Previews

Hands-on with Madden NFL 12 on iPad

A kindler, gentler bonecrushing

Hands-on with Madden NFL 12 on iPad
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| Madden NFL 12

After more than two decades, Madden updates are like taxes: you know they're coming every year, and there probably won't be any big surprises.

EA Mobile is promising a nice mobile overhaul for next month's Madden NFL 12. After some time on the gridiron, we can say that it definitely moves the game in a new direction.

100 yard fight

As usual, Madden NFL 12 delivers licences up the wazoo - it has all the American teams with their players, stadia, and to a lesser extent stats.

The new Madden is split into two modes: Classic and Arcade. Classic is the traditional experience, while Arcade is for the more casual audience.

Let's start with Classic. The once-generic playbook now includes plays unique to each team. For instance, EA Mobile says that the Indianapolis Colts is a pass-dependent team in real life, so the in-game plays reflect its strategy. There are hundreds of plays in the game.

The roster is also more accurate both statistically and visually. You'll not only be able to include the guys available at the beginning of the real season, but those coming in mid-season and other anomalies.

Keep it simple

The biggest change is with the new Arcade mode - imagine a game of American football stripped down to its essence and playable by all comers.

Running down the field with the ball? Tap one of three large yellow directional buttons (left, forward, right) to make your way. Dodging a tackle? Wait for the signal and tilt your iPad back and forth. Arcade mode leans on intuition more than pigskin knowledge.

One particularly satisfying move in Arcade mode is tossing the ball. Once you're ready, all your catchers appear onscreen with colored targets. The redder the target, the more difficult the throw. You slide your finger towards the catcher to determine the trajectory of the throw.

Like the previous mobile version, Madden NFL 12 has local Bluetooth multiplayer and different career and one-off game modes.

We'll see if Madden NFL 12 can bring in both hardcore and casual gamers when it arrives on iPad on August 30th, and certain Android devices later in the year.

Damon Brown
Damon Brown
Damon Brown has been speaking the mobile game gospel since 2003 for Playboy, New York Post, and many other outlets. Damon writes books when he isn't busy gaming or Twittering. His most popular book is Porn & Pong: How Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and Other Sexy Games Changed Our Culture.