It’s been a whole eight months since we played the original Madden for the Wii. In that review, it was mentioned that if you can get over the graphical disabilities of the Wii when compared to the other next-generation console versions, you can really enjoy yourself. Of course, with a release cycle that short – even shorter than most “regular” sports games, expectations weren’t that high for the 08 edition. In a surprise twist, EA Sports has added quite a bit of material to this year’s game on the Wii, making what was already a fun game even better.
First, let’s discuss the single player mode. Franchise mode is here, along with superstar mode and mini-camp. You can also practice all day if you would prefer. The franchise mode is just like it is on other consoles which is both good and bad – it’s great to have it in the game but it’s still just as wonky – ridiculous trade decisions and depth charts make it necessary for you to control everything, and who has time for that?
The superstar mode is more enjoyable this year as opposed to last year. In Madden 08, you play the entire game, not just your player – which may make some purists cringe, but the game feels more enjoyable this way. The only thing you don’t have control over is the plays, which are sent in from the coach. You can still audible but you don’t have free reign on playcalling.
The controls are similar to last year and are pretty effective. There is a learning curve to handle – you use the Wiimote to pass by literally making a throwing motion and pressing the receiver on the d-pad. We recommend that you throw to your pre-determined receiver because throwing is much easier that way. The jukes and stiff-arms are quite intuitive; however if you need training EA has done a great job integrating instructions while in the middle of a game. The tutorials are selected through a button press so they aren’t always in your face and you usually see help tailored to your specific situation – so if you’re on defense, you can see how to swat the ball, etc.
The controls are what make the game – things like fair catches (wave the remote over your head) and catching the ball (move the Wiimote and nunchuk up together) really adds to the realism. Kicking is done very nicely as well which again increases the fun factor.
The Wii version does carry over some of the problems from the 360 and PS3, though. You’ll find that both you and your computer opponent throw a lot of interceptions, and many of those picks are run back for touchdowns, and while the running game is fun, it’s almost too easy. On the default level, you are able to run for quite a few touchdowns using the juke and stiff-arm controls. Yes, it’s very rewarding to score but not realistic when at the half the game is 41-12. However, if you’re an arcade junkie you’ll love the controls so much that the lack of realism isn’t an issue.
The new “player weapons” feature is just a gimmick. Similar to the All Pro Football icons, players are marked with icons on the field – so if your linebacker is a power tackler, they have a “heavy hitter” icon. This means that your linebacker is a heavy hitter (sorry, couldn’t resist) and will be a better tackler and/or cause more fumbles than a ‘regular’ linebacker.
