Madden NFL 08 Member Review for the Xbox360

If you have played any game system past 1994 (I sure hope you have), then you will definitely know about Madden, perhaps the most famous sports game of its time. Well, it's been 20 years, and it hasn't changed much.It starts out mostly the same. You choose a name, favorite team, and wait for the game to load for a couple minutes. But what happens after is what's shocking. Instead of the usual game screen, you're set up in your own little 3-piece trophy room. These trophies are like achievements (without the gamerscore). Playing the game for long enough will net you most of these, and getting enough of the medals will let you design your own championship ring. But it's not just the main screen that's new. The most well-known feature of this year's Madden is the Read and React System. This was pretty much introduced in every EA Sports game a year before. Players who excel at one or more specific things on the field will gain a little icon under them (i.e. Peyton Manning is a 'Smart QB' and Carson Palmer is a 'Cannon Arm QB'. This is worked around every position on the field, whether it's an 'Amazing Catch WR' or a 'Big Foot Kicker', there's a bonus for everyone.Of course, the graphics are revamped, the game runs a lot smoother now, and even the fans and the turf looks shiny and new. It will still have its share of bugs, players walking through each other, throws going backwards, but what do you expect, it's still Madden.A new feature which was introduced last year is the NFL Superstar mode. Now you can draft a player right out of college into the NFL and play as him, but weak gameplay and repetitive 'events' make this a very boring gametype right from the start. Franchise is the same as always, draft a team, cheat beforehand to give yourself an all-star lineup, win the Super Bowl. Nothing has changed for a good five years in this, and I think it's time Madden upgrades their Franchise Mode.Gameplay is definitely better in some regions. The added Read and React System can make for one of the closest renditions to NFL Street ever shown in a Madden game, with players making huge diving catches and one-handed snags amongst 3 or 4 defenders. People like Devin Hester are slowed down a little to at least make kick returns fairer for both teams, yet running backs will still have no trouble trucking 2 linebackers and a safety out of the way on their way to a 85 yard touchdown run on 4th and 10.Overall, Madden 08 isn't much different from previous versions of Madden. The cheap players are still cheap, the achievements are still easy, and John Madden still says some stupid s*** about every play. Maybe rent this if you're just out for gamerscore, for Wii, don't even bother, but it will take you 2 or 3 days until you'll get tired of this game.