Since 2005, EA has been bringing their cash-cow Madden franchise to the Nintendo DS platform. To put it bluntly, every version has sucked, hampered by misguided controls, weak options and player graphics that looked more like single polygons roaming around the field. The 2005 and 2006 versions were barely cognizant of the fact that they had been ported to the DS, evidenced by a total lack of stylus controls. In 2007, matters improved slightly in terms of input, but the graphics remained a shallow effort and a moderate embarrassment. Madden NFL 2008 aims to push the platform forward and the results are definitely better, though we're still a long way from a Touchdown.

Staying true to EA Sports roots, the interface for Madden NFL 08 is slick and crisp, offering quick and instant access to all pertinent options. Unlike previous versions, the interface can now be navigated via the stylus, which serves the purpose of making you feel like you're actually using a DS and not a Gameboy. EA hasn't skimped on the options for this portable release, offering up Quick Play, Franchise, Season, Tournament, League, Situation Play and Practice. There's even a few mini-games on offer that include 2-minute drills and mini-camp, but it's the new Paper Football mode that steals the show. More on that in a bit.

Madden NFL 08 offers some novel ideas that take good advantage of the DS, including the awesome ability to select a defensive player simply by clicking on him. No more do you have to toggle through one player after another until you arrive at the guy you want, something that should make even Xbox 360 owners jealous. Passing the football now has several modes of action, depending on your preference. You can still hit the corresponding button for a specific receiver if you want to handle things old-school, or if you'd rather go all DS action, you can draw a physical line to the intended recipient. While this is a nice feature and the effort is commendable, most long-time Madden fans will most likely stick with the buttons. Another nice feature is that the top screen, which is basically an X's and O's representation of where all players are located, finds receivers changing colors, depending on how well they are being covered. If a receiver's icon is green then you can be reasonably sure your pass will be successful, while tossing the ball to a red receiver stands little chance of connecting. There's even more information displayed up there, including unique icons for special players, like a bull for an excellent rusher. This helps differentiate your standard players from your stars, something that makes getting the ball down field a little more easy.

While Madden has long been known for its excellent graphics and overall presentation on other platforms, you need to understand that the DS can only do so much. If you're expecting exhaustive play-by-play announcing then you're going to be disappointed, as what's on offer here is sparse at best. In fact, most of the sound-effects are pretty weak and when players are slamming in to one another it sounds less like collisions and more like firecrackers going off. Graphically, Madden NFL 08 is a nice improvement from previous versions, but if you've seen what passed for football in the past then that really isn't saying much. Animations have been smoothed out and there's a modest attempt at lighting that helps the overall look, but I can't help but feel there's still a lot of room for improvement.

The one feature in the DS you won't find anywhere else is the mini-game Paper Football. Now, Paper Football used to be a passion of mind back in High School, though I have no idea if kids still play it today. For those of us that remember flicking a triangular piece of paper around a long table in an attempt to get it to hang off the edge, this DS mode is a superb retro flashback and plays right in to the DS' strengths. If EA had abandoned Madden on the DS and just made a Paper Football game with all the bells and whistles of a full retail version, well, you could count me in. Paper Football is a match made in heaven when it comes to the DS, as you have to use the stylus to flick the football and yes, kick field goals through the outstretched fingers of your opponent. Unfortunately, this mode isn't available in WFC multiplayer.

Speaking of multiplayer, EA went the distance here and have delivered the good, offering up full WFC Internet play without the need of friend codes. I was able to play a few games and was pretty impressed with the lack of lag, so players looking to throttle global opposition are bound to be happy with what EA has done.

All in all, Madden NFL 08 is a huge improvement over previous versions. It's obvious EA wanted to treat the DS platform as a unique entity and not a place to dump a half-assed port. While the graphics won't be winning any awards, it's at least passable now and won't make your eyes bleed. Here's hoping EA continues to build on this new foundation for all of their other sports game as they make their inevitable way to the DS.