For some reason they left the “risk taker who throws into quintuple coverage” player weapon out, otherwise that most likely would have been Favre.

So here I am, sitting in my friend’s house, waiting for Madden 2008 to load on Playstation 3. He’s got a 52-inch flat screen TV with HD capabilities, and he tells me that Madden in HD is unbelievable.

The introduction comes on the screen, and it’s not only introducing me to the 2008 installment, but to the capabilities of the new platform. I’m sucked in, and it’s only the introduction video.

Several of the games in past years haven’t even had a video, just some NFL player shouting out the EA Sports tagline “If it’s in the game, it’s in the game.” This year is different. The next generation is finally going to get its chance on all platforms to show its muscles.

This game is fully customizable. Gone are the days where you picked your favorite team and got an accompanying video. The ’08 Madden is truly your game. Trophies and rings you’ve won are on display from the get-go. When you advance into the familiar menu, it’s your first indicator that not everything has changed.

The franchise and superstar modes return, but a great addition has been made. Not only can you create a player or import one from NCAA ’08 for superstar mode, but you can take an NFL rookie such as Calvin Johnson and play his entire career.

The player can check out the Hall of Fame, which includes over a hundred footballers enshrined in Canton. A short biography of each player, complete career statistics, and even highlight reels are attached to many players.

However, because of the release of “All-Pro Football 2K8,” many players are absent from this section. You won’t find Dan Marino, John Elway, Jim Brown or Jerry Rice in Madden’s Hall of Fame section because they signed onto “All-Pro.” Still, the section is a very cool addition that only adds to the attraction of the game.

Cut out all the bull and “Madden” is still, in essence, a football game. So my first foray into the wonderful world of PS3 is complete with Lambeau Field filled with three- dimensional fans and interesting looks into the entrance tunnels.

The problem with the weather is that snow looks like 5-inch vertical white sticks moving in exactly the same direction. Future versions will have to fix that. Otherwise, the cold air breathing of players is strikingly accurate, although that aspect was perfected by the 2006 version.

Once on defense, I was ready to do damage with my hit stick. Wait…what happened to the hit stick? “This is Hit Stick 2.0, where if you push it down you do a cut tackle, push it up and you level the ball carrier,” said my friend matter-of-factly. I suppose it’s something to get used to, but I prefer just flinging the stick in the direction of the runner and landing him on a virtual episode of “Jacked Up.”

And what the hell are all these pictures underneath players? Is A.J. Hawk standing on a brick walkway? Nope, but I was close. Hawk is a Brick Wall Defender, a distinction given to lineman and linebackers who are nearly impossible to get around.

In fact, if a player has over 90 on any attribute, they are some kind of special player. Somewhat robbed from NBA Live’s Freestyle system (Highlight Reel=big time dunker), these “player weapons” are handed out much too freely.

David Clowney, who might not even make the Packers’ roster, is a speedster, while Donald Driver seemingly has every wide receiver trait possible. At least they recognize Al Harris as a shut-down corner; no one in the national media does.

If you guessed Cannon-Arm QB would be the definition of Brett Favre, you were right. For some reason they left the “risk taker who throws into quintuple coverage” player weapon out, otherwise that most likely would have been Favre.

Playing the actual game is like trying to make a conference call to Islamabad on CNN: press a button and watch the player perform the action five seconds later. To be fair, the first year of X-Box 360, Madden had this same problem, and it’s fixed now. They better get in line for ’09. The player models are great, but some players look far too buff and big in the upper body a la “NFL Blitz”.

All in all, this is a great game to buy – next year. Let EA Sports work out the kinks and fully take advantage of the PS3’s capabilities before you spend the big bucks on Madden.

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