Review: Madden NFL 12
Over the past few years American Football is starting to make a bigger impression on me. With all the previous games getting better and better each year it has made me hunger for more NFL.
One of the first things I noticed when playing Madden 12 was how much of an improvement the looks and appeal of the game has had. The presentation is something Madden has always been good with but the game looks even better this time around. This time Madden 12 has also started to mimic real NFL broadcasts, so new improved camera angels and better positioned camera angels make a huge difference when showing of the games graphical detail. Madden 12 mimics real NFL broadcasts this year with better-positioned camera angles and perfectly placed broadcast graphics, it also does give you the “watching it on tv” experience. The players have also had more details added to them, from the stickers and scuffs on helmets to the grass stains players earn on their jerseys. It’s a nice touch and really put’s realism into the field.
During playing Madden 12 I only come across a few things I didn’t like about the game. On of the main reasons was the commentary. Gus Johnson and Cris Collinsworth return this year, with far to many recycled lines from Madden 11. The commentary seems very inaccurate to the plays I was making and hearing the commentators say things that do not relate to the time of plays, such as shouting “that was a big gain” when you make a small pass that just barely goes over the line.
Players will notice a lot of improvements however with the issues of the commentators and other minor bugs. The Gameflow has had an upgrade and now allows players to scroll through plays much more sufficiently. You can now choose plays based on aggressive, conservative and gameplan-based. Previously this option was all done at a single button option which was as you may of known was worse, so its nice to see it have an upgrade. Ammature player like myself did find a lot of the plays confusing to work out what they were going to do however such as a cover 3 in a 3-4 set isn’t the same as a cover 3 in a nickel 2-4-5 formation. You really will need learn which plays work best with/against which team your up-against.
With the improved presentation and gameplay and better animations, EA have really focused on the animations this time around and making the player to player experience a more enjoyable one. There is a lot of variety that makes you feel that each player is unique to each other and each catch, hit and touchdown you make feels a little more special. The game seems to run more fluid and players seem to have improved which has somewhat made the previous version of madden to be ashamed that they didn’t include it in the previous years. You can even control the players up until the moment they collide with another player. The biggest issue of Madden 11 has been left out. Thank god for that, well EA.
Another improvement can also be noticed in blocks, tackles and catches along with any other type of animation within the game. Defending has improved but still falls a bit flat, a lot of the time I found my defence getting constantly broken into and loosing valuable yards/points. With the players reacting in a more fluid motion doesn’t really improve on the overall appeal but helps the gameplay move at a much faster rate. Something that Madden 11 needed.
Be an NFL superstar mode is back and this time has been turned into a mini RPG. Superstar mode in Madden 12 is exactly as it should be: creating a player and getting him to participate in games, practises and be awarded skill points. It’s very similar to FIFA’s Be a Pro mode. . Games go fast in superstar mode, and it will only take you a few hours to complete an entire season. Even though you can still earn skill points it is presented terribly and is very imbalanced. I managed to start my created player in a positive 66 overall and then after the first season he was already the best player in league. The incentive tends to run out quickly depending how good you are with your player.
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