Madden 12 demo Review - schnaidt1's Blog

schnaidt1's Blog

Madden 12 demo Review

Posted on August 10, 2011 at 04:05 PM.

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This is my personal review. no "pro's" or "con's" here. just my thoughts on different aspects of the demo i have noticed.

i have been playing on all pro. i only use the packers because i am a huuge packer fan, thus making it impossible for me to use the bears. im sorry. the only change i have made is put speed to slow and threshold down to 35.

Madden team decided to leave out commentary for the demo. and honestly, i couldnt be happier. everyone and their mom knows all anyone would do is complain about the commentary. just like the last 3 years. so why put it in the demo. by not adding it. it forces people to focus on the gameplay and presentation aspects of the game.

some would like the crowd noises to be a little louder. and i personally wouldnt mind. but i am sure there will be a slider for that in the full game so dont worry. its really impossible to know what the crowd level is at right now.

the new tackling engine is very noticeable. tackles look great. and even the animations we recognize from past years still are a lil diff from the new engine. the only thing i would change is that there seem to be way to many big hits in situations that it doesnt really seem plausible.

punt return blocking has major issues, i am certain this is fixed in final build.

there are some ice skating issues in the demo. this is an older build so they may be fixed in the final game. however switching the game speed to slow did seem to make a difference and reduced the sliding by players.

this game is very different than ncaa 12 to me. in ncaa 12 passing was made harder already, but then add to that the fact u hardly have any pass blocking. in the madden demo so far. i have thrown a pick in every single game. sometimes multiple. and all but one have been completely my fault. the reason why is that i have become naturally used having to hurry a throw out to a receiver i think will be open. but recently i have started to realize that a pocket does form. and i have had 4-5 seconds to find a receiver. i gave myself extra time because i stepped up in the pocket. started scrambling to the right and found a wide open jordy nelson running accross the field same direction as me. hit him for an 11 yard gain on a 3rd and 10. it felt really good.

i have a love hate relationship with the passing game. it feels alot better, and more natural when passing. the ball has a better trajectory on it. and the qb moves more natural when throwing. here is why i hate it. u are still unable to lead your receiver unless u loft the ball. this makes it impossible to lead a receiver and put it in between a tight space. u also cant anticipate a route. if a wr is running a deep comeback. i know when he is about to break and come back. in the nfl, the ball is out of the qbs hand before the wr makes his break. in madden 12 if u do that. the wr keeps running a deep route which leads to it being intercepted or swatted away. i wish there was a way they could fix that in a patch or something.

everyone has been complaining about play action passing. im not sure why. i have only been sacked 1 out of the 10 times i have used it. if u ESTABLISH the run. that is the emphasis, establish. if u run the ball 3 times for 4 yards. play action wont work. if u run it 5 for 27 yards. it will work.

the problem with the demo is that it is 5 min quarters yes. but with a 25 second run off. its really like a 3 min quarter game. it makes someone not want to run the ball because it uses so much clock. its not hard to take up a quarter in a half running the ball and using the short passing game on 1 drive. so to get more game time. I pass almost all the time. i wish we could get a game without clock run off so we could get more possessions and a greater feel for how the game shifts.

dpp is present. just not really on the user side of the ball. i know alot of people complaing about how fast a rod and cutler are. i'll admit they are really quick when first taking off. but in the open field i dont think the game is off on their speed. a rod has a good rushing average. in older versions of madden. i was impossible to get similar numbers with him. also i notice people complain abuot cutler taking off and running on them alot. i had this happen to me only 1 time. and it was after i had sacked him alot. his dpp was tuck and run: often. so he was just doing what he felt compelled to avoid a sack. i saw nothing wrong with it.

the ability to choose a run or pass out of gameflow is nice. but the logic on the play calling is still off. i only use gameflow. and i had 2nd and 1 and greenbay called a pass in gameflow. i didnt get it so on 3rd and 1 called another pass. seems like a run would be a better choice. on defense the gameflow is compelling also. i was trying to stop chicago to get the ball back in the 4th quarter. they were just running the clock and gameflow kept calling a 3-4 zone blitz. this let forte tear me up cuz they were in a jumbo formation. i ended up losing 17-14.

I have seen alot of complaints on replays. idk, i havent had that problem. i threw a 80 yard catch and run touchdown pass to greg jennings last night as time expired to win the game and it showed the full replay. 3 times in a row after i scored. then after the game ended and it was showing game highlights. it showed the full play a 4th time. i havent had a single replay cut short. which is very nice.

i havent noticed much suction which is good, i have noticed some suction or warping to the football on passing plays. not sure what the correct term is. but the ball is ahead of the receiver and he shouldnt be able to catch it. but suddenly has a super speed break to the ball and makes the catch. hopefully this is fixed in final build.

i have seen some absolutely gorgeous pass and catch animations that are new to the game. and made me go wow.

the graphics and player models look very good. the addition of hdr lighting in next years game will put it graphically over the top.

when making adjustments at the line of scrimmage. i wish the qb would do more then the generic point. i remember in madden 08 they had the lil camera in the top right or left and it showed him. and he also did adjustments and looked more like a real life qb would. i would like to see that brought back.

the kicking meter and camera angle = joygasm! i actually missed a field goal. and yes it felt great. to those of you complaining that the meter didnt register your 3rd button press. here is a trick for you. instead of resting your thumb on the x or a button. bring it all the way off for each press. forcing you to bring it all the way back down with force. do that and u will have no more issues.

still cant figure out how to surprise onside kick. it isnt in the game controls and being its a new addition you would think they would tell you how to do it somewhere in the game.

replays look good. i wish that some were from the broadcast camera angle.

ultimately this will be a very good game by release and perhaps a great game after a patch or 2. the game play will be very solid. their are some minor issues in the passing game (offense and defense) that need to be addressed. but other than that this should be a very good game with long replay value.

other things i am curious about such as qb quick snaps. and what happens to presentation elements in franchise after say year 1 or year 10. do they have generic things to talk about in a player to watch or is it just gonna be gone. cuz so far all the players to watch start off with the players name and specifically address him.

those of you who been having issues with running or passing and play action and etc. try running a balanced offense. try running draws if u pass alot. the more realistic the play calling. the more realistic the results. that is what i have noticed so far.

conclusion: the demo brings a lot to the table. the presentation is great. graphics are amazing. and the gameplay seems very fresh. however with the game being reduced to 3 min quarters because of accel clock it makes it impossible to feel a huge difference in the flow of the game using dpp and setting up the defense with different plays. thus i give the demo a solid

7 out of 10.