Madden NFL 08
by Electronic Arts
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Our Price: $63.80 Availability: Usually ships in 4-5 business days Buy Used: from $3.91 (click here) Category: Video Games See more product details |
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Video Game Reviews of Madden NFL 08
Customer Review: Decent offline play, but online mode has *serious* bugs
Summary: 2 Stars
The control scheme on the Wii makes this the most enjoyable football game out there, and you'll have a fun time playing the offline mode with friends. The online mode, however, is terrible, and brings the entire game down.
The online mode is plauged with bugs that make the game a remarkably frustrating experience. Remember those pictures of broken TV screens that popped up every other day when the Wii was first released? Unless you have the patience of a saint, you'll be intentionally duplicating that expereince in your home, throwing your Wii remote at the TV in helpless anger.
As others have mentioned, setting up a match can be a pain. I wouldn't put the failure rate I've experienced as high as others here, but I'd say at about 30% of the matches fail to start for me. I can live with that. The real problems begin when the game starts.
1. False start penalty any time you try a 'no huddle' in online mode except during the final seconds of a quarter. This might be part of EA's obnoxious 'Fair Play' system where they try to keep you from running 'unrealistic' plays, but 'no huddle' offenses are used frequently enough under normal circumstances in the NFL that it's absurd to prevent them. Again, this is something you could probably live with, except that the 'no huddle' option is mapped to the 'B' button, which also sprints. So if you happened to be sprinting when the last play ended and don't *immediately* let go of the button, your offense will rush to the line and automatically trigger a 5 yard penalty.
2. Random audibles. Multiple times I've lined up to kick a field goal or punt, and notice my formation change right before I hike the ball. It costs a time-out to get back to play-book and reselect a kicking play, unless you give up two of your audibles to be punt/field goal.
3. Disconnecting players. This is hardly exclusive Madden on Wii, but the treatment is. Rather than letting you complete the game against the PC, the game will freeze for about 10 seconds, tell you the connection was lost, and force you back to the menu. Even worse, it will actually increase your "Did Not Finish" percentage, even if you're not the one that disconnected. When you play a close game for 45 minutes to an hour and are seconds away from winning, this is infuriating.
4. Fair Play restrictions. As in #1, except these aren't exclusive to the Wii version and have been around for a while. With all of the other problems though, it really starts to get annoying. Online, the game will prevent you from doing anything except kicking if it's 4th and 1 unless you're down and it's near the end of the game.
If you plan on only playing this game offline with local friends, then I could recommend it when the price drops a bit. You should definitely stay away from this if you have any intention of playing online though. Visit the EA forums for the Wii version of the game to get an idea for the scope of the problems; they extend well beyond online play, and even include errors with autosaving the game. When a major feature of the game is as broken as online play is, I cannot justify paying full price for the game. Wait until next year's version if you can, or if you don't care about the roster updates, pick up last year's Wii version. The game is nearly identical and in some ways better than this year's, and you can pick it up used for a few dollars.
Customer Review: Wait til next year
Summary: 2 Stars
I want to start by saying I am a huge fan of Madden Football and I love '07 for its fun mini games especially 2 on 2 which I played all the time. Thus I was super excited for 08 with the addition of many more mini games, cool elite players, and ofcourse online play.
However it falls short b/c:
1) The extra mini games you will play maybe once and you might quit in the middle of those....they are pathetic and EA definitely went for quantity over quality.
2) The graphics look worse. I know its a wii but comon! After playing mario striker this is patheic. I think this is due to the closer camera angle.
3) online play?? if your lucky
4) main controls have changed! Turbo and dive have been switched around so that turbo is "b button" and dive is "c button" This feels so unintuitive! The numchuck remote is used to move so it makes sense to have turbo on that remote as well.
If you already have 07 I see no reason to buy this. all the features that have been added either don't work properly or have zero replay value. Here is hoping for next year.
Customer Review: More refined version of Madden 07
Summary: 4 Stars
As the title says, Madden 08 for the Wii is basically a more refined version than Madden 07. The controls are much tighter than the previous version except for a few exceptions where a certain audible is misinterpreted by moving the nunchuck in the incorrect direction.
The part where the game really shines is superstar mode and online play. Besides the fact that they kept the lame movie roles idea, Superstar mode finally has some meaning and you progress slowly, although through one season, I have yet to see TOO much progression.
Previous reviewers have mentioned lag issues and are unable to connect to the online servers, but I have never had a problem. If you are experiencing lag or are unable to connect, it is NOT EA'S FAULT! Either check your router that you are using to open up the ports needed to play or call your router company for help. Online play wouldn't be offered if it wasn't up to at least some small standards.
SHOULD I UPGRADE TO 08? My answer, yes. The graphics I'm used to since the Wii is not a high def system, but the gameplay is much better than before and extremely fun with the motion controls.
Now if only John Madden wasn't so annoying to listen to for the past 15+ years... :D
Customer Review: Much improved over 07
Summary: 5 Stars
-- Much more intuitive with gesture controls than 07, added controls give you more complete control over the game without going into the menus. Though a little tough getting used to having to hit the 1 or 2 buttons during the game. Timeout now tied tie MINUS button.
-- Graphics moderately better (compared to 07 Wii). New graphics during tackles and catches (like deflections) much better than previous years.
-- Online havent tried yet, sure there will be some initial glitches.
-- This game is a winner if you like the gesture based play somewhat feeling like you are somewhat in the game. Also the Family play makes it fun for those people who like to pick up a controller now and then and play friends and family.
-- Is it XBOX360 which is clearly the BEST out there?? NO but its fun if you can put aside the lack of graphics! Enjoy, I am!
Customer Review: The worst experience online I've ever had
Summary: 2 Stars
I just finished playing this game online and wanted to instantly go onto here and make sure that nobody wastes their money on this peice of dog dung like I did. Here we go:
1) QB Wouldn't throw to the receiver I chose
2) Offsides calls for NO reason
3) QB wouldn't pass most of the time even though I did the pass motion
4) Kicking would work perfectly sometimes and then the next time wouldn't work at all
5) No huddles without even doing so
6) QB rushing the throw after a snap for no reason (then resulting in a FUMBLE??)
7) Couldn't review a play
8) Couldn't go for it on 4th and 1
9) No 2-point conversion allowed
That's it! Some of those may just be programming but most of it is glitchy crap that shouldn't have happened. I heard that EA is working on a patch for all of this garbage and if I don't receive it in a very short time... this game is gone. No way in HELL I'm holding onto this refuse.
FYI - I normally don't like Madden games and I played Madden 07 for the Wii until my arms hurt. I loved that game so much.