Geekscape Games Reviews: Madden NFL 2013
With every new release of a Madden title, one can’t help but think how it can possibly be different from the last. With $60 a pop, it’s only fair that it crosses your mind. Any debate involving this frame of thinking should be laid to rest now, because Madden is about to have a breakout year.
The number of things I like about Madden 13 far outweighs the bad. Since the release of the Kinect, I’ve been waiting for an already established sports franchise to adopt the Kinect’s functionality. Voicing commands works well, and the prompt at the bottom of the screen does not distract from gameplay. Still, veteran players may find that old habits die hard.
Connected Careers?……Are we still talking about Madden?
The big thing this year is Connected Careers. Connected Careers is embodiment of NFL Superstar, Franchise, and Online Franchise. These game modes are no longer separate, but instead combined as one. For example, you and your friends were probably in an online franchise at one point or another. In Connected Careers, you and your friends can be in an online franchise taking the role of players instead of coach. You can have an all-QB league, all-RB league, or an all-WR league. Different options appear depending on what role you can pick. As a coach or player, you can demand release, retire, and accomplish the overall goal of entering the Hall of Fame.
The return of fake news stories, an overhaul of college football drafting make Connected Careers different for every league, in every season.
Believe it or not, Connected Careers injects RPG elements into your franchise. Gamers will have the opportunity to level-up attributes of existing players, or create a new player with selected attributes.
The whole process may sound confusing at first, but Connected Careers is probably the best thing to happen to the Madden franchise to date.
Infinity Engine
The Infinity Engine is one of the first things you’ll notice about Madden 13 and will change the way you play. Players will stumble and react to every bump the they get. Those who like playing Running Back will now have to avoid their own blockers if they want to hit stride. The only gripe I have about this engine are the increase of roughing the QB penalty. If your pass rusher is lying on the ground after the QB throws the pass and barely touches the QB while getting up, you can expect a flag.
Madden Ultimate Team & Gridiron Club
MUT makes a return with a layout easy to understand to those who are familiar with the mode. The most exciting part about this year’s MUT mode are the reward packs. This time around, gamers will receive reward packs or cards based on what you accomplished in past EA NFL installments. Don’t worry, you’ll receive rewards for just playing past Madden installments and arcade NFL titles.
Gamers can also manage MUT and Connected Careers via the Madden NFL Gridiron Club. Available online and on your console, the Gridiron Club is free and provides new content, Madden NFL Moments, Madden On-Demand, and roster updates. The Gridiron Club contains modes we’re already familiar with and some that are new.
Closing Comments
EA has released an innovated sports title. Numerous features, returning and new, should bump Madden 13 to the top of next week’s shopping list for any football fan. Madden’s new engine and game modes should be incentive enough, but Madden 13 goes beyond that and provides a fresh take on the NFL.
Madden NFL 2013 is set to release August 28, 2012.
