All-Pro Football 2K8

"All Pro Football 2K8 - 2K Sports rewards its loyal fans! But what about everyone else?"

Let me begin my objective review by telling you how biased I am toward 2K Football, and 2K Sports in general. MLB, NBA, College Hoops, you name it - I love it. Since EA acquired the exclusive rights to the NFL, my disdain for EA Sports has skyrocketed as well as my appreciation of 2K Sports. ESPN NFL 2K5 has continued to be my favorite sports game of all time, thanks to the contributions by the wonderful online community of roster editors. My anticipation for 2K's return to football games was extremely high, and for me, All Pro Football (APF, for short) did not disappoint.

Presentation/Sound - 8.5/10

2K has always been a step ahead of the competition in this category. Although APF isn't nearly as impressive as its predecessor ESPN NFL 2K5 was, it still delivers. The music in the game is so-so... Tom Sawyer by Rush is an awesome tune, but not when you hear it every 4 minutes or so. The sound effects in general are great, with each game sounding like you're right on the field - you'll hear lots of player chatter. The game focuses on the legendary players, and the presentation really hangs its hat on them. The team creation system is not only fun, but its central to the game's concept. There are tons of customization options when creating a team. Player creation is available, but feels somewhat limited. The menus are nicely done, and the in-game play selection screens are improved. Its easy to find the play you want, whether its by formation, by play type, or by legendary player. There is a half-time show and post-game show, but they do not benefit from the ESPN license like they did in 2K5 - but still hold their own. Fans of the 2K football series will be delighted to know that Dan Stevens and Peter O'Keefe return as the lovable commentary duo. Overall, 2K has retained the terrific presentation that 2K5 gave, but made no major innovations. Where is the crowd reactions that were in 2K5?

Graphics - 8/10

Giving the graphics an 8/10 is tough to do, because there are moments where the graphics shine, and moments where it looks very last gen. The textures up close look phenomonal - jersey fabrics, for instance, look incredibly detailed. All legends' faces are individually mapped, which is great, but some of them look somewhat fake for some reason (Barry Sanders looks just like Barry, but there's something wooden about him). On field playing graphics look just like 2K5 - which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but its not what gamers should be expecting from a next-gen sports title.

Gameplay - 10/10

This is the game's saving grace. The game plays excellently, with the fluidity and responsiveness that gamers have come to expect for 2K sports titles. As far as the game of football goes, this game offers the best "video game football" experience. The controls are intuitive (even for newcomers to football). The non-numeric ratings system works well - the Gold, Silver, and Bronze tier system is smart and the special abilities that legends have make them unique and powerful. The amount of plays available is staggering, and the impact that your specific choices of all-pro players has on the gameplay is incredible. The gameplay is not only well-designed, but its also fun and addicting.

Longevity - 7/10

This is what may turn some gamers away. Although the game has great online features, including tournaments and leagues, the off-line features aren't very deep or interesting. The season mode is paper thin, and franchise mode is absent. The only offline feature you'll likely be spending time with is creating different teams and tinkering with them. Some gamers might enjoy running through season mode time and time again, but the game's true replayability comes from its online modes.

Overall - 8/10

The game is a refreshing addition to the slim pool of next-gen football titles, and certainly refreshing to those folks who are tired of 'the other football game'. While this game might not be the end-all be-all of sports video games, it does make some interesting innovations with the new ratings system while still providing excellent presentation and gameplay.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/07