The fact that Metacritic gave any of those games a rating of 80 or higher should be proof positive to me that they are some of the reviews used for the "Metascore" were done by complete, well name calling solves nothing. But the fact remains that the validity of game magazine and site reviews is questionable, especially in the case of magazines because the vast majority of their advertisements are paid for by gaming companies.
So, while according to these "meta ratings" the game may not qualify as a flop - anyone who ever played M05 or M06 on PS2 for any length of time has to recognize the entire 360 era for Madden as a gigantic flop.
M12, M13, M25 were all decent games - but there are still things that baffle the mind. From draft class issues (huge numbers of 80 + spd DTs) to menu gosh awfulness, to game play issues we have had for the entirety of 360's run. There is the OL/DL issues, WR/DB issues - the terrible and convoluted "precision modifier", huge holes in CFM like no UDRFA period, no ability to see a roster list of FAs, we still can only trade 3 for 3, despite NFL trades that have recently included as many as 5 "items" on either side, and historical trades that have included even higher numbers.
CPU teams still draft QBs in the first RD 3 years in a row, the wind direction arrow is backwards, the CPU is allotted 0 XP for practice, and on and on and on and on...
The entire 360 era of Madden is a giant flop - the fact that an NBA game is even remotely on par in sales is a disgrace. Madden, if it was handled properly should be doubling NBA2K's sales, period.
And for the record M25, which is the least horrible of 360 era Maddens - only has a 76 on Metacritic;
http://www.metacritic.com/game/plays...critic-reviews