VSN's Madden NFL 13 Review

[killgod]

I am really not liking what I am reading over at OS in the Impressions thread (I'm on page 14 but I read threads backwards, newest to oldest).

Don't get me wrong, they are saying good things also and I'm sure the first patch will take care of some of it.

It sounds to me like the biggest gripe is the CPU play calling, which I did experience in the demo (most noticeably , under 2 minutes)

Also, there is some kind of bug? (although, I'm sure its not the only one)

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/madden-nfl-football/570464-huge-man-coverage-bug-video-proof.html

I am normally an offline player, but I might play real people this year even though I always lose. But I really can't afford a new controller, so Twigg might actually get a matchup this year.

Yeah the play calling is terrible from them, no getting around it.


The man coverage bug I have not seen. Someone in that thread reported that if you are controlling a DL it happens, otherwise it does not. It's been suggested that while controlling the DL, you use the RS off the snap, but this is triggering "run commit" causing the DB's to sell out and stay home.

I don't control DL so that would explain why I've never seen it.

[spiker]

I am really not liking what I am reading over at OS in the Impressions thread (I'm on page 14 but I read threads backwards, newest to oldest).

Don't get me wrong, they are saying good things also and I'm sure the first patch will take care of some of it.

It sounds to me like the biggest gripe is the CPU play calling, which I did experience in the demo (most noticeably , under 2 minutes)

Also, there is some kind of bug? (although, I'm sure its not the only one)

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/madden-nfl-football/570464-huge-man-coverage-bug-video-proof.html

I am normally an offline player, but I might play real people this year even though I always lose. But I really can't afford a new controller, so Twigg might actually get a matchup this year.

EA does little to no QA on these games and relies too heavily on patching post-release. Par for the course really. Anyone who buys this game in the first week or two and posts these issues in forums has paid to be a de-facto Beta tester. Realize that if you choose to buy the game at or near release date, that the game is maybe 85%-90% finished. This is part of EA's business model and it's not changing any time soon.

[Saluki]

I feel like that's the general model for most games now. I can't remember the last major release I played that didn't need a patch. Skyrim (fucked up ps3 saves) ME 3(problems importing Shepard) 2k12, mlb the show, etc etc, even games with a multi year development cycle can come out with major issues. Hell the Skyrim bug made the game unplayable past a certain point. Not defending ea just saying that they aren't the only offender, if you buy any game release day you risk major bugs and usually have to wait a month or more for a patch.

Sent from my HTC MyTouch4G using Tapatalk 2

[ralaw]

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this game on Friday and I can say that I enjoy it. I haven't played Madden in years, because I sort of turned sour to the franchise, but with the changes made this year I thought I'd give it a go. It obviously has it's flaws here and there, but overall I enjoy the game. For me it feels realistic. I'm a casual Madden player, so you won't see me breaking down every aspect of the game. The passing game can be a bit easier then years past, but for me the run game feels about right. I haven't done anything with sliders. I play all-pro with the game speed set to slow.

[Acesuper]

Atlas, thank you for the review.. I trip out how back in the day a thread reviewing Madden this early would of been 8 pages deep by now.. How time flies.. I don't even have Madden on reserve this year (been like 5 years since I reserved Madden), getting it Thurs. Anyways, enough about me.

I'm concerned a little this year about Madden and my coaching/playing style. I have always been anti ratings. Always and forever. I always felt capable of getting the most out of any player on my team (Hence the name, Coach Ace). I feel, from user comments, that I might be losing some form of control over my....

...sigh...honestly I just don't know anymore... The pain won't go away and I just hope I can get on the sticks and get away from the bull for a few hours a week. Hopefully, I don't lose that too....

[Steel Mamba]

I'm still playing 2k8. which is still interesting to me considering the game's age.

How many years do you think you could continue to play Madden 13? 12? 11? 10? etc.

This is the make or break year for me, if Madden doesn't give me a better experience than a Generic football game with piss poor player models that's 5 years old, I've promised myself not to throw any more $ at EA.

Well put. The fact that 2k8 is still alive and active says a lot. It's been awhile since I jumped online with it, but I know there are still active leagues for it out there, and when I was playing there was always someone in the MP lobby. That's good proof that Madden still hasn't surpassed 2k, for some at least.

Personally, with all the talk of physics and the new engine I thought this would finally be the year that I get back into Madden. But, after a few minutes on the demo I'm already bored with it. The core mechanics still feel exactly the same, and while the game definitely looks amazing, and may even look realistic as well, I'm still not convinced that it plays very realistically. It still seems to be missing the core X's and O's and strategy aspect of the game. With EA football titles I never really find myself having to put much thought into what I do or how I approach another opponent. Maybe I need more time on it though, idk. I'm gonna keep an open mind and look for some gameplay vids of the retail version.

Overall, I'm sure it's a solid game I don't want to knock it in general. I just don't know if it's a game for everyone, sim fans included. What I care about is gameplay, all the franchise, superstar, and connected careers stuff I never play with anyway. Cool features, but I'm not interested in any of it. For sports games all I play is online ranked (which also means I can't fix the game with sliders) so the gameplay has to be superb and sim. With that said, I'm not going to throw my money at it if it doesn't deliver on that. They'll continue to go towards the casual gameplay if it continues to sell well, and once you buy it, that's it, you've given them your vote of approval. Even from a casual perspective though, it does seem odd that places like Gamespot are rating it low, when usually they give Madden high ratings even when the game was atrocious. Not sure what that's saying, even the more casual players are fed up with the same old same old from Madden?

[Sven Draconian]

Well put. The fact that 2k8 is still alive and active says a lot. It's been awhile since I jumped online with it, but I know there are still active leagues for it out there, and when I was playing there was always someone in the MP lobby. That's good proof that Madden still hasn't surpassed 2k, for some at least.

Personally, with all the talk of physics and the new engine I thought this would finally be the year that I get back into Madden. But, after a few minutes on the demo I'm already bored with it. The core mechanics still feel exactly the same, and while the game definitely looks amazing, and may even look realistic as well, I'm still not convinced that it plays very realistically. It still seems to be missing the core X's and O's and strategy aspect of the game. With EA football titles I never really find myself having to put much thought into what I do or how I approach another opponent. Maybe I need more time on it though, idk. I'm gonna keep an open mind and look for some gameplay vids of the retail version.

Overall, I'm sure it's a solid game I don't want to knock it in general. I just don't know if it's a game for everyone, sim fans included. What I care about is gameplay, all the franchise, superstar, and connected careers stuff I never play with anyway. Cool features, but I'm not interested in any of it. For sports games all I play is online ranked (which also means I can't fix the game with sliders) so the gameplay has to be superb and sim. With that said, I'm not going to throw my money at it if it doesn't deliver on that. They'll continue to go towards the casual gameplay if it continues to sell well, and once you buy it, that's it, you've given them your vote of approval. Even from a casual perspective though, it does seem odd that places like Gamespot are rating it low, when usually they give Madden high ratings even when the game was atrocious. Not sure what that's saying, even the more casual players are fed up with the same old same old from Madden?

Lets be realistic about IGN et al when it comes to ratings. They are rating it as a video; animations, menus and a general fun factor. Is the game enjoyable for 15-20 hours of gameplay (which is about 1 full season of franchise mode if you play on 7 minute quarters). Of course it is.

As much as I have ripped on Madden in the past, I still log just as much time on Madden as I do any other game (except maybe The Show). I played it longer than Batman Arkham Asylum/Arkham City. I probably log 30ish hours of Call of Duty (6ish for the single player, and I normally get bored at around 24 hours or so of online).

In short, it provides just as much value as your typical video game. What it does not do is what we all wish it did; provide 100+ of gaming like it did when we were younger.

I bought NCAA this year. I played a couple exhibitions, created my own playbooks and played a full season in dynasty and a few games into my 2nd year. All in all I probably played 20ish hours so far (14 in games, a couple hours in playbook and a few more recruiting). I feel like I might have another 10-15 in me; probably hit a few online game and maybe finish off that 2nd season. I've already gotten bored/frustrated with the AI (like I always do), but I got pretty decent value out of it.

[JimLeavy59]

Just picked this game up can't wait to play.

[JimLeavy59]

No matter what guys will not go up for a user catch.

Oh and Chris Johnson is fucking useless gotta work on trading that fuck.

[JimLeavy59]

You can't edit your sliders mid game?

[JimLeavy59]

Just noticed on my receipt that I get a free New Era hat after entering in some code.

[Realist]

You can't edit your sliders mid game?

Yes you can. (unless you are talking about online)

[JimLeavy59]

Yes you can. (unless you are talking about online)

Hmmm must just be on online and CC, Which is odd because I am playing an offline CC.

[Realist]

Hmmm must just be on online and CC, Which is odd because I am playing an offline CC.

oh, not sure about that. I haven't touched it. Thought you mean a offline exhibition game vs the cpu/human

[RyanLeaf16]

I have read that online CC works just fine. I am usually an offline only player, but, I may put my CC online. My understanding is that you can have a one-man CC league online. Online CC does not appear to have the issues that offline does - so I may just go that route. Someone on OS had the theory that they intentionally fucked up offline so that more people would use the CC feature online to boost "online numbers." Who the fuck knows...all I know is that I can still play a one-man CC online and I don't have to wait for patches on that, they can just tune the shit directly.