Madden NFL Series

[Appswah]

Having a quick play this morning before Im off to work. I have a guy I always create on these sort of games (Like NBA 2k, NHL etc) He's black, 6 foot 3 and weighs about 210lbs and he's called JJ Crunch (on NBA 2k his nickname is JJ 'the captain' Crunch). Anyways couldn't decide between RB or WR and in the end chose WR for shits and gigs.

Was drafted by Greenbay and wear the #82. (wanted #87)

Pre-season was shit. 4 games no touchdowns averaging 2 catches a game! Rodgers never passed it my way :/.

However the real season has now started and I've scored 2 touchdowns in 2 games and averaging about 27 yards which is a bit better. I've dropped some unbelievable catches though :facepalm:

Alot of the Superstar mode ideas are taken from NBA 2k my player series.

 

[IronCity]

I never play a superstar mode; I'm so stuck on playing exact rosters even taking playes out of my lineup if they are injured in real life.

Only got in half a game last night. I absolutely love that the team rosters are stacked with 90% of the players who are in training camps right now. Typically EA likes to ignore the 5th round draft pick and I spend hours creating players to match. But it was pretty sweet to see the Steelers have 2 punters and 2 kickers like they really do right now and have them battle out for a roster spot. I have been wanting this for years.

I had a bit of a scare last night because I didn't realize I had the difficutly set to custom so playing against a weak CPU defense. When Mendenhall had 4 carries for 225 yards and 4 tds I thought the game was bunk; but then I realized my mistake and the All-pro settings brought it all back to reality.

I love the idea of stadium-specific camera angles since I remark on this during real games all the time; but the camera at Heinz Field is too far away from the action in regular cam mode. Couldn't play wide mode because even further away. Players are too small because of it. I can't read the pre-snap menus either because the controller map text and images blend into the field too much. I kept leaning out of my chair in between plays.

At times I felt a little removed from the game - like I was just watching versus being an active participant. I need to turn up the CPU defense pass reaction because I could throw 7 yard slants all day and there is nothing they could do about it. This has been a widespread complaint from the madden community.

Game looks fantastic - much improved graphics. Although Colt McCoy looks like E.T. Better tackles and more realistic ball carrier control.

I wish the CPU offense gave you a few seconds to set up the defense. You don't have time to choose a single defender and audible his assignment before the ball is snapped.

didn't play enough but I didn't feel all the glitchy items most people are complaining about. I enjoyed it.

 

[IronCity]

Madden13 Demo is released on Tuesday April 14th.

EDIT:
very disappointing to find out the Demo is only available for PSN+ members. There was absolutely no presentation of this before its release. Damn heathens.

 

[Appswah]

Downloaded the demo on the 360 and it's good. Feels completely different to '12 but will have to give it more time.

Seen some incredible tackles!


edit:

I like to pump fake alot but it's hard to on the demo as the animation lasts ages and you end up getting sacked.

 

[IronCity]

Downloaded the demo on the 360 and it's good. Feels completely different to '12 but will have to give it more time.

Seen some incredible tackles!


edit:

I like to pump fake alot but it's hard to on the demo as the animation lasts ages and you end up getting sacked.

they were also supposed to fix play action passes. in 12 play action passes ended up in auto sacks. I think you may have accrued 4 sacks on me when I tried to go play action.

Demo came available for non PSN+ folk, like myself. slow download with everyone downloading right now.

 

[IronCity]

I don't know Apps,

I only tried 4 running plays and 3 pass plays so I shouldn't say too much, but running last year seemed more fluid. A very odd animation on a quick pass where my receiver gets hit and straightens out like an arrow then rebounds a few yards opposite the direction you would expect from the impact.

I know only a demo but felt the 2012 graphics were crisper.

Finally, at the snap there seems to be this odd thing where the camera jumps forward a little to focus on the line of scrimmage instead of a fluid zoom. It was making me mess up simple dives up the middle.

I will sit down tonight and play an entire game.

 

[IronCity]

spent some time playing last night.

my first impression above was that controls were not as fluid, and I might still agree with that however, the more rigid control are more realistic than in 12. I can't do as much with my running back up the middle but I was probably conducting unhuman cuts in 12. even better, on defense I don't overrun the ball as much with more rigidity in the controls. I lost count how many times I ran past the ball carrier with Polamalu in 12. I felt I could square up better and sink my facemask in the ball carriers chest with the demo.

they have a long way to go with cleaning up the graphics which I am sure they will do. Why is everything so dark? Uni colors are way off. And shadows too intense - when you stare out presnap at he defense, you can't read the defenders chest numbers because they are shadowed. How am I supposed to call out the Mike linebacker?

 

[fick]

I never play a superstar mode.

I'm the opposite, that's the bit that usually appeals to me the most. Problem is that despite the pomp & circumstance applied to all other modes, the Superstar mode has frankly been bland and stagnant for the last few iterations.

Not bothered with the demo myself, more likely to pick the game up re-owned a few weeks after release when people get bored and trade it in!

Intrigued by some of the comments on the controls. 2012 was an improvement for me, especially when trying to develop an RB/HB...

 

[Bish]

I ended up trading the last game in after a month or so. There needs to be a lot of improvements for me to come back. It's still a good game but it's easy to get bored of playing it when it's so similar to the game before.

From the little I've read and seen, presentation has improved again (in terms of TV style presentation with presenters on screen). Season and Superstar mode HAVE to be better, there's so much that can be added to make it worth coming back for more.

 

[Appswah]

I'm finding offense a lot harder on the demo compared to M12 (I'm on all pro). I usually have to keep running the ball as when passing the ball you have to time it perfectly or you get an incomplete or throw an interception.

I do like the new collision system but it annoys me as the opposition's running back always seems to break the first tackle and when I'm in the pocket with RGIII and I see a gap in the O line and go for a little run if one of the guards puts a hand on me I'm tackled easily.

I scored a sexy 70+ yard touchdown using a screen play last night (I rarely used them in M12 as it wasn't very effective.) Was great to try and use different plays and playbooks. I always just used the Pat's in madden 12, so it's nice to use someone else for a change.

 

[IronCity]

I threw a flat route for a TD last night and was disappointed that the trajectory of the ball was so low even though I tapped the pass lightly to put it over the head of the corner. Luckily the corner did not know it was coming, This is a fix from last year where a defender has to be looking at the ball to know it is arriving, good fix. but the trajectory was supposed to be fixed and its seemed worse. Very flat line pass that would be impossible an object is actually subject to gravity on this planet.

Go to all-pro Apps. There are less broken tackles unless a RB's momentum really mediates it. When the full game comes out you can stay on All-pro and fix the sliders to ease up the CPU but that all-pro is more realistic.

I usually go All-pro and turn up the CPU pass defense slightly because, at least in 12, you could throw crossing routes all game long without the change. I also learned in 12 that running directly behind the center with the single back formation and letting the running back choose to go right or left off the center's butt by keying the linebacker was a nearly unstoppable running attack. So I often turned up the CPU rush defense to make it more challenging.

 

[AgentZero]

could never enjoy madden on the current consoles, playing D has become a nightmare. Traded 12 in for uncharted 3... haven't looked back since. Prefer playing flag rather than sit and play madden.


being a yuppie: sent from iPhone

 

[Appswah]

Anyone got any tips for defence on this? I wasn't amazing on Madden12 but when the CPU goes deep I always go to select the CB (for example) and as I select him he stutters loses a yard or two and thats that. Gets quite annoying really.

 

[IronCity]

I got to the point where I would let the CPU control by d-back to avoid the problem. and only at the last second select him and try to swat it. I think if you postiion the left stick first then select it helps.

The other problem from 12 is that the controls were a over responsive so I would cut left or right under the receiver when I selected him and not be in a position to even make a tackle after the catch.

the second example is one piece I think 13 fixes because the controls are no longer over responsive....however I don't know if the stutter on select will be fixed.

Madden13 comes out next Tuesday in the U.S.

 

[Appswah]

Im soo excited though :excited: You getting it Iron?

I did have a quick google search for some times and managed to catch my first proper interception (in 13 demo) and not me just mashing Triangle. The best way is to select the D-back when the balls in the air but hold X as the CPU automatically does the movement. Then hold L2 and Press triangle to catch (holding L2 apparently squares up the player to the ball making an interception more likely). I hear it's hold l1 with the ball in the air to swat it away but haven't tried that yet.

Can't wait to start a franchise with the Patriots and one with the Redskins.

 

[IronCity]

Yep, it is annually a gift from my wife, so the day it comes out I get home and it is waiting for me. Then she leaves me alone for 2hrs. Unfortunately I usually need 3hrs for the added time to look over the rookies.

interesting controls for 13. I would be afraid of L2 because it is the Strafe; but maybe a new control addition to the passing defense this year is now a unique move.

The worst is watching a defender drop an interception when thrown directly at him, unless you are on offense.

 

[Appswah]

So Madden came out in the USA today and ready some of the comments are hilarious. People crying, threatening to boycott EA over the smallest things.

It's not often a yearly released sports game will receive a new engine, new commentary all re-written, new game modes etc all in one go.

Granted the 'Infinity engine' isn't 100% perfect but neither is the impact engine in Fifa. IMO it's not a game breaker, the only thing I've seen (only played demo - so in theory should improve in final game) are things like arms/legs bent weird ways and a Linebacker sat on my running backs head and he couldn't get up till the LB stood up which was hilarious lol.

Connected careers is a great idea, IMO. It's been shown over the last few years that they couldn't work on two different game modes at the same time which meant one mode (mainly superstar mode) was left out. Now it's all rolled into one and hopefully leads them to implement better changes in future versions of the game. Granted they've made some mistakes by removing features such as Fantasy draft, Editing players (which is going to annoy me but is not a game breaker for me.) But I'm hearing connected careers is crazy deep which is great as I really want to get stuck in and not get bored. If people think EA will patch Franchise mode back into Madden then they're morons.

Last year I purchased the EA season ticket for 360 which is yet to run out meaning I can download early access to Madden (as the ticket hasn't run out yet). I left the download over night at it was like 5gb and I'm hopeful of a few games tonight. Can't wait to play :excited: :excited:

 

[IronCity]

I read that piece about the broken legs. I am surprised that didn't get fixed, particularly since a complaint in last year's FIFA demo. Can we expect the same for FIFA13?

I read this review about an hour after release time. Seems realistic from what we know about madden.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/madden-13-review-things-feel-different-054919973--nfl.html

Going to be longer than expected to get a chance to play but let me know what you think.

 

[Appswah]

Yeah that's one of the bits I read.

Lots of talk about offline CC is broken with settings constantly being reset and camera angles being changed back to default after a play etc.

I was always going to set up a single player online mode as it updates itself from ea servers and auto saves etc. Also saves stats and you can view them on maddencareer.com or something like that, you can then cmpare stats etc with other teams/people in your league which is awesome!

 

[IronCity]

set up that online mode; I expect you and I to have more battles with 13 than we did with 12. I still think of the way you had me on the ropes last game.