receivers have also been retooled to allow for several different situations that were previously impossible. Now balls over the middle are genuine health. In past years jumping catches over the middle granted your wideouts invincibility, but this year they can get popped like never before. Now you’ll get up-ended if the hit lands just right, knocking the ball out of your hands in the process. Also, like we said before, there’s no more getting caught in a catch animation, so as soon as the ball hits your hands the receiver is in your control, and the added responsiveness of the controls really helps in this regard.
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Marshall Faulk gives pre-game commentary a feature that was not in last year’s game. I am just glad that I don’t have to hear Madden ramble on especially with his counterpart, the little troll on NBC.
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EA has focused the majority of the overhaul on gameplay. So if you plan on buying the game expect that to be better than any Madden version before.
Here are a couple of quick hits:
Larry Johnson Madden image preview (I love that he is the example for the truck stick)
Players that will have a rating of 99:
Champ Bailey
Steve Smith
Peyton Manning
LaDainian Tomlinson
Walter Jones
Steve Hutchinson
Troy Polamalu
Ed Reed
Brian Urlacher
(I guess I can agree with this list, except Jason Taylor probably should be on there as well after winning DPOTY)
You can check all the Madden info you want at MaddenPlanet.com.
I have yet to find the full ratings of all the players within the Madden game. When I get that I will post all the Chiefs Players ratings for you.
UPDATED 7/2/2007
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This has Ty Law featured as a play-maker labeled “Smart Corner.” If he could just work on his not falling down.
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Play-maker feature is added to separate the men from the boys, good from average.
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Finally, they have ADDED GANG TACKLING. (Thanks Chris for asking that question)
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[...] My little bro previews Madden 08 over at my other home blog — Arrowhead Addict. [...]
July 1st, 2007 at 4:15 pmDo they have gang tackling in the new one? I know thats something people have been clamoring for for a while.
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:00 amGang tackling has been added, Finally!!!
I have also added a little bit at the end of this post
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 pmsup guys, one big difference will be that 08 will make better use of possession wr's, particularly in catches over the middle. For years all that has mattered has been players speed, so you'd get a lot more big plays with Dante Stallworth opposed to a better but slower possession wr like Hines Ward.Also, Devin Hester = 100 Speed
August 6th, 2007 at 2:23 amLarry Allen = 100 Strength
Reggie Bush = 100 Acceleration
Peyton Manning = 100 Awareness
Tom Brady = 100 Awareness
LaDainian Tomlinson = 100 Elusiveness, 100 Juke Move
Champ Bailey = 100 Man Coverage
Lorenzo Neal = 100 Impact Blocking
Marvin Harrison = 100 Route RunningHeard the bears now are using Hester as a WR and that he's catching everything in camp, with 100 speed and if he's a WR in madden he will be a beast in madden along with San Diego, Indy, New Orleans, and of course NE with Moss now.
Hey great post man! I found this facebook application for all you madden fans i hop you guys will like it. Ive been using it for about 3 days now and its cool but it needs more fans. Anyone here have Xbox live? Im looking for some more people to demolish. Here is the link Madden 08 Fan Club
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:22 pmTurtle Dove
Good work. I am going to read some more on this.
December 17th, 2007 at 7:07 pm