[atc43]

I agree with many other posters here, good review but he left out a lot of the issues in the game. As for the grade, if we are looking at it in terms of past Maddens this gen then...

M06 - 5, M07 - 5.5, M08 - 5.5, M09 - 6, M10 - 7, M11 - 7, M12 - 7.5

Id give Madden 13 that 8/8.5, strictly comparing its body of work to past Maddens this generation.

But in terms of representing the sport of Football I Give Madden 13 - 7.5 which like others have stated isnt a bad score at all and shows that they are indeed making progress. The other Maddens from this gen(especially 06-09) would get their grades bumped down in this criteria.

When people say Look at 2k Basketball or MLB The Show they say it because those games deliver the most compelling and realistic experience of the sport theyre trying to simulate. 2k indeed has its flaws but what game doesnt? The difference between say 2k and the Live series is that it represents Basketball much more effectively. Ive never even played The Show and i see how great of a game that is just by watching videos.

It makes me wonder if there was a competitor for Madden would it end up like the Live series is now? I mean 2k became the more "sim" of the 2 over the years and Live stayed with its slightly arcadey, for lack of a better word, gameplay style. And look where Live is now. Would madden be in the same shoes as Live if there was a competitor? We'll never know. But all we do know is that Madden is finally headed in the right direction. By no means is M13 Polished Marble, it is however, a solid stepping stone.