Madden NFL 12

[Danimal]

I've just seen this scenario play out too many times Dan.

I know you're trying to be funny but there is a big difference between trying something for yourself and letting other people decide your actions.

[AJColossal]

The Madden series is in this perpetual state of "moving in the right direction" without ever quite getting there.

[Bill_Abner]

Thanks Bill, are you playing on All Pro?

The lvls are hard to define, really.

Technically I'm playing on "Custom"

[Danimal]

Well one game with those sliders and they definitely helped. Also turning the game speed to Slow helped as well.

[Rodster]

I've just seen this scenario play out too many times Dan.

I know you're trying to be funny but there is a big difference between trying something for yourself and letting other people decide your actions.

If it didn't cost money i'd say you're right. I'll wait for more impressions to trickle in first. I've read initial impressions from the masses stating it was a solid game and the best in awhile to ah crap you got to be kidding me comments.

[Aristo]

I have my sliders, right now, as follows (going off memory here, my daughter has confiscated the TV this morning and NHL 12 literally just showed up so a fight is about to breakbliloick out)

You can pretty much stop wasting time on Madden now. I want to hear about NHL 12!

[Lancer]

can't believe how many negative impressions and reviews are popping up thus far. It's lower my excitement level now. Most complaints are on the CPU running. One guy posted how the CPU running game in NCAA is almost like playing a human while in Madden 12, it's like playing...........Madden 06/07/08/09. guess he was pointing out it's not changed in 5 years.

Then I saw the gamespot review video where the guy ends the video review giving it a 7.5 and saying that madden is like a veteran football player past his prime and ready for retirement. WTF!

It's getting me depressed, but I'm still looking forward to it.

But in the meantime, I've found a lot of new play in ncaa and have been playing that in prep for madden. That game is good to play in spurts for me but i really need madden to be good this year. I need some NFL. I don't think I can go back to playing M10 anymore.

[Danimal]

Well 2nd game with Bill's sliders and I got beat by Carolina 24-6. Of course 14 of those points were by the Carolina defense a pick 6 and a fumble recovered for a TD. Still game feels a bit better with those and I even saw a Defensive PI call on the CPU.

[Diablo25]

I have my sliders, right now, as follows (going off memory here, my daughter has confiscated the TV this morning and NHL 12 literally just showed up so a fight is about to breakbliloick out)

You can pretty much stop wasting time on Madden now. I want to hear about NHL 12!

Hell yeah!

[Bill_Abner]

I have my sliders, right now, as follows (going off memory here, my daughter has confiscated the TV this morning and NHL 12 literally just showed up so a fight is about to breakbliloick out)

You can pretty much stop wasting time on Madden now. I want to hear about NHL 12!

Hell yeah!

Was told today...the embargo lifts September 6th.

[Sport73]

Paid for EA early access and gave Madden a go this evening. The good news about paying $25 for EA's early access is that it saved me from wasting $60 on Madden 2012. I'll try a few more games, but NCAA plays a much better game of football, and Madden commentary is so bad I can barely stand to play the game with the volume on...some examples:

They credited Wes Welker for his arm and patience in the pocket after a TD pass from Brady.
The announcer said excitedly that I found the open man for a HUGE gain, on a 4 yard sideline completion.

pathetic.

gameplay feels choppy compared to NCAA as well.

Pass...

[Rodster]

Paid for EA early access and gave Madden a go this evening. The good news about paying $25 for EA's early access is that it saved me from wasting $60 on Madden 2012. I'll try a few more games, but NCAA plays a much better game of football, and Madden commentary is so bad I can barely stand to play the game with the volume on...some examples:

They credited Wes Welker for his arm and patience in the pocket after a TD pass from Brady.
The announcer said excitedly that I found the open man for a HUGE gain, on a 4 yard sideline completion.

pathetic.

gameplay feels choppy compared to NCAA as well.

Pass...

See that's what I was trying to say earlier. Every year the initial response is it's the best Madden ever, then when more and more start playing it that's when we find what is broken. I still have M10 so I have something for my NFL fix.

[MizzouRah]

Is it worth $40? That's what I paid after my $20 Amazon credit.

[Teal]

Still the best NCAA ever...

[tjung0831]

Is it worth $40? That's what I paid after my $20 Amazon credit.

Nope

[MizzouRah]

Is it worth $40? That's what I paid after my $20 Amazon credit.

Nope

Watching the Patriots - Lions game has me taking the hit and getting it anyway..

[Lancer]

Ok, at least it's better than that M11 garbage right?

[Aristo]

Ok, at least it's better than that M11 garbage right?

Yes, but it is still so lacking. It's not a broke game. It's just that NCAA is just 100X more fun.

I suckered myself into paying $25 to get the early release. My impression is that on the field, NCAA feels better. I love how NCAA calls plays much more. the No-Huddle system should be implemented in every football game from now on. I like the gameplan strategies and the option to cheat run or pass while on defense.

NCAA has 120 teams and so many more varied styles of play. The number of teams allows for a much more interesting spread of talent. Recruiting is a much more fun way to manage your roster than free agency and a draft.

Add to that that the gameplay just feels better in NCAA, and Madden feels like it should be a budget title. It does look 100X than NCAA, but the presentation is so much worse that it balances that out.

I love the NFL, so I can see picking this up midseason, either used or on sale. It's an decent game, and I would say it is even better than Madden 10. So if you want an NFL game, it's not going to be something that is unbearable. But if you just want some football. NCAA 12 is light years ahead of Madden at this point.

[JRod]

Ok, at least it's better than that M11 garbage right?

Yes, but it is still so lacking. It's not a broke game. It's just that NCAA is just 100X more fun.

I suckered myself into paying $25 to get the early release. My impression is that on the field, NCAA feels better. I love how NCAA calls plays much more. the No-Huddle system should be implemented in every football game from now on. I like the gameplan strategies and the option to cheat run or pass while on defense.

NCAA has 120 teams and so many more varied styles of play. The number of teams allows for a much more interesting spread of talent. Recruiting is a much more fun way to manage your roster than free agency and a draft.

Add to that that the gameplay just feels better in NCAA, and Madden feels like it should be a budget title. It does look 100X than NCAA, but the presentation is so much worse that it balances that out.

I love the NFL, so I can see picking this up midseason, either used or on sale. It's an decent game, and I would say it is even better than Madden 10. So if you want an NFL game, it's not going to be something that is unbearable. But if you just want some football. NCAA 12 is light years ahead of Madden at this point.

At first I thought the season pass was a waste of money. But to try out Madden and not buy it. That's worth $25. To try out NHL (since I'd rather play with college hockey team) and get 3 days of FIFA before I buy it. It's worth it to me.

After thinking about this. EA is pretty smart at times, think about it...

They take your $25 or a rental place takes it. They would rather have your $25 than let you not buy the game, rent it or buy a used copy mid-season.

It will be interesting to see if madden's sales number are drastically low, if so I think the season pass will probably be a one-year thing. Unless they made so much money that it doesn't matter.

And it's not like you have to spend the money to unlock a "full" game. Season pass is a win-win after thinking about it. And it works for next year's NCAA, Tiger and FIFA street.

[dbdynsty25]

I guess I'm just blind to all these issues, because I think it's arguably the best Madden yet. The animations for the running game are light years better than they've been in the past making it really fun to get your 3 yards and a cloud of dust. I just played against the Pats on All-Pro and lost an 18-17 nailbiter. Errant throws (from Henne of course) are a thing of beauty, especially when you're on your back foot or moving. The only issue I found in the game was the Pats going for 2 when they were down 14-9 (a fg and a td)...to pull within 3 with 5 min. left in the 3rd quarter. That was really strange. But that's literally the only glaring thing I saw.

I guess it's good to be just an average gamer and to play the game for what it is...entertainment. Some of y'all are just way too picky.

PS: Love NCAA 2012 as well. So yeah...two great games as far as I'm concerned.

[MizzouRah]

Since you can't change the clock run off, how many minute quarters are you guys using?

[Aristo]

Since you can't change the clock run off, how many minute quarters are you guys using?

Last night I went with 8 minute quarters and got 68 plays from scrimmage. Since 120 is ideal, it would seem like close to 15 would be closer to realistic. But I don't think it worked out exactly like that, so maybe 10-12 would work.

[sportdan30]

I'm still planning on picking this game up on Tuesday. I was that impressed with the demo. Some of you guys are making it out to be that the majority of the impressions are
negative. That's completely not true. Several people have echoed Db's sentiments about the core game play being great and one of their favorite Maddens ever. Of course,
the minority will be the loudest spoken, but I from all the impressions I have read, the positive reviews are out weighing the negative ones.

The only thing that is disappointing me to hear is that the commentary is garbage. I fully expected it to be the weak link, but it sounds like it's far worse than I even could have
imagined. However, if it plays similarly to the demo, I will be extremely happy. Now in my upper 30s, I'm far more looking for an entertaining game more so than a pure
simulator.

To each their own...as always.

[bkrich83]

I'm still planning on picking this game up on Tuesday. I was that impressed with the demo. Some of you guys are making it out to be that the majority of the impressions are
negative. That's completely not true. Several people have echoed Db's sentiments about the core game play being great and one of their favorite Maddens ever. Of course,
the minority will be the loudest spoken, but I from all the impressions I have read, the positive reviews are out weighing the negative ones.

The only thing that is disappointing me to hear is that the commentary is garbage. I fully expected it to be the weak link, but it sounds like it's far worse than I even could have
imagined. However, if it plays similarly to the demo, I will be extremely happy. Now in my upper 30s, I'm far more looking for an entertaining game more so than a pure
simulator.

To each their own...as always.

Definitely to each his own. I've never really been a big madden fan, although I've pretty much played every version of NCAA to death, this coule be the year NCAA collects dust and madden us my game of choice.

Last night I played back to back games of madden, and if it wasn't so damn late I would have played a third. I don't think I have played two games of madden in a row since the Sega Genesis days.

[10spro]

If you're a frequent EA customer buying the season pass is a no brainer. For those people on the fence, spending 25 bucks which will let you play earlier games like NHL and FIFA later on is better than forking out the full 60 and then hate Madden.

Personally, I am keeping the full game, I started with a couple of slider adjustments yesterday and I had a couple of thrillers as well. If you're lowering your default user numbers below 75, upping the CPU to the late 90's and speed threshold to about 80, the games are much more challenging.

Changes are still subtle compared to 11 but if you haven't played Madden in awhile for whatever reason, 12 is a worthy pick up.