2K Sports takes the field once more with a fictional league known as the APL (All Pro League), headed by several retired NFL players. All Pro Football 2K8 marks the debut of a presumably new franchise – and it has more longevity than the defunct XFL.

Those familiar with the NFL 2K series should find that All Pro's gameplay is relatively easy to get into. It contains a fantastic running game, blockers open up gaps for the running backs, which then rely on spins, jumps and jukes to chew up yards. Similarly, defensive linemen have the opportunity to run up and prevent the run by filling the hole or launching into a full-blown jumping tackle, which is a real pleasure to watch.

The passing game works incredibly well, with the quarterback able to spot wide-open receivers pretty easily (thanks to button icons highlighted over each player). To help matters, players can activate Maximum Passing from the menu screen, closing the gap between quarterback and receiver.

Finally, 2K Sports reinvented the kicking system, with the player forced to use the analog stick like they would the kicker's leg. They set up the kicking direction, hold the stick back, wait for the kicker to approach the ball and then push the stick forward at the right time. Doing this correctly sends the pigskin into the next time zone, while screwing it up only makes it launch twenty yards or so.

Furthermore, players can use the right analog stick to do a little offensive swagger or grab a passing player on the defensive route. It doesn't really operate as effectively as Visual Concepts may have hoped, but it does leave the door open for improvements in All Pro Football 2K9.

Seeing as how 2K can't turn to the NFL license for support, it created the APL from the ground up. Teams and stadiums were built upon fictional franchises, although they do bear a slight resemblance to real NFL teams. The Cougars resemble the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Sharks are a tougher rendition of the Miami Dolphins and so on. Players can create their own team through the game's huge customization mode, along with their own logos and players. This offers lots of content, especially to those who want to create a controversial team that the NFL would otherwise frown upon – like the Widowmakers or the Bullets.

The stadium design shows a lot of imagination. One has jets perched on a scoreboard, firing fake missiles towards the field whenever the home team scores. Another has a ninety-foot mechanized monster standing on the sidelines. Everything looks great.