Madden NFL 08 PSP Review

Check out the video below to see some Gameplay Footage from Madden NFL 08 for the PSP.


Football Season is here, and that subsequently means that another season of Madden NFL Football will be released across many platforms to fans who just cannot wailt until September to get their football fix. Madden NFL 08 is here, and I picked it up for the PSP to get a Portable NFL Football Fix. This is the first Portable Football Game I had purchased since i got Madden NFL 2005 for my Game Boy Advance. It was a great game in it's own right. I enjoyed how Madden 2005 seemed to get a whole new upgrade from the last Game Boy Madden I played, Madden NFL 2003. Madden NFL 08 is the greatest Portable Sports Game Since Madden NFL 2005 for the Game Boy Advance.

This Year, the big thing in Madden is "Player Weapons." Whenever you zoom out to see your team players, you will see an icon above their helmet, telling you what type of weapon they are. Peyton Manning, no suprise, is labeled as a Franchise QB. Spped Backs like Shaun Alexander and LaDanian Tomlinson are labeled accordingly. This systsem is supposed to have them play like their real selves, and for the most part, they do play a whole lot like themselves on the virtual gridiron. Expect plenty of Manning to Harrison, Brady to Moss, Tony Romo to Terrell Owens, and many other big hook ups.

Franchise Mode is great as always. A number of menus are condensed into a simplified main menu known as My Week. Team owners have access to their game schedules, preparation for the next week's opponent and their team rosters. Basic statistics and news from around the league are also simplified and presented in a tabbed menu bar that runs along the bottom of the screen, which updates with every single week's latest info. As a result, players that aren't interested in delving into more involved features of the mode can easily navigate their way through a pre-season and regular season with minimal use of sub-menus. It's an interesting concept that works well on the PSP for all of the wannabe GM's on the go.

The Mini Camp Modes and Mini Camp Competiton are a blast. If you are new to Madden on the PSP, then I suggest you go into the Mini Camp and Mini Camp Competition Modes, as they really do help teach you how to play the game.

Graphics are fantastic on the PSP. You really can make out player faces and player names. Commentary is done by Al Michaels and John Madden, and the chemistry these two have make you think you are watching a Sunday Night Football Telecast. That is, until you realize that there are no new last names is Al Michaels' Commentary. Expect to hear plenty of "Number 90" or in case of Joseph Addai, "Number 29." The On The Field Sounds though, are, as always, fantastic, and the Music of Madden is great. I especially love the NFL Films Music.

If you just cannot wait for the NFL, and you are so much on the move that the PSP has become your primary console, Madden NFL 08 is a must have.