Madden NFL 08

"So as we wrap up, is this the "best Madden ever?" Well, EA's still gotta get its online act together before we can bestow such an honor. But we definitely do feel bad for folks like Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson -- these guys won't be part of the best Madden in a long while."

"Madden NFL 08 is one of those titles that you feel had good intentions, but just didn't fully fulfill all of them the way it needed to. While the concept behind making the game more accessible to casual gamers is a laudable one, the actual implementation of the casual elements over the standard gameplay elements is somewhat lacking. The weapon system, which is obviously carried over from the newer consoles, doesn't deliver the kind of experience that you'd hope it would, and the adjustments to the older gameplay doesn't do enough to radically improve the title. While Madden 08 is still an enjoyable title, it isn't nearly as impressive as last year's game."

"If all this year’s Madden did was restore its feature set, then that alone would hardly be cause for hope. However, by improving the gameplay, it makes it so I’m much more apt to actually play more than one season before putting my controller down. This series isn’t out of the woods just yet, but this year lets it be known that Madden’s best days aren’t behind it."

"Madden NFL 08 is a significant step forward for the series, bringing to the table features that are legitimately game-changing."

"While it has been difficult to wholeheartedly recommend a Madden football game for a few years, Madden NFL 08 is a significant improvement over the series' past, and has refined the formula in such a way that it actually brings something new to the game. While we're still going to expect incremental upgrades year after year, Madden NFL 08 is a great place to jump in, and just in time for fantasy season."