Madden 12 News Post

Madden NFL 12 Review (360/PS3)

03:56 PM - August 29, 2011 by RaychelSnr

In many ways, Madden NFL Football is the most anticipated, discussed and debated game in our genre each and every year.

The lead up to Madden NFL 12 has brought a new wave of optimism for the series, as many issues fans have had with the series were promised to be fixed, tuned or tweaked. In many ways, the Madden team has accomplished their goals of moving the series forward. Unfortunately, those expecting a return to greatness for the series are going to be disappointed.

Read More - Madden NFL 12 Review (360/PS3)

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

# 21 SGMRock @ 08/29/11 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	Definitely not. As I said in the review, 12 is a clear step forward for the series...it's just not a great game still because of all the nagging issues. Of course, I don't pay for most of my games (OS does) so that's a bit of a different story. If I owned 11 and had to pay $60 for 12, I'd probably have to be a pretty big fan of the Madden series to do that, or a part of a great community of online gamers. The patched up version of 11 with some good sliders will play a good enough game of Football if you don't want to make the swtich. BUT 12 will play a better game of football soon enough with some patches and sliders -- so might be prudent to wait until then as well.

I had 9,10,11 and 12 is better than all three of those just based on the Offline Franchise if thats a mode you love to play. It has a screwy interface to be sure and it takes some getting used to, but you can't knock the added features. The whole thing with bigger rosters and real IR is a rather nice.

Granted it has its flaws in offline franchise but its still way better than we have had for a few years so I think its a big plus.

But like Chris said if you just play the games online or something or don't care so much about offline franchise then 12 might not be worth it until its all patched up and you get it used or at a cheaper price, but shoot I'm already getting it for $40 with free shipping from Amazon so I can't knock that!

# 22 Vikes1 @ 08/29/11 05:05 PM

Very informative review, imo.

It kinda seems like the gloves are off this year when it comes to some of the reviews of this years game.

Kinda disappointing that Madden at this point of this gen, should be really hitting it's stride...rather than still suffering from years old issues, and seemingly introducing new ones.

What I'm getting outta the reviews I've read is...that Madden '12' is a decent game, but nothing too special. And most likely not a..."Must have".

# 23 mdiggitydawg @ 08/29/11 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	Definitely not. As I said in the review, 12 is a clear step forward for the series...it's just not a great game still because of all the nagging issues. Of course, I don't pay for most of my games (OS does) so that's a bit of a different story. If I owned 11 and had to pay $60 for 12, I'd probably have to be a pretty big fan of the Madden series to do that, or a part of a great community of online gamers. The patched up version of 11 with some good sliders will play a good enough game of Football if you don't want to make the swtich. BUT 12 will play a better game of football soon enough with some patches and sliders -- so might be prudent to wait until then as well.

And there in lies the biggest of rubs..."With some patches and sliders". You have to admit, the fact that we have become the BETA testers for EA is what has completely ticked off so many consumers, myself included.

So leave it in the wrapping and what, wait 2 months for a patch and hope I'm still interested, huh?

Thanks for the review...I too thought 7.5 based on your in depth problems is too high...but you are the reviewer and have discretion

# 24 SGMRock @ 08/29/11 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BezO


	Heven't played yet, but these problems are the same from year to year. I'm surprised that so much football missing from a football simulation can still draw a 7.5. I would think that realism would be a larger portion of the score.

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)

# 25 RaychelSnr @ 08/29/11 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdiggitydawg


	And there in lies the biggest of rubs..."With some patches and sliders". You have to admit, the fact that we have become the BETA testers for EA is what has completely ticked off so many consumers, myself included. So leave it in the wrapping and what, wait 2 months for a patch and hope I'm still interested, huh? Thanks for the review...I too thought 7.5 based on your in depth problems is too high...but you are the reviewer and have discretion

Haha you don't have to tell me about the patch and beta testers problem, I was the first person to write on it from a major outlet and several have followed since then. Viva la revolution?

(yeah I'm giving myself too much credit)

# 26 RaychelSnr @ 08/29/11 05:15 PM

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)

You are right about that but the real key is -- the greatest sports games in our genre today give the user the choice on whether they want to play a sim or arcade game. Madden forcefeeds you a style of game and takes an all or nothing type of approach. That's one of my biggest beefs with EA Football. The sliders do help, but they don't clear up the things that are horribly unrealistic whereas other games let you really tweek those aspects of the sport. It might just be an inherent problem with developing a football game or (more likely) it's something that hasn't really 'clicked' for the people involved in the process of making Madden just yet.

# 27 Tomba @ 08/29/11 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	We don't score games like college papers. We use a full 10 point scale. Read the scoring rubric listed at the top of the page. 7.5 doesn't mean the game is the equivalent to a C. Been trying to stress that with the links at the front of reviews for awhile

Understood and I respect the review article and model, but you also have to understand this is STILL the best Madden to come out. The game IS editable as well and that's what this community is about first and foremost.

Finding the right people to make the game they play... BETTER.

Slider sections and roster sections are places where this game gets explored even more and can find an audience that this review can otherwise turn away if not noted...

# 28 SGMRock @ 08/29/11 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	You are right about that but the real key is -- the greatest sports games in our genre today give the user the choice on whether they want to play a sim or arcade game. Madden forcefeeds you a style of game and takes an all or nothing type of approach. That's one of my biggest beefs with EA Football. The sliders do help, but they don't clear up the things that are horribly unrealistic whereas other games let you really tweek those aspects of the sport. It might just be an inherent problem with developing a football game or (more likely) it's something that hasn't really 'clicked' for the people involved in the process of making Madden just yet.

I think they keep taking the same base and trying to make it better when they should just scrap it because it doesn't work right. Player models and stuff are good but the actually on the field product like you said is not always real football as they cut corners.

If they really want to revolutionize the game they need to keep their cookie cutter team in place and hire another team to develope a whole new platform for 2 or 3 years down the road release.

In other words if you are dead set on making your yearly releases fine, keep doing what you are doing. But put in a team that can make a new game in parallel and give them the time to do it right for say a next gen release. I'm sure money and lack of the use of logic will make EA not want to do that though.

# 29 jasontoddwhitt @ 08/29/11 05:38 PM

Well, sounds like I'm still going to play Madden 08 on the PC.

# 30 SGMRock @ 08/29/11 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasontoddwhitt


	Well, sounds like I'm still going to play Madden 08 on the PC.

Was a good game. Still looks really nice too if you crank up your graphics card and force 6x AA and 16x AS

# 31 roadman @ 08/29/11 05:45 PM

There isn't a sports game I haven't played on the 360 that doesn't need slider adjustments on my end. Good review, they need to be hammered on commentary. That needs to be turned around next year and beyond.

# 32 jdburris88 @ 08/29/11 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coachimclutch504


	Just gonna play it to kill time until NBA 2K12 comes out better yet the Demo, then Madden hittin the dusk rack LOL

bruh i'm doing the same exact thing... i'm so hyped about nba 2k12 i almost forgot that madden 12 comes out tonight if it wasn't for gamestop calling me telling about the midnight launch i would've forgot to get the game

# 33 razorkaos @ 08/29/11 05:49 PM

I was really excited about M12, with the franchise mode and presentation, but now, i feel like EA really don't like the players/customers. EA don't have respect to the sport. We just play EA Football League instead National Football League games every year. I think i'll pass this. I'll pick FIFA 12 or Battlefield 3.

# 34 mellamoaaron @ 08/29/11 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	You are right about that but the real key is -- the greatest sports games in our genre today give the user the choice on whether they want to play a sim or arcade game. Madden forcefeeds you a style of game and takes an all or nothing type of approach. That's one of my biggest beefs with EA Football. The sliders do help, but they don't clear up the things that are horribly unrealistic whereas other games let you really tweek those aspects of the sport. It might just be an inherent problem with developing a football game or (more likely) it's something that hasn't really 'clicked' for the people involved in the process of making Madden just yet.

But let's be honest, it's a lot easier to make a basketball, baseball, or even soccer game than it is to make a football game. For what they've been able to do with this game, I think was a huge jump for the series. I absolutely hated 11 and mostly every Madden this gen outside of 08, and this one truly impressed me. I would say I haven't played a football game that is better than this.

# 35 bukktown @ 08/29/11 05:54 PM

As much as this game does really good, there is something that it does absolutely terrible. Some of the bad design is borderline comical like the stats menu in franchise mode. You get this stunning in-game NFL films camera angles and then between plays you get ridiculous zoomed in RTP. I think Game Informer review mentioned that it was a game that lost its identity.

I think that this years Madden is the final nail in the coffin.

# 36 soxfan2815 @ 08/29/11 06:00 PM

I've been really torn on whether or not I should pick up this game tonight. After reading this review I think I might pass even though my friend's son made it to the NFL this year and I can't wait to see him. There are just way too many issues. I don't want to be a game tester for EA. I don't want to wait for the patches. I want a game that plays the way it's supposed to right out of the box. I understand no game is perfect but with this series I tend to be more annoyed than I should be. Right now I am enjoying NFL 11. It's not a perfect game but it still has some life left in it. I can at least enjoy 11 until 12 drops in price and the glitches are ironed out a bit.

Bottom line, I'm an old-school gamer. I've been playing Madden since 1991. I used to buy games on launch day but I've been burned way too many times. I've learned my lesson. I passed up NCAA 12 and it looks like Madden 12 can wait as well. I hope other gamers will wise up as well. Maybe EA will stop taking their customers for granted.

# 37 roadman @ 08/29/11 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA1NT401


	To each his own....I disagree with your point quite a bit. It's decent...that's my thoughts. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Do you have the retail version already? Thought your were renting from gamefly?

I get to wait till midnight tonight.

# 38 B-Lo-Z-Ro @ 08/29/11 06:09 PM

If they would just leave out the extra stuff like the ultimate team then can spend their time advancing more into what the game really needs

# 39 soxfan2815 @ 08/29/11 06:10 PM

What's really sad is NFL 2K5 is still the best football video game ever made. I'm not a fanboy. I just go for the better game. EA made a great baseball game and I'm still heartbroken that the MVP series is gone. I liked having choices and 2K sports made the best football game. It's scary to think how great that game could have been in 2011. The fact that 2K5 still gets mentioned 7 years later should say something. Some people say football is the hardest game to recreate. Each sport is unique and has its own challenges when turning it into a video game. EA is just to big for its own good. Bring back the competition and we'll start seeing some great football video games again.

# 40 Bull_Dozer @ 08/29/11 06:11 PM

"The WR/DB interactions are anything but realistic because players don't jockey for position, and there are frequent occurrences of defensive backs actually going straight through wide receivers to make a play on the ball"

Stuff like that absolutely ruins the game for me =(

I feel like those fundamental things should have be perfected long ago.

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