Madden NFL 13 News Post

Madden NFL 13 Review (PS3/360)

07:28 PM - August 27, 2012 by RaychelSnr

“Chase your dream.”

That’s what my coaches used to tell me. It’s what my friends and family tell me to this day. But what if my dreams and aspirations always involved playing or coaching in the NFL? Sad to say that for myself, and probably most of you, that playing in the NFL just isn’t going to be happening anytime soon. So we do what we do best, we compromise and try and fulfill are dreams within the Madden football series.

Well thanks to the near-complete redesign of the said series, in Madden NFL 13 those dreams may be able to finally come to fruition more than ever. With new animations, the most innovative Madden feature to date – and possibly any sports game ever – Connected Career mode, and the introduction of the Infinity engine, Madden NFL 13 should finally be able to please both the hardcore and casual gamers.

Being skeptical when reviewing the most anticipated sports game of the year is a must. You find yourself looking for wrongs moreso than rights. But after playing Madden for a week, those wrongs don’t tend to come up too often.

Read More - Madden NFL 13 Review (PS3/360)

Game: Madden NFL 13Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Wii U / Xbox 360Votes for game: 77 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 PVarck31 @ 08/27/12 07:34 PM

Great review. Agree with the score as well.

# 2 La Verite @ 08/27/12 07:36 PM

Replay Value? Does the commentary keep up with each season as they process. Like are you mentioned as the defending champions? Or is this game all about scouting and drafting when it comes to the connected Careers mode as far as being a coach. Thanks in advance

# 3 Cowboy008 @ 08/27/12 07:39 PM

Can't wait for tomorrow!

# 4 WhiteMan22 @ 08/27/12 07:41 PM

Best Madden ever made?

While I can't disagree or agree at the moment, that is a big statement.

# 5 Senor_Herbatron @ 08/27/12 07:43 PM

Great review. I got a chub when i saw that picture of Tannehill

# 6 Papi34 @ 08/27/12 07:44 PM

I was on the fence for this years game, but that review just swung me over to the "buy" side. It's hard to get an objective view on the forums. I've never known a game that produces such contrasting views (though NCAA Football is up there), with some loving it and some hating it. It never seems to get a general "yeah, it's pretty good" vibe.

May god have mercy on your souls if this game sucks the big one!

# 7 D Apocalypse @ 08/27/12 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteMan22


	Best Madden ever made? While I can't disagree or agree at the moment, that is a big statement.

That's because it really is. The thing that excites me the most is that they can still get better and I see only upside from here on out and should make for an easier transition to next-gen consoles. 8.5 for me also.

# 8 inkcil @ 08/27/12 07:50 PM

The review doesn't mention any of the bugs being reported...most notably the depth chart bug in CCM or the DB play-action bug or CPU AI at end of games not going for the tie/win...hopefully that means these things were ironed out for the retail release even though they were in the season pass release?

# 9 bonannogiovanni @ 08/27/12 07:54 PM

I dont, agree completely, it's the best and most bugged Madden at the moment. As an example the late game AI completely kills the game as it is now. And patches can't do miracles.......

# 10 jpdavis82 @ 08/27/12 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonannogiovanni


	I dont, agree completely, it's the best and most bugged Madden at the moment. As an example the late game AI completely kills the game as it is now. And patches can't do miracles.......

No, but they can fix a late game AI situation. Remember guys this is just year one of Cam's 3 year plan, this is only the beginning and is the foundation for the future.

# 11 g2thecore @ 08/27/12 08:00 PM

Ultimately for me it's about the fun factor, and after playing about 6 CCM games, I'm having tons of fun. The game is just fun to play. I definitely agree with the learning curve though. I have struggled in my 6 games. I've lost 2 games already because I can't seem to get my offense going yet. I also seem to give up a lot of big plays on defense. Sure the game has it's "legacy" issues, but you can't deny the fact that it's at least fun to play.

# 12 La Verite @ 08/27/12 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g2thecore


	Ultimately for me it's about the fun factor, and after playing about 6 CCM games, I'm having tons of fun. The game is just fun to play. I definitely agree with the learning curve though. I have struggled in my 6 games. I've lost 2 games already because I can't seem to get my offense going yet. I also seem to give up a lot of big plays on defense. Sure the game has it's "legacy" issues, but you can't deny the fact that it's at least fun to play.

So CCM has great replay value. Story lines keep up with each game or is it just generated repetitive feeds?

# 13 Feldman011teen @ 08/27/12 08:11 PM

You praised the game more than I did for my review and you only gave an 8.5? What's up with that? Should be a 9.

# 14 SteelerSpartan @ 08/27/12 08:11 PM

Well I haven't disagreed more with a review from OS since Ian Cummings paraded around his 9 he got for Madden 11

No mention of

Offline Franchise Mode Features Lost
Unrealistic Player Movement
Broken/absence of Penalties/Challenges

Completely disagree about the improvement of the Ol/DL....its the same old thing....Watching Harrison and Woodley playing patty cake just hits me in the gut every time I try to play the game

Im still playing too much of the weird Madden Version of football...where people audible Qrts Packages around to stop the run

# 15 jpdavis82 @ 08/27/12 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelman990


	Come on man, don't even try to bring up that 3 year plan stuff again. That line has ran it's course. Just either bring it or don't EA. Don't even mention 3 year plans anymore EA, just show us you got what it takes every year.

You gotta start somewhere man I don't care who comes in or where they come from, even if the guys from 2k or The Show came in, it would take a while to fix EVERYTHING. Madden 13 brought it on a foundational level. Now we have to see if 14 & 15 take it to the next level(fix player movement, o/d line interactions, improve presentation with true halftime and weekly wrapup show in CCM, improve crowd and sideline models, improve commentary to make it more player specific during play by play and color commentary. Or will they go back to the trends of EA's past? I'm betting on the former and not the latter, I'm VERY confident that this is only the beginning.

# 16 Feldman011teen @ 08/27/12 08:20 PM

http://www.examiner.com/review/madden-13-review?cid=db_articles check this one out

# 17 inkcil @ 08/27/12 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelman990


	I like the game. I'm not trying to bash it. It isn't junk. IMO a 7.5 is a good thing for Madden. It is the best madden this generation. Since when is 7.5 bad? Many 7.5 games have been some of my favorites. A 8.5 is insane if you look at this game for what it is and isn't, and not on how much you enjoy it. Forza 4, NBA 2k, MLB the show, and other legendary games like that are lucky to get better then that score on OS

I know what you mean, but I'm not sure any of those scores are posted in the context of the score of any other game, even previous Maddens:

It appears as though each game is scored on a scale of 10 based on the reviewer's discernment of how close that game came to perfection within the context of itself, thus the recently proclaimed battle cry of "You can't judge a game based on what's not there, but was IS there." (Haven't we heard that alot lately?)

If am correct in my analysis, it is then possible for Madden to score higher than either MLB The Show or NBA 2k, which would not be AT ALL to say that the reviewer believes Madden is better than either of those games, but that, within a different dimension or paradigm of computer gaming, AI logic, fun factor and sporting rules (among other intangibles), Madden 13 is within itself inherently frozen in time (by time) short of perfection at an 8.5, never to be moved higher or lower by the failures or successes of any of its predecessors or successors, much less by another game by another publisher in another sport in another point in time. And time is critical in how we perceive technological advancements, failures or innovations...whether it be concerning hardware or software.

# 18 blklightning @ 08/27/12 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteMan22


	Best Madden ever made? While I can't disagree or agree at the moment, that is a big statement.

Eh, not really. All the current gen Maddens have been sub par at best. And the PS2 versions and earlier are simply outclassed by the tech of today's, albeit aging, consoles. So all they really had to do to make the best Madden ever was to make a game that looks good, plays well most of the time, and is fun overall. And from what I've seen and played, they've done just that.

# 19 Tyrant8RDFL @ 08/27/12 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big FN Deal


	I essentially just posted this in the RateSports review thread but it applies here too. I think this was a very well done review however, I disagree with your score. I don't understand a 8.5 out of 10 overall rating unless "10" is meant to be the best Madden to date, opposed to the best NFL football video game to date. On my 10 point scale, the latter would be the pinnacle and Madden 13 doesn't seem that close. Considering how games like The Show and NBA2k are using real time presentation, that alone makes the presentation in M13, seem archaic and drives the overall down. If I had to give an overall score using my 1-10 scale, at this point I would say M13 is a 7 at best due to graphics driving up the average. I don't see how it could get a rating much higher considering the issues with player movement, blocking representation including OL/DL, unpolished network broadcast presentation which is not being synced well as a compliment to commentary, AI( which I think includes penalites and challenge logic), player ratings and a lack of User customization options.

Nailed it.

How this game received a 8.5 when so many of the fundamentals are off is beyond comprehension. I guess when you say its the best Madden this gen you tend to think it deserves a 8.5, but you can't look at it that way. You have to look at it as a product of the NFL, and how well does EA translate the authenticity of the sport, along with presentation, and features.

The game is not authentic where it matters most. Line interaction. Madden fails big time in this area. Its not authentic with how LB's attack the run. It is not authentic where you RB runs into his offensive lineman and collapses like he has been shot, and the list goes on and on.

The presentation is still way below standards. The computer A.I calls a horrible game in the closing minutes.

CCM which is a nice addition , but major features were sacrificed for it, so it is still greatly incomplete. They even admitted its the beginning of something special, and things had to be removed for it, which again means it is incomplete.

Listen I'm not bashing the game. I will buy it , but I'm just stating that there are way too many important elements of the game that are not done correctly in madden.

Can Madden be fun, yes it can, but this game is not a 8.5 by any stertch. It is a 7 at best.

A 7 mean its a good game. 8.5 means it's a excellent game, and Madden 13 is not a excellent game.

For Madden to be a excellent game. It has to have a realistic pocket. Realistic line interaction. Realistic WR and Db interaction. A Realistic QB passing game. I just named a few of the elements of the game, and madden is not realistic in any of these areas, so how can it be a 8.5 when a few of the very important aspects of the sport are not translated accurately in the game?

Didn't MLB the show receive a 8.5, and that game is as close as it gets to be a perfect duplication of the sport. MLB The Show gets a 8.5 then Madden in no way gets a 8.5

# 20 bigsmallwood @ 08/27/12 08:51 PM

Wow. This is a nice review, but not nearly as thorough as it should be. And I cannot say that I agree with the 8.5 score. Like one reader said, if it's out of 10 as far as the best Madden then sure...but as a sports title on its own merit...absolutely not. There are too many things missing, and plenty of hiccups that keep Madden 13 from being an elite sports title.

And I agree with Wheelman990...no more talk of 3 year plans or dev cycles....#JustBringit

I truly believe that Madden 13 is worthy of a 7 or 7.5 out of 10. Nothing more. We are 8 years in...the game should be more complete at this point. We keep scoring Madden like this because there is no alternative to keep it honest.

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