Game : Madden NFL 12

Game Features Platform: PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii | Edition: Standard The new system uses a player's momentum and over 100 new tackle animations, including 40 gang tackles, To provide more impactful hits, stolen tackles, and consecutive hit tackling. The Number 1 most requested feature allows you to build the ultimate game plan by modifying an existing playbook Player degradation system that affects uniforms and helmets based on weather and field surface, 3D grass, and new player specific animations. Madden NFL 12 continues the rich tradition of the storied franchise by bringing fans closer to the NFL than ever before. Featuring all 32 teams, stadiums, and your favorite players in the league, Madden NFL 12 is true to the game. Custom Playbooks The #1 most requested feature by fans in recent years, allows you to build the ultimate game plan by modifying an existing playbook or creating your own by selecting up to 400 offensive or defensive plays from 75 different playbooks. Integrate your custom playbook into a game plan for use with the improved GameFlow system, which executes an authentic, situational game plan for you. Broadcast Redefined Experience NFL Sundays like never before with completely overhauled presentation, including 32 team-specific run outs featuring mascots and cheerleaders, over 500 dynamic broadcast cameras authentic to every NFL stadium, innovative "real" on-field cameras shot by expert NFL Films cameramen, and a network inspired new broadcast graphics package. Unprecedented On-Field Authenticity Hundreds of visual improvements across all areas of the game including: new player equipment, helmet stickers, pylon and ball physics, a player degradation system that affects uniforms and helmets based on weather and field surface, 3D grass, and new player specific animations that showcase the personalities of each NFL player. User Review: Pro: - The game is looking great graphically. They've nailed the stadiums (and indeed, a lot of the intros), the menus are sharp and easy to read, and overall it's more polished then other PS3 Maddens. - GameFlow returns but for someone like me who has played with the Steelers for many years, and knows their best plays, it's nice the conventional option was left. I was up and running in no time even though it had been many months since I played Madden. - The online community/matchmaking process has been significantly improved and the trolls/cheaters that have plagued this game online for years is likely to be all but eliminated, so kudos for EA for finally getting this fixed. Now, the not-so-good: - I read a lot of reviews before purchasing this game, and let me tell you that they nailed one thing: The announcing is HORRIBLE in this game. A few examples: *I'm up 35-0 and they go "The Ravens better do something on this drive because if they don't, man it's going to be a long day". You think? *TWO times I know i heard Gus Johnson refer to my offense as the DEFENSE...how in the WORLD does that get in a final product? Cons: - While the graphics are good, the actual game performance leaves somethings to be desired. Clipping is rampant (not the football penalty), a couple times in my first game the crowd (cardboard and pixelated as it was) got in front of the players on a cutscene, they play the SAME cutscenes after a guy scores a TD, I mean I could go on and on but this stuff should be fixed by the 2012 game now. - The difficulty has some seriously wild swings that are either way too easy or ludiciously difficult. Is it too much to ask to have a nice middle ground? - This might be the easiest set of sport game trophies to earn on the PS3. I got SIX of them in my very first game! And the only ones I see that are majorly difficult are the ones that require 100 yard returns for TD's. Past games have had a lot more specific challenges and they had to be played in All Pro...these can be earned on any difficulty level. - It was tremendously easy in Madden 2005 to manage your Franchise (players, etc.) but this interface is way too clunky for its own good, even with all the details they added. Sometimes simple presentation is MUCH better. - Why Madden went away from what they had in 2010 (i.e. the halftime show, etc.) is beyond me. The lame excuse they have in its place (a couple random highlights) is a joke. Oh, and I guess Gus Johnson couldn't be bothered to say the teams NAMES when he says what the score is at the end of every quarter! I have NEVER seen that in all the years I've played Madden. And in the end, EA doesn't care. They know there will be a significant part of the population that will pick it up just because it's the next game in the series. Games like NHL 11 (and upcoming 12) have advanced and are now far superior to the NFL product, but of course Madden's going to sell like hotcakes so they don't care. So, if you're someone that likes the updated rosters, and can appreciate the few improvements they put in, go ahead and buy it again. Just know what you'er getting. I don't see this game drawing any new players into Madden who haven't played it before, and Madden's got a long road to climb back that we probably won't see until the PS4/next Xbox generation.