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Looking back at All-Pro Football 2K8

12:37 PM - November 11, 2013 by RaychelSnr

It might not appear old when you watch it on film, but All-Pro Football 2K8, now a six-year veteran, is ancient by sports gaming standards.

On its release day, I drove to a newly renovated Circuit City, filled my gas tank for $2.49 a gallon, unfolded three twenties and a five from my wallet then secured one of the store's twenty shelved copies of All-Pro Football 2K8.

I experienced my first system-crashing �red ring of death� on the opening kickoff of my first All-Pro Football 2K8 game, with Al Del Greco's boot traveling only a few yards downfield before the ball froze mid-flight.

Three XBOX 360s later, and I still find myself firing up All-Pro Football 2K8 once the weather starts to turn cold and the leaves turn from red to dead.

Read More - Looking back at All-Pro Football 2K8

Game: All-Pro Football 2K8Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 57 - View All

Member Comments

# 21 truesimgamer @ 11/11/13 05:29 PM

Great write up Mr Young! I love APF 2k8, but I would have married it if 2k would have given me a more robust game by allowing full customization, etc.

This game will go down in history as the best non-NFL football game.

# 22 malky @ 11/11/13 07:33 PM

Great article on APF 2K8 .......And I'm old enough to remember how this all played out, so I'll share my feelings about the year of 2k8:

2k8 was the SUPPOSE to be the joint!!!!! And I was so pumped for this game back then, as I was a serious NFL2K5 CRACK HEAD JUNKIE, it's the game that brought me back to video games, SPORTS VIDEO GAMES that is, and I have not looked back since.

APF 2K8 was going to be the #$%@#$!!! then, I was so hyped to get the game, when I heard the rumors they were going to put out another game after EA and NFL did that crushing gangsta move a couple of years before.

I was ready to wait outside for TWO NIGHTS for that game, then more news started to come out about APF 2K8, I can't remember the name of the producer on the game before it came out, but he mentioned in some video game magazine, that it was going to be only a single season offline mode, and he got some brush back from me and thousands of other 2k5 football fanatics, for not putting dynasty mode in the game, he countered by doing some arrogant EA stuff, by saying "DEAL WITH IT" or something to that effect, and I was so upset that it was just a single season of play, plus the arrogant comments didn't help at all, so I never brought the game and have no desire to because of the single season BS.

The way you guys talk about 2k8, I'm still that way about 2k5, in fact, unfortunately it's still my NFL game of choice after all these years because of well, you know, MADDEN not following through on their gangsta business mode years ago, EA great at business moves, and terrible at making sports game is what I've seen for almost ten years..... I will always shed a tear for APF 2K8 because of what it could have been with a multiple year dynasty mode, no doubt I'd still be playing 2k8 if they had a dynasty mode.... but like most 2k football and basketball games, they always seem to pass the test of time no matter what, so for that I give 2k8 much respect..

# 23 Boilerbuzz @ 11/11/13 07:38 PM

I hate you! You HAD to remind me of how much I miss playing this game. And a good breakdown of the flaws as well. When you add all up, one of the best sports series, if not THE best, of all time. Customization would have allowed this game to flourish FAR beyond 2007. Hell, I just wish it was done on PC.

# 24 sportyguyfl31 @ 11/11/13 08:08 PM

I good game, that is also one of the most overrated games I can ever remember, in terms of gameplay.

Game has a TON of warts.

# 25 H to the Oza @ 11/11/13 08:26 PM

Best gameplay in a football game.

# 26 Dolphins88 @ 11/11/13 09:04 PM

If 2k has warts madden has herpes

# 27 buckeyedawgtribe @ 11/11/13 11:01 PM

Made a comment on this but forgot to thank Jayson for this well put together article. I am gonna stick with current gen for awhile and may pull this one off the shelf again since its so cheap.

# 28 db56 @ 11/11/13 11:01 PM

This game with Finns editor and online leagues saved football for me this entire generation.

Although the game has a shallow franchise and some flaws, its still by far the best football game this generation from a gameplay perspective.

# 29 iLLmatic @ 11/12/13 12:52 AM

Salutes to you jyoung. Great write up and a very honest look at a game that is quite polarizing still after 6-7 years. New life was been put back into this game with the editing options discovered a few years back and with the continued roster updates such as yours as well as the RateSports. Even though there are newer and more "prettier" games visibly, they're only prettier during cut scenes and replays because once you snap the ball, APF 2K8 fades em all.

Although far from perfect, the things they did right, they did exceptional IMO. A sign of a company and designers that got "it" almost a decade ago and although other companies still making football games tell you they have "it" in the game, it's a testament to this game that that game is still being compared to APF 2K8.

# 30 stp2081 @ 11/12/13 09:09 AM

Wow. Amazing write-up, just brilliant in-depth, balanced analysis on APF both gameplay-wise and real-world-wise.

# 31 MachoMyers @ 11/12/13 10:46 AM

This was a great read, well done.

# 32 elgreazy1 @ 11/12/13 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LetsBeRealPeople


	Reality check, guys: 2K doesn't read petitions. You do realize that you can actually just speak directly to 2K, right? Here is a better plan: 1. Go to Twitter. Make an account. Then once a day, send a message to @2K, @2KSports, and @Ronnie2K, and ask for a new 2K Football game. They read every last one of the messages they get, I know this because I know Ronnie personally and we've spoken about this on 2 occasions. On one occasion, he said he wondered why if people want the game so badly they're not demanding it more? I told him they do want it, they just don't contact 2K for some reason... 2. Go to 2KSports' YouTube channel. Find their most recent videos and ask for a NEW 2K Football game. Do it daily. Again, they read every message. 3. Go to the All-Pro Football videos at the 2KSports YouTube channel and post there, too. Do it daily. .... I'm already doing what I wrote above. I want a real football game done right, not this crap Tiburon is giving us, and I'm dead serious about it. I wish more people were. Quit being so passive and go straight to 2K.

Gonna repost this for others to take action. It'll take literally minutes for you to follow these steps. I think we can all agree that competition will improve the quality of all football video games across the board.

# 33 jmood88 @ 11/12/13 12:34 PM

The route running animations still haven't been touched and until I see the sideline interaction during a game, I won't believe that Madden has what was in All Pro Football.

# 34 davez @ 11/12/13 03:17 PM

Thank you, Jayson. As one of the gameplay producers and designers on APF, it means a LOT to know that there are people out there that noticed some of the nice things we did in that game. Reading this definitely brightened up the day of a few of us here. Again thank you (and thanks to other nice commentors).

# 35 ajk49er @ 11/12/13 04:55 PM

I LOVE APF 2k8. I bought it a few years ago, I was always a 2k football fan, but recently have really started to play it more. I now am not playing madden, and have just customized my own teams and when I need my fix, I play that. yes, it lacks a franchise mode, but you know what, when the CPU sims 6-8 tds for a QB, I sort of lose any desire to play madden's version anyway.

APF is so great, they do so many "small" things right, like real penalties, the announcers are actually quite good, the game is fun, it really represents real football if you play with the sliders, avoid a few money routes. but this is a old game, imagine what they could have done. there are things in this game, such as huge challenges where I can pick what I want to challenge, that have changed a game and made it so much more realistic.

this is such a great game. I only buy a console for FOOTBALL. that is it, but the poor games from EA with problems they refuse to fix, and other aspects they refuse to look at such as penalties, I have no interest in xbox one. I'll wait for a license change(unlikely) and play my 2k8 on 360.

# 36 Pokes404 @ 11/12/13 06:05 PM

Hands down, the BEST passing system of any football game I've played. Yes, some of the routes are a little overpowered; however, the pass speeds/trajectories, and the pocket created by the OL/DL interactions were the most realistic I've ever played. I loved that sense of urgency you felt as a QB when your receivers were covered up and the pocket was closing in around you.

# 37 Nexgenrulz @ 11/12/13 06:12 PM

This was the best playing football game ever made. Period. It actually plays like football. My only complaint was the play calling system. It really nailed the fundamentals. Oh, and it actually had refs & nets on the goalposts unlike the first 3 years of that other game.

# 38 commonlogick @ 11/12/13 06:41 PM

Just a thought - if OS started a KickStarter for a new All-Pro Football to "hire" Visual Concepts to make the game, with the idea that all the backers would have a % stake in producing/designing the game...

Just saying. Reading the comments about the love of this game - got my eyes a little moist.

# 39 Paul316us @ 11/14/13 05:52 PM

Finally some respect for the best football game ever!! All I ever hear is NFL 2k5 is better. NFL 2k5 was good ,but it not the best football game all pro football game is.

Every single legend play like themself. My boy Dan Marino play like himself.

I am puzzle why there hasn't been a other all pro football game.

Each year I buy Madden ,and I always turn back to all pro football ,and get mad ,cus Madden is bad compare to this they could be a Madden 2020 game ,and all pro footbal 2k8 will still top it.

# 40 prey2god @ 11/17/13 05:31 PM

I really hope 2k comes back w/ a football game. The cult fan favoriting of this game only shows the competency of sports games sans baseball and hockey. Let's be perfectly honest here, they rule and always have ruled the basketball/football genre.

If they come back, I guarantee they would dominate.

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