My interest in picking up Madden NFL 08 was momentarily at an all-time high when they tipped us off about this year's "weapons" feature. Sadly, though, I discovered that this wasn't going to give me an opportunity to recreate the opening scene from The Last Boy Scout, adding the cold-blooded murder of defenders to the game. Nor is it taking the offensive game to the next level, a la Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.

EA's definition of weapons are simply specific player attributes assigned to elite players that add an extra layer of strategy to the 2008 iterations. There are 24 of these weapons, each of which is highlighted in the gallery below.

If you're still interested, make the jump for more Madden weapon facts. Michael McWhertor

MADDEN NFL 08 - KNOW YOUR WEAPONS

Every NFL fan knows that some players just stand out from the rest. LaDanian Tomlinson is a stellar running back, while Peyton Manning can read a defense and call an audible before the defensive coordinator figures out what play to call. Knowing who's who in the NFL is now going to be a valuable asset when gamers take on their friends in Madden NFL 08.

In the latest installment of the blockbuster Madden series, weapons are assigned to elite players in the league to reinforce what makes them great. Weapons icons help you recognize great player attributes, like Ladainian Tomlinson's unstoppable trucking ability and incredible elusiveness. By correctly identifying and utilizing those abilities, gamers will transform into a true madden powerhouse. But, weapons don't work alone.

Gamers can use weapon combinations to maximize an offense or create a dominating running game. Gamers can create weapon combinations and counter them with weapon mismatches that expose another team's weaknesses. Identifying a team's weaknesses and exploiting them early on is vital to winning.

The 24 weapons in Madden NFL 08 work on multiple levels. They immediately reveal a team's playmakers, so the gamer can identify a team's strengths and play to them. By learning weapon combinations and exposing mismatches, a gamer can pick apart an opponent and become a football mastermind.

Big Hitter and Smart QB are just two of the many weapons in Madden NFL 08. Big Hitters have a high strategic value since they can upset both the passing and running game. Backed by the new Hit Stick 2.0, Big Hitters display the most bone jarring hits. A Smart QB, like Peyton Manning, can read the field, AKA your playart, and expose players who just stick to their money plays. Keep running the same plays and an opponent's Smart QB will be looking at your defensive playart before the ball is snapped.

Madden NFL 08 launches August 14, 2007, but here's a rundown of the weapons loaded into the game so you can start thinking about your weapon combinations now:

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