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

# 61 Steven123 @ 08/29/11 09:08 PM

I'm glad that this review was not biased, I agree 100% with the score

# 62 bkrich83 @ 08/29/11 09:45 PM

Review was as expected. Not sure how the kicking meter is a step back though.

# 63 Vikes1 @ 08/29/11 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OGSPORTS


	IMO something has gone on with upper management that's hindering these EA sports titles.

I wouldn't be surprised if your right, OG.

Kinda like back in the 70's, when many tried to lay the blame for the crappy American cars, at the feet of the average auto worker. They couldn't built solid dependable cars from substandard parts. Could very well be, that the devs have taken a lot of heat for things that may have been out of their control.

# 64 truintellectplaya @ 08/29/11 09:55 PM

I agree with the poster that said that a football sim may be the toughest sports game to make. You can look at something as simple as the pick and roll in basketball, you expect for it to work at a high level because it does in real life. There have been teams that made a living off of pick and rolls, like 75% or more of there points came from it. On the other hand, football is not the type of sport in which you would think a play would work 75% of the time unless one team was totally superior to another and that is rarely the case in the NFL. Also, the lack of a real focus on defense long ago killed the Madden experience and it is getting no better. As tough as it may be to make a football sim, Backbreaker and NFL 2K got it more correct than Madden has. With every new Madden and MLB 2K I find myself wishing EA could get back into making MVP baseball and 2K or someone else could get back into football. Sad, but what can you do other than not purchase it?

# 65 budsticky @ 08/29/11 10:46 PM

Shouldn't a series that has been around for over 20 years be beyond "a step in the right direction," as the reviewer put it?

# 66 roadman @ 08/29/11 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budsticky


	Shouldn't a series that has been around for over 20 years be beyond "a step in the right direction," as the reviewer put it?

Depends if the game has been consistent for 20 yrs.

The easy answer to that is no.

# 67 DJ @ 08/29/11 11:45 PM

Chris, thanks for the very detailed review. I'm going to wait for the patches to be released before buying the game this year.

# 68 Matt10 @ 08/30/11 12:29 AM

Great review. Covered points of concern, I think everyone needs to give Chris credit for being completely honest and not witholding. He plays devil's advocate well, but at the same you can tell the passion for football in his tone is still very much alive despite what Madden 12 has brought on.

I'm joining the group that is torn. I'm mad at EA these days. Just so incredibly upset with how much they shortchange the football fans. How badly they disgrace the passionate gamers who have been faithfully optimistic beside their side. It really sucks to feel this way, because Madden has been part of my life since I was 12 (14 years ago!).

The more I play 2k sports games - any of them - the more I enjoy my video gaming experience. I find myself playing basketball, a sport I couldn't really game with, just because of the way you can tell 2k is not half creating their games. And even if there are glitches in their games, at least you can tell that there is genuine effort being put in. Seriously, what is so frickin hard about going ALL OUT and just creating a great game!? How frickin hard is it to do that?

Back to 2k5 for another year. Time to buy a HD transfer cable, lol.

# 69 NBASLAM2001 @ 08/30/11 12:36 AM

How Madden 11' got a 9 with its almost nonexistent Franchise mode and lackluster gameplay and 12' a 7.5 absolutely shocks me.

# 70 bkrich83 @ 08/30/11 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt10


	Great review. Covered points of concern, I think everyone needs to give Chris credit for being completely honest and not witholding. He plays devil's advocate well, but at the same you can tell the passion for football in his tone is still very much alive despite what Madden 12 has brought on. I'm joining the group that is torn. I'm mad at EA these days. Just so incredibly upset with how much they shortchange the football fans. How badly they disgrace the passionate gamers who have been faithfully optimistic beside their side. It really sucks to feel this way, because Madden has been part of my life since I was 12 (14 years ago!). The more I play 2k sports games - any of them - the more I enjoy my video gaming experience. I find myself playing basketball, a sport I couldn't really game with, just because of the way you can tell 2k is not half creating their games. And even if there are glitches in their games, at least you can tell that there is genuine effort being put in. Seriously, what is so frickin hard about going ALL OUT and just creating a great game!? How frickin hard is it to do that? Back to 2k5 for another year. Time to buy a HD transfer cable, lol.

you must not have played any of the 2k baseball games.

# 71 roadman @ 08/30/11 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkrich83


	you must not have played any of the 2k baseball games.

Or hockey, either.

# 72 Gorilla Glass @ 08/30/11 01:10 AM

I totally agree with this review. Hopefully they can tune it up to make it a bit tighter. None the less, its fun as he'll online and I can't wait for new season ratings, to get started on Franchise mode. Good review...

# 73 Matt10 @ 08/30/11 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkrich83


	you must not have played any of the 2k baseball games.

You must have not gotten my point then either.

I'm not talking about the glitches, or other values that might have affected your thoughts of the game.

My point is, 2k actually looks like they are trying to create the experience, as closely as possible. Yes, they messed up in specific gameplays and franchise additions - and yes it's not forgiveable - but the fact remains that they go all out to TRY to make a better game. You do not get a MLB 2k11.5 or NHL 2k5.5 - sorry I don't know the timeline of the NHL series - but with Madden you do. Every single time. Without fail. Everyone knows it, you know it and if you think you don't - you're kidding yourself.

I will say that this has primarily to do with the current-gen system integration, PC and PS2/xbox was different - those days were actually incredible come to think of it.

# 74 bkrich83 @ 08/30/11 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt10


	You must have not gotten my point then either. I'm not talking about the glitches, or other values that might have affected your thoughts of the game. My point is, 2k actually looks like they are trying to create the experience, as closely as possible. Yes, they messed up in specific gameplays and franchise additions - and yes it's not forgiveable - but the fact remains that they go all out to TRY to make a better game. You do not get a MLB 2k11.5 or NHL 2k5.5 - sorry I don't know the timeline of the NHL series - but with Madden you do. Every single time. Without fail. Everyone knows it, you know it and if you think you don't - you're kidding yourself. I will say that this has primarily to do with the current-gen system integration, PC and PS2/xbox was different - those days were actually incredible come to think of it.

Ok, so EA bad, 2k good. 2k good even when they release a horrid product. Got it.

# 75 RaychelSnr @ 08/30/11 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich7sena


	Its perplexing to me how this game got a 7.5 as opposed to last years 9. All that Madden 11 added from Madden 10 was Gameflow, strategy pad and a broken difficulty system (all of which were negatively received). I suppose the ambition that Madden 12 undertook didn't deliver on all accounts but it still laid out a foundation for future games. I didn't agree with the score Madden 11 got last year and while I don't believe this is the same reviewer from last year, there needs to be some consistency with the scores on the same site.

For the few that have said this: we're scoring games under a new system that uses the full 10 point scale. The text at the beginning of the review is to be skipped over at your own peril of losing important context. A 7.5 is still quite good on our scale now!!

# 76 EPtheKING @ 08/30/11 02:10 AM

i got season ticket (save your trash talk for your parents) and couldn't play online because it kept kicking me off the EA servers....great.....i just got it and can't play ranked games because it keeps kicking me off the EA servers.....wow......I personally have never ever EVER had a problem with madden but this one is very shady.....why can't I find all the plays and formations in the Pittsburgh playbook???? some of them aren't in there when I try to create my custom playbook.....is it me?!?!?!.....the same thing happens when I try to create my defensive playbook......I'm completely at a loss for words right now....

# 77 Matt10 @ 08/30/11 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkrich83


	you must not have played any of the 2k baseball games.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkrich83


	Ok, so EA bad, 2k good. 2k good even when they release a horrid product. Got it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by illmatic04


	joke of the day , 2K sports is one of the worst companies ever that people have had high hopes on time & time again but always failed. Examples? MLB games, NHL games .. the only decent enough game 2K has produced is the NBA game, that's about it

Lol, waste of breath. You both are missing the point, but that's okay - it's bound to get lost in translation. For what it's worth, I'm not dogging on EA - I'm simply sick of having to defend them and defend their potential in creating true genuine attempts of the sport I love - not the video game, and if you don't get that there's a difference between those two, then you truly are lost.

# 78 LoganSf @ 08/30/11 02:13 AM

Seems like a step in the right direction, but since Madden 11 didn't get much play time from me last year, I'm going to play my friends Madden 12 for a couple days to see if it warrants dropping $60 on that joint

# 79 bkrich83 @ 08/30/11 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt10


	Lol, waste of breath. You both are missing the point, but that's okay - it's bound to get lost in translation. For what it's worth, I'm not dogging on EA - I'm simply sick of having to defend them and defend their potential in creating true genuine attempts of the sport I love - not the video game, and if you don't get that there's a difference between those two, then you truly are lost.

So you can't get your point across, and we're lost. Ok.

You basically backpedaled on your OP, then blamed me for not getting your "point"

# 80 TheMatrix31 @ 08/30/11 02:31 AM

Drop the 2k/EA stuff, guys.

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