Impressions: Madden 12

Having just played the Madden 12 demo, I am surprised by my ability to successfully run the ball on a consistent basis. In fact, I am surprised by the overall quality of Madden's gameplay in general this year. The tackling, physics, and ability to play a more balanced game are all improved and this is the first time I have been excited about a Madden game in years, possibly the first time since NFL 2K's murder. There are many tweaks that all come together to deliver an experience where no single aspect is always the way to go—i.e. always blitzing or running slot routes.

The improved gameplay is accompanied by much needed improvements to presentation—such as team-specific intros and an overall look more reminiscent to an actual football game. The most impressive improvement, however, is the detail put into Jay Cutler's massive eye-bags. That being said, the visuals are very much the same and I really wish there would be a jump in quality at any point in time. By any point in time, I mean why is the series still unable to blow my mind visually?

A demo is only a demo and it's hard to know if the full game will deliver the joy I found in this little slice—especially when it comes to sports games—but I am more excited for Madden than I have been since who knows when. I am so excited, in fact, that I just may purchase the game new, which I haven't done with a Madden game since 2001. But who cares about my opinion when you can make your own? The demo is now available on Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network, so go touch a pig with your bare hands and see if you like how it feels.