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

[jagsrock95]

Wow!
This might not be the madden we have all dreamed about but it's pretty freakin good.
-First off its hard not to notice the beautiful presentation. It's amazing and I have to give it to EA for going all out on it this year. Madden 11 and Madden 12 don't even look close to the same.

- Player models are fantastic and facial expression and eyes look great.

- Compared to NCAA 12 the players seem like they have more weight to them and don't slide around so much.

-less zig zagging as well

-Defense is back and I love it, although I did see some super linebackers but overall its better because of the improved zone and pass rush.

- offensively running the ball feels great but passing still seems a bit off. Some reason it just seems like you have a lack of control over your passes still.

-I still don't like that theres no other way too know your DPP than to pause the game

- The camera angles really make this game, absolutely love them

-one thing that surprised me was the audio, it's actually really good. The crowd sounds so much better than NCAA 12 and actually reacts pretty well to plays. My first game I was getting blown out by the packers and by the third touchdown they started booing louder. In contrast when I scored the crowed erupted. also the stadium tunes between timeouts and kickoffs sound pretty sweet too. This game really doesn't even need commentary at this point, Im probably going to turn it off when I get the game and pump up the on field and crowd volume.

-Overall this game seems to have a really big factor that NCAA 12 is missing, "Atmosphere" this game really does get you pumped up. The opening presentation is amazing and then during the game there is a certain authenticity and atmosphere that has been missing for years.Im impressed and while I understand there are flaws I'm still very happy with the outcome of this years game. For the first time in a long time I'm excited for Maddens future. If the team continues to produce work like this from this game onwards I can see Madden making its way back from tired old sports franchise to Best Sports Franchise.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Wow, just finished a great game. I was leading 10-7 going into the 4th before Rodgers led the Packers down the field and Ryan Grant eventually punched it in to make it 14-10 with 4:20 remaining. So Cutler led me down the field, converting on a 3rd and 25 to Earl Bennett, and then a 3rd and 9 to Johnny Knox that took me down to the 1 yard line. I then called a QB sneak and Cutler was hit by BJ Raji but was able to reach into the endzone with 14 seconds left. The Packers returned the kick to their 40, hit Finley for a 15 yard pickup with 3 seconds left, and then Rodgers fired a deep ball to Jennings for the win but Daniel Manning picked it off in the endzone.

Still a minor gripe though is that I think WRs and DBs and stuff should be able to slide like a QB because I tried to dive out of bounds before they could hit me in the endzone and as it's been the case for many Madden's now, Manning just dropped the ball when he dove and thankfully my team recovered it or the Packers would have won.

[bucky60]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy

converting on a 3rd and 25

Heard a lot of good things so far, but this stuff worries me. Happens to often in Madden. In Wisconsin, we still talk about 4rh and 26 BECAUSE it is so rare (and it was a playoff game).

[fatpat268]

So far it's been a big improvement over Madden 11, but the framerate is really chugging. The framerate dips everytime when you're out of the action.

Really annoying so far, hope the retail version is better on this front.

[WDOgF0reL1fe]

Not gonna lie. Didnt see too many issues with the demo.

I tried having fun with it.
And I did.

Loved every second of it.
All - Pro and it was tied 3-3 into the 4th quarter.

I was (GB) and Cutler had negative tendency to scramble when he felt pressure and he did!
Pretty cool, seeing as how NCAA always tried to HAVE AI qbs scramble.

Only negative, and it happens every year, is why are replays ALWAYS so short.
So weird that they are ALWAYS cut off halfway into the play.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by bucky60

Heard a lot of good things so far, but this stuff worries me. Happens to often in Madden. In Wisconsin, we still talk about 4rh and 26 BECAUSE it is so rare (and it was a playoff game).

I think they were in a Cover 3 Defense and Cutler just made a gorgeous throw between a CB, a LB, and a Safety.

[jpdavis82]

Game feels a lot smoother than other Madden's have. Similar to NCAA 12 in that regard, but faster overall, maybe a little too fast.

Tackling feels right to me even though it takes time to get used to with the removal of suction tackling. I like hitting and not always hugging players.

The running game seems just about right to me, maybe a little too easy at times.

The passing game seems to be much more difficult this year and has been a frustration and sore spot for me so far. I shouldn't be throwing 4 picks a game and completing 22-30% of my passes with Aaron Rodgers, compared to the 65-75% and zero to at most 2 picks a game I threw in Madden 11. Would like to see this around 55-65% and 1-3 picks a game. WR's also seem to be dropping a lot of passes.

Saw some O-Line/D-line, WR/DB interaction, hope for more in the final build.

Team intros look very good,overhead stadium shot is very accurate with all the little details and looks good. I like the fade in/out between quarters.

Halftime is quick and to the point, I know they scrapped the halftime show to work on it to get it right, but I would like to see some stats or something at halftime.

Cut scenes and replays are hit and miss for me, some look just like what you see on Sunday and some not at all. I'm hoping they have a lot more variety and this is more polished in the final build. From what I have seen in the recent build videos it looks like it will be.

No commentary takes a lot out of the immersion factor, so I think even though it won't be completely new its still going to add a lot with the new lines, lineup overlay commentary, and DPP commentary.

Uniform degradation is great, helmets degrade, players get dirt and paint marks on them, grass stains

Last thing here are some cool "little things" I noticed in my last game, I beat the Bears 10-3 on All Pro.

QB comparison stat overlay

Lined up on 3rd down with 1 min left in the game,Bears crowd was really loud, threw a pass to Jennings which he ran in for a TD, after the score, the crowd was eerily silent, seemed very realistic to me.

Last drive of the game for the bears-Stat overlay showing Jay Cutler has 11 career fourth quarter comebacks

End of game after Cutler incomplete pass on 4th with no time left-showed him frustrated and yelling with Lovie Smith

[bucky60]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy

I think they were in a Cover 3 Defense and Cutler just made a gorgeous throw between a CB, a LB, and a Safety.

This still happens far to often in Madden. 3rd and 25 should be difficult to convert for both the User and the CPU. It should be a very rare conversion.