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Show . vTi. in r. t . ' . I GAMING U io u scores ; Victor Godinez THf DAUAS MORNING NEWS '. not generally a huge Madden 'pm I admit: Matt. but Ive gotta fan, Aden NFL 08 is pretty fun From the stellar animation to the more- computer AI to the tons .i . than-soli- d of nifty features tucked away in the menus, this latest version of the ven-- . erable franchise dispels the notion that theres nothing new left to do in the realm of video game football. Hardcore fans can rest easy: "Madden 08" is basically the same beast youve come to know and love, what is new, though, are some of the options to understand whats happening on the field and exploit what you see. The most visible upgrade is the "weapon system, which illuminates . star players with special icons indi- flail around like that when their cating their ability to sprint like the team is behind by 20pka points in wind (winged shoes), stop the run the last two minutes of the game, V and the reaction looks dumb when , (a bride wall), obliterate opposing players (a big hammerX make great it happens in Madden. Mr. Madden catches (a giant hand) and so forth. ; himself isnt very useful, either. These visual cues are great beHe'll often advise you that the other ; team is likely to throw a bomb when cause they allow you to see in an ; instant where your playmakers it's third down and inches. Uh, na are and where your opponent has Stack the line of scrimmage andig- nore the old coot. stationed his best assets. That, in turn, allows you to change plays at Finally, while most of the animathe line of scrimmage or designate a tion is stunning (watch the way double-teafor a particular player running players leap ova downed f orjust call a timeout and rethink . comrades, for example, or the way your whole strategy of going for 7 you can cartwheel or somersault k on fourth-and-2- 5 from your own into the end zone ova the other team), the sideline figures look terdyard line (nah). While the tool a rible. Look when the camera pans a godsend for newbies, veterans also will appreciate the extra info. to the sideline, and youll see that all the bench players are locked into a Cowboys fans in love with Tony Romo, take note EA didn't dean fit handful of animations. So youll see to anoint the QB with any weapon a dozen guys all pointing and jump-- . attributes. ing in perfect unison, and it looks Madden also sports some impres- for all the world as if theyre doing ' sive new features off the gridiron, the Electric Slide. . BOTTOM UNb Its fashionable , particularly (he online sports-new- s mode. .While you can stream live gam-. right now among hard-cor- e as to rag on Electronic Arts for SportsCenter audio updates or watch the ticker at the bottom of annually cranking out an aging, your screen, you also can delve into onetrick pony such as Madden and the menu and access using its mammoth wallet to lock up newt updates on almost every mathe exclusive NFL license, shutting ; out an competition. . jor sport and read current print reBut "Madden 08 is more than ports, listen to archived local radio broadcasts from the last few days just a simple roster update from last and even watch video dips related yew. The millions of longtime fans will be thrilled, and skeptics might toyour team. Pretty neat. However, Madden 08" does just have to admit that "Madden 08 have plenty of minor quirks arid ain't aD bad. bugs. For instance, when a player I Madden NR OS": Grade: picks up a critical first down, hell generally go into full showboat V ' For Xbox 3601 Xbox, PC, PS3, PS2, Game Cube, Sony PSP, Nintendo mode, dancing and preening like a d Miss America contestant. DS and Wu (Xbox 360 version-tested- ). But even in the NFL players don't All ages. $29 to $59. 2EBRA : IS SUSP BY THE CROCS SOUHATS IUMAKEAMITION YOUR STRATEGY TOCOHPWTHf FDRKFEND-- s IMS ME? CROCS KNSITIONS.THAT'S j 'UHEREIASKTH SWF UNDER OATH. , .' . . THE PROBLEM WITH TWO AMBITIOUS - WORKING PARENTS: MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, SOMEONE HAS TO CUT BACK ON HOURS. . ...ITS THE ONE WITH THE BIGGER . : " 6ULT COMPLEX. m . : . real-wor- ld : . rcnocRiTY puis EQUALS . -- - 300-poun- 22 : THE FRST POP CULTURE: REMEMBER RULE OF M Ul 5 2 M ir CENSS. nustc UKE RGES MNE? v UKEMSE,. THE AGED' WHINE about music. M |