Madden NFL 13 Review (PS3/360)

[phantomremix]

for Madden 13 Update #1:

Please add fantasy draft to the connected career and add the ability to coach your games in connected careers (currently you can coach your games on the exhibition games, but it doesn't work in connected careers) If it has something to do with rankings than make it available only for Private online connected careers. They took both of these options out of last year's game and those are the two main things we do, draft our own teams and coach them.

[l8knight1]

I need to spend more time with the game, but so far for me, passing is more fun and much better and I'm trying to get the hang of running. Running isn't as pretty as passing, and I've always thought the simple running animations since the next gen Madden was implemented were always weird and blocky looking. It used to be exciting when a runner broke away on ps2, now you wonder when the guy is gonna really sprint. Running animations are a bit robotic. I'm trying to fix settings to make the interface work better for me. Seems to be a lot of button mashing to get to menus I want, and menus are slow to react. This would improve entire experience. I also have never seemed to have gotten the camera views that I loved in the PS2 versions of Madden. For me, a better angle would improve my impressions on running. I feel I have little control initially on a run play because of it, but again, will spend more time with it. I've been a huge Madden fan since inception, and I do have to say that next gen had lost my interest for some time, but this new game is pretty and shows more potential and has me interested again. I used to love editing players as well. I was a huge fan of historic rosters and that has been gone for some time, but the NFL has had a LOT to say about editing current unis and players to EA, like it or not. Other issues with historic player/team editing includes lawsuits from the likes of Jim Brown, so I understand where EA tries to find a middle road. In the end, it's all about what happens on the field, and overall the game plays really well and I'm looking forward to some head to head and work in the lab. As for what I've read in this forum, I'm disappointed in the bashing as opposed to holding off and offering some solid feedback and advice on gameplay settings and setup that would help everyone. I look forward to everyone's feedback after some good lab time of your own.

P.S. Any old Maddenmania guys out there?

[lewski19]

The game on the field is fine, but they have completely ruined the offline franchise mode. Why do you take away people's options? I just cannot understand why games feel the need to limit our choices as players and force us to play the game only there way. I wish I had not bought the game, the offline franchise is all I and my friends care about and it is awful. Also, the menu screens are clumsy and awkward. I just do not get why they changed things that were fine. They have never completely restored franchise mode to what it was before the PS3 and 360 came out, and now we have taken an even bigger step backwards.

[l8knight1]

I keep hearing the same thing and I am mostly an offline player, so I look forward to seeing what has changed franchise-wise.

[Juggernaut55]

WOWWWWW no 2 player franchise/connected careers is really killing this game for me right now...me and my brother can't play together besides exhibition games? FAIL

[sentry85]

The game on the field is great except for spinning players after the play. the commentary is woeful. i spiked the ball to stop the clock and the commentary was that the qb and the rec were not on the same page. after every big run simms says what the big run does is take the will out of the defense. the CCM is also horrible. tough to find the page you want, you can't scout enough players for the draft. players are rated for a scheme and teams cannot change schemes. you can't edit players positions. It just takes too long to go from week to week. i like some of the ideas and control of choosing how players advance, but it needs to really be streamlined. i've been playing madden since floppy disks were actually floppy. this might be my last.

[btemp]

Re: Madden NFL 13 Review (PS3/360)

EA did not say they did nothing to line play. They actually said they tweaked and tuned line play this year because an overhaul was not possible right now. Most people agree that the line play is better... Still needs overhauled but it is better than last year.

"Tweaking" line play is the equivalent of doing nothing. Line play has been "tweaked" every year now since what, Madden 05? I don't count "tweaking" as doing something. And short of this review, every opinion I've read of OL/DL play has been negative (ie. same old problems).

[SamoanSteelerFromAus]

I've seen the phrase "headed in the right direction" about this game all through this board, and maybe people are optimistic, but I'm sorry, I can't give this title and EA another year off. It's going on 7 years and this franchise has gotten by on it's name alone not it's reputation of a great game. While other sports titles such as The Show, NBA 2K, and FIFA, and even the WWE titles on THQ have flourished, but Madden is still trying to find itself on this gens consoles. Every year we are introduced to new modes and features while previous modes we thought would be built upon have fallen by the waist side.

The people who like this game, more power to them and I'm happy you are enjoying it. For individuals such as myself who demand a better product for the given price tag, I would promote not settling. Because that's how I would have felt if I would have given in and purchased this game. I've been around these boards long enough to know that constant bashing of any title does not result in progression of said title or discussions pertaining that title. I'll speak louder with my wallet, then any words I can ever type on OS.

Very well said bro. Im with ya.

[CalmLikeABomb]

Re: Madden NFL 13 Review (PS3/360)

After reading about Madden 13 on release day, I was really ready to cancel my preorder. I was going to a midnight release, but did not and waited for the next day. It is so confusing to really know if the game is going to be worth a purchase, when so many people are wanting so many different things from it. Me? I just wanted to play a fun game of football. I am not bashing anyone who doesn't like the game. Everyone has a right to their opinion.

I just wanted to give my opinion after playing for a few days. Madden 13 just feels more like football. It flows if that makes sense? I mean don't get me wrong a few things need to be tweaked, but for me it is the best football game of this generation.

I just played BAL vs NE an hour ago, and I had so much fun. I won the game 16-14 on a last second Field Goal. It really felt like I was watching these two teams play. Brady under pressure drives down the field to give the Pats a go ahead touchdown leaving me with 50 seconds left. I throw once to TE and run as fast as I can to sideline, leaving me with one timeout. One more throw over middle and am stopped at one yard line. Timeout and FG for the win. I have had so many close games like this, and it creates the drama we love in sports. At least for me. I say without hesitation this game deserves a 9, IMO.

[CalmLikeABomb]

Re: Madden NFL 13 Review (PS3/360)

I forgot to add, I went into gamestop to cancel my preorder and they had madden13 hooked up for 360. I played one of the managers, and won with a last second goal line stand. I turned to him, and said "this game is pretty damn good, it is fun". That is how I even purchased it. I am loving it. I hope those who have it have fun playing, after all isn't that what a game should be?

[JasonZimmerman]

I like to play in broadcast view. It looks great, and for me it's easier. And I like to edit player apperances. They FINALLY FINALLY got Soldier Field exact and now I can't do either!!! Unless I want to play games that don't mean anything! EA...F OFF!!!

[ddRick]

"there isn’t much that can top the pure ecstasy of sacking the quarterback."

Whatever. I can't stand playing the D-line... it seems so boring to me. I don't think anything is more satisfying than playing a receiver one on one and picking it off.... that takes skill, not just running straight for the QB and swimming around a blocker. I hate the stupid ball hawk feature though... now anybody can get picks and takes the skill out. But playing a FS from the start and jumping routes or getting matched up one on one with a slot receiver and getting picks is much better than getting sacks.

[treq21]

Everyone complains that "Madden is stale...they really need to change it" or " i feel like i am playing madden12.5"

So then EA changes some things up and people STILL aren't happy because "now I cant find anything", and, my favorite. "Madden is absolutely BROKEN this year"

Madden users are the hardest people to please in all of gaming. just play the game and have fun and enough with all the hand wringing.

[assclown25]

Treq i think what everyone is trying to say is all EA had to do is add the Infinity Engine and leave in Franchise, Player editing, Fantasy draft and ability to control more than 1 team at a time- these things are HUGE to offline players( like myself) Madden is good just seems like this yr its made for more online players than offline!

[treq21]

Treq i think what everyone is trying to say is all EA had to do is add the Infinity Engine and leave in Franchise, Player editing, Fantasy draft and ability to control more than 1 team at a time- these things are HUGE to offline players( like myself) Madden is good just seems like this yr its made for more online players than offline!

Then you would have the people saying that they cahnged very little and the game is madden 12.5...it never fails. I used to like the game a lot more before I started perusing these forums...the negativity here is ridiculous