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video games
by norm stovall    normstovall@gmail.com

Madden NFL 08
Xbox 360 and PS3 reviewed, also available on all major consoles including OSX and Windows

      It’s that time of year again where tens of thousands of football fans across the country enter game stores to utter the now infamous phrase: “Yo, you got dat Madden?” This year’s Madden is the Madden that we should have gotten last year. Finally, next-gen consoles have a worthwhile version of Madden to run up the sales. Being the most popular franchise in American Football is tough, but this year EA Sports really picked up the ball. All of the features that were missing from the last Madden game are back, with a handful of cool new features that make the game pretty interesting. Sure, there are some glitches that will probably be updated with a downloadable patch, but this year’s Madden game is great, and a sure hit with football fans across the country. While I still prefer the 2k Series of football games in general, it’s good to see that the Madden series is really evolving.

      Gameplay-wise, the game features great controls that may take a while to get used to, but in no time you will be using every single button on the controller like a pro. With the new ‘weapons’ feature, certain players show extra special abilities that can make a normal play into a spectacular one. A lot of the fun of the game is actually learning how to use this, so I won’t rant about its awesomeness for too long here-but it is pretty danged cool.

      One last feature I want to mention is the ability to recruit star players from your previous saves with NCAA Football 08. I’ve always got a kick out of this feature, and I think it’s one thing that shows that EA Tiburon is all about football. Whether you are playing online, or offline with friends, Madden NFL 08 is a breath of fresh air.


Bioshock
For Xbox 360

      Bioshock is one of those rare amazing games that really shows the potential that truly talented developers are capable of putting together when they are given the chance. Scoring perfect 10 scores in many publications, Bioshock has a lot to offer in many different ways. While on the surface it may seem like your typical first-person shooter game in a dark environment, the game really fleshes itself out with its moody narrative, amazing visual design and details, and emotional storytelling that will keep you involved. The story of Bioshock is centered on a failed utopian society beneath the ocean, which was meant to be a home to all of the world’s most brilliant and talented people. Years after the heyday of this society, people are broken, diseased, and altered by various drugs and body supplements that have turned some into monsters. Your task is to explore this environment, and find a way to help people out while you do so.

      Though typically I’m not a fan of shooter games, Bioshock really got a hold on me and I can’t wait to finish the game. Hopefully, you will feel the same. Bioshock is a great game.

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