Madden 12 News Post

OS at E3: Madden NFL 12 Preview

05:56 AM - June 8, 2011 by ChaseB

During the three years I have been on staff here at OS, I have been one of the more vocal critics of the Madden franchise. It's not that I have anything against the series, I just have never been able to understand how a company's flagship yearly title (in the US), one that carries the weight of an NFL exclusive license, could lag so far behind its genre-specific competition since the jump to the current generation of consoles. Believe me when I say that my expectations for Madden 12 coming into E3 today were pretty low -- Madden 11 felt more like a stopgap in the series than a true upgrade from Madden 10, and I was at the point of simply accepting that Madden would never achieve the completeness seen in games such as NBA 2K11 and the MLB: The Show series.

I'll be honest, I think I may have been wrong in a very big way. Based on what I played today, Madden is back, and it's well on its way to being mentioned with the elite sports games of this generation.

(Please Note: These impressions are based solely upon exhibition gameplay. Franchise mode and Superstar mode were not available for play or discussion at this time.)

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Game: Madden NFL 12Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 44 - View All

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Member Comments

# 41 xylocaine @ 06/09/11 10:54 PM

Game does look good and I'll buy it like always, but if you have been around a long time, everyone including this site always says how good it's going to be around this time of year at the first previews.

# 42 LambertandHam @ 06/10/11 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xylocaine


	Game does look good and I'll buy it like always, but if you have been around a long time, everyone including this site always says how good it's going to be around this time of year at the first previews.

It's like anything really. You get a new car, you love it. The car can do no wrong.

Pretty soon you notice the engine overheats at times, but you still love your car. You eventually get to the point where you're tossing it off a cliff, telling yourself "next time it won't end like this"

# 43 juduking @ 06/10/11 02:59 PM

Yeah, the game will be fun for people that just want to play, I for one am seeing something of concern for myself. What kept me from enjoying Madden 11 was the offensive line play. I hate not seeing 3-4 NTs not double teamed on most plays, its unrealistic and it bothers me enough to not be able and enjoy the game. It wont be fixed this year, and who knows when. Bells and whistles are fine for the average madden player, but I need basic game play to be functional and it seems its still not after what 8-9 years?

# 44 mirrored32 @ 06/12/11 12:19 AM

Madden is looking brilliant this year. My only wish, no major bugs that can't fix like 'features' that never work and break the game. I have a feeling that won't happen this year, call me gutsy! I am stoked!

# 45 Demoncrom @ 06/13/11 10:26 AM

Lets be very clear about something. The last 2 Maddens were Ok games, but they were missing a special ingredient and it's called the FUN FACTOR. The reason it was missing that, was 1 part presentation, 1 part execution. The graphics are great but how they are presented do not impress. This year with the focus on broadcast presentation, I am hoping that that is fixed.

In terms of the fun factor, line play is important, when I am running the i-formation against the 3-4 defense and the defense is not blitzing, there is no way in the world that I should not see 4 yards on a carry with a decent line. The 3-4 is not about linemen coming off blocks to make miraculous tackles it's about the linebacker stepping up and the linemen to hold their gaps. When I see a hole and my back just can't get to it even when I know I've called the right play - I am sorry, but that it not fun.

There is parity in this league and a lot of what makes American Football the greatest sport on the green earth and the NFL the best league is because a well coached team with a great game plan that executes can win. That feeling is not always in Madden, there are always exploits or power teams and don't get me wrong playing well can help to alleviate that, but in real life there is no unstoppable play or person. I want that in my game. I am ranting, but I want the FUN FACTOR BACK!

# 46 BDawg35 @ 06/13/11 10:46 AM

As always, I'm waiting and seeing. I don't know if I've ever read a negative review of Madden or NCAA from those who have been privileged enough to play the game ahead of time. Then us regular folks get our hands on the game and the flaws are apparent almost instantly. Then the same people who wrote the glowing reviews will acknowledge a year down the road as they're comparing the new version to the old version that the old version came up lacking. I read these reviews as an "FYI" only, but I'm sure there will be a major issue that regular gamers will notice on release day.

# 47 djordan @ 06/13/11 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDawg35


	As always, I'm waiting and seeing. I don't know if I've ever read a negative review of Madden or NCAA from those who have been privileged enough to play the game ahead of time. Then us regular folks get our hands on the game and the flaws are apparent almost instantly. Then the same people who wrote the glowing reviews will acknowledge a year down the road as they're comparing the new version to the old version that the old version came up lacking. I read these reviews as an "FYI" only, but I'm sure there will be a major issue that regular gamers will notice on release day.

Good post B-Diddy! How have you been?

# 48 EnigmaNemesis @ 06/15/11 06:30 PM

The final thoughts have me very intrigued again for Madden. Skipped last years, but this article has me definitely excited for football gaming again.

# 49 mrclutch @ 07/06/11 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambert&Ham


	It's like anything really. You get a new car, you love it. The car can do no wrong. Pretty soon you notice the engine overheats at times, but you still love your car. You eventually get to the point where you're tossing it off a cliff, telling yourself "next time it won't end like this"

First off nice article Chase.

I was thinking along the same lines on the pre-excitment. I hadn't played NCAA in a few months and played the demo the other day and was like "wow this is great". Then I put NCAA 11 in really changed my perspective. I think it's the same with every new sports game every year.

With that said looks like there should be some nice improvments this year. I doubt it will change the world but I expect a solid effort.

# 50 NYYJeff23 @ 07/06/11 11:04 AM

This all looks fantastic fete ugly gonna buy. But the score boared is not my favorite. They need fox CBS ESPN NBC that would be cool

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