Review | Madden NFL 12

If you’re like me and haven’t bought this title for a season or so, now is the time to do so. Madden 12 is bigger, better and easier and for an NFL fan and that’s good because while listening to the experts pontificate on ESPN can be fun, learning the intricacies of a complicated sport can be brain numbing.

No other sports sim has had so much loyalty or success for so long than Madden because it continually evolves. But a warning: If you’re into the graphics, cut scenes and excellence that you’d expect from this franchise you’ll be disappointed. The commentary lags, I had two trainers tending to a non-existent player in an online game and there’s a distinct lack of replays. A good game is a fast game but I do like marvelling at my own genius when I manage to convert my first 3rd down after 8 attempts and it’s a touchdown.

Online is where I get amongst Madden and by all accounts the franchise mode has been pumped up with all sorts of bells and whistles like the ability to cut players and hot and cold streaks are accentuated in a season. Also there’s the title feature that’s returned when a player will get a tag from his playing form and that will stick through a season.

Playing online is easier now. Rosters are constantly updated and the ability to find players at your own level is reassuringly easy. No one likes getting pumped by the worst team in the league because some homer has found the creases in the system to exploit your weaknesses as a rookie defender.

Play calling is the big turn off for most with so many lines, squiggles and variations it looks all too complicated but the ‘Madden’ feature remains and is easier to handle for both sides of the ball. One aspect of the online feature I do like is the ability to rate your opponent’s play as a fellow gamer. It brings certain respectability to it all and that’s something other online beasts lack. One other thing though, can we please have the ‘sprint’ button back? I know it’s unrealistic but it’s a video game, not real life.

If you’re a Madden swot then this edition may not be for you and fair enough, it lacks a few features that would make this a true goliath of sports sims like it used to be but if you want an updated version with smoother online features and easy access to play fellow gamers then I thoroughly recommend it.  [7.5]