Madden NFL 12 Season in Review

[Cardot]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Season in Review

I can't exactly put my finger on it, but for whatever reason, I just can't get into the game. Which is odd, because on paper, it has most everything I am looking for. I am not the most hard-core Madden gamer, so I am not really phased by many of the complaints here on OS. With sliders, I am able to get competitive games with the CPU (I win some, I lose some), and the stats are acceptable for me. I think the visuals are great.

While the outcomes of games are generally fine, I guess my issue is that it just doesn't seem like I have much to do with those outcomes. It often seems that the CPU pretty much decides how the game will play out. I'll make a dumb throw right to a defender, and he'll just bat it down. And then I'll make a rare good play only to have a defender defy the of physics to make a pic. I have seen the CPU with a ball carrier with clear daylight to put a game out of reach mysteriously cut to the outside, getting tackled before the 1st down marker which kept me in the game.

I felt this way about Madden 10 as well. But I also play NCAA12, and while I have some issue with that game as well, it feels different. Odd.

[bobtrain]

I think this article could have gone into more depth. We should all be talking about the gameplay issues (good and bad) because frankly that's what kills or makes a game successful. I do think Madden has gone backwards in regards to gameplay.

[rm80rams]

Its pointless to even talk about Madden. We all know their game will stay mediocre and hardly improve year after year. They have so many casual gamers and fanboys that get the game regardless if it is good or bad. Unless the impossible happens and EA dramatically improves the game, hardcore gamers shouldn't even waste their time on this game. The only way that developers will be motivated to actually improve the game is if EA gives up the NFL license and 2K makes football games again because then there will be competition.

[deacon21206]

Good:

Defensive A.I. got better

Passing game got better.

Bad:

That doesn't really say too much due to the fact that it was horrendous last year.

The disabling of a true hit stick.

Dynamic player mechanic didn't function properly. ( leading to missing wide open wrs or excessive amount of drops or missed tackles.)

Overall player logic at times. (blocking, zone coverage, tackling angles.)

Ugly:

The lack of animations for catches, tackles, movement, OL/DL, WR/DB, an overall physicality.

No real physics system. In regards to momentum, cutbacks, speed, or weight

The over powered cut and chop blocks.

Bad passing angles.

Exploiting broken mechanics in the system was way more affective than having football knowledge or better play calling.

Attributes way to often seem not to even matter.

[packerbacker12]

Hey Armor & Sword -

I really appreciated your take on the game. It sounds like we approach Madden in the same way. I feel like the people who gripe about every little thing go in looking to find the flaws. I just don't go in that way. Anyway, I'm wondering what set of sliders you use to get games that you like. My xbox as been out of commission since July but I just picked up a nice new flat screen and am going to go pick up Madden 12 this weekend.

Owned every Madden up until '11 but I think I'm going to come late to the Madden 12 party. Anyway, if you could let me know what slider set you enjoy I would appreciate it.

Later

[Dazraz]

When the inclusion of a proper working Injured Reserve system stands out as being my favourite new feature in Madden 12 it quickly becomes apparent how, yet again, last years game was another lame annual update.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Season in Review

Hey Armor & Sword -

I really appreciated your take on the game. It sounds like we approach Madden in the same way. I feel like the people who gripe about every little thing go in looking to find the flaws. I just don't go in that way. Anyway, I'm wondering what set of sliders you use to get games that you like. My xbox as been out of commission since July but I just picked up a nice new flat screen and am going to go pick up Madden 12 this weekend.

Owned every Madden up until '11 but I think I'm going to come late to the Madden 12 party. Anyway, if you could let me know what slider set you enjoy I would appreciate it.

Later

Sent you a PM.

[adfletch71]

Madden12 was ok and slightly better than Madden11. Taking out suction tackles, camera angles and intros, we still have the same issues that have plagued this series since next- gen. Honestly after 7 years on next gen and countless pleading from the community, the developers should be ashamed of issues that remain in the game. Lack of true penalties especially pass interference, Challenge system, mirroring of WR/CB, OL/DL interactions, No true Immersion with presentation..etc. These things have held Madden back for years and it's time for these guys too step up and stop with the foolishness. The time with catering too the casual crowd & tournament guys are over. If u can't give us a true simulation style game, then why bring NFL blitz back? Developers, stop with the punch lines and give us what we see on Sunday's, it's more than beautiful graphics and logos. Between the lines are not true NFL football and since u are the only NFL game we can choose from, it's your duty too ensure us as consumers the best replication of the sport. It will be 8 years on consoles with Madden13, enough is enough!!!! SIMULATION or Continue too loose sales every year and u have too find other ways too make up for the looses. SIMULATION football or BUST!!!!!!

[oilersfanatic]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Season in Review

The ugly
Franchise with Bills, 5 years, no snow.

And the weather was fixed

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Season in Review

The ugly
Franchise with Bills, 5 years, no snow.

And the weather was fixed

Wow. That sucks.

[Gorsi]

one word - commentary

[knighthawksfan]

Madden 12 was garbage

[barkleycb34]

^Agreed !! I know they dumb this game down so everyone can play it but they need to make drastic changes to "Defense". Pass rush is nonexistent and blitzing is easily exploited. I'm tired of 40-50 shootouts every game. Oh yeah, how about calling a penalty every now and then.

[amodernist]

i agree with a lot of what has been said by other users that this review only touches the surface... especially if you are more than a casual gamer. presentation and gameplay are somewhat better, but could be much improved, after all those years. but what i'd like to focus on are a couple of other things, regarding the much publicized franchise mode: i was happy to hear that they brought in the guy from head coach 09 to fix the franchise mode, to make it deeper and more immersive. although HD09 was far from perfect, you had all sorts of elements to juggle with that made managing a franchise more of a challenge in the long run. although the reviewer thinks M12 is a step in the right direction, but i think it brought a lot of setbacks. first of all, the new UDFA system is *totally broken*. seems like a detail, but it carries a lot of consequences. every single off season, CPU teams would sign a whole bunch of scrub UDFA (50 OVR D Pot) wearing ridiculous eyesore gear and, consequently, cut high draft picks and even very serviceable players. the FA pool would then be filled with talent, which meant i had to control every team, and spend upwards to 1 hour every offseason to cut every UDFA to fix the rosters prior to offseason (thereby canceling the need for an offseason). cutting a lot of players is a pain, as the menus are poorly designed, i had to cut every single player (why can't i select multiple players at a time?) since i control every team, that means i can't trade with the CPU (without choosing what is fair or not), missing on the so-called "improved trade logic". i'm OK with having some "house rules", but it's annoying when you feel like YOU have to make the game work, when the GAME you paid for should work to begin with. most importantly,, salary cap is broken. that's a big deal if you play multiple seasons. contract "negotiation" is a joke, and every single team in the NFL would have huge cap space, meaning they never really had to make tough decisions as to who they had to cut. overall, as a sim gamer with a lot of interest in front office stuff, i just felt like franchise mode, which was so hyped, was predictable and kind of stale. no draft presentation to speak of is terrible, as it is such a huge part of the NFL season.

anyway, my point is this: EA has to make a decision and really ask themselves what/who they want to focus on. as it is, i feel like they kind of want to do a bit of everything, and end up doing not very much of anything, only to the benefit of people who play the game a few times a year. this is disappointing for people who want to play a lot more. other sports games have managed to make front office stuff matter, so i don't buy that you can't have both good gameplay/presentation and good front office. if you can't do it, then EA ought to consider producing another head coach-type installment for sim-heads. or, let other companies develop NFL games that are more focused on the sim aspects of football. my two cents.

[chrisd70]

I agree that the commentary was awful. I think a big part of the limited commentary that they have to pay big names like Collinsworth and Gus Johnson to read lines.

What if they took a couple of actors like 2k used to do and have them read a lot more lines so it wouldn't get so stale? Sure, the game is named after an announcer so this may be heresy, but let's face it--the commentary has not been good in a long long time.

Another observation about the franchise mode is that it lacks any feeling of continuity. Take NBA 2k's franchise mode, for example. The announcers reference upcoming and previous games. There are "ads" for upcoming games. It takes the immersion to a whole new level. Madden's franchise feels like you're playing a series of Exhibition games that have no relation to one another. Take away injuries and the draft scouting process and that's basically what it is. Madden's franchise mode needs more glue.