MADDEN NFL 13 Preview

Bleed to achieve.

Ladies and gentleman, E3 2012 is finally here and what did I find myself spending time on first? EA's Madden NFL 13, of course. With my Oakland Raiders hat, plus black and silver ensemble, I had to weed out fellow Raider Nations in order to find Madden's booth. It didn't take long thankfully because the moment you step in the south wing of the convention hall, there it is at EA in all its glory. Initially, I didn't even want to play; I simply wanted to stand back and soak in the moment.

Surprisingly, it was all quite tame in that area of the show room floor. After a short 10-minute wait, I was able to test the current look of the new Madden. My first instinct was to pick one of my home area teams. But after watching everyone else play as the Raiders and 49ers, I decided to go with the Redskins just to get a peak at the awesomeness that is Robert Griffin III. Currently, this year's title provides all previous great qualities that has made this the best and proverbially only NFL title worth purchasing for full retail price.



With exhibition mode being the only playable content, my focus was primarily on game realism. It must be said that Madden is ever closing the gap on reality and virtual reality. This gap shortens mainly on the game's attention to how the NFL is showcased: its polished presentation. There are  not only player introductions, but also announcer and broadcasting partners. Amazingly, the commentary is insightful and much appreciated (thus far). Though gameplay currently feels stiff and rigid, especially with kicking controls, I'm sure the kinks are still being worked out.

The only true concerns come with EA's complacency for some aspects of development. Scoring touchdowns, celebrations, and other small details are untouched at the moment, which give of some that "been there, done that" feeling. But like I said, I know all of the good stuff is under lock and key for now and probably won't be seen until much closer to release date.



The best part has to be true player attributes. Players ratings will weigh a bit more heavily and will dictate performances on the field better. I had a quick glance at a demo of the Jets in their new wildcat formation set, with Tim Tebow running the option, and the execution was spot-on. True to life, Tebow's quarterbacking skills illustrate that he couldn't hit the side of a barn with his football throwing accuracy. This increased focus on player ratings applies to all players and situations. Hopefully, guys like Josh McCown can no longer throw 85-yard bomb completions to a double-covered tightend.

I actually had firsthand knowledge of this when I was destroyed by some guy who seemed to have been a ringer for some Madden tournament championship team. With much to look forward to, be on the look out for when Madden 13 drops for a release near the start of the NFL season, come early Fall.