Madden NFL 12 Review (360/PS3)

[wallrose]

Quote: Originally Posted by SGMRock

I really think people take the simulation thing too far with Madden. Madden is really an inbetween sim/arcade game. If you like flight sims and you have played say IL2 or MS Flight Sim with all the hard stuff turned on and then you go and play that same game with the casual player settings. Madden is that casual player setting. It gives you the feeling of football and the fun of it without having to deal with all the exact stuff you see on the field every Sunday. Like you don't have to go sit at the bench and study overhead shots of how the defense is lined up after you just got picked off on a play that should have worked! It is what it is. You can have fun with it or not buy it. On that note it would be nice if the NFL let others use the license so they could make that Sim game or NFL Blitz game if they want. Or even make it for the PC!!! I mean in 2005 I owned both Madden 05 and 2K5 its not like there isn't room for people that love football to buy more than one game. I mean how many of us buy NCAA and Madden in the same year. (me for one)

@SMGRock thank you thats all i want open fair comeptition and that proves that EA is medicore

[titans321]

I think gameplay-wise, it's fine. I don't know what else they could do but fix a few bugs.

What it's lacking is game modes. When I get bored, I don't know what to do. Franchise isn't my thing, and Superstar isn't very enticing either. You are left with practically 2 game modes besides just regular games.

Also, has anyone else noticed that they removed the 40 yard dash and weight lifting mini-games? Why would they do that? It's not a big deal or anything, but what's the point in removing them? Some people enjoyed them.

[Blazzen]

Thanks for the review Chris.

This is the feeling I had from the demo. The game has improved in some areas, taken steps back in others and some things (bugs/problems) have remained the same.

I'm not buying it this year after getting it for the past 4 years. The demo just felt very lack luster and it just didn't do anything for me. This felt like a roster update more than any other year.

The sim vs. arcade argument isn't valid. Madden is touted by EA to be a simulation - EVERYTHING you see on Sunday. I understand why they cater to the casual fan: wider audience = more sales. It's not everything I see on Sunday though nor is it for a lot of knowledgeable football fans.

They should change their marketing plan to "Everything the average fan sees on Sunday." That would be more accurate. The hardcore football fans know better than to think this is a sim.

EDIT: I will admit the fact that Star Wars: The Old Republic and Battlefield 3 are launching soon is a large factor. If there wasn't anything else better to play I would probably get Madden. The fact is there are better choices. I won't miss a REAL Panthers game this season but I won't be playing as them in Madden this season.

[paptester]

Ever since the Next Gen Consoles Madden has been below average. they stripped the game of alot of features and in game features from the ps2 days and starting to add some of them back now and calling them new like we are stupid. i was an ea fanatic back in the day and used to argue with 2k fans over who was better. i guess i was wrong

[swaldo]

I used to have fire breathing out of my nose during a Madden release. This year I didn't even download the demo which is pretty sad. I guess I should because it's free right? But the motivation wasn't there at all. I read a couple pages of impressions and this review confirms it, I'll just be frustrated so why even bother? I'll just wait until all the patches are out and maybe buy it for $20 used. Until then, it's another year of text based football and APF.

[ukslamjam]

Quote: Originally Posted by swaldo

I used to have fire breathing out of my nose during a Madden release. This year I didn't even download the demo which is pretty sad. I guess I should because it's free right? But the motivation wasn't there at all. I read a couple pages of impressions and this review confirms it, I'll just be frustrated so why even bother? I'll just wait until all the patches are out and maybe buy it for $20 used. Until then, it's another year of text based football and APF.

I completely agree with you word for word! To be honest I feel the same about NCAA, I suppose that's why I'm sticking with NCAA Football 11/APF this year and continue to play my text based sports games.

I've started to get a little tired of the year on year release of slightly rehashed games.

[TalenT]

I love OS! I almost got this game too. Every year I try to give Madden the benefit of the doubt. They talk a good game, but always seem to let you down when the product comes out. I DO agree it has improved. I'm just not convinced that it's enough to warrant a purchase. I'll wait for 2K12.

[$NevaBroke$]

Is anyone on here really surprised with this review for madden? I mean really? Chris thanks for helping me save my $65 that I work soo hard to make. Waiting for "band-aids" for ncaa and madden to look, play, sound, and feel is just out of control. We do this to ourselves by continuing to buy ea's half finished football games. The vicious circle continues boys and girls.