Madden NFL 12

 Xbox 360
User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 104
  3. Negative: 26 out of 104
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  1. huntibor
    Mar 31, 2013
    3
    I think this is one of the worst games of 2011. The development community is sold out, it was so bad. I did not know what to do, because play tried it, but always started again. And it's not the disc or the Xbox's fault, but the game. So this is one of the worst games of 2011, or perhaps the worst first.
  2. Bababooey
    Aug 30, 2011
    4
    Worth $59? Nope. EA needs to just call it Madden and then have yearly updated DLC (for like $10 or so) instead of charging loyal gamers an arm and a leg for a game that's pretty much a REHASH of last year, and the year before, and the year before that, etc. I pretty much paid for same gameplay, new music, commentary, color schemes, and roster :(
  3. everlong24
    Feb 7, 2012
    4
    How does this game get progressively worse each year? NO COMPETITION. EA is running a monopoly and it's killing sim football fans. I'm pretty sure the graphics were better last year. This casual, piece of stink is an embarrassment. Madden 2001 had a better franchise mode. It's still as bare bones as ever. I understand that they're trying to make the game accessible for everyone butHow does this game get progressively worse each year? NO COMPETITION. EA is running a monopoly and it's killing sim football fans. I'm pretty sure the graphics were better last year. This casual, piece of stink is an embarrassment. Madden 2001 had a better franchise mode. It's still as bare bones as ever. I understand that they're trying to make the game accessible for everyone but it is coming at a price. NCAA 12 is better by far but doesn't get the sales. Maybe they should let those guys do the next Madden. Just a suggestion.… Expand
  4. Ebs80
    Nov 4, 2011
    3
    These are just a few of the most glaring problems with this game. I buy a new Madden about every two years and this is BY FAR the worst version I've ever played.

    Special teams - Horrible. Apparently teams are unable to block anyone. Playing on All-pro level with the Bears (top 5 special teams unit for years) I averaged 19 yards per KO return and 6 yards per PR. Most of the time not    These are just a few of the most glaring problems with this game. I buy a new Madden about every two years and this is BY FAR the worst version I've ever played.

    Special teams - Horrible. Apparently teams are unable to block anyone. Playing on All-pro level with the Bears (top 5 special teams unit for years) I averaged 19 yards per KO return and 6 yards per PR. Most of the time not a single block was held by anyone.

    Instant replay - Waste of time. Why have this feature in the game if they will mistakenly overturn plays and uphold other obvious plays. This has been an issue as long as it has been in the game. Time to get rid of it.

    QB scramble - Ridiculous. The fumble rate of a QB while running has to be at least 10 times of what it actually is in the league. Just because its a QB running does not mean he's gonna fumble every other hit he takes. Again, this has been a issue for years, not corrected at all in this game.

    Auto-Sprint - Moronic. Why even play defense if you cannot control the player. You try to take control of a blitzing LB and just before the snap you realize he better drop into coverage.... to bad, first 3 steps are forward even if you hold down the strafe button pre-snap.

    Play clock - What play clock? In ranked games on-line you cannot take off the accelerated clock. This give you a max of 20 seconds from breaking the huddle. Not nearly enough time for me. If I call my play in 5 seconds, I would appreciate the full 35 seconds to see the D and call audibles, blitz pick-ups and hot routes.    … Expand
  5. soraho
    Aug 30, 2011
    2
    they didnt touch online dynasty at all. How do you go a whole year and not have time to make some tweaks? this boggles my mind. I think EA should hire all new developers.
    the new OT rule is not in the game. First team to score in OT wins. Yes, I tested it in playoff game! I have challenged plays where cpu was clearly out of bounds and the play stood. looks like defensive pass interference    they didnt touch online dynasty at all. How do you go a whole year and not have time to make some tweaks? this boggles my mind. I think EA should hire all new developers.
    the new OT rule is not in the game. First team to score in OT wins. Yes, I tested it in playoff game! I have challenged plays where cpu was clearly out of bounds and the play stood. looks like defensive pass interference has been toned down big time. I have intentionally ran into guys and no call at all. This game got worse.    … Expand
  6. Gix
    Sep 18, 2011
    2
    If you love old wine in a new bottle,then you will love this. Nothing new,same old stuff...if you have madden 10 then you have madden 12...if anything i would say its more dumbed down
  7. warm
    Sep 15, 2011
    3
    Why have I rated this game so low? First, this game is buggy. Not just "oh, I found a glitch" buggy (every game has glitches), but "oh look, another bug" buggy. Among the many small things that detract from the gameplay: commentary echos (saying the same thing twice in a row), very delayed commentary, the two minute warning cuts away from gameplay before the play is over, the game hasWhy have I rated this game so low? First, this game is buggy. Not just "oh, I found a glitch" buggy (every game has glitches), but "oh look, another bug" buggy. Among the many small things that detract from the gameplay: commentary echos (saying the same thing twice in a row), very delayed commentary, the two minute warning cuts away from gameplay before the play is over, the game has no memory for the plays you want to call (defaulting to "idiot mode" EVERY PLAY, even if I want to pick a formation or a play type), menus in franchise mode are difficult to navigate, when you need time toward the end of the game, your players poke around, when need to RUN DOWN time at the end of the game, there's no way to make it faster... Second, this game plays ok for games that aren't interesting (like ones that are pretty much settled by the fourth quarter), but when you need the flexibility, it isn't there (no memory of how you pick plays - by formation, by type, etc - it always just defaults to "run," "pass," or "gameplan"). When you need the time, it isn't there (replays chew clock up, QB takes 5 seconds just to get ready to spike the ball!?! REALLY!?!). When you want to run down the clock at the end, you actually have to sit with the game, doing nothing for 30 seconds at a time. Just sit there and wait. Autosim? Nope. Your QB will kneel with 20 seconds left on the play clock.

    It's like they changed a bunch of small things that worked well in previous editions just for the sake of changing them. If you want to add/change modes, that's fine, but why revamp menus? Why make them MORE difficult to use? Why make play calling HARDER?

    This game has a lot of new features. They spent so much time on them, in fact, that they forgot to focus on the one feature that draws me to the game: playing football. Like, on a field, controlling players and such. Eye candy is nice, but don't cheapen the simulation experience!

    Bottom line: I've been so frustrated by playing this game that I've actually resold it.    … Expand
  8. DocFunk
    Oct 2, 2011
    3
    Madden NFL 12 is the newest iteration in the Madden football series. Yup, that describes it. Same old. I rented it, played the heck out of it for a week, and it's the same thing as all the other Maddens. Protip: if you own any Madden, don't waste $60. Gave it a 10 on accident at first, lol.
  9. Bigredd77
    Nov 12, 2011
    4
    Footballs answer to MW3 :) and it's been doing it for ages now. Shouldn't this be Micheals? I don't hear Madden in the commentary, have I missed something here? They really need to step up their game......oh wait no they don't... as long as people buy it they will repackage the same crap over and over won't they?
  10. Praeter
    Jan 10, 2012
    3
    I have never written a review on anything but I felt compelled to write one for this game. I have been playing Madden football since the late 90s. For next gen consoles I played 06 and was disgusted. Last year I bought '10 used for cheap and really liked it. I decided I'd pick up '12 figuring it would be great to have the roster update and the game would be virtually the same with a littleI have never written a review on anything but I felt compelled to write one for this game. I have been playing Madden football since the late 90s. For next gen consoles I played 06 and was disgusted. Last year I bought '10 used for cheap and really liked it. I decided I'd pick up '12 figuring it would be great to have the roster update and the game would be virtually the same with a little better graphics. Boy was I wrong. I am no Madden guru and would never profess I'm a legend playing. I enjoy playing on just All-Pro and getting a game in every day or 2. I've given this game 3 franchise years and I'm selling the game and going back to playing '10. Game-play - Pretty good although there are some really glaring problems such as a 95 QB passing to a wide open receiver and throwing the ball no where near him. Offensive line has a huge problem blocking for passing. Even with highly ranked O Linemen across the board. QBs seem to have somewhat of an issue throwing on the run as well. My QB I created is set up to be a scrambler and whenever I try to pass on the run he always stops and winds up like a baseball pitcher to throw a pass no matter the distance. No Halftime show or league updates kinda stinks to me. If a defensive player has one pick 6 they will almost always be player of the game unless your QB has like 7 TD passes or RB has 6 TD runs. Something that sticks in my mind is a 1st round WR I picked with a great injury rating (meaning he should rarely get injured) got injured literally every time he would get tackled during his rookie year. I'm not exaggerating. Talk about frustrating!

    Franchise - I can't speak on what's new or what has been removed since '11 since I didn't own it. I can say is their shouldn't even be a point to the "Potential" rating, or the rating system in general. Example would be my rookie WR I created led the league in yards, tds, YAC, and had 0 drops for 3 years straight and went from a 79 to an 86 over a 3 year period. A DT I picked up in his 4th year with "A Potential" went from 85 to 86 after having 16 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 2 TDs. The thing I always loved about Franchise was taking players and having them reach their full potential in the ratings column. It's impossible to do it in this game. Trading is ridiculous as well. Too many times would I attempt to trade a highly rated player for a lower rated player with either another player rated higher or a high draft pick and I'd get turned down. Biggest joke was taking my highest rated WR and two 1st round draft picks and I couldn't get a lower rated rookier WR. Commentary - Gus Johnson is the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. All lines are recycled. Every single game it's the exact same thing. Constant errors such as calling players by the wrong name or saying they play for a different team. Every single game, even the first game, the home team is always "trying to keep the home field advantage going". Music - Just because it's current music doesn't make it good music. I had the majority of the music tracks turned off because the songs are so bad. I like all sorts of music but mainly good music, which seems to be exception here unlike previous installments of Madden football. Last words, do not buy this game. I wouldn't even buy this game if you have previous editions of Madden Football, unless you just want the roster update.    … Expand
  11. 2ksnipefest
    Jun 20, 2013
    1
    Games like this make me scream for a sequel to espn nfl 2k5. This game is monopolized and there is little to none innovation. Madden 2003 was a fantastic football game but EA sports has been making this genre crappier slowly every season.
  12. celebi734
    Jan 23, 2015
    0
    It just that same game as last time nothing special...................................................................................................
  13. DakBroadbent
    Dec 9, 2013
    1
    First play of the game is a deep pass. I see the slot receiver get about five feet of separation so I throw it and the nickelback turns all the way around jumps like five feet high and rips the ball right out of the air. On the next drive my QB is sacked trying to throw the ball away. On the very next play the tight end is wide open down the middle but the pass is thrown low andFirst play of the game is a deep pass. I see the slot receiver get about five feet of separation so I throw it and the nickelback turns all the way around jumps like five feet high and rips the ball right out of the air. On the next drive my QB is sacked trying to throw the ball away. On the very next play the tight end is wide open down the middle but the pass is thrown low and easily picked off for the third time by a middle linebacker who blew coverage on the TE.

    The computer QB was in no better shape then I; constantly missing throws, accurate throws being knocked down, getting picked off out of nowhere. If getting picks where this easy in the real NFL no team would ever throw the ball. The game is supposed to be fun and realistic and it fails miserably. But on a positive note the graphics look great; too bad the gameplay is crap.    … Expand
  14. Khaosom
    Apr 8, 2014
    0
    How to start a review about a game genre I don't quit understand? Simple stick to the facts. Yes while most games now no longer operate on the NES/SNES difficulty curve, most games require some sort of thinking. Other EA sports games also require a more pro active style game play. Madden on the other hand has offered little to no steps forward in game play, along with the fact that theHow to start a review about a game genre I don't quit understand? Simple stick to the facts. Yes while most games now no longer operate on the NES/SNES difficulty curve, most games require some sort of thinking. Other EA sports games also require a more pro active style game play. Madden on the other hand has offered little to no steps forward in game play, along with the fact that the computer auto catches the ball for you, all you do is run, and throw, The fact that 39 people actually liked this game, and 24 other were indifferent shows the level of gamers in this age. As long as people keep shelling out 59.99 USD for hunks of garbage like this game franchise, the companies like EA, Microsoft, Treyarch, and more won't strive to make a better game.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2011
44
#44 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 55
  3. Negative: 0 out of 55
  1. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    Dec 2, 2011
    84
    Shows diminishing returns for the solo gamer. [Dec 2011, p.102]
  2. Xbox Achievements
    Nov 15, 2011
    78
    A fun game with very few major flaws, but by the same token it brings absolutely nothing new to the table other than the welcome online community option and enhanced player traits and consistency. That aside you will be playing the same old Madden and on that front, Madden NFL 12 just doesn't do enough to hold your interest for very long.
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  3. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Oct 20, 2011
    80
    That's some good footballing sir. [Nov 2011, p.110]
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