'Madden NFL 08' Scores Big

Ryan Huschka - Detroit Free Press

Xbox version one of most playable games ever

"Madden" has been synonymous with video game football for more than a decade. And whether you wait outside the local game shop at the stroke of midnight for each yearly installment or sit on the sidelines thumbing your nose at the mammoth NFL-licensed monopoly that Electronic Arts has built around the former coach and broadcaster, there's no denying the outstanding football experience that "Madden NFL 08" delivers on the Xbox 360.

While most gamers would say that the passable iterations released in 2005 and 2006 for Microsoft's latest console were lacking in many ways, the EA Sports developers clearly spent plenty of time in the off-season polishing and tweaking this year's version, and the result is one of the most playable football games ever created.

The visual presentation, as per the game's tradition, is fantastic.

Tiptoeing feet keep leaning receivers on the field of play as acrobatic one-handed grabs snatch passes out of the air. Running backs juke, hurdle or bowl over would-be defenders. Animations that previously looked disjointed now flow in silky-smooth precision. Whether you're being gang tackled by a trio of linebackers or taunting would-be tacklers while trotting into the end zone, the player's movements are exceptionally lifelike.

This football simulation really goes deep when it comes to game play. For starters, play calling has been reworked to make it easier to navigate sets and personnel. And once you break your huddle, all of your pre-snap options are clearly defined.

For example, on defense, you can change the assignment of any one player on the fly. Or you can shift your defensive backs to double-cover a hot receiver.

The new player icons let you see clearly where the game's big-name stars are on the field. When driving on offense, this helps you take advantages of mismatches, like a speedy receiver against a slower cornerback.

Conversely on defense, if your opponent keeps burning you with one player, a smart safety might be able to pick out the route before the snap and get a jump on the ball.

While the onscreen additions add a nearly infinite amount of on-the-field options, it can be a bit daunting to pick it all up. The reward is clearly worth investing the time, though. And just like the rest of the rock-solid "Madden" game play you're accustomed to -- with just about every ball-swatting, pump-faking, bum-rushing move ever built into a football game -- it becomes second nature with some practice.

But most importantly, playing the game -- whether it's trying to build a legacy in the feature-rich franchise mode, stepping into the shoes of a rookie sensation (try playing as the Lions' Calvin Johnson; it's great fun) in the Superstar mode, or battling it out against buddies/enemies online -- is great fun.

You can even custom build your own championship ring.

Only a few nits, like the lack of online leagues and somewhat sub par audio (what's with Marshall Faulk's pre-game predictions?) are left to gripe about.

But even the haters will have to keep the whining to a minimum, as "Madden NFL 08" is the most impressive game to take the virtual football field in years.

The legacy lives on.

Copyright 2012 by Detroit Free Press