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Third time must be the charm, because EA Sports' Tiburon team has finally given next-generation HD-ready console owners a fantastic game of football. The gameplay is tight as a drum, the frame rate is super smooth, the animations are new, and new controls -- like the ability to hit low or high with a linebacker -- add a lot to the feeling that you're playing a real football game. It's by no means flawless, but this year Madden has taken its game to a whole new level.

Aside from the new menus -- they're glitzy, fancy, annoying and still extremely unintuitive, but it seems like Madden hasn't had a decent menu interface since the Sega Genesis versions, so it's not a surprise -- Madden offers all the features of last year's version. The excellent tutorial system shows new players exactly how to play the game and make the most of their players' skills.

Pre-snap, on offense or defense, a lot more choices have been added. It's now a lot easier to order almost every player to do something different and do it on the fly. This confers a huge advantage onto players who can read an offense or defense, since they can double-team the likely receiver or change to a hot route at the touch of a button for the guy drawing single-coverage. It's confusing stuff, but also optional; it's just another way for more cerebral players to compete, and it's more than welcome in the game.

The biggest addition is the new weapons system. Now star players on both sides have icons above their heads telling you the areas at which they excel. Favre's got a rocket symbol, for example, indicating that he's great at the long pass. Manning has a target symbol, and his favorite receiver has a hands symbol, showing that this is a combination of great accuracy plus great hands. Some running backs have a wrecking ball (power those guys into the line), while others are fleet of foot and should be sent to turn the corners. Symbols show which D and O linemen are walls or bulldozers and which pass rushers scare the hell out of Quarterbacks. True offensive and defensive stars -- say Brady and Urlacher respectively -- have the additional ability, after a time, to predict what the offensive or defensive play co-coordinators have called. This is realistic; some players can do this with uncanny accuracy in real life. This means, at a glance, you can tell if a play you've called is a good idea or a bad one. Don't send your Running Back into the middle if the D-line sports a run stopper. Beware passing to a receiver covered by a Big Hit Safety or you might watch him cough up the ball. Now you don't have to know that it's a bad idea to throw near Champ Bailey; the symbols tell even non-football fanatics who can do what. It encourages players to realistically change up their play-calling and avoid predictable ruts and money-plays. Additionally, via a patch, they just added this system to multiplayer.

These new additions might be responsible for Madden 08's biggest flaw: fumblitis. Like a rookie running back wearing slick arm-protectors in the snow, teams cough up the ball regularly, sometimes resulting in an absurd number of drops and turnovers. Some have theorized that this isn't a balancing issue so much as it is the game forcing players to play smarter, avoid big hitters, call better plays, and hit that 'ball protect' button for their ball-carrier. Others think it's a bug. Regardless of why, a slider or some other way to avoid them would be welcome because it does feel excessive (and yes, I always protect the ball).

Owner mode is back, and you can track just about everything a modern owner would. This includes hiring scouts and coaches, and you can even improve players' skills by using the Practice mode to put a player through their reps. Basically the game works on a points system -- so that new rookie linebacker might be just a few points shy of being a Big Hitter, and you know your team needs one of those. Put him through some reps with the tackle dummies and watch the numbers rise. Try to mold him into Rookie of the Year, or at least a pro-bowl spot, if you can. Owners can also improve stadiums, manage finances, and even move the franchise to another city. Want a team in Los Angeles? Work hard and make that dream come true. Owner mode is a mini-game all to itself and anyone not interested can still play a full season, multiple seasons and quick games, and play on the Internet over Xbox Live. Not included is the ability to play in a league online. Maybe next year? Please?

The graphics are improved with a slew of new animations: You won't see players running in place, getting caught on each other, or doing the same things every down. There are many types of tackles now, many ways for a man to fall to the turf, and that goes a long way toward making the game look and feel realistic.

Also included are the same mini-games as last year. Most of these function as a tutorial, which is important because Madden requires at least one skill needed in real football: the ability to mentally slow down what you're seeing and recognize what your opponent is doing. Playing the mini-games and tutorials teaches players how to bat the ball on defense or go for an interception, how to juke and stiff-arm, and how to pump fake. Madden 08 is so solid, all of these skills will vastly improve a player's game. It's always better to do things yourself in Madden, and 08 makes learning the game easy and fun. You can also create a player, create a superstar, and even create a team. Want to make the Milwaukee Beer Guts? Go right ahead. I did.

Madden NFL 08 brings back a bunch of old features and combines them with a slew of new ones to make a gridiron simulation you'll be playing until well after the Super Bowl. That's awesome, assuming you're still ready for some football.

This review was based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.