EA Sports' blockbuster football series makes its third appearance on Xbox 360 with Madden NFL 08. Focusing on "weapons," in game events, and features from previous titles, Madden NFL 08 offers gamers another chance to create a dream season alone or in multiplayer competitions. The "weapons" concept is back, and gamers can now locate dangerous players by reading weekly scouting reports, watching player introductions, and by using trigger buttons before the snap on the field. There are a total of 24 different "weapons" and they include big hitters, defensive linemen, running backs, and catch receivers. Each "weapon" has a counter-weapon that gamers must uncover in order to bring a potentially destructive competitor down. However, by completing the mini-games in "Franchise" or "Owner" mode, players can alter the attributes for each team member.
On the field, a number of events return including hurdles, player celebrations, and defensive hot routes. Now when a competitor is gearing up to lunge for the legs of the ball carrier, gamers can hurdle over them and avoid going down. After jumping over his adversary, the carrier can then make his way to the end zone for a touchdown and a celebration animation. Gamers can select from 60 different signature moves including Chad Johnson's "River Dance," Rex Grossman's "Gator Chomp," and Dante Hall's "X." In the trophy room, players can revisit victories by viewing awards for rushing and passing records and multiplayer competitions. Additionally, gamers can now create different rings to earn as they progress through the game.
Controls
GENERAL GAMEPLAY
BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
Left Thumbstick or D-Pad = move player
Right Thumbstick = sprint
Right Thumbstick = receiver cam
Right Trigger + Right Thumbstick = coach's cam
X Button + X Button, A, Y, Left Bumper or Right Bumper = call an audible before the snap
X Button + Left Trigger = calls the original play
B Button = cancel audible
Back Button = call timeout
Start Button = pause game
OFFENSE
AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
A Button = snap ball
Right Thumbstick Left or Right = switch direction of a running play
Right Trigger (+ Receiver Button) = lock on to receiver
Y Button (+ Receiver Button) + Left or Right Thumbstick = call a hot route
B Button = highlight eligible player
Left Thumbstick or D-Pad Left or Right = send highlighted player in motion
Left Thumbstick Button = quiet crowd
Right Bumper = fake snap
RUNNING WITH THE BALL
Right Thumbstick Up = power backs lower their shoulder and truck over defenders, agile backs dodge the tackler
Right Thumbstick Down = back juke
Right Thumbstick Left or Right = big juke left or right
X Button (Tap) = QB dive
X Button (Hold) = QB slide
Y Button = jump, hurdle
Right Bumper = protect ball
B Button + Left Thumbstick = spin
A Button = stiff arm
Left Trigger = pitch ball
Left Bumper = fake pitch
PASSING AND RECEIVING
Right Thumbstick Left or Right = look left or right
X, A, B, Y Button or Right Bumper (Tap) = lob pass
X, A, B, Y Button or Right Bumper (Hold) = bullet pass
Left Thumbstick or D-Pad = lead the receiver
Right Thumbstick = throw ball away
Right Trigger (Hold) = QB scramble behind the line of scrimmage
Right Trigger + Left Trigger = QB action mode
Y Button = catch the ball
X Button = diving catch
BLOCKING CONTROLS
B Button = select player/switch to ball carrier
Left Bumper = become lead blocker
Right Thumbstick Up or Down = impact or cut block
Left Trigger = strafe
AFTER THE PLAY
X Button (Hold) = spike ball
B Button (Hold) = fake spike trick play
Y Button (Hold) = no huddle, hurry-up offense
DEFENSE
PREPLAY
B Button (Tap) = change player one by one
B Button (Hold) + Left Thumbstick or D-Pad = scroll through defenders
Right Thumbstick (Click) = jump the snap
Left Bumper + Left Thumbstick Up = spread the defensive ends outside the tackles
Left Bumper + Left Thumbstick Down = move the line in tight between the tackles
Left Bumper + Left Thumbstick Left or Right = shift the line left or right
Left Bumper + Right Thumbstick Up = crash outside
Left Bumper + Right Thumbstick Down = crash inside
Left Bumper + Right Thumbstick Left or Right = crash left or right
Left Bumper + Left Trigger = reset
Right Bumper + Left Thumbstick Up = spread out linebackers
Right Bumper + Left Thumbstick Down = move in tight
Right Bumper + Left Thumbstick Left or Right = shift left or right
Right Bumper + Right Thumbstick Up = put all linebackers in hook zones
Right Bumper + Right Thumbstick Down = blitz all linebackers
Right Bumper + Right Thumbstick = blitz left or right linebackers
Right Bumper + Left Trigger = reset
Y Button + Left Thumbstick Up or Down = put DBs into press or loose coverage
Y Button + Left Thumbstick Left = show blitz
Y Button + Left Thumbstick Right = shift safeties and linebackers into better position to cover their assigned man
Y Button + Right Thumbstick Left, Right or Up = shift safety coverage left, right, or out
Right Trigger (Hold) + Receiver Button = receiver spotlight
Left Thumbstick (Click) = pump up crowd
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN AND LINEBACKERS
A Button + Right Thumbstick Up = deep zone
A Button + Right Thumbstick Down = blitz
A Button + Right Thumbstick Right = flat zone
A Button + Right Thumbstick Left = QB spy
A Button + Left Thumbstick Up = hook zone
A Button + Left Thumbstick Down = QB contain
A Button + Left Thumbstick Right = curl to flats
A Button (+ Receiver Button) + Left Thumbstick Left = man to man
CORNERBACKS AND SAFETIES
A Button + Right Thumbstick Up = deep zone
A Button + Right Thumbstick Down = blitz
A Button + Right Thumbstick Right = flat zone
A Button + Right Thumbstick Left = QB spy
A Button + Left Thumbstick Up = hook zone
A Button + Left Thumbstick Down = QB contain
A Button + Left Thumbtsick Right = curl to flats
A Button (+ Receiver Button) + Left Thumbstick Left = man to man
AFTER THE SNAP
Right Thumbstick Up or Down = hit stick 2.0 high or low
X Button = diving tackle
A Button = swat ball (in air)
A Button = strip ball when a player is in possession of the ball
Left Trigger = strafe
Left Bumper = spin move (when engaged)
Right Bumper = power move (when engaged)
Y Button = hands up, bat pass, intercept
KICKING OFF AND PUNTING
Left Thumbstick or D-Pad = aim kick
Right Thumbstick Down = start power meter
Right Thumbstick Up = kick ball
KICK RETURNING
Y Button = fair catch
SUPERSTAR/MINI-GAME CONTROLS
QB
Right Thumbstick Left or Right = pan camera
WR/TE/HB
Right Thumbstick Left, Right, Up or Down = cut moves left, right, up or back
Left Trigger = strafe facing the ball
A Button = call for ball
B Button = switch camera during play or replay
BLOCKER
Left Trigger = strafe facing away from ball
B Button = look back at QB
DEFENSE
Right Bumper = press coverage presnap
Left Bumper = attempt chuck
