Madden NFL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[The JareBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy

Another nice addition: Route running really seems to matter this year. Johnny Knox ran his comeback route to perfection, meanwhile I just had Hester run the same route and he rounded his cut out, which, had the defense been playing man to man would have allowed the CB to easily jump it for an INT.

I assume you still completed the pass?

[jpdavis82]

Just want to get this out of the way. The retail cameras are Standard,Zoomed, Wide, & Broadcast.

Seems to be a lot of complains about the standard view.

Also let's take a look at a video from the recent, near final build again and see if you guys notice anything different from the demo.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Wow! Just got a surprise onside to work. Gould tapped it with his foot (43 power) and it went right through Clay Matthews legs and Gould and one of my other Special Teamers dove on top of the ball.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by jaredlib

I assume you still completed the pass?

No, I got sacked as I was trying to throw the ball.

[Senator Palmer]

Just played about 3 games on All-Madden. Two as the Bears. One as the Packers. Going in, the only three things I cared about was pressure from the front four, man coverage, and playaction.

1. Running the ball as the Bears, my first play was a dive from singleback formation. I wanted to see if the D-line instant rip/swim was there. I got no yards, but there was no freaky animations from the d-line. I did notice that the Packer defenders shed very, very, well. I would say too well, but when went to run the ball as the Packers, I ate a lot of free grass. I was able to run from singleback. My o-linemen stayed on their blocks.

I got nothing running as the Bears, but was very successful as the Packers.

2. Passing: there is a difference between the two QBs. Playing as Cutler I missed on some short routes, especially to the flats. Rodgers was dead on. Overally #12 was more accurate. The passes were right on the receivers. I was good with Cutler throwing into the seams. I had a nice touch pass that I released kinda early that made it over the linebacker, but in front of the safety. There aren't as many silly drops from the receivers. Cutler's throwing motion looks dead on to me.

Playing against the two quarterbacks. Rodgers ate me up in every matchup. HE saw my blitzes. Got the ball out accurately. Cutler I was able to get to and rattle.

3. Pressure: I don't control my linemen, so I wanted to test how they performed on their own. I didn't get a whole lot playing at the Bears. I was anxious to try out the new "edge rush" feature to see if it was any different than last year's "pass" command. It's too early to say definitively, but Rodgers was protected well and I didn't get much pressure with Peppers. Although they were throwing a lot of quick stuff, and stayed in manageable passing downs so I'll reserve verdict.

As the Packers, I was able to get some nice hits on Cutler and confuse the protection.

Pressure On Me: I couldn't get anything going the first game and a half against the Packers. Clay Matthews ate me up, then RAji. The Bears line felt like a leaking siv at this level... which is realistic. I was able to get something going when I went to short stuff.

As the Packers, the protection was a lot better. Peppers did get through on me once, and I didn't see a corner blitz on another play, but the Packer line held up a lot better.

Playing as either team, I wasn't able to get anything from the playaction. The protection still breaks down. With the Bears, it was to be expected, but as the Packers, even after I got some running game going, there was still shaky protection. And I couldn't tell if the secondary bit. The two times I did peek into the secondary, I didn't see the safeties bite.

4. Coverage: it wasn't terrible, but when I was on defense, my guys got beat inside too much on slants and crossing routes. I am not totally impressed with zone, but I'm going to hold back judgement. I need more time with the game, learning the designs of the new plays, and get better with my playcalling.

Playing against Coverage: I didn't see anything too freaky. There wasn't any route mirroring. I was able to make some throws with the defenders back to me and there was no magical "eyes in the back of his head."

On All-Madden, my defenders didn't play the ball in the air. Jenning got behind both Bear corner consistently, and the one time when he had to slow up for a hail mary, the defender caught up but didn't turn around. With the Packers, both corners were solid, not spectacular, although Williams did make an excellent play on a deep pass to Knox for a pick.


One cool thing I notices, is that in the sub package, there is an option for 4 defensive ends! Can't tell you how happy I was. Tackling is a LOT better. None of the ridiculous stiff arming defenders to the ground. At any rate, those are my initial observations.


Oh, and a question. I know that we were supposed to individually shade defenders, but I couldn't find it pre-snap. Anyone know if that option is available in the demo?

[JaySmooov]

Also, people need to be more observant. You can change both the kickoff camera and FG camera to the classic views (Madden 10, 11) by pulling the right trigger.

[TMJOHNS18]

How do you do the surprise kickoff?

I'm on my second time playing the demo, Green bay this time. All-Pro, 35 threshold and very slow play great. Actually blocked a FG up the middle, first time I've every done that!

Cutler's been scrambling a bit too, getting pounded though.

[menglish20]

Still terrible blocking on punt returns. Instead of trying to block the gunner, my guys just let me get nailed.