Madden NFL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[SeaNNyT]

Quote: Originally Posted by fatleg3

Are you playing on All-Madden

Yes. Surprisingly they play better on all-pro, but I can still shut them out or hold them to a touchdown every game.

[JerseySuave4]

Wasn't overly impressed with the demo. With the new collision system it seemed like guys went down rather easy. I'd enjoy the game if i were a kid and wasn't into such realism but i just don't see myself enjoying this game enough, especially with all the user control they've taken out in terms of editing/playing as multiple teams, so i'm gonna once again pass on Madden this year. I think this is maybe 5 years now in a row that i've passed. I just haven't enjoyed this game in a long long time.

[DaoudS]

Some initial impressions while playing on All-Pro:

The engine looks weird. Players hands go behind their backs, they are slow to get up, tackles look weird often. It will take a couple of years of tinkering to get it right.

DBs have better hands than WRs apparently. Passing is a bit difficult. Running is a bit easier, but I like it. If you break a couple of runs on the outside, the defense will adjust. Same goes if you are able to run up the middle.

[JerseySuave4]

the one thing i did like though was the commentary. Nantz and Simms were a perfect choice. Other than that i got bored rather quickly with the demo. Don't know if i'll bother wasting more time with it.

And are we now going to get guys falling over guys laying down after plays all the time? Tell me where in real life guys just blindly trip over guys every play. Once in a while its a nice touch but every play it's comical.

[Stampede_94]

Quote: Originally Posted by RGmoney

Gentlemen, keep 2K football OUT of this thread. This is the Madden Demo Impressions thread. This is a general warning to all, no matter how long you've been here. If you can't keep your comments related to discussing the Madden Demo.... Don't post. It's that simple.

I say this respectfully. Why is comparing certain elements of this demo to 2K wanting things like presentation so frowned upon?

If I say I love the gameplay and new infinity engine, but say the presentation isn't quite like 2K5, and if it was we'd have the perfect formula on our hands to finally put away the 2K legend, then that's a positive for MADDEN right? Again no disrespect or insubordination intended, just wondering why after over 100 pages this became and issue?

[Armor and Sword]

Ok....so I played 4 games, all on All-Pro, Very Slow Speed and by the third game I started tweaking sliders a little.

Here we go.


Presentation - Pretty much the same as 12 thus far in regards to camera angles, cut scenes etc. I saw some stuff here and there. The replays are meh and way too often. I also can't stand that when I "x" through them (as they take forever and day to play out) I lose the score board, and down and distance graphic while it continues to play out on my play call screen. really can't stand that.

Play by Play/Commentary - light years from what we have had. It really is a huge area of improvement. I love hearing Nantz and Simms. They sound fluid and natural. Great job and finally this area is going somewhere towards getting on par with other sports titles.

Sound - Very good this year. Some of the best in the series history for sure. Swells, reactions, tackle sounds....I like it a lot.

Offense- The new passing system like NCAA 13 is great. I have total control and can really sling the ball everywhere now. It is a lot of fun to pass the ball. The running game is hit or miss and that is because of the wonky Infinity engine. More on that later. Sometimes it feels fluid, sometimes it is a hot mess.

Defense - man....again a huge letdown. I won't bother playing as a DE or DT on Madden. I have absolutely zero control or the feeling I have any impact to the outcome. I already see myself letting the cpu play defense and just hitting the tackle button if the ball carries get's near me, or switching to the pass rusher when they are close or switching to the DB when the ball get's in the air to play the ball. Defense stinks.....still.

Tackling - My biggest pet peeves on Madden 12 were the passing game (fixed big time with the new total control passing controls and trajectories) and tackling. I had high hopes for the new engine. Those hopes are now let down. I hope that since this is a demo it will be tuned much better for retail. For every kick *** tackle there are 5-6 WTF moments. Things look wonky, sloppy and just "put my hands in my face" wow did that just really happen? Did his body just contort like that? I never knew a human leg can bend that way? Guys just dropping to there knees, guys just going down from a push in a total heap. It is downright comical sometimes the results you get from this new physics engine. I feel NCAA 13's tackling is far better....yeah it get's boring seeing a lot of the same animations after a while....but what I am seeing on this demo is down right cartoonish and at this stage of the dev cycle.....come on man. I really hope the retail version is tuned much better. I am really disappointed again with tackling on Madden.

Now is this wonky stuff a game breaker for me? No.....being that the commentary is vastly improved, the passing game is a joy, and the game is downright beautiful I am still keeping my pre-order. It is a demo.....so I am holding out some hope that we will get a cleaner, better tuned version on the tackling side.

I have high hopes for CCM which is the main reason I am going to stick with this game and see if I can get multiple years out of franchise mode.

So overall it's ok. I have it pre-ordered for 44.99. I would never pay 59.99 for this game.


Random thoughts:

I am 50/50 at this point on the whole Infinity Engine. I understand it is year one....but man on the demo it is a borderline train wreck.

Is this better than Madden 12? I don't know yet. I must play the retail copy, and immerse myself into CCM and see and feel everything with the final product.

The default camera still stinks. I will be playing on Zoomed for sure. Sliders will also probably make things better once I develop a custom set for myself.

Madden still is way behind The Show and 2K11...amazing this is still the case.

Visually the game is stunning.

No super LB's is actually a major thing for me and the passing game is great.

I am not blown away, nor as excited to get this game. I will still own it...I love NFL football and I generally have always enjoyed Madden but 11 and 12 were both steps back overall), but I hope this game can give me replayability via CCM otherwise it will be a quick play cycle for me and a fast trade in.

Best case - the game is tuned far better than the demo, CCM is awesome and this satisfies my NFL video game fix for a long while.

Worst case - it becomes a $15 rental.

[docholliday8706]

After one quick play through as the Redskins I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. Maybe its the special jerseys but I thought the in game graphics were terrible. I understand the new physics engine probably leaves less room for detail but I felt like I was playing Madden 2001 on a low end family PC (which I did back in the day).The game also felt way too slow which could be due to all the NCAA I've been playing as of late but it just doesn't feel right.

The change in commentators, along with their digital versions, is welcome but they're still innaccurate (to be expected I suppose) but the all blue style leaves much to be desired even if the intention is to look more like CBS.

Hopefully I'll get used to the changes and understand them more with some more play-throughs but right now this feels like a big transition edition of the game that will hopefully improve as it carries over to the next generation.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by boooey

I guess I am just old school.. I have been playing Madden for longer than a lot of people here have been alive. Call it what you want.. but these names like "Pro-Tak" and "Infinity Engine" come across as nothing more than just another catchy tag line created by EA marketing dept. I don't need a fancy name attached to pieces of the gameplay engine. The only reason to even tell the consumers the engine name is 100% for marketing purposes only. Let the gameplay speak for itself, not because there is a fancy name attached to it. For me.. this game is cartoony, jerky, players ice skating all over the placy. I don't feel weight of different players and body styles. I don't feel the hits. I don't feel like I am in total control.. I don't feel like I am really playing football. The ball trajectory and movement on field goals and kickoffs is so off.. Auto replays seem to cut off at the wrong times, and often before the play ends. Again, i do see some improvements, but for me.. its just not good enough, and it hasn't been for about 7 years now.. I want something new, something different already, and if its EA who brings this to me then I will be the first in line with my money in hand. But sadly Madden 13 is just not good enough.. And I will not be buying this game.. yet again

Booey, it's been awhile. Hope life is treating you well.

Believe it or not, I do agree with some of your sentiments.

I'm hoping the replay thingy is fixed by retail as hopefully, they couldn't put it all in the demo. I'll scream if it's different than that, inexcusable.