Throwin’ down

More than a great line from Varsity Blues, being implored to “fire a fuckin’ pigskin” incites throngs of football fanatics to run plays in their backyards. We’re well into autumn and it’s a time for discussing the merits of a shotgun offense versus under-center and playing catch in the Park Blocks.

Unfortunately, the Vikings’ aren’t playing that well, but if you’re in a rush to see some victory, get to the nearest game shop and pick up a virtual gridiron contest to satiate your need for success. There are three titles out this year that really matter.

Madden NFL 08EA SportsPrice: Varies by consoleOut on: Every console, ever (I’m only sort of joking)Best console for play: Nintendo Wii

This game is out on every console. No, seriously: it’s on the Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, GameCube… there’s even a mobile phone version. Such is the ubiquity of John Madden. That wobbly, jowled old fart has been the household name in videogame football for more than a decade now, and for good reason.

I don’t know what direction Madden provides for the games (apart from his occasional, generic remark about the action on the field, just like his real-world counterpart), but EA Sports has created another solid game. The graphics are pristine and the presentation has all the bells and whistles of a Madden game. The soundtrack is questionable however: Justin Timberlake, Yellowcard and The Bravery all in one place? Eww.

This time around, players have far more control over the artificial intelligence running their pass routes and the secondary of defensive formations. The control scheme also adds Hit Stick 2.0, a system of using a controller’s analog stick to beef-up tackles, leaving fumbles and injury-causing hits less up to chance and more up to good thumb coordination.

Overall, the strongest Madden showing is on the Wii. It’s also the only major football franchise on Nintendo’s box o’ giggles. The Wii’s motion-sensor controls give gamers the chance to really feel what it’s like to be Tom Brady hurling a 90-yard Hail Mary for a last-second victory, or what it’s like to swing up a stiff arm as Michael Lewis on a punt return.

NCAA Football 08EA SportsPrice: $60 ($40 on older consoles)Out on: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, XboxBest console for play: Xbox 360

If you prefer hundreds of teams to a scant 32, then pick up this year’s college-level skirmish from EA Sports. The controls are a blast, featuring an update similar to its Madden counterpart, and the animations are butter-smooth. The overall graphic presentation places gamers right in the action, and the development of players in campus legend mode is so lifelike that playing this game comes with the risk of making players believe that they’re the next Joe Paterno or Paul Bryant.

The competition for virtual college football is…well, it doesn’t exist. This is the one and only place for licensed players, authentic stadiums and actual playbooks from the coaches of the NCAA. The best console for playing NCAA Football 08 on is the Xbox 360, in terms of graphics, sound and online play. The PS3 version has smoother controls, and the older-console versions can’t really keep up.

All-Pro Football 2K8EA SportsPrice: $30Out on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Best console for play: Xbox 360

All-Pro 2K8 doesn’t have an updated roster featuring today’s hottest jersey jockeys or top prospects, but it does feature the guys who are now just bloated old timers. John Elway, Thurman Thomas, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Reggie White��–if they bask in the glow of everlasting pigskin glory, they’re in All-Pro 2K8. However, they play for fictitious teams like the New Jersey Assassins or the Iron Men, a team from Pittsburgh dressed in yellow and black… hmm.

Clever work around the lack of licensing aside, the game is enjoyable, if somewhat lacking in extra features. Though this may annoy some gamers, others prefer the lack of gimmicks and increased focus on putting the ball in the end zone, especially during multi-player mode. Though Madden 08 is more enjoyable overall, All-Pro has an arguably more enjoyable multi-player mode, hearkening back to the days of Midway Games’ NFL Blitz, should players turn off the penalties and just have at it.

The controls, graphics and sound are all decent, though they leave something to be desired. The high expectations come from the last 2K Sports football title, NFL 2K2, which really gave Madden 02 a run for its money. Next year ought to see a healthier competition between the football franchise giants, so keep the faith and try out both titles at least once this season.