Review: All Pro Football 2k8

TonyDaytona

89%

I don’t hide the fact that I love football (I’m talking real football, not fucking soccer). I’ve played every version of football, from Tecmo Bowl to Madden 07, and I know a good game when I see it. I’ve played hours of 2K8 and it’s good… good enough to buy.
   Before people start fucking whining that 2K8 “doesn’t have this mode” or “it’s missing that feature,” I have one thing to say, “fucking die, you pussies!” If I wanted to control the price of corn-dogs in the stadium I’d go play “Sports Tycoon,” or some equally lame title. I actually enjoy football and anyone who tries 2K8 and doesn’t respect the gameplay obviously has a corn-dog stuck up their ass.
   At some point, the people who aren’t fans of playing video-football started to whine about ridiculous shit and the devs actually started to listen. Thousands of developer hours were wasted on Superstar & Franchise modes, instead of the actual gameplay. In the end, you have football games that are more like The Sims, than The Super Bowl.
   What’s so great about 2K8? Nothing. That’s right, nothing is great, but everything is good (graphics, gameplay, defensive interface, offensive plays, customization, etc.). In fact, the only item that was crappy, was the kicking control. However, the trash-talking and late hits makeup for the 30-yard missed field goals
   It doesn’t matter that 2K8 doesn’t have an NFL license. Between the customized roster, the 240 available legends (Barry, Troy Walter, etc.), and online support (tournaments / leagues), 2K8 makes good.

EuroTrash

84%

I don’t hide the fact that I dislike football (it’s a watered down version of rugby). I’ve avoided every football title over the years and I won’t pretend to be an expert. However, I do like sports games (rugby, hockey, basketball, etc.) and I can point out a quality product. All-Pro Football 2K8 has signs of brilliance, but we’ll have to wait for the 2K9 version before we see if All-Pro can break out of the “rental” category.
   Although, All-Pro Football 2K8 doesn’t have an NFL license (no current NFL teams, players, or coaches) it didn’t affect my opinion, because I could probably only name a handful of NFL players. 2K8 cleverly solves the “star-deficit” by featuring prior NFL players. This is an interesting solution and the end result is a respectable sports game.
   There are 240 legendary players, grouped into 3 tiers. The gold players are football deities, the silver are demigods, and the bronze are mere heroes of the gridiron. Teams are made by selecting 2 gold, 3 silver, 6 bronze players, while the rest of the squad is filled with generic athletes. The legends greatly impact the game and make you think about adding defensive or offensive stars to your roster.
   Although, 2K8 supports 1080p, the experience is hardly next-gen. However, after a few games I appreciated the fluid animations, the vivid stadiums, detailed crowds, and life-size athletes. By the time my season ended I was a fan of 2K8 and I found myself wishing for a franchise mode.
   In the end, I’ll never spend the time to be competitive in the online leagues and the single-season servings just weren’t enough to warrant a buy-rating.

Tzo

73%

The “2K” football series is resurrected in the form of All-Pro Football 2K8, an unlicensed NFL version that struggles for respect in Madden’s shadow. This NFL/ESPN-Lite version tries to win over the football fans by providing “legendary” NFL players that are either dead or retirees that now enjoy hitting golf-balls instead of QBs. The “legendary” formula could work if the game-play and graphics were exceptional, but 2K8 is just good… and good without the NFL can’t be great, it’s average at best.
   As for development, 2K8 ploughs ahead with the same playbook from 2K5. If you visit 2K Sport’s webpage, they actually promo APF as “Football Resurrected.” The message is accurate, but they should have written, “2K5 Resurrected.” The announcers, passing game, and athletes are among the resurrected. Even the 2k5 graphics return and are shoe-horned into the X360.
   2K8 does have some great features that deserve to be mentioned. The running game is incredibly fun (unless you face an expert running a 4-3 defense) and you actually can see the blocks open up holes for the running backs. The tackling is realistic, and the “big hits” feature creates some bone jarring moments. Also, the online league/tourney modes are great and relatively lag-free.
   In summary, 2K8 plays just fine, but I just don’t understand how a company could build a football game, without licensing the current NFL teams. In my opinion, if 2K Sports couldn’t secure an NFL license, then maybe it’s electronic Darwinism and the company should focus on other sports. I know I will…