BY MATTHEW OSTROW

The commentary team for the video game “Madden 2013” is the same duo on CBS on Sundays in Phil Simms and Jim Nance.  The duo makes the video game experience feel very similar to watching a Sunday NFL broadcast.  Even the introduction changes according to the venue. When I play with the Vikings at the Metrodome, Nance said, “Be prepared to see a lot of purple today.” He also talked about the stadium’s history.

The analysis from Simms is, for the most part, very accurate and not repetitive.  If you choose a running play and don’t go for the correct gap, Simms lets you know the poor play was a result of the running back’s decision.  Simms also will quickly comment on the way you try to make adjustments at the line with an audible or shift your defense with comments like, “Look at the defense, this has to be a blitz,” or “The quarterback doesn’t like what he sees and is making a change.”

Nance does a good job setting up Simms and the commentary flows pretty well for a video game. In the past, commentary sounded robotic. Now, Nance talks, in detail, about the star players when they come onto the field.  When Robert Griffin III came onto the field, Nance said: “RG3 the 2nd overall pick out of the University of Baylor.”  Then, Simms goes on to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of Griffin as a quarterback.

My only problem with the commentary team of Simms and Nance is that they show very little emotion.  While playing a game down four points in the 4th quarter, my player, Jerome Simpson, made a great one-handed catch. With no conviction, Nance said “Good catch, that will be a first down.”  I would like to have the announcer show more excitement for an amazing play in such a big moment of the game.However, in comparison to last year’s broadcast team of Gus Johnson and Chris Collinsworth, Nance and Simms are a great overall improvement.  They make the Madden experience better with their analysis and class.