EA Sports' blockbuster football series is back 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 returns, 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
ALL PHASES
Left Analog Stick = move player
Square + R2 Button = flip play at the line of scrimmage
X Button = sprint
R2 Button = play art
R2 Button + Right Analog Stick = bluff play art (multiplayer games only)
L2 Button = know your player weapons
Square Button + Square, X, Circle, L1 or R1 Button = call an audible before the snap
Triangle Button = cancel an audible before selecting a play
Square Button + L2 Button = reset original play after calling an audible
Select Button = call timeout
OFFENSE
PRE-SNAP
X Button = snap ball
Right Analog Stick Left or Right = switch direction of a running play
Right Analog Stick = change primary receiver's route
R2 Button + Receiver Button = change primary receiver, lock on to receiver
Triangle Button + Receiver Button + D-Pad Up = fly pattern hot route
Triangle Button + Receiver Button + D-Pad Down = curl pattern hot route
Triangle Button + Receiver Button + D-Pad Left or Right = in or out pattern hot route
Triangle Button + Receiver Button + Right Analog Stick Down = run smart route
Triangle Button + Receiver Button + L2 or R2 Button = left or right slant hot route
Left Analog Stick Up or Down = highlight eligible player
Left Analog Stick Left or Right = send highlighted player in motion
Circle Button = receiver control, lead blocker control
L1 Button + D-Pad Up = spread the offensive line
L1 Button + D-Pad Down = pinch the line
L1 Button + D-Pad Left or Right = shift blocking left or right
R1 Button + D-Pad = formation shift
R3 Button = fake snap
L3 Button = quiet crowd
RUNNING WITH THE BALL
Right Analog Stick Up = power backs lower their shoulder and truck over defenders, agile backs dodge the tackler
Right Analog Stick Down = back juke
Right Analog Stick Left or Right = big juke left or right
L1 Button then R1 Button = double move
Square Button (Tap) = QB or wide receiver slide
Square Button (Hold) = QB or wide receiver dive
Triangle Button (Hold) = cover up or protect ball
Circle Button = spin
L1 Button = cut move left
R1 Button = cut move right
L2 Button = stiff arm left
R2 Button = stiff arm right
PASSING AND RECEIVING
Right Analog Stick Left or Right = look left or right
Left Analog Stick or D-Pad = precision passing
Triangle, Square, Circle, L1 or R1 Button (Tap) = lob pass
Triangle, Square, Circle, L1 or R1 Button (Hold) = bullet pass
R3 Button + Right Analog Stick = direct receiver
L2 Button = throw ball away
L1 Button = call for ball (when controlling receiver)
R2 Button = pump fake
Circle Button = control intended receiver
Square Button = dive
Triangle Button = catch
L1 Button = swat
LINEMEN BLOCKING CONTROLS
Right Analog Stick Up or Down = impact or cut block
L2 Button = turn block left
R2 Button = turn block right
L1 Button = pull or hold defender
Square Button = diving block
Triangle Button = jump
Triangle Button + Running Back or Tight End Button + L2 Button = change blocking assignment left (before snap)
Triangle Button + Running Back or Tight End Button + R2 Button = change blocking assignment right (before snap)
AFTER THE PLAY
Circle Button (Hold) = spike ball to stop the clock
Square Button = fake spike trick play
Triangle Button (Hold) = no huddle, hurry-up offense
L1 Button + R1 Button = instant replay
DEFENSE
PRE-SNAP ADJUSTMENTS
X or Circle Button (Tap) = choose a player to control
X or Circle Button (Hold) = select a player in a certain direction
Right Analog Stick Up = put linebackers and defensive linemen in a zone or DBs in a deep short zone
Right Analog Stick Down = blitz
Right Analog Stick Down (Twice) = QB contain blitz
Right Analog Stick left = go into QB spy coverage
Right Analog Stick Right = play a flat zone
Right Analog Stick Right (Twice) = play a curl zone
L1 Button + D-Pad Up = spread the defensive ends outside the tackles
L1 Button + D-Pad Down = move the line in tight between the tackles
L1 Button + D-Pad Left or Right = shift the line left or right
L1 Button + Right Analog Stick Down = make line crash in
L1 Button + Right Analog Stick Up = make line rush to the outside
L1 Button + Right Analog Stick Left or Right = make line crash left or right
R1 Button + D-Pad Up or Down = spread linebackers out or move them in tight
R1 Button + D-Pad Left or Right = shift linebackers left or right
R1 Button + Right Analog Stick Down = blitz all linebackers
R1 Button + D-Pad Up = call off all linebackers and put them into hook zone
R1 Button + D-Pad Left or Right = blitz the right or left outside linebacker
R1 Button + L2 Button = reset the shift
Triangle Button + D-Pad Up or Down = put DBs into press or loose coverage
Triangle Button + D-Pad Left = show blitz
Triangle Button + D-Pad Right = shift the safeties and linebackers into better position to cover their assigned man
Triangle Button + R2 Button = disguise coverage by sending defenders back to their default positions
Triangle Button + L2 Button = reset coverage
Triangle Button + Right Analog Stick Left, Right, Up or Down = shade the safeties' zone coverage to left, right, up or down
Triangle Button + Offensive Player Button + D-Pad Down or Up = bump or play off the receiver
Triangle Button + Offensive Player Button + D-Pad Right = double team the receiver with the highlighted defender
R2 Button + Receiver Button = spotlight receiver
L3 Button = pump up crowd
AFTER THE SNAP
Circle Button = control player nearest to the ball
Right Analog Stick Up (Immediately After The Snap) = commit to a pass
Right Analog Stick Down (Immediately After The Snap) = commit to an inside run
Right Analog Stick Left or Right (Immediately After The Snap) = commit to a run to the left or right
Right Analog Stick = hit stick 2.0
Square Button = dive
Triangle Button = jump, intercept, hands up
L2 or R2 Button = strip ball when not engaged
L1 or R1 Button = rip, swim, spin when engaged
R1 Button = strafe when not engaged
L1 Button = swat ball when not engaged
KICKING
Left Analog Stick = aim kick
Right Analog Stick Down = start power meter
Right Analog Stick Up = kick ball
