Madden NFL 12

New features

Over 200 new offensive plays and several new defensive plays were added. Generated rookies now have real faces when viewed in menus. The Madden Developers team is available in Play Now mode by pressing random team. The opening presentation for games includes mascots and cheerleaders for all teams that have them.

Kickoffs are now at the 35-yard line rather than the 30-yard line, to match the NFL's rule change. Onside kicks can be executed from standard kickoff formations. A tuner allows developers to improve gameplay code without distributing official patches. To support awareness for concussions, players who suffer a concussion during gameplay will no longer be allowed to return to the game.

A new collision system uses momentum to produce more authentic tackling and hits with 100 new tackle animations, including 40 gang tackles. The system also allows for more realistic blocking, with defenders only interacting with blocking players once contact is made. AI enhancements allow defensive players in zone coverage to correctly recognize and react to plays with the capability to shift assignments when necessary. Quarterbacks can now pump fake to specific receivers.

A new Dive Catch mechanic allows for user control of a variety of new dive catch animations. The custom playbooks feature allows players to modify existing playbooks or create their own by selecting plays from 75 playbooks. Player traits change dynamically throughout a game based on his performance. During free agency in franchise mode, players bid auction-style against other general managers for free agents.

Expanded rosters in the preseason allow teams to have 75 players on the roster and need to make roster cuts each week. Unlike previous versions of Madden NFL, players can trade for future draft picks. There are also hot and cold streaks that will affect player ratings throughout the season. When a player is placed on Injured Reserve, a new player may be signed without having to cut anyone.

Release and reception

Madden NFL 12 received a mixed to favorable response when it launched. On Xbox 360, aggregate scores landed at 79.90% from GameRankings and 78 out of 100 on Metacritic. The PlayStation 3 version scored 79.47% and 79 out of 100, while the Wii version earned 75% and 75 out of 100. The iOS release trailed with 66% and 71 out of 100.

Digital Spy awarded the Xbox 360 version four out of five stars, noting that the game lacks many new modes or revolutionary features, so most changes will only stand out to dedicated fans. Still, they called it a strong football title worth revisiting for anyone who has skipped a few years. The Digital Fix gave it eight out of ten, praising EA for leading the sports genre and calling it a must-buy for American football enthusiasts. The Escapist also gave four stars out of five, saying that if you have not played a Madden game recently, this one is a lot of fun, but if you are still enjoying a newer version, there is nothing essential here.

The A.V. Club gave it a B-minus, arguing that its biggest flaw is that it feels more like watching NFL football than actually playing it, which leaves fans wanting more from EA’s exclusive license. Despite these critiques, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Madden NFL 12 for Sports Game of the Year at the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.

Hall of Fame edition

Each copy of the game includes one of four signed Panini trading cards featuring Marshall Faulk, who appears on a special Hall of Fame cover in his St. Louis Rams uniform. Faulk was the cover athlete for Madden NFL 2003 and entered the Hall of Fame in 2011. Two of these cards, one each for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, are made from 18-karat gold. The Ultimate Team mode offers a Platinum Pack containing thirteen Hall of Famers and former cover athletes. This edition is sold only in the United States as a region 1 release.