All-Pro Football 2K8

"A Solid Drive To Start The Game"

After two years in hiding and two years of overwhelming demand Visual Concepts returns to the field with All Pro Football 2K8. Is APF 2K8 the football game we've all been waiting for? Or is it NFL 2K5 with a fresh coat of paint?

All Pro football introduces a new way to define your team. You start out by picking 11 Ex NFL Players. Two gold, Three Silver, and Six Bronze. Some may not think this is a good idea but once you get a grasp of the concept it all comes together. Once done there the rest of your team is filled out with generated players. You determine how these players perform on the field by assigning them vague attributes such as Pass Block or Run Block oriented and so on. Once done there you assign your team a name, stadium, and you can change the colors and everything. This here is the best part of All-Pro Football because it practically caters to customization freaks such as myself. The downside to this is the fact that it's a bit limited. You can't really give your team a name you thought of yourself instead you're stuck with the ones already on the game.

Gameplay wise All Pro Football can be summed up with two words "Deja Vu" with a few changes and tweaks here and there APF feels exactly like NFL 2K5 which isnt a complaint but it shouldnt be praised either. Things are tighter this time around with better DB coverage and much more competitive CPU AI. With that said there are a few lingering problems from NFL 2K5 present in APF 2K8. At times the QB can have a hard time getting rid of the ball which is pain in the you know what especially when there's heat coming. Strafing is still useless forcing you to switch players or mash the buttons to get out of it. Running in APF is much more better than previous Visual Concept offerings. You'll see sweet juke moves, stumbling after shoe string tackles, and so on. Realism is Visual Concepts's bread and butter and it's all here in All Pro Football 2K8. Tackling has been revamped in APF with VC's take on the hitstick referred to as the "Reach Tackling System" here you can unleash jarring hits and horse collar tackles. Much more realistic and sometimes cringe inducing. Something you wouldn't or probably won't see in Madden.

The single player mode is where All Pro Football suffers. Instead of a multi year franchise you're given a one year season mode and after you win the championship that's it. It's time to redo your team and win yet another APL Championship that's not even really celebrated. Dan and Peter give their congrats and that's it. I can understand the concept with the game being primarily of legends. But that's where the no name players should come in. Building them up after guys like Rice and Elway depart would add much more replay value to the game I think. There's no Crib or anything just the bare minimum of features which is kind of shocking when it comes to Visual Concepts.

Presentation in APF remains as awesome as it did back in the NFL 2K days. The stadiums are by far the most detailed and original stadiums I've ever seen. From the giant Phoenix in Wayne County Stadium to the roulette themed seating in Tangiers Stadium home of the Rollers. Dan and Peter are a breath of fresh air as well after having to deal with who ever the EA Sports Radio guy is in Madden. They have a few new lines thrown in there but most of the commentary is recycled which isn't a complaint considering most sports games do it as well.

Depending on the type of gamer you are you'll either bask in the glory of Visual Concept's return to the field or you'll wonder why you paid $60 bucks for it. I think All Pro Football is a welcome change considering the offerings from EA lately especially if you owned Madden 06 or 07 for Xbox 360. I think an expanded season mode and returns of favorites such as The Crib would be all the ammo Visual Concepts need to establish it's new take on professional football. Look what we're getting in Madden 08 now that APF has hit store shelves. I should've listen when an disgruntled 2K fan said about competition. Us gamers do benefit and it opens the doors to creativity. Glad to have ya back.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/10/07