The latest version of the most popular sports franchise in North America has finally released. Is Madden NFL 12 worth picking up, or is it another $60 roster update?

Madden 12 has a very similar user interface that 11 featured, and all game modes have returned for this year's edition. In fact, there aren't any new modes for players to experience.

Instead, EA Sports has opted to change up already existing modes -- for better or for worse -- specifically Franchise and NFL Superstar. Franchise mode has a completely revamped user interface, and it's almost hard to navigate. The main screen always displays the next game, forcing players to press a button to access the menu in drop down style.

There's a surprising number of additions to Franchise mode. Player Roles have returned, but the biggest addition is the hot and cold streaks for players. I almost feel like EA Sports decided to play MLB 11 The Show -- many of the new features in Madden 12's Franchise mode have been in MLB The Show for many years.

Hot and cold streaks have more of an impact on simulating games than it does while players are actually playing the games. Both types of streaks carry over from game to game, so it's a good strategy to play the first game of the season in order to get your quarterback on fire for most of the season. While there aren't in-game streaks, there is a Dynamic Player Performance evaluator that details how well a player is performing. Tons of metrics are used to track and explain things for players; for quarterbacks, the game will track if players are throwing the ball too soon or are getting rattled in the pocket.

NFL Superstar mode has regressed. In an effort to make the mode more realistic with a new player progression system, EA essentially took all the fun out of the mode. Participating in practice and playing in games will earn players skill points -- again, just like Road to the Show in MLB The Show -- that can be used to increase the attributes of the player. Strangely, though, when I was making a quarterback in NFL Superstar, my player's awareness was already set to 99. Even more curious is that your player will automatically be placed #1 on the depth chart, even if Phillip Rivers is on the roster as well.

Online in Madden 12 is more or less the same as the previous game. Online communities, downloadable rosters, and 3 vs 3 matches all return with a similar user interface.

The biggest problems with Madden NFL 12 are its visuals and commentary. Some players look extremely accurate, but these only seem to be the top-flight quarterbacks and a few running backs. Animations still look really awkward at times and the commentary crew of Gus Johnson and Chris Colinsworth is just plain terrible.

Despite its failings, Madden NFL 12 is actually a better game than Madden 11. It's not the greatest football sim of all time, and some of the new Franchise mode additions aren't exactly revolutionary, but this title will easily satisfy the needs of any NFL fan.

Score: 8.0

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