The first version of Madden on a new system is usually lackluster. It takes them a few versions to get it right.

The demo seems okay, but it crashed on me while showing the TD replay. Meh.

It got a fairly average score in Xbox Mag, I think a 7.5, which was a bit surprising to me since it always seems to get 9s there too.

I need to go read up on the Vita reviews. I know they used last year's engine and it was rushed, but I can sacrifice the new physics engine (which may need refining anyway) for portability. What did they gripe about?

IGN stated it was a stripped down version of the console game. I think the physics were reduced... I didn't read too much of the article since I wouldn't buy that version anyways.

I just read the Vita review, which is very short. Basically they complained that there were some framerate issues, and that the newest physics engine is not in the game. I had read an interview with the developers saying that there was no way they were able to base their game on the console version of Madden 13, with all the changes in it, in addition to putting it on a new portable device... hopefully that changes in subsequent years, and they're able to add crossplay.

They also said that the team ratings were based on 2010, which is pretty unforgivable... how hard would it have been to update those? I hope the stats are at least the same as the console versions.

In the demo, I had a defensive player get injured on the play. Which caused him to lay on the ground, not allow the offense to pick a play, and then the offense got a delay of game with my player laying there.

Inexcusable since The Show was able to keep everything AND have cross-play as a launch title.

The Vita demo played pretty well with the exception of some frame rate problems on replays and non action scenes. I played 3 games and it didn't fully lock up on me. I have no issues with them not included an on-line franchise mode on Vita but I'm sure others will.

Who makes the Show, and how many platforms did they have to support?

I should really learn to pass on the Madden series, no pun intended.

Total garbage again this year.

The presentation is much improved and I like what they were trying to do, but the passing sucks, the running sucks, the defense sucks.

Play as a rookie? Good luck getting in the game.

I just got it today and I'm trading it in tomorrow. It took me all of three hours to hate this pos.

Glad I read your feedback because I was thisclose to getting suckered in again this year. I usually play 2-3 game max and regret my purchase.

I've heard that there's no traditional franchise mode in the console versions, which seems like an odd choice. They're going with a lot of new stuff, including the new physics engine, which is usually a sign to me to wait for it to get refined (or in the case of something like the passing cone, dropped) in the next release. Of course, with the new machines just around the corner, we'll probably take another step back soon.

I like the Vita version. It's obviously not as graphically polished as the console version and is basically last year's console Madden with upgraded rosters and some new features, but that's fine by me. It's got some slowdown, especially on cutscenes and replays, which is much like The Show.

I just bought this 2 days ago from Game Stop. Haven't purchased a Madden game since the 2011 edition. Will try to make some time to play it in a few days.

I don't play football games regularly enough to analyze it to the smallest detail, but seeing some of the negative comments here, why does the Madden series seem to get shit on your after year, especially from the folks here? Some of the stuff I read here sounds more like nit picking.

Is it just because they are the only major NFL game out since they have the exclusive license and that leads to all the nit picks and criticisms? I guess when I play a football game, I just want a fun game to play for an hour or so. I guess I look for more of an arcade experience than a fatasy football/realistic experience. I'd like some insight on why this seems to be one of the more hated sports games year after year.

The new physics engine was comical at best. I made a 7 foot tall 400 lb QB and he steam rolled his way through people.

Even when he was tackled or sacked, the defense went head over heels flying. Funny as shit, but totally unrealistic. But I guess a QB that big is unrealistic anyway, so par for the course?

I started on pro. Never did anything higher in all my years playing Madden. Don't play online, never wanted that big challenge that goes with the harder difficulty levels. I'm sure I suck compared to some hardcore Madden-ites.

But there were dropped passes, deflections, picks, sacks, fumbles, and more. All happened too often. I shouldn't have to nuke the sliders just to get an enjoyable experience.

As for the career mode, ha! Just garbage. I tore up the pre-season, nailed a few practice challenges, and my guy sat the entire season. Not even a backup roll. I came in to hold on PAT's and FG's. That's it. Despite the fake Twitter feeds saying I was an up and coming star and the announcers talking about me pre-game.

Then my starting QB goes 2-7 the first 9 games, and he isn't even replaced by the second stringer. Good job, EA.

Weird, on the Vita, my created superstar was the starter by midway through preseason despite not having done much of note before that and having a lower overall rating than the other QBs. Of course, it probably helped that I was on the Browns...

But I also somehow get points when I handoff to the runningback and he goes for a good run. That makes no sense.

I thought about the "maybe I was on a team with a player better than me" thing, but I picked the Dolphins (I was the 49ers originally) and my QB was rated 85, and same result.

Glorified holder.

Anyway, I decided I was going to make the game fun no matter what so I turned the offsides off and the tackling all the way up and penalties like roughing the passer off. I knock the shit out of every QB I face. No challenge but at least I can laugh when they're covered in grass stains.

There's a lot of people who still hold NFL 2K5 in extremely high esteem that feel completely burned by EA buying the NFL license. That's part of the negativity.

But the other part is that so little is usually changed in the game to make it worthwhile. Then when they do make massive changes, it's usually taken in the wrong direction.

The bottom line is that when you hold the exclusive license to make NFL games, you need to deliver. Really that's true with any of these annual sports titles that have exclusive rights. Since it's the only game we're gonna get, it better live up to our expectations and warrant an annual purchase.

Look at 2K and their MLB games. They made an OK game. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. Sony made a far superior product in The Show, and it made the 2K product look bush league in comparison. Combine that with the fact that 2K's exclusive deal with MLB put EA's superior baseball game out of service and that's a double whammy. The difference here being that 2K only had 3rd party exclusivity, while EA is the only company that can make NFL games.

Because of this, 2K was never able to gain a major foothold with their baseball series, as many baseball fans chose to go with a PS2/PS3 to get the better game. Now 2K is leaving their game behind, and it's possible that the XBOX and PC won't even have an MLB game next year.

As long as EA holds the exclusive license, people will complain about Madden.

Didn't 2k say they are done with baseball?

I think NFL 2k5 was great because of the presentation they did. Awesome for that time period.

NFL2K5 had it's share of glitches as well, most notoriously the defensive line glitch where you could basically get an instant sack every time. However, the game was so much more fun, and felt much more polished, and it came out at $20 or $40 didn't it? It just showed how lazy EA had gotten. I was so excited to see how they would improve in following years only to be kicked in the gut by having their license removed.

One of the most annoying things I find about Madden is so simple and almost unrelated to the game. Why is menu navigation so SLOOOOOOOOOOO? I played NFL2K5 so much online that I could literally do my depth chart, audibles, substitutions, etc. in less than 20 seconds. When I play Madden I feel like half the time is waiting for something to move.

I didn't pick up this years since i'm trying to alternate with NBA 2K, but I never had major issues with the previous versions of Madden. Some complaints about the presentation (and slow menus, like above which is just ridiculous) but the gameplay generally seemed fine to me that I never understood all the complaints.

The more I play it the more I like it but like I said it's way dumbed down with sliders now and I am just sacking the hell out of the QB's and getting INT's

I'll trade this in sooner or later.

No offense, but that doesn't sound like any fun at all.

EA isn't lazy... they certainly try to do the right thing, they just don't know how to do it or focus on stuff that doesn't make the game fun. The menus are cumbersome and this physics thing sounds ridiculous (at least based on the videos I've seen)
Conversely, expectations have risen to a point where no developer would go unscathed but the only real way to create a greate NFL game is to allow competition - which there is none.

So is there not alot of excitement with this years madden. Alot of people seem either fed up with it or just don't care.

That was really what did it, it was a superb game and it came out at $20.

Madden 05 was way better than NFL2K5. 2K was just too robotic. The players just were so cumbersome and slow, I couldn't stand it. I used to play in the Madden Challenges back in the Madden 04-08 days and that was a lot of fun because of the competitive nature of the game and the participants.

I started a Youtube channel back then to do tips and gameplays. It recently got partnered so now I'm looking to take it to the next level. Please check it out and let me know what you think! My channel is called themaddenlab - if you like what you see, please subscribe!