Review of NCAA Football 08
NCAA Football 08
By: Electronic Arts Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 79
More Information
Fun but heavily flawed game
On: 2010-08-15Pros:
1. you can guide the ball and back shoulder throw in this game.
- I am a big fan of putting the ball where my player is. I back shoulder throw in this game as well as putting the ball in the zone coverages like no tommrrow.
- Other NCAA games do not have this at all. If you try to back shoulder throw, your IDIOT receiver just keeps running like a moron mean while the safety or Corner comes up to pick it off.
2. Some really good ideas. Unlike many other Madden or NCAA games you can actually design your play book. I wish the other feature was to allow you design your own plays. I would get crazy with this.
3. Overall the idea of the game and its concepts were good on recruiting and its animations. But it just misses and the quality and fun of the game goes down because of these problems. I wish they let me design the game.
Cons:
1. REALLY screwed up BLOCKING!!!
-Oh wow the blocking in this game is terrible. The blocking is all wrong and the option read is not a true option. The back side DE does not react correctly to the play.
- Pass blocking. PFFT you can forget about it. There is no pass blocking. And the rating of pass block does not matter. Your line still doesnt block.
2. Ratings DO NOT MATTER. I look at the ratings. I design a team to pass block. But my 99 rating Left Tackle doesnt just miss his block but he gets ran over by a 78 rating Safety. WTF!!! Its not once but many times (more than 10 a game). My left tackle weighs 333 lbs and the safety is 195 lbs. The pass block rating is 99 and his awareness is 92 with a strength of 95 and the safety pushes my Tackle in ground weighing almost 100 lbs less and then his strength rating is only 72 and Awareness of 78. WHAT!!!!
- I have receivers with 99 hands (catch rating) and yet they drop 3-4 passes a game that are wide open where no one is covering them. WHAT!!!!
- 76 rating running back with, and weighs 185 lbs. 85 speed and 56 strength, Break tackle rating of 65, stiff arms my Defensive TACKLE into the ground (with ONE ARM) that weighs 305 lbs. and has a rating of 99 and strength of 95. WHAT!!!
You get my point.
So I ask what is the point of recruiting players to fit your offensive system and defensive system when they dont matter?
3. Man coverage in this game is really terrible. It is the easiest thing to beat.
4. No passing option routes. Very strange. Wouldnt these routes increase the importance and usage of the receiver awareness stat???
5. Defensive coverage looks obvious. Bringing the safety down to cover a receiver means its man coverage and a blitz to that side. Thats really dumb to not cover up the defensive schemes.
Additional comments:
To those making NCAA. I just want to say that if you want to make a true game, you should also add this:
1. In Heisman mode (hardest game level) instead of making the game cheat by having line man jump 30 feet in the air to intercept a pass and be able to cover a 99 speed wideout, what you should do is to create smarter AI. Ill explain below. Instead of having the game cheat and slide its defense to the left or right of the running play you should create smarter AI. What do I mean?
a. I mean this. If the opponent is a lot throwing to one person. The game should scheme and double team that wide out and trying to blitz the opponent at the same time. There should be both man and zone coverages mixed together.
b. Also, the game should adapt to the types of routes run. IF a person is running a lot of crossing schemes the DBs should jump those. Then it makes the opponent use more double move routes.
c. I often see what a blitz is going to look like but I cannot assign blocking and ends up as one guy doing nothing and a free rusher to the QB. Needs to be corrected.
d. I wonder why my team has to line up a certain way. How come I cannot show bump and run or man to man and end up backing out and doing zone coverage instead.
e. Why does the other team always block so well and I need to bring extra rushers to sack the QB and meanwhile the CPU can bring 2 rushers and my 5 OL guys cannot block 2 guys and miss the blocks?
NCAA Football 08
On: 2009-12-19Not as in depth as Madden, but still a great game for college football fans. The game options are ulimited for setting the game to your skill level. An easy pick up and play game that you dont need to spend hours trying to learn the controls. No create a school is a bumber.
turning point
On: 2009-12-02this is the first year easports started getting it right still a little glitchy but a solid franchise makes up for it.
Same as all the other 'NCAA' games
On: 2009-11-24If you like them chances are youll like this too. Pretty fun, but takes a while to get the controls & nuances down....like most other games. I wouldnt pay more then $5 for it now as they are very dated.
Fun game, but where did Create-a-School go???
On: 2009-11-05The gameplay is fun and exciting. The Dynasty mode is a neat way to learn how to recruit new prospects, create new players, keep up with the demands of being a coach and managing your team throughout the years and trying to accomplish contract goals or face getting fired! The last NCAA football game I had was 05 and the 08 version failed by not having the create a school option. How could EA Sports take away create a school??? Otherwise the minigames are fun- option dash (2 minutes to go about 80 yards and score as many times as you can by only using option plays, bowling- play from 10 yard line and you get two shots per sequence and 10 frames, and tug-of-war allows two teams to go back and forth one play at a time to see who scores first)
If this game had create a school, it would be five stars! I think I will be purchasing 10 or may be NCAA 11. I bought the 08 version last year.
Fun game!
On: 2009-11-05The gameplay is fun and exciting. The Dynasty mode is a neat way to learn how to recruit new prospects, create new players, keep up with the demands of being a coach and managing your team throughout the years and trying to accomplish contract goals or face getting fired! The last NCAA football game I had was 05 and the 08 version failed by not having the create a school option. How could EA Sports take away create a school??? Otherwise the minigames are fun- option dash (2 minutes to go about 80 yards and score as many times as you can by only using option plays, bowling- play from 10 yard line and you get two shots per sequence and 10 frames, and tug-of-war allows two teams to go back and forth one play at a time to see who scores first)
If this game had create a school, it would be five stars! I think I will be purchasing 10 or may be NCAA 11. I bought the 08 version last year.
Not bad but the PS3 version is better
On: 2009-07-20It gives you plenty of things to do to keep yourself busy. Fun to play not to hard to pick up the basics. Career mode is better on PS3. The PS3 put more work into the little things, but this game was still good.
ncaa football 08
On: 2009-06-02Overall really good game as long as you play it on the harder settings. Also it makes it more interesting if you have a favorite team(s) and enter their roster in.
NCAA 07
On: 2009-01-27This is an American college football game based on going into the 2007 season. realistic gameplay with achievements to unlock. I prefer to hand the ball to the back 30 times a game for 100 yards. I get pass happy and throw 3 or 4 picks a game, so youre better running 30 to 40 times a game and fumble twice tops. I was throwing picks going into score that cost me my few losses during the season. also won some bowl games. you can either play or sim the season any time. The main problem is i cant depend on my kicker for field goals, esp. long distance or even mixed extra points. Start a dynasty and get ranked in the BCs 25.
A Step Backwards
On: 2008-12-02To sum this game up frankly: horrible camera, clunky controls, laughable animations, the players look like theyre wearing plastic uniforms, player models are cartoonishly out of proportion, the team stats mean nothing, the frame-rates are inconsistent and stutters when menus load...and the list goes on. Im not big on the extra features, I just like to play exhibition matches and this game fails miserably.
What happened since NCAA 2006? I enjoyed that game thoroughly on PS2. The controls are intuitive and responsive, and the game has a smoother, faster feel to it. Its not perfect, but it is at least enjoyable. Making plays on defense was actually possible in that game. I always control a defensive tackle and getting off blocks is next to impossible in 2008, against any team.
Why EA moved away from the 2006 controls, I dont understand (this goes for Madden as well), using the right analog stick to juke/swim/hit was great and allowed for very fluid gameplay that shoulder buttons cant emulate as well. As other people have said, switching the controls for every version is confusing and annoying. 2006 had it right.
This game is a joke, and not even worth the cheap, used price I paid for it.
A Pretty Nice NCAA Game!
On: 2008-09-25This is a pretty good game(about 4.5 stars), definitely an improvement from the 07 version. The graphics and sound f/x are AWESOME! Its like youre really in the stadium getting cheered on or booed by the fans. Gameplay is a little laggier (but also more realistic) than the past NCAA games and the players seem slow and chunky, but overall its a pretty down right fun game to play by yourself or with a friend.
good game
On: 2008-09-13NCAA is so much better then madden. this one is one of the best in the collection of NCAA football games
Stop looking for the faults and enjoy the game!
On: 2008-07-14Yes, you might fumble too much, or that linebacker just jumped too high to make an impossible interception. Big deal, chances are you will probably get the same type of turnover while on defense later on. And if you dont and lose, get over it. where is the fun if you go into every game knowing you are going to win?
I adore this game, last year up at college we got 12 guys together and created a dynasty. It was the best thing ever. The recruiting is a blast, and the head to head games get so heated that you have crowds coming into your room to watch these games. Despite having 12 people, we got to season 6 by the end of the school year.
Another unrealistic aspect of this game is the rankings and the heisman voting. I personally got jipped, as I had an undefeated season and defeated the preseason #1 and #2 teams, but still finished 3rd in the BCS. But you know what..its great! It caused so much smack talk, and besides i ended up losing to a friend in the rose bowl, so maybe it was deserved. But I got over it and won the national title the next year.
Some say the passing is too tough, are you serious? If you have any football knowledge you should be fine in the passing game. Its easy to recognize coverage, even before the snap. Cover 2 means throw it to the seam down the middle, man to man give it to your guys on crossing routes and time it right, etc. And if you still cant handle it, adjust the sliders. Really, people complain too much, they need to sit back and enjoy this game. I am getting 09 tomorrow and my friends and I are going to go through another 6 dyanasty seasons.
1080p 60 was promising, but had it's issues
On: 2008-06-06hopefully 09 will be the ultimate HD college football gaming experience. Fun game as always, but on the 360 the 1080p 60fps had processing issues for 08.
Great Game for NCAA Fans!...
On: 2008-06-01A little slow at times, but the College atsmosphere overshadows and issues. EA Sports has glitches as we all know, but once you get passed them and understand why they happen you will be alright. I am looking forward to both NCAA Football 2009 & Madden NFL 2009. See you on the grid iron!
good but always can be better
On: 2008-04-14For one, this game used to be my favorite game on regular xbox UNTIL I went out and bought a xbox 360. I then purchased ncaa 07.....hated it. Then played ncaa football 08. Also hated it. Mainly because EVERY single year EA sports will change the controls to TRY and make something different. I completely stopped playing it after the 07 version on xbox 360. The controls were confusing and everything i liked about audibling, shifting lineman, shifting wide receivers changed to a completely different button. Also I learned I had to press 2-3 different buttons to scroll through the menu while on the roster!!!!! What the hell! KEEP THE CONTROLS THE SAME FOR GOD SAKES! STOP CHANGING THEM. PEOPLE WANT THE SAME CONTROL OPTIONS PEOPLE! MAKE THE GAME PLAY MORE REALISTIC WITH BETTER NON GEEKY SPRINTING STYLES, MAKE BETTER CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATIONS!!! BETTER COMMENTATING! GOOD GOD!
Football 360
On: 2008-04-05This was given as a gift and the recipient is a football fanatic. Any more fun the receipient would be crashing through the television screen trying to complete a play.
Terribly developed
On: 2008-04-04The other day I was playing this game with my brother. We started off our game at night in Boise. About halfway through the second quarter, I thought I noticed a lighting change, so we watched the instant replay. Sure enough, the night had changed instantly into day. Pat White might be able to juke some tough players, but he isnt God. When he drops back the sun doesnt change. Now this is a minor inconvenience and does not really affect my gaming experience, but it just goes to show how sloppily the game was created. Earlier, my brother went for a two-point conversion and I intercepted it. After running it back for two points of my own, I was made to kick off (after he had scored the TD) and, on top of that, I was kicking off from his 35 yard line. That was frustrating.
My other concerns about NCAA Football 2008:
The logic behind the order of switching players while a play is going is terrible. Countless times it takes several times to get the correct player, or I will try and select a defensive lineman for a sack and end up choosing a DB and leaving the receiver wide open. This is also a problem trying to select someone near the ball carrier to tackle him.
The player celebrations are spastic and obnoxious.
The graphics seem to be worse than before.
The in-game stat update windows have cheesy designs.
The absence of momentum tracker was a huge loss to the games realism.
Quite often during the game, players do very unrealistic things like changing directions very quickly, taking 7 seconds to run 40 yards (even really fast players), and making unrealistic tackles.
Not being able to call plays and control the whole team during campus legend mode is a step in the wrong direction. How am I supposed to have a good receiver, running back, or quarterback when my stupid coach keeps calling terrible plays, and I dont get to decide who gets the ball?
First-person kick blocking and returning should not have been done away with.
Good, could be better
On: 2008-01-23I bought this game August 07, so about when it came out. I thought it was a great game at first, goood graphics, dynasty was well done, and the legend mode was OK. The knocks on this game is that it is rather choppy, freezing on the menu, freezing a lot in game(drives me crazy), and ridiculous fumbles. Example, I was playing legend mode and ran it as a RB. I got tackled and "fumbled" it. I hit the instant replay and it glitched where my arm, with the ball, went under the ground, and the ball came out. No fumble. But, considering Im a player, I cant challenge it and only like 1 of 3 times with a booth or coach challenge it. Also, I still think they are slimming down game features to much-No coach mode w/ building staddiums, etc, also, no create-a-team! Again! My favorite NCAA game ever is 06, with all that, and over all, this game could be a ton better. ive started playing Madden 07 again. I want 08. ( tell me if its worth the money). Now the good news. Overall, its fun. My shrine is very cool, head-to-head with a friend is fun, and legendmode is cool because in the beginning you are in the HS playoffs. If you buy it, wait until it drops to 50 or even 40 bucks. Im not an EA hater, but come on.
XBOB 360
On: 2008-01-12I bought this for my husband, and he LOVES it. He played on Christmas day, from 600am off and on till 900 pm. SO it must be great.
EA Sports Owns Football Games Period
On: 2007-12-06EA Sports comes back with another udated version of NCAA Football 08. With the more life-like movement and overall play of the game it definitely makes it more fun to play than last years. However, the new Menu is setup rather awkwardly and causes confusion while trying to maneuver your way through the games and settings. EA Sports seamed to miss a few features on this years model which Im sure will be corrected for the 2009 game.
Some of my personal highlights: I really like the Road to the Heisman, better than previous years you are only in control of your player (whether you chose to create your own or use a current NCAA star). It makes much more sense and has a realistic story line as you progress through your college life. The only problem Ive faced is when I dont like the play call, tough luck, you better have great audibles setup as a QB, but if your the HB/RB youll have a problem. Overall, I loved playing this and have finished my freshman season replacing J.D. Booty as USCs QB, and led my team to the BCS game.
My biggest pet peeve: The create a character simply sucks. You cant chose much of anything except for the helmet & facemask, and the arm accessories. What happened to the tattoos and hairstyles? I mean, not everyone in the NCAA has clean-cut hairstyles so they should try a little harder to make the game more realistic.
CONCLUSION: Regardless of the minor flaws/setbacks of the game this year, I will continue to get the newest version of the game as it releases. Thanks to EA Sports for another great game, but if you are indecisive about NCAA vs MADDEN, I would recommend Madden for an overall better game. I am just a huge fan of collegiate sports and love playing as my USC TROJANS, FIGHT ON!!!
Almost there
On: 2007-11-23This years game is a step ahead from last years...except for in one (and the largest i.m.o.) category - fps. The gameplay is so slow a lot of times, imagine the worst lag youve had playing online in Madden or any shooter game; thats what normal off-line gameplay is like on ncaa 08. If you played last years title, the offline lag is worse this year...Other than that - its a great game and EA is almost there in terms of a great game. The graphics are wonderful, the gametypes are extremely fun ("You decide to veg out on the couch and watch movies with friends...Popularity +1"), and the achievements are a little more challenging this year (getting six interceptions with one player in one game....grrr).
Overall, its a fun game to rent and play for a weekend when you have nothing to do, but I wouldnt buy it...next years should be the one to put the series over the top.
EA NCAA Football back to form...
On: 2007-11-07I have been a fan of EAs NCAA Football since 2001. Every year I have bought the game and have enjoyed it thoroughly. However, I did not enjoy NCAA Football 2007. To me, the game was a little too difficult. The controls didnt make sense, either. The 2008 edition has certainly corrected all those problems. I have not played the Legend Mode, b/c I personally love the Dynasty Mode, and is pretty much all I play.
The recruiting feature is the single most enjoyable part of this game. You get to select 35 players before the season gets underway, and then recruit them as the season goes along. Once a recruit cuts his list down to a set number of favorites, then you can bring them in for a visit. If you cannot get the recruit to comitt during the season, then you have 5 weeks to convince them during the off-season, when once again you can bring them in for another visit.
As far as the Gameplay, the controls once again all make sense. It is very easy to flow with the game. There are TWO reasons why I did not rate the game a 5 star. First, they took away the feature that allows you to control crowd noise. This was by far one of my favorite features as it allows you to rattle your opponent. Also, you have to change your depth chart every single game if you want a specific order. For example, say you have two QBs. One is a rating of 90 but is a senior, and the other is a rating of 85 and is a freshman. If you want to go with the freshman QB, you have to change it every single game, or else the depth chart will continue to default back to the original.
I would highly recommend this game. It provides an excellent gameplay experience.
terrible software
On: 2007-11-03I bought this game for my sons xbox 360. The xbox live part never worked right. My son would always lose his connection playing with other players before half time. We have had no other problems with other xbox 360 live games; i.e., halo 3, call of duty, guitar hero, etc. I attempted to contact EA sports which is like a top government secret as to how you actually speak with the exhalted ones working at EA sports. TARGET exchanged my original game and we experienced the exact same problem. We brought it back to TARGET the 2nd time and they would not give me my money back when I tried returning the game, they basically laughed in my face. I guess TARGETS policy is giving folks only 2 broken (same)items for their money. Whats scary is I probably would have gotten better customer servivce at Wal-Mart, yikes. I will never buy another EA sports game for my sons xbox 360. I have also managed to stay away from TARGET for at least a month so far. EA sports is obviously getting these games out there before the software is properly tested. WHo monitors this stuff, who cares ????????
Great gameplay, but DUMB Heisman and Champ selections.
On: 2007-10-26I bought this game after renting it because I love both Dynasty and Legend Mode, BUT I played as a 5 star RB for Louisville and crushed school and NCAA records for rushing yards and TDs, and yet I STILL didnt win the Heisman. We also went undefeated playing 3 ranked teams, and yet we were ranked 3rd in the BCS and had to settle for the orange bowl. Finally, I am currently playing as a So. and we are 5th in the BCS and still undefeated, how to the developers expect you to take your team to the Championship (like they said) if they wont rank you any higher after going undefeated.
Great Game ... But Better on 360 Than PS3
On: 2007-10-14I was first hooked on the NCAA franchise last year while waiting for Madden to be released. I especially enjoyed the Dyansty mode. I actually thought NCAA 07 was a better game than Madden 07, even though I am not into college football.
This year I was definitely up for playing 08. After reading a review in EGM, I took the advice of the writers and decided to pick up the XBOX 360 version. It played very nicely and I was excited about the new enhancements, specifically to the Dynasty mode. When recruiting players you now have a much more expansive option of convincing them to attend your school. It seems that the developers really worked on improving this area. The gameplay has also been improved and is much smoother than the previous year.
However, two weeks into the game my 360 broke down and while waiting for it to get repaired I picked up the PS3 version. There was a noticeable difference right away. I could see that the PS3 version was not as smooth. I believe that the frames per second on the PS3 version are about half that of the 360. Other than that I have not noticed any differences between the two version.
If you only own a PS3, its not worth the extra money to buy a 360 for this game, but there is a noticeable difference in animation between the two. The one nice feature I recently discovered on the PS3 version is the ability to move your controller (SIXAXIS) to perform certain in game moves like: fake huddle, big hit, etc. You basically lift up the controller or push it forward to activate these moves. It adds a nice touch.
Slow
On: 2007-10-13My major issue with this game is the lagging of the gameplay as well as the announcing. It seemed it took a quarter of a second too long to switch between players on defense, which of course can cause undesired results. The gameplay was akward as well especially on defense. I found playing on the defensive line was nearly impossible. I could never get any pressure on the QB. The graphics are out of this world and the game is very nice to look at overall. The football aesthetics is aplenty but the gameplay needs to be fun in order to have a good game. I found the gameplay and the lagging was too much to overcome. I sold the game and have not looked back.
Fun but very flawed.
On: 2007-09-27Id like to add my voice to those who have voiced frustration with this game. My copy is flawed and freezes fairly often, which is apparently a pretty common problem with this game. In addition, the recruiting in dynasty mode is TOO detailed and time consuming. Recruiting used to be one of my favorite parts of dynasty mode, but it simply takes way too much time now. What else? Im playing Campus Legend with a QB, and I get sacked an average of five or six times a game. The line is utter crap on pass blocking. Those would be my main complaints. At this rate, Im not going to buy the game again next year. The improvements made each year are minimal and there are quite a few things that have gotten worse.
Fun but very flawed.
On: 2007-09-26Id like to add my voice to those who have voiced frustration with this game. My copy is flawed and freezes fairly often, which is apparently a pretty common problem with this game. In addition, the recruiting in dynasty mode is TOO detailed and time consuming. Recruiting used to be one of my favorite parts of dynasty mode, but it simply takes way too much time now. What else? Im playing Campus Legend with a QB, and I get sacked an average of five or six times a game. The line is utter crap on pass blocking. Those would be my main complaints. At this rate, Im not going to buy the game again next year. The improvements made each year are minimal and there are quite a few things that have gotten worse.
Video Game Review: NCAA Football 08 for Xbox 360
On: 2007-09-02Every year since 1997, EA Sports has released a version of their college football video game, NCAA Football. I myself have purchased each new edition dating back to NCAA Football 2002. Many college football fans complain that NCAA Football is the same video game every year only with new rosters and a few new features. In this regard, I completely agree with them. However, NCAA Football 08 for the Xbox 360 is a completely different game than its predecessors. It has a revamped graphics engine and game play system as well as the all-new Campus Legend mode. With these key components and other factors, this video game is more than just NCAA Football 07 with updated rosters.
Last year, the NCAA Football series made the jump from the current-generation systems to the next-generation Xbox 360. However, the game proved to be disappointing. The players moved unrealistically and they all looked like body-builders (even the kickers). This year, EA Sports re-constructed the game from scratch, taking full advantage of the next-generation systems power. Their work paid off as the game play is now as smooth as ever and the graphics are unbelievably accurate. When my friend walked in while I was in the middle playing a game, he thought there was a college football game on TV. With the new Weather Channel Live Feed, a game can be played with the exact same weather conditions at any college football stadium around the country. There is also a new feature that allows any player to post any highlight of any game he or she plays right on the web. So, the next there is a 90-yard touchdown bomb on the last play of the game, your friends will actually believe it.
Ever dreamed of becoming the star player of your favorite college football team? With the new Campus Legend mode, anybody can do just that. After a few practice games, I tried out Campus Legend. First, I created my player as an option-style quarterback for Huntsville High School. Then, I started playing in the high school playoffs of my senior year, bringing back the State Championship to Huntsville. After this I was offered a scholarship to play for any college that I desired. I chose the University of Pittsburgh because I became the starter as soon as I arrived on campus. Throughout each season in Campus Legend mode, news articles and statistics are released each week on the virtual ESPN.com. I left Pittsburgh with four Heisman Trophies and a perfect 52-0 record. Take my word for it that the option-style quarterback is the easiest position in the game. In combination with the Campus Legend mode and the graphics and game play, this years game is the best yet. My advice is to buy NCAA Football 08 or you will miss out on the greatest sports video game in history.
good game, has its fautls, but overall is worth it.
On: 2007-09-01Are you a college football fan? Then buy the game. Just a football fan? Then you might want to rent it.
The game isnt bad at all. The graphics are nicer, the movement is great (60 FPS), and the gameplay is improved. However the game certainly feels like it is missing something, but it is MUCH better than 07 for the 360, but compared to the last generations version it is really lacking in features. No create a team, no playoff subdivision teams, and it is even missing the newest bowl subdivision team Western Kentucky (unforgivable seeings how they got FIU and FAU in on the correct year... it would be equal to them leaving out one of the bowl games in my opinion).
To top off the faults there is no cooperative in this game.
If you can get by the faults and just enjoy it for what it is, it is certainly worth the buy.
good game, has its fautls, but overall is worth it.
On: 2007-08-31Are you a college football fan? Then buy the game. Just a football fan? Then you might want to rent it.
The game isnt bad at all. The graphics are nicer, the movement is great (60 FPS), and the gameplay is improved. However the game certainly feels like it is missing something, but it is MUCH better than 07 for the 360, but compared to the last generations version it is really lacking in features. No create a team, no playoff subdivision teams, and it is even missing the newest bowl subdivision team Western Kentucky (unforgivable seeings how they got FIU and FAU in on the correct year... it would be equal to them leaving out one of the bowl games in my opinion).
To top off the faults there is no cooperative in this game.
If you can get by the faults and just enjoy it for what it is, it is certainly worth the buy.
Best way to wait for Madden.
On: 2007-08-27If you have enjoyed any past version of NCAA Football on XBOX or 360 then you will love this version. There are not many visual upgrades but the game has more depth than last year. In season recruiting keeps you busy between weeks. I have noticed some glitches in earning Achievements; I have completed some tasks multiple times and still have not unlocked those achievement points. All in all you wont be disappointed. I still have not opened Madden 08 yet because I need to win the National Championship one last time.
overkill on dynasty
On: 2007-08-21great graphics & love the game play. dynasty is boring, and legend is monotonous. too much info translates into too much time doing recruiting instead of playing the season. still ya got to love the game play.
A pretty good game, but....
On: 2007-08-21Let me start off by saying that when your playing in a game scenario, this game can be fun, But problems start rather quickly. One of my biggest complaints is in the passing game, the lack of location based passing makes throwing the ball nerve racking, often times on a crossing route your receiver will have to spin around backwards just to make the catch. And if your hoping to throw over your receivers shoulder where a defender cant reach it.... good luck, once again, most of the time he will spin around and try to make a dramatic catch, often times losing the chance to get extra yardage. Then theres one of my favorite pass plays, the deep comeback. This play is insanely frustrating, your reciever will go out the usual 10-15 yards, the problem is, when he turns back for the pass, he comes back a few yards, you throw, he catches, BUT KEEPS COMING BACK!!! It takes him so long to turn back around, that when he gets tackled he has turned what should have been a gain of 10-15 yards or more into a gain of 4-8 yards. And also if your not a fan of using tight ends in the passing game, you better be damn good at this game, because in the harder difficulty levels it is extremely hard to get the ball into your receivers, since the defense is so tough. Make friends with your tight end, he could save you. And also make good use of your hot routes and motions, and remember, just becuase your pass isnt a huge gain, as long as your not losing yards, your doing pretty good. My next problem is the running game in campus legend mode, when you are the quarterback, or any other position, your running back is often a lame duck, unless your on a team with a excellent running back, even then you will have to turn your running backs AI waaayyy up so that he doesnt just do a spin move and get dropped in the backfield. Also in Campus legend mode, when you are the quarterbackback, you want to make sure that you do choose a balanced or running quarterback, otherwise you may be on the wrong side of a sack very often, especially since the offensive line this year is very inconsistant. Now I know that your gonna get sacked sometimes, that obvious, and also part of the game. But what i mean by inconsistant is that, one play the O-line will do a pretty good job, but then on the next two of your guys will grind together trying to pick up a block, and allow the whole D-line to get through and take you down (thats why you want a mobile quarterback). The load times are long, which can be frustrating, especailly in campus legend mode, where the games are considerably shorter since you only play when your player is on the field. But one place the 360 version of the game shines over the ps3 version is the framerate, which is at a lovely 60 frames per second, while the ps3 struggles at 30fps. But so many frames a second can cause some hiccups.
The main menu can be frustrating and confusing at times, but nothing too hard to overcome. i also find myself wishing there was more to do with your player during the week in campus legend mode. Every week goes as follows: Practice, night event (you only read about what you did that night), then comes the next day. You do this all week, then you can play the game at the end of the week. the night event can earn you stats (which will help you for the week), and popularity points (Which will help fill up your legend meter). You cant even do anything during the offseason, no training, no mini camps, not even a spring game. :(
Thats not to say that everythng is bad in this game. Like I said, this game can be pretty fun. The new ESPN.com feature is very nice, and does a good job keeping up with stats, although often I find that a team that was ranked 25th or lower in the BCS one week, is ranked in the top 5 the next, which for anybody who knows college football, can be irritating since this is NOT supposed to happen. To be fair, I have not played on defense very much, so I cant really discuss that. But let me just say, being a middle linebacker is tough.
All in all this isnt a horrible game, its actually very addicting, its just easier to point out the flaws than it is to talk about the good stuff. The frustrating things do happen, but if you love college football, its easy to overlook...Creating your own highlight reel can be fun, but if your like me and dont have box live (at the moment), its just a sad reminder of how you cant show off your skills. The Stadiums are well done, as well as the whether effects, in the winter you could be having a snow shower, then the next thing you know, it has turned into a blizzard that has completely covered the field. Oddly though, you never see a player slip on the slippery surface (as in Madden 08). The Announcers do a good job with the emotion factor. I cant really say much bad about them. They are a little inconsistant though. For example: they will be very excited over the 4th game of the season, but then in the National Championship, they will be very mellow.
If you have a problem with little irritations and flaws, pass on this game, but if you can overlook these thing, trust me... this game makes for a satisfying experience. I just hope this review has helped all who are reading. and i hope it didnt take too much time out of your day.
Thanks for your time! :)
YES!!!
On: 2007-08-20This may be the best game i have ever played! its ALMOST perfect. the graphics and player mechanics are wonderful it makes you feel like you are actully in the game. The hit stick it tons of fun to play around with. The gameplay is very addicting me and my friends play this game for hours at a time. Campus Legend mode is essentially perfect H.S. football is a brilliant way to make your legend heard. I love ALMOST everything about this game. There is only two complaints i have i just wish that EA would have kept the Division AA rosters around. And i also wish there was a create-a-team feature is that tto much to ask for! me and my friends always used to create our own teams and play with them for hours!
A pretty good game, but....
On: 2007-08-20Let me start off by saying that when your playing in a game scenario, this game can be fun, But problems start rather quickly. One of my biggest complaints is in the passing game, the lack of location based passing makes throwing the ball nerve racking, often times on a crossing route your receiver will have to spin around backwards just to make the catch. And if your hoping to throw over your receivers shoulder where a defender cant reach it.... good luck, once again, most of the time he will spin around and try to make a dramatic catch, often times losing the chance to get extra yardage. Then theres one of my favorite pass plays, the deep comeback. This play is insanely frustrating, your reciever will go out the usual 10-15 yards, the problem is, when he turns back for the pass, he comes back a few yards, you throw, he catches, BUT KEEPS COMING BACK!!! It takes him so long to turn back around, that when he gets tackled he has turned what should have been a gain of 10-15 yards or more into a gain of 4-8 yards. And also if your not a fan of using tight ends in the passing game, you better be damn good at this game, because in the harder difficulty levels it is extremely hard to get the ball into your receivers, since the defense is so tough. Make friends with your tight end, he could save you. And also make good use of your hot routes and motions, and remember, just becuase your pass isnt a huge gain, as long as your not losing yards, your doing pretty good. My next problem is the running game in campus legend mode, when you are the quarterback, or any other position, your running back is often a lame duck, unless your on a team with a excellent running back, even then you will have to turn your running backs AI waaayyy up so that he doesnt just do a spin move and get dropped in the backfield. Also in Campus legend mode, when you are the quarterbackback, you want to make sure that you do choose a balanced or running quarterback, otherwise you may be on the wrong side of a sack very often, especially since the offensive line this year is very inconsistant. Now I know that your gonna get sacked sometimes, that obvious, and also part of the game. But what i mean by inconsistant is that, one play the O-line will do a pretty good job, but then on the next two of your guys will grind together trying to pick up a block, and allow the whole D-line to get through and take you down (thats why you want a mobile quarterback). The load times are long, which can be frustrating, especailly in campus legend mode, where the games are considerably shorter since you only play when your player is on the field. But one place the 360 version of the game shines over the ps3 version is the framerate, which is at a lovely 60 frames per second, while the ps3 struggles at 30fps. But so many frames a second can cause some hiccups.
The main menu can be frustrating and confusing at times, but nothing too hard to overcome. i also find myself wishing there was more to do with your player during the week in campus legend mode. Every week goes as follows: Practice, night event (you only read about what you did that night), then comes the next day. You do this all week, then you can play the game at the end of the week. the night event can earn you stats (which will help you for the week), and popularity points (Which will help fill up your legend meter). You cant even do anything during the offseason, no training, no mini camps, not even a spring game. :(
Thats not to say that everythng is bad in this game. Like I said, this game can be pretty fun. The new ESPN.com feature is very nice, and does a good job keeping up with stats, although often I find that a team that was ranked 25th or lower in the BCS one week, is ranked in the top 5 the next, which for anybody who knows college football, can be irritating since this is NOT supposed to happen. To be fair, I have not played on defense very much, so I cant really discuss that. But let me just say, being a middle linebacker is tough.
All in all this isnt a horrible game, its actually very addicting, its just easier to point out the flaws than it is to talk about the good stuff. The frustrating things do happen, but if you love college football, its easy to overlook...Creating your own highlight reel can be fun, but if your like me and dont have box live (at the moment), its just a sad reminder of how you cant show off your skills. The Stadiums are well done, as well as the whether effects, in the winter you could be having a snow shower, then the next thing you know, it has turned into a blizzard that has completely covered the field. Oddly though, you never see a player slip on the slippery surface (as in Madden 08). The Announcers do a good job with the emotion factor. I cant really say much bad about them. They are a little inconsistant though. For example: they will be very excited over the 4th game of the season, but then in the National Championship, they will be very mellow.
If you have a problem with little irritations and flaws, pass on this game, but if you can overlook these thing, trust me... this game makes for a satisfying experience. I just hope this review has helped all who are reading. and i hope it didnt take too much time out of your day.
Thanks for your time! :)
YES!!!
On: 2007-08-19This may be the best game i have ever played! its ALMOST perfect. the graphics and player mechanics are wonderful it makes you feel like you are actully in the game. The hit stick it tons of fun to play around with. The gameplay is very addicting me and my friends play this game for hours at a time. Campus Legend mode is essentially perfect H.S. football is a brilliant way to make your legend heard. I love ALMOST everything about this game. There is only two complaints i have i just wish that EA would have kept the Division AA rosters around. And i also wish there was a create-a-team feature is that tto much to ask for! me and my friends always used to create our own teams and play with them for hours!
"One of the Best"
On: 2007-08-18I have bought my teenage son countless numbers of games for his systems over the years and he said that this one was one the best he ever received. Even though he spends hours playing almost any game he talked about this one alot. He said that it was very fun.
Bionic Linebackers
On: 2007-08-17This years version introduces some new features that will be great when they go back to testing the product. I love the highlights and the ESPN look and feel, but the controls and frame-rate are a bit sluggish. Also, the animations take too long to run their course and then there are the turnovers...I honestly cant believe that given any testing what-so-ever someone did not say, "Do you think the linebackers should jump that high?" "Should a lob pass be intercepted by a lineman?" "Do you find it annoying that you fumble all the time?" I will miss having an NCAA this year, but oh well. This game is simply too frustrating with a medium level team.
Almost, But Not Quite
On: 2007-08-17NCAA Football 07 was on par with most of the sports games released on the Xbox 360 that year, below expectations. This years addition to the series is a good improvement and paves the way for NCAA Football 09. NCAA 08 adds some new features to the game, such as Super Sim, which lets players skip plays,watch plays, skip quarters, skip possesions or go to the end of the game. Players can also jump back into the action whenever they want. Campus Lengend mode is also entertaining, but eventually gets boring. Youll find yourself growing tired of going to the repetitive practices and only being able to control your player. The recruiting system has also been tweaked, but I as an other reviewer, find it almost too in depth. It can get confusing trying to keep track of all your players and who you gave scholarships to, made promises to, visited at home, and who visited your campus.
The control system however, I find quite good. It lets the player control a lot without being overwhlemed or confused. The game also lets one view their accomplishments in the form of trophies, these include Heisman trophies, championships, and others. You can also create highlights or photographs of any play you performed and save it for future viewing. Each play is awarded points for how impressive they are.
In all, NCAA Football 08 is a fun game, with great controls, a variety of playing modes, and some entertaining reward systems. It could be better, but it could be much much worse. Plus, achievements are always fun!!!
"One of the Best"
On: 2007-08-17I have bought my teenage son countless numbers of games for his systems over the years and he said that this one was one the best he ever received. Even though he spends hours playing almost any game he talked about this one alot. He said that it was very fun.
Bionic Linebackers
On: 2007-08-16The 08 version of NCAA introduces some new features that will be awesome when they go back to testing the product. I love the highlight feature and the ESPN look and feel, but the controls and frame-rate are a really sluggish. My main complaint with the controls is that the animations take far too long to run their course. Just a bunch of big, slow players performing long,canned jukes. The worst aspect of the game is the turnovers...I honestly cant believe that given any testing what-so-ever someone did not say,
"These players seem big and slow"
"Do you think the linebackers should jump that high?"
"Should a lob pass be intercepted by a lineman?"
"Do you find it annoying that you fumble all the time?"
You may be thinking "If you dont want to fumble, then use a good RB"...Im using the top heisman candidate and I fumble a lot even without jukes, highlight stick, AND while always "covering up" the ball. The turnovers may be ok if they just committed to an arcade style, but the pace is just way too slow for that. Id give a zero, if I could. I recommend playing Madden and "pretending" thats its NCAA, because this game is simply too frustrating with a medium level team. oh yeah, why are the player ratings for FSU so darn high?
Im amazed some other reviews are so high. Im guessing the rewards are for potential, because the product on the shelf is extremely weak and buggy. Maybe people dont want to admit they bought junk for 60 bones. I highly recommend that you try the game first. Find a buddy or rent it.
I will miss having an NCAA this year, but oh well. I cant wait for next year!
Almost, But Not Quite
On: 2007-08-16NCAA Football 07 was on par with most of the sports games released on the Xbox 360 that year, below expectations. This years addition to the series is a good improvement and paves the way for NCAA Football 09. NCAA 08 adds some new features to the game, such as Super Sim, which lets players skip plays,watch plays, skip quarters, skip possesions or go to the end of the game. Players can also jump back into the action whenever they want. Campus Lengend mode is also entertaining, but eventually gets boring. Youll find yourself growing tired of going to the repetitive practices and only being able to control your player. The recruiting system has also been tweaked, but I as an other reviewer, find it almost too in depth. It can get confusing trying to keep track of all your players and who you gave scholarships to, made promises to, visited at home, and who visited your campus.
The control system however, I find quite good. It lets the player control a lot without being overwhlemed or confused. The game also lets one view their accomplishments in the form of trophies, these include Heisman trophies, championships, and others. You can also create highlights or photographs of any play you performed and save it for future viewing. Each play is awarded points for how impressive they are.
In all, NCAA Football 08 is a fun game, with great controls, a variety of playing modes, and some entertaining reward systems. It could be better, but it could be much much worse. Plus, achievements are always fun!!!
IT SKIPS TOO MUCH!!!
On: 2007-08-14I like this game. Only two problems with it: 1. When the computer decides that it is time for you to lose, your runningbacks start to fumble like crazy, and receivers will literally run away from the pass. 2. It SKIPS WAY TOO MUCH! My 360 is brand new, so I know it isnt that. This game will freeze on you in the middle of a game, and when your in legend mode (which is absolutely awesome on this game) it can prove to be disheartening. Really, I gave this game a 4 because of the skipping. The rest of the stuff is forgivable because the game is soooo freakin fun and indepth. You actually get a couple of games in one, which is probably why it skips a lot. Anyway, if you buy this, be prepared to have it skip on you quite a bit. But it is worth the buy. I dont know where all the negative comments are coming from. This game is really good.
IT SKIPS TOO MUCH!!!
On: 2007-08-13I like this game. Only two problems with it: 1. When the computer decides that it is time for you to lose, your runningbacks start to fumble like crazy, and receivers will literally run away from the pass. 2. It SKIPS WAY TOO MUCH! My 360 is brand new, so I know it isnt that. This game will freeze on you in the middle of a game, and when your in legend mode (which is absolutely awesome on this game) it can prove to be disheartening. Really, I gave this game a 4 because of the skipping. The rest of the stuff is forgivable because the game is soooo freakin fun and indepth. You actually get a couple of games in one, which is probably why it skips a lot. Anyway, if you buy this, be prepared to have it skip on you quite a bit. But it is worth the buy. I dont know where all the negative comments are coming from. This game is really good.
great gameplay with few flaws
On: 2007-08-13great game overall, grapics are great and gameplay is awesome, downside is players get hurt to quick, some unrealistic catches at times as well lol but overall great game
Great and upgraded
On: 2007-08-13I would like to say that this game was very underrated when I have seen the reviews for it on TV and I will definitely pre-order games from Amazon more often.
What in the world?
On: 2007-08-10It seems as though the ea people just loadedup the old sega genesis version of madden and gave it better graphics and college teams. The gameplay is terrible and the camera view is ridiculous. I thought that I was plaing in retro mode or something but I was wrong. What happened to the 06 gameplay? Either the creators of this game were on an acid trip up until the last week they had to create the game or they are tryng to boost the sales of Madden. Possibly even just seeing how crappy they can make the game and see how many people will get suckered into it.Well anywayz it sucks completely. extremely dissapointed. There Rant over
What in the world?
On: 2007-08-09It seems as though the ea people just loadedup the old sega genesis version of madden and gave it better graphics and college teams. The gameplay is terrible and the camera view is ridiculous. I thought that I was plaing in retro mode or something but I was wrong. What happened to the 06 gameplay? Either the creators of this game were on an acid trip up until the last week they had to create the game or they are tryng to boost the sales of Madden. Possibly even just seeing how crappy they can make the game and see how many people will get suckered into it.Well anywayz it sucks completely. extremely dissapointed. There Rant over
Decent game but too many flaws
On: 2007-08-06Ive been a fan of the NCAA series for the past 5 years. I owned last years version on the original Xbox and thought it was great. Now that Ive moved to the 360, it feels like the game has regressed (except in the graphics area). There are too many bugs and problems and it really seems like the game was rushed to meet the shipping date. I think it would have been a lot better if extra time were taken to test and work out the kinks. The basic gameplay is still good but the number of interceptions is completely insane. I found I can beat any player on-line by not throwing any passes while my opponent will usually have 5 or more interceptions. Since I dont even take control of the DBs, its totally the games AI thats doing it. I hope that next years version can iron out these problems as it will be the 3rd year on the 360 and blaming being on a new platform wont be a valid argument anymore. With all this being said, I wouldnt recommend skipping the game since its still plays well overall, but I would be prepared for a number of annoyances and frustrations.
NCCA - Glory to Garbage
On: 2007-08-02I have loved the EA Sports NCAA franchise since I bought NCAA 99. Each year the features expanded, creation of teams, game control, and finally the Legend feature. This year was a total waste of money. If you are thinking about buying this game, beware.
The only good feature is the Legend. It has promise. Its a nice twist that you play your high school championship to determine your skills. This is better than the "try-out" option from last year. A great idea was the position only format. If you make yourself as a QB, then thats all you play. It adds a nice depth of realism and simulation. Dont get me wrong, where the rest of the game comes you 4th and inches, this feature is a 60 yard Hail Mary TD. The only change should come from play selection. Give it a nice rebellion against the coaches feel and prehaps penalties placed on your player for going against the coach.
A word on game control: awkward. I have read reviews and watched many people play this. Audibles, hot routes, changes at the line; all these are more complex than need be. With previous versions, you pushed a simple button and you could alter the line. Now, you must take the extra time to read the menus and select your option. I dont have time for that. It takes much longer to call an audible than need be with the clock running down, now I have to waste more time trying to figure out how to show my blitz or call an option to shake up the line. The actual controls arent too bad, just awakrdly placed.
Menus. Holy cow! I thought MS Vista was absurd! Give me back the simplicity for graphics. Sometimes more is not always better. Enough said.
Game features have suffered. For you die hard, lets just play the game with a school, I dont need to create because its pointless; half the people who buy this game like the Create-a-School feature. I myself like to dabble with it. Heres the deal. I play on the Hiesman level (hardest) and can still walk away with the National Championship year after year. It gets boring. Even with crazy controls, pointless menus, and other absurd features that really dont enhance the games beside making it look "cool", I am still able to romp on teams and actual players sitting beside me. I am bored. So, I create a team and make it the worst you could ever have. I spend a couple of years actually recruiting the worst players. All this to make it difficult. I really get into it. I have found a new level of play after I have trashed all competition. This years version: got rid of all the fun extras. Why? Probably to appease some yuppy who said they didnt like it. Whats it cost to add this feature? What were we going to can becuase it could be added? The answer: Nothing. If something isnt broke, dont fix it. Add all the neat features that are pointless. I find the whole replay capture to be tediuos and boring. It has no bearing except to show off that someone on the easiest mode was able to lob a 75 yard TD pass. But, some people like the stroking of egos, even in a virtual world. Why not allow it. Add stuff to make it fun for those who like it. But dont take away features that die-hard fans have enjoyed for years.
One more note on the "Creation" features. I understand this is simulation and EA is triving to make it fun, realistic, and accurate, but the player creation process has so many attribute options (and most dont even have bearing on performance) that I end up just making them all the same to save time.
We have, as we do in most things in our lives, complicated something that could be simple and still be fun. Keep it simple. That is the best marketing strategy you can learn. I know. Its a fun game for one feature, but the rest bog it down and cause it to lose appeal rather quickly. Do I have the numbers to support this? No. Its an opinion. Dont believe that percentages some people post about how many poepl love this game or love this feature. Remember, 42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
Thats my opinion, love it or hate. Argue all you want. But had I rented this game first, as a big time supporter of the EA franchise, I would never have bought the game. Rent it, borrow it, just dont by it unless you want the one feature it seems EA made the game around. Heres a hint EA: Make a game specifically for the Legend. Uh...EA Sports College Legend would still sell and you could keep making a fine product with NCAA.
Major improvement from last year!
On: 2007-08-01This is 100 times better than last years version. They spent some time and did this game right for the 360. The graphics are superb and the gameplay is smooth. The AI is definitly improved on this game. Even varsity level presents a decent challenge not too easy but not hard either. The CPU teams actually play to win on any level and are smarter to your tendencies than they used to be. I havent tried too many of the modes because Im working on mastering the flow and timing especially on my passing game before I try playing any dynasty or legends mode. The one thing I like in this game is because the team you may play with is ranked # 1 or #2 doesnt mean the cpu team will roll over and play dead for you like previous versions have done. This is alot better game tha last years version and will keep me occupied for a while to come.
Depends on what type of gamer you are
On: 2007-08-01I bought this game reading the reviews and giving it the benefit of the doubt since I hadnt had an NCAA football game for 360 yet.
I have mixed feelings on this game...I guess it just depends on what type of gamer you are. Just about everyone brings up valid points...and Ill just re-iterate on a few.
This game seems to be developed more for those who want to either coach the game or feel like theyre a real player in the game. Me, I never played football so I couldnt really tell you what a good play is for what situation and what type of coverage is needed when and where. I just ask Corso or go with my gut feeling (which Im usually wrong). I supposed if youve played football before than its a pretty fun game. Plays are broken up by formations, passing, running, short passes, mid passes, defensive coverage types. For me though, yes the play clock is a disadvantage. By the time I figure out what play I want Im usually about to get a delay of game penalty. I got used to how the last two years of NCAA had the plays set up, and now Im just lost while picking a play.
Campus legend mode is fun. While you do have the option to simulate practices and scheduled events, basically you can through everyday of the season and practice to earn points to pick up on the depth chart, and do evening events to gain attributes like popularity and awareness and pick up your GPA. Unfortunately for me, my player sprained his ankle playing a game of pickup basketball. But for those who dont like to sit there and pick apart everyday of someones life...than Campus Legend might not be for you.
As for the gameplay. The graphics are nice. The stadiums and players look great. There is a long loading process though, and there are about one second delays after you pick plays. This slows the game down and bugs me out. There are no more cut scenes to cheering fans or cheerleaders. The broadcast of the game is lame. Though I leave replay option on cause every once in awhile I like to see a nice play, but theres replays for like every first down and this gets annoying. Also, someone must have got injured every other play. And Ive played like 5 games now and there hasnt been a single penalty called.
I started playing at freshman level just to get a feel for the game, and again I consistantly win 73-0. When I moved up to varsity I played with #2 Michigan against an unranked Notre Dame team thinking it would be good to start against a weak defense like Notre Dame and move up to higher competition. (We all know tho no names are used real player attributes and number and defensive schemes are still a factor). After a successful first drive. Notre Dames QB came out and made last years QB#10 (Brady Quinn) look like a joke. Their qb could of just lofted it in the air and it would be caught. When I got back on offense my offensive line couldnt hold the defense away from my QB. Mustve gotten sacked or pressured every play. And when I tried to pick apart Notre Dames weak secondary (w/ the exception of SS#9 (Zibikowski) they looked like gods. Notre Dames defense looked like the 85 Bears out there.
So, until I get used to it again...I have to settle with winning 73-0 or losing 42-14 everytime.
And for those who really know the game of football and enjoy being a real player in it and maybe the coaching experience of it (Dynasty Mode/Recruiting) than go for it.
For those that enjoyed the broadcast like of the game and just had fun playing the simple version of the game of football...than save your money.
Me, Im the latter. It seems slow and a little too in depth. The fun of the game (broadcast experience) is gone...I got tired of this game in only a few hours.
Shes Pretty...But Shes Got Flaws...
On: 2007-07-31+excellent graphics and rightfully so for the xbox 360, no framerate skipping or clipping
+running game is awesome, moves and feels just like college ball
+sooo many modes to participate in, its honestly a football lovers DREAM come true...
-but even with all of these modes...i found myself BORED with them for some odd reason. after one Campus Legend season as a running back at North Carolina, i became DEATHLY bored going into my second season..so i started a dynasty mode...which kept me interested for about 3 seasons (drafting the rookies became WAYYYYY toooo tedious and time consuming...and i actually think i got CARPEL TUNNEL in my left hand from navigating through so many draft menus :l)...and after facing the sameee teaammss every season, i got sick of that...
-THE INTERCEPTION GLITCHES IN THIS GAME ARE INSANEEE!!! iv seen replays where Linebackers have unrealisticly DRIFTED...or Gravitated...towards a ball that was wayyy tooo highh or way too OUT OF THE WAY for them to be able to catch it...but somehow, they pick it off. iv seen other replays where balls have gone THROUGH the hands of defenders and into the hands of recievers. and with ONE play, i witnessed a ball that was going DIRECTLY into the hands of my reciever...only to see that ball STOP DIRECTLY INFRONT OF MY RECIEVERS HANDS AND CHANGE DIRECTION AND SKIM OVER THE TOP OF MY FINGERS AND GRAVITATE INTO THE HANDS OF THE DEFENDER BEHIND HIM....this has got to be the WORST interception glitch i have ever seen in my LIFE...its like the game is Programmed to Cheat you...
i found myself having the most fun with the Tug Of War mode...but that wore off quickly as well. they really need to fix those interception problems over at E.A., some of those same problems are in MADDEN 2008. i mean this is physics, if you have a HUMAN HAND...and an OBJECT is moving towards that hand...it can not go THROUGH the hand :l i mean thats just not realistic. ill stick with NFL2K5 and All Pro 2k8 on the side...which are both better FOOTBALL games than madden and ncaa. hopefully sega can take the franchise mode from 2k5 and put it in 2k9 next year....and blow E.A. COMPLETELY off of the face of the earth like they did in 2005...
iLL .
Major improvement from last year!
On: 2007-07-31This is 100 times better than last years version. They spent some time and did this game right for the 360. The graphics are superb and the gameplay is smooth. The AI is definitly improved on this game. Even varsity level presents a decent challenge not too easy but not hard either. The CPU teams actually play to win on any level and are smarter to your tendencies than they used to be. I havent tried too many of the modes because Im working on mastering the flow and timing especially on my passing game before I try playing any dynasty or legends mode. The one thing I like in this game is because the team you may play with is ranked # 1 or #2 doesnt mean the cpu team will roll over and play dead for you like previous versions have done. This is alot better game tha last years version and will keep me occupied for a while to come.
Great Game...but gets old.
On: 2007-07-31i played my freshman year of Campus Legend...which was very fun...but got old when i hitt my sophmore year...
did about 3 seasons of Dynasty Mode...but recruiting the high school seniors was more tiring than anything else...and in the end, it felt like i was doing the exact same things every single season...
i do LOVE this game..but i now find myself bored with it in alot of ways...and im mad about that because it is a GREATTT GAMEE...but im bored with it now. i think its because im just tired of doing the same things over and over every season...its not fresh for me anymore...
i DO however enjoy the Tug Of War mini-game...thats a great game to play online and with other friends at your house. its fun to just pick any team and battle it out until you can actually score...and then its fun to do it all over again.
i still think it was a good purchase...great graphics and gameplay...a few interception glitches but nothing too crazy...anyone should enjoy the tug of war mini-game...but youll get tired of the Dynasty and Campus Legend modes in a few days when you realize all your doing is the same thing over and over every single season and nothings really new...but buy if you like college football, definately worth the RENT..and then buy if your not bored after a week or two...
iLL .
Excellent Football Game and Dynasty Mode.
On: 2007-07-31going into the year 2010, its not enough just to have a football game with a regular season mode and thats ALL. All Pro football 2k8 made the mistake of not having enough features or even an indepth season mode...and as a result, regardless of its stellar gameplay, 2k8 has no offline replay value whatsoever. but NCAA Football 2008 has one of the deepest dynasty modes ever created and it will definately keep you coming back. customize your schedule, put a wide reciever at Tight End, scout high school seniors throughout your year to come and play for your school every week, its just all there. as far as the graphics, theyre excellent. gameplay is tight on O and D. the Campus Legend mode, while very fun for about a season and a half, got kind of repetative so i switched over to Dynasty Mode and now im truly hooked! at times during a replay, youll see a hand go through someones body...but WHAT FOOTBALL GAME DOESNT HAVE THAT PROBLEM? its not enough to ruin what a Great game this is.
Madden 99 was the best game to come out back then with the newly installed Juke move, gang tackling and overall Appeal...and after that, NFL 2K5 came and set the BAR for what a football game should be with excellent gameplay, excellent presentation, many features and a deep Franchise mode which im still playing to this day. but now THIS GAME will go down as the Best football game around because of their Dynasty mode, customization, and Perfect gameplay. its a shame E.A. Sports can make this game so good...yet Madden continues to suck every single year. definately worth the 60 bucks i spent after taking all pro 2k8 back..and is definately be the best football game released this year.
note: i played the game on the Heisman level and continually threw interceptions as the D seemed to GET to the ball supernaturally quick and take it almost EVERYTIME i threw it to a reciever that appeared open..but now that iv switched the difficulty to Varsity, they dont intercept as much...but you still cant just throw the ball anywhere...or they will pick it..its all about making smart passes.
iLL .
Depends on what type of gamer you are
On: 2007-07-31I bought this game reading the reviews and giving it the benefit of the doubt since I hadnt had an NCAA football game for 360 yet.
I have mixed feelings on this game...I guess it just depends on what type of gamer you are. Just about everyone brings up valid points...and Ill just re-iterate on a few.
This game seems to be developed more for those who want to either coach the game or feel like theyre a real player in the game. Me, I never played football so I couldnt really tell you what a good play is for what situation and what type of coverage is needed when and where. I just ask Corso or go with my gut feeling (which Im usually wrong). I supposed if youve played football before than its a pretty fun game. Plays are broken up by formations, passing, running, short passes, mid passes, defensive coverage types. For me though, yes the play clock is a disadvantage. By the time I figure out what play I want Im usually about to get a delay of game penalty. I got used to how the last two years of NCAA had the plays set up, and now Im just lost while picking a play.
Campus legend mode is fun. While you do have the option to simulate practices and scheduled events, basically you can through everyday of the season and practice to earn points to pick up on the depth chart, and do evening events to gain attributes like popularity and awareness and pick up your GPA. Unfortunately for me, my player sprained his ankle playing a game of pickup basketball. But for those who dont like to sit there and pick apart everyday of someones life...than Campus Legend might not be for you.
As for the gameplay. The graphics are nice. The stadiums and players look great. There is a long loading process though, and there are about one second delays after you pick plays. This slows the game down and bugs me out. There are no more cut scenes to cheering fans or cheerleaders. The broadcast of the game is lame. Though I leave replay option on cause every once in awhile I like to see a nice play, but theres replays for like every first down and this gets annoying. Also, someone must have got injured every other play. And Ive played like 5 games now and there hasnt been a single penalty called.
I started playing at freshman level just to get a feel for the game, and again I consistantly win 73-0. When I moved up to varsity I played with #2 Michigan against an unranked Notre Dame team thinking it would be good to start against a weak defense like Notre Dame and move up to higher competition. (We all know tho no names are used real player attributes and number and defensive schemes are still a factor). After a successful first drive. Notre Dames QB came out and made last years QB#10 (Brady Quinn) look like a joke. Their qb could of just lofted it in the air and it would be caught. When I got back on offense my offensive line couldnt hold the defense away from my QB. Mustve gotten sacked or pressured every play. And when I tried to pick apart Notre Dames weak secondary (w/ the exception of SS#9 (Zibikowski) they looked like gods. Notre Dames defense looked like the 85 Bears out there.
So, until I get used to it again...I have to settle with winning 73-0 or losing 42-14 everytime.
Like most said, no create a team, create a play...theres no alternate uniforms and pants like in previous years. I cant wear ND green, or change Clemsons pants to purple if I really wanted.
Basically, for those who really know the game of football and enjoy being a real player in it and maybe the coaching experience of it (Dynasty Mode/Recruiting) than go for it.
For those that enjoyed the broadcast like of the game and just had fun playing the simple version of the game of football...than save your money.
Me, Im the latter. It seems slow and a little too in depth. The fun of the game (broadcast experience) is gone...I got tired of this game in only a few hours.
Campus Legend mode is the Greatest.
On: 2007-07-31going into the year 2010, its not enough just to have a football game with a season mode and thats ALL. All Pro football 2k8 made the mistake of not having enough features or even an indepth season mode...and as a result, regardless of its stellar gameplay, 2k8 has no offline replay value whatsoever. game developers need to sit down and think of more ways to engulf the player in the actual Experience of the game. and NCAA Football 2008 has done this with Campus Legend.
i just got done with my freshman year after moving up to a starting Running Back for North Carolina and we won the Orange bowl and i loved every second of it. youll have to make decisions everyday on rather you should go to a party..or stay home and study to maintain over a 2.0 GPA...or else youll get kicked off the team :| go out on a date...or hit the gym and workout. every decision you make effects your attributes and/or popularity...which all goes into making you a Legend. its all up to you. the way CL puts YOU in the drivers seat of your player, its like your actually THAT player. if theyre not giving you the ball during the game..then theyle give it to someone else...and if they go for the touchdown, your excited for them...but if they fumble...or throw an interception...your frustrated by it. when you lose, your frustrated, when you win, your like "YES!!"...exactly like you would be if you were really on the team. theyve captured the experience of Playing college football perfectly.
the one thing i do not like about CL mode, and someone else stated this, is that if you decide to play CL with say, a Safety...or a Defensive End...the camera will show you from a Tilted view sort of..which will cause you to miss tackles because you cant correctly target the ball carrier and youll end up flying right past them. this in alot of ways is a dissapointment because i LOVE to play defense. i decided to restart CL with a Running Back instead..and the camera is placed directly inback of the RB like it should be, so there are no odd angles, you can maneuver your back in any direction comfortable. so to EA Sports...PLEASE FIX THE CAMERA ANGLES FOR NEXT YEAR SO THAT THE CAMERA IS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE PLAYER YOU ARE CONTROLLING ON DEFENSE. this is an excellent mode and i would love to be able to play defense with it next year..
as far as everything else...graphics are exactly what they should be for a game on the XBOX 360, Beautiful. the running and passing games are 100% accurate and flow smoothly on all accounts. i didnt like the commentary at all, so i turned it off, no problems. during the replays, youll occasionally see a hand go through someones body...but what football game doesnt have that problem? its not big enough of an issue to ruin what a fine game this is.
Madden 99 was the best game to come out back then with the newly installed Juke move, gang tackling and overall Appeal...and after that, NFL 2K5 came and set the BAR for what a football game should be with excellent gameplay and a DEEP Franchise mode which im still playing to this day. but now THIS GAME will go down as the Best football game around because of the Campus Legend mode...and the perfect execution of Gameplay. its a shame that they can make this game so good...yet Madden continues to suck every single year. definately worth the 60 bucks i spent after taking all pro 2k8 back...
iLL .
Not What You Have Played In The Past!!!
On: 2007-07-30Hey NCAA Football fans! If you liked making YOUR OWN TEAM AND STADIUM, if you liked making YOUR OWN PLAY BOOK, if you liked taking A DIV. II TEAM AND MAKING IT INTO A POWERHOUSE, then this game is not for you because you CANT DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS! I have to admit, as a long time player of the NCAA series, I was looking forward to all those things AND increased graphics, what I got was a gutted game for the sake of graphics and now I am thinking of hooking up the old XBox just to have the old NCAA back! Maybe the game will grow on me, but I am disappointed with this years version and hope they add all that stuff back in for 09.
Not What You Have Played In The Past!!!
On: 2007-07-29Hey NCAA Football fans! If you liked making YOUR OWN TEAM AND STADIUM, if you liked making YOUR OWN PLAY BOOK, if you liked taking A DIV. II TEAM AND MAKING IT INTO A POWERHOUSE, then this game is not for you because you CANT DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS! I have to admit, as a long time player of the NCAA series, I was looking forward to all those things AND increased graphics, what I got was a gutted game for the sake of graphics and now I am thinking of hooking up the old XBox just to have the old NCAA back! Maybe the game will grow on me, but I am disappointed with this years version and hope they add all that stuff back in for 09.
Campus legend mode!
On: 2007-07-29Normally I just dig right into the dynasty mode expecting to lose a few games learning the particulars of the game engine, but this time I started by trying out some of the other features. First I tried the minigames of Tug of War (you get 1 play to move the ball and then the opponent gets the same, first to touchdown wins) and also Bowling (10 yards to goal, each yard is a pin with two shots at the end zone).
Next I moved on to Campus Legend Mode. And to be honest it is good enough that I have not left it. First you start out by designing a player and picking a position for them. Next you select your home school and state (high school that is) and you get put right into the high school state playoffs. I picked ROLB to start with figuring that defense is a good place for me. So first off, the only person you can control is the player you have created, so many plays are just not going to involve you. Although there is a lot more pressure because when you blow a coverage or tackle you cant switch to another nearby player to make the tackle. Once you have completed the high school playoffs, you have to select the college that you want to go to. In my case I picked Penn State because I would not be a starter, but I also wouldnt be 3rd string.
Your college career consists of 2 things per day. First is practice where you get 10 reps at various plays (coach calls all plays in both practices and real games). When you make a play it is worth points. These points eventually will earn you a spot on the starting line. For me, I earned my starting spot right before the 3rd game in the season. The different strings make it interesting in the game as well. When you are second string, you are hoping for a blow out so that you can get some field time other than on special teams, where as you hope for a close one during regular play.
One of the nice things in this mode, and frustrating is that the games tend to be really short. This gets a tad annoying as the load times in this game are incredibly long. Another drawback to this mode is that you may play your heart out and do an incredible job, but the team could still lose because the other half of the team is unable to get the job done. Besides the long load times, I have also seen a lot of very screen stutters and lots of xbox 360 fan and drive noise. Just seems to be slightly too intensive.
Graphics wise, this game is good, but not really something you are going to shout from the mountain tops about. Sounds are incredible and after 9 games, I cant complain about the announcers yet. So with all the problems, I still give this game a must buy for Football fans. It is just as fun as its previous versions (I have played NCAA 01, 04, and 05).
NCAA Football 08
On: 2007-07-28Ive had this game a week, and Ive played a few games. Ive been playing ncaa football ever since Bill Walsh football for the SNES. Here are my current observations. i will begin by saying that I enjoy playing the game a lot.
CONS:
1. Probably the most annoying thing is that the commentary will lag almost a whole play behind.
2. I miss the create a school option, not so much for being able to create m y school, but at least it gave me access to play the fight songs.
3. The sideline teammates, not only just stand there and clap, but their facemasks arent even the correct color. I play as Oklahoma, and on the field, the facemasks are white, but on the sideline, they are dark blue.
4. I wish theyd keep the stiff arm buttons as RB and LB. It shouldnt be the A button. I keep forgetting this and i fumble the ball as I tend to hit L trigger after LB does not work. Im teaching myself to hit A button though.
5. During bowl games, i wish they at least put each teams end zone design in there instead of some generic stuff. EA sports has done it before, and they do it in the OU-Texas game, so it shouldnt be that difficult.
6. Even though theyve tried, i wish the crew would work on even more new dialogue.
PROS:
1. The animation, especially tackling and mid air collisions is way improved.
2. the players, for the most part move a heck a lot smoother.
3. im glad they have more stadiums in the game, THe fact that the Alamo Bowl, played in the AlamoDOME played outside was inexcusable.
4. OU-Texas and UF-UGA are played in their correct stadiums. They finally included the Cotton Bowl. Too bad they didnt get the official games designs like prior years. (PS its too bad its supposedly no longer the worlds largest outdoor cocktail party too. God forbid if college students drink alcohol.)
Im still debating if i like the instant replay saving stuff yet. I like how fast it comes up at the end of the game, but the viewing options are quite limited afterwards. It is nice, however, to relive the time the guy dove for my endzone, and i whopped him in mid air, and he fumbled and I recovered to keep him out. The game isnt as bad as some people on here would lead you to believe.
Why all the complaints?
On: 2007-07-26Most of the problems that I have heard are about the lack of pre-game or post-game presentation or bulky players or how slow they move. I own the game and the other features more than make up for these small and trivial oversights. Legend mode is a fantastic addition to the 360 and almost makes the game worth $60 on its own. The dynasty mode is also greatly improved as the setup is better and the recruiting if far more in depth than just dividing up 100 points to your prospects like in NCAA 07. If the fact that there is no pregame show really disturbs you enough that you dont want to pay the $60 price, I feel sorry for you because you are missing out on a very high quality sports game.
Not quite what I expected but still good
On: 2007-07-2608 seems to be a good year for EA. The 08 version of NCAA feels a lot smoother than 07. More of those ratchet trick plays and overall this game is butter smooth. Im feelin it. NUFF SAID!!!
2 Recruiting Tricks For You !!
On: 2007-07-26NCAA 08 FOOTBALL is the best college football game out right now. It has some gameplay flaws, mine constantly freezes at times, I also dont like that you cant simulate to end of game in Legend mode. If I am blowing out a team and my coach wont sit me, I AM TIRED OF PLAYING!! They should have kept the Heisman presentation, they may have, but I have not seen it. But this is what I like, the RECRUITING, it is time consuming but it is worth it.
Here are two tricks that I have learned:
How many times have you created a super 5 star prospect directly for your team and he always signs to a big time school. NO MORE !! All you have to do is go to coach options, create a coach and then find a job. SEE when you create a coach he can go to any school out there. Once you do this, you can manipulate any schools recruiting board, remove the prospects you want from the schools boards and add another player. TRUST ME the recruit can hate your guts but in the end, IF YOU ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL OFFERING HIM A SCHOLARSHIP, HE WILL SIGN !! You can tuggle teams by pressing Y , you can delete the coach or coaches once done and the default coach will return to the team and maintain the board you made. Like I said it is time consuming but its worth it, you can have the top recruit class every year.
If you want to find the strong pitches for recruits, just save dynasty status, find pitches for recruits and just load the dynasty everytime you find the right pitches. THEY NEVER CHANGE! Hard sell the ones you are good at. BUT THEN AGAIN IF YOU DO THE OTHER TIP THIS DOES NOT MATTER !!
I LOVE this game total control ! Needs to get rid of the gameplay bugs. I hope that whole real roster bug is not true, dont know yet, but I give it 4 stars so far.
Not perfect, but a step in the right direction.
On: 2007-07-25NCAA 2008 isnt perfect. The crowd and sideline animations are cheesy and goofy looking. There are a lot of unexpected and unnecessary bugs. For example, after my team won the Conference USA Championship, the screen read "MAC Conference Champions." Overtime gameplay is deeply flawed. Ive yet to lose in overtime because the order of play is either incorrect, the other teams turn is simply skipped, or the game suddenly ends for no good reason. Statistics are sometimes incorrectly calculated. There are a lot of annoying little problems like this throughout the game.
That said, NCAA 2008 is very fun to play. Gameplay is what you would come to expect from an EA football game. The graphics, new animations, and gang-tackling, while not always perfect, look very good. Campus Legend mode has been revamped and greatly improved. The new super-simulation mode makes focusing on your player much easier and the whole process more enjoyable. Dynasty Mode has been completely redesigned and is much deeper. Recruiting is much more detailed and flexible. It can be time consuming, but its more realistic and rewarding. The ability to save screenshots and replays and even upload them online is very cool. The new main hub, which displays your screenshots and even replay movies, along with trophies and awards, is also a great improvement.
That said, Im really looking forward to Madden 08 to take the game engine, improve on it, and work out some of the annoying bugs that plague NCAA 08.
2 Recruiting Tricks For You !!
On: 2007-07-25NCAA 08 FOOTBALL is the best college football game out right now. It has some gameplay flaws, commentary glitches, stat compiling errors, my game tends to constantly freeze at times, I also dont like that you cant simulate to end of game in Legend mode, but I like the fact that you can takeover an existing palyer in the Legend mode, gives you a chance to create the perfect legend.. If I am blowing out a team and my coach wont sit me, I AM TIRED OF PLAYING!! They should have kept the Heisman presentation, they may have, but I have not seen it. But this is what I like, the RECRUITING, it is time consuming but it is worth it.
Here are two tricks that I have learned:
How many times have you created a super 5 star prospect directly for your team and he always signs to a big time school. NO MORE !! All you have to do is go to coach options, create a coach and then find a job. SEE when you create a coach he can go to any school out there. Once you do this, you can manipulate any schools recruiting board ( and depth charts if you want ), remove the prospects you want from their recruit boards and add another player. This will take away their interest and they will maintain the recruit board. TRUST ME the recruit can hate your guts but in the end, IF YOU ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL OFFERING HIM A SCHOLARSHIP, HE WILL SIGN !! You can tuggle teams by pressing Y , you can delete the coach or coaches once done and the default coach will return to the team and maintain the board you made. Like I said it is time consuming but its worth it, you can have the top recruit class every year. Be sure to watch your recruits late in the season, because some schools will show up again with offers when they loose other recruits, just do the create coach again you can do it anytime. Make sure you do this in the beginning of every season, because in off season recruiting, these same teams can show up again, and you wont be able to control it. If this happen, you want a player to have full interest in your school. If you do it during the season the better chance they will sign during the season.
If you want to find the strong pitches for recruits, just save dynasty status, find pitches for recruits and just load the dynasty everytime you find the right pitches. THEY NEVER CHANGE! Hard sell the ones you are good at. BUT THEN AGAIN IF YOU DO THE OTHER TIP THIS DOES NOT MATTER !!
I LOVE this game total control ! Needs to get rid of the gameplay bugs. I hope that whole real roster bug is not true, dont know yet, but I give it 4 stars so far.
so much complaining
On: 2007-07-24So they change alot of things in the game that people ask for, like gang takling, new trick plays, a much deeper dynasty mode. not to mention the recruiting is amazing, there is just so much more to do for recruiting than ever before. and the espn thing in dynasty mode is real nice also. So they dont have a half time show, do you buy games to play or watch? they change alot of things that people wanted them to change and you all still complain. i think most of you will never be satisfied untill you acctually get to jump in the game and play along with it. this game is amazing, much better than any football game ive ever played. it is a must buy if your a real football fan. if your someone who knows nothing at all about football, than why play the games anyways.
What the heck are naysayers talking about?
On: 2007-07-23Ive been playing EAs college game since the 90s and this (2008 360 version) ranks as the best. EA is close to getting it right....they really need to make you more involved in whats going on around college football week to week (live TV look ins, score updates, better and deeper Gameday pre-game show...and then go a litte more in depth at stadium presentation (i.e. Im using Army and at Michie Stadium rather than showing the "Long Gray Line" of cadets in the stands, they show a generic student section...and how about pre-game Airborne skydivers???). Also, look at avg attendance at each stadium...are you telling me that every University of Buffalo home game is a sell out???
Anyway, gameplay is incredibly fun and Im not sure what people are referring to with regards to bugs and constant fumbles (there is a button to protect the ball!).
The graphics and attention to detail (tight end looking back for ball as he finishes pattern, sideline tiptoe catches by the WR, linebacker barking at officials for a holding call, etc) is fantastic. The game is a 5-star game, but Ill reserve my 5-star rating for the day EA really finds the "holy grail"
the best yet
On: 2007-07-23i cant understand why all the naysayers. first, lets start with the gameplay. it is by far the best football yet with increased graphical frames per second which yield a more realistic, smoother, and more competitive game. no more pitch and catch. when throwing, your receiver actually needs to come back or fight for the ball (what a concept). plus, with over 800 animations, this game yields real life players and gameplay. second, the dynansty mode is awesome. sorry 10 year olds, this a grown up version of recruiting which actually brings the strategy and fun back. graphics? not the best but on 1080i, i can appreciate the what they offer. you can tell EA brought in real football lovers into this game development and hit a home run. if that upsets reveiwers not yet reaching puberty, tough.
Same old, same old ...
On: 2007-07-23After the 06 version of this game, I didnt bother to buy the 07 version, choosing to give the franchise a year to fix the problems that made me hate the 06 version. Sadly, this version is worse.
One thing that I want to say first and foremost is that I dont like games that are too complicated. The recruiting mode on this game - while its got depth some players probably love - is too complicated for me. I liked it better in 06, when it was better than previous versions, but didnt take up so much of my time and energy.
I played the first few games of this on the easiest level, and after winning games by the score of 50-0 or more, I moved up to the varsity level. Things changed dramatically. My offensive line stopped blocking. Every time I threw into coverage, it was picked, even in one-on-one situations. My players started fumbling the ball. So, as with all EA games, I have to choose whether I want to win 50-0 or lose 50-0, theres no in between. In time, I could probably learn to get better, but I dont enjoy playing games with such a steep learning curve.
Several other little things irritate me. You cant adjust the camera angle, or if you can, I havent figured it out. I dont like the camera zoomed in so close to the line - I like being able to see my receivers before getting my bell rung by the defense. In other versions, you could move the camera up, down, forward, back until you were happy. I have not figured out how to do this on this version, so either it doesnt exist or Im just not smart enough to find it (which goes back to things being complicated).
I like games that are fun to play, and having to choose between winning big or losing big is not fun. So, Im going to take it back and just play the All Pro Football 2K8 I bought, which so far is a lot more fun.
Not as bad as people are saying
On: 2007-07-23Ive read a few of these reviews and it seems like a bunch of people want a game that is completely flawless. People, youre not gonna ever find a game that takes into effect EVERY physical component that actual football players encounter. So if youre expecting a flawless game, of course youre going to shoot down this game. Me, on the other hand...I want something that Ill enjoy playing, and this game meets those expectations. Granted, Ive only played one game in its normal gameplay mode, but Im a big fan of the Legend mode. My only complaint is that the video screen sometimes screws up. I like playing the linebacker position, and if I go for a sack on the weak side and the QB hands the ball off to the RB, who is running on the strong side, the camera angle changes to follow my view. However, the camera angle stops changing, even when Im still pursuing the RB and suddenly both me and the RB are off the screen. I find it comical, more than frustrating. Ive so far made one tackle out of about 10 times this has happened, and typically I dive and completely hit nothing but thin air (when I review it on instant replay).
Playing the high school games in order to gain scouts attention was smart, and I certainly like how they added that component. I also like the simming feature. Yes, this takes away from gameplay, as some reviewers have whined about. But this, to me, is the most realistic representation of football. Sometimes, youre defense is going to shut down a ranked opponent and your offense will just barely get by, then in the following week an unranked team throws all over your weak CB, and your QB has several turnovers. Thats football, people. You cant take it personally if your team loses beyond your control. I like this realism about the game.
Thats my 1.78 cents worth (inflation minus taxes).
MUCH better than last year! A step in the right direction
On: 2007-07-23This is def. a step in the right direction. Last years game was miserable. First off the game play is phenomenal and quite realistic. I feel that the passing is as realistic is it comes. For the first time, arm strength and accuracy actually matter! Reading defenses is a must and you dont have all day in the pocket like previous years. Furthermore, if you do not set before passing you will have an errant pass 9 out of 10 times.
The campus legends mode is fun. You start in high school with your player. It is kind of frustrating that the coaches make horrible play calling decisions, however it is still fun!
Dynasty mode is great, however recruiting is a [...]!! It is to the point where it is not fun playing in a dynasty just because recruiting is tedious and painstakingly long. If you neglect your recruit for a week, even if they were #1 on your board, they will jump ship. The loading on the recruiting screen takes longer than it should and calling each recruit takes forever. It took me two hours just to get through one season simulating all games and recruiting only! Unlike previous years where you start fresh with recruiting in the offseason, this year you take guys who didnt sign and continue to recruit them in the offseason. Therefore you can not neglect this in the season.
Overall EA made vast improvements on this game. It is one of the most realistic games ive played to date. If you have patience for recruiting you will love it. If you are a dynasty
Maybe Next Year!
On: 2007-07-23I bought NCAA07 for my PS2,so I will not compare apples and oranges,but what I can say is this game,Madden and all the other EA titles should take a slight graphics hit for smoother gameplay.Sorry to all you graphic freaks out there,but give me decent graphics and smooth gameplay any day.My favorite games right now are NBA2K7 and NHL07,there graphics are ok, but I like the gameplay better.EA should just use there PS2/XBOX1 game engine for all there games,port it up,spiffy up the graphics as good as it can get and get the gameplay right.
08 gets free pass this year,because I did not buy 07 for my 360,next year,take care of the gameplay,there isnt too many features left you can put in these games,so no hype this new (ahem),feature that is in the PS2/XBOX version,just take care of the gameplay,and worry about a new feature or two every other year,(NCAA09).
Same old, same old ...
On: 2007-07-22After the 06 version of this game, I didnt bother to buy the 07 version, choosing to give the franchise a year to fix the problems that made me hate the 06 version. Sadly, this version is worse.
One thing that I want to say first and foremost is that I dont like games that are too complicated. The recruiting mode on this game - while its got depth some players probably love - is too complicated for me. I liked it better in 06, when it was better than previous versions, but didnt take up so much of my time and energy.
I played the first few games of this on the easiest level, and after winning games by the score of 50-0 or more, I moved up to the varsity level. Things changed dramatically. My offensive line stopped blocking. Every time I threw into coverage, it was picked, even in one-on-one situations. My players started fumbling the ball. So, as with all EA games, I have to choose whether I want to win 50-0 or lose 50-0, theres no in between. In time, I could probably learn to get better, but I dont enjoy playing games with such a steep learning curve.
Several other little things irritate me. You cant adjust the camera angle, or if you can, I havent figured it out. I dont like the camera zoomed in so close to the line - I like being able to see my receivers before getting my bell rung by the defense. In other versions, you could move the camera up, down, forward, back until you were happy. I have not figured out how to do this on this version, so either it doesnt exist or Im just not smart enough to find it (which goes back to things being complicated).
I like games that are fun to play, and having to choose between winning big or losing big is not fun. So, Im going to take it back and just play the All Pro Football 2K8 I bought, which so far is a lot more fun.
No way this game is worth 60 bucks....it's not even worth 2 stars
On: 2007-07-22How can you say this is the best to date lol. The game is choppy, the players are all gigantic, they look like they are jogging instead of sprinting, and your player can turn on a dime in any direction. The graphics have gone downhill as well as the game play. Not only that, EA has taken everything good from 06 out. There is no create a team, no 1AA teams, no intros, no custom playbook, no crowd, they gutted the thing. Basically the game is dynasty and thats it which bloooows. Back to the playbook, the set up is terrible by the time you find the play you want....you have a delay of game. You have no time to pass because players dont pick up blitzs, a player can break 20 tackles before he goes down, oh and the fact that the turnovers are off the charts. If you want the good one its 06.
Having a good time
On: 2007-07-22Ok, here we go. Im loving this one.
Pros: Graphics are top notch. Game is amazingly fun to play. Dynasty mode is very in depth(havent tried legend mode yet). Physics are pretty good. Animations are pretty slick looking(mid air collisions, gang tackling, etc, etc) Love the EA sports highlight save option(saved highlights actually play in the background on the menu select screen). Games seem to play out pretty realistically(did I spell that right? lol)
Cons: Noticing about a half second lag immediately after plays are complete. The bench players on the sideline still seem to not be alive(ya know reacting to plays, etc, etc. just standing there looking off into space and clapping like retards even when nothing spectacular is happening). EA still hasnt upgraded in the presentation department(Come on EA give me some life to these games!(2k has and so far it seems always will, murder EA when in comes to presentation, and absorbing you fully into the game(sorta like youre watching an actual broadcast). Bunch of turnovers during the game(solved that one easily, just went into the options and cranked the interception bar very low, balanced it out perfect)
Thats about all I can come up with for now. Overall the game is sweet. I couldnt put it down the other day as a matter of fact. Played about 5 games straight, at 8 minutes per quarter, yea, that was a coupla hours buddy. Havent played a game that long since I was a young lad, lol. Hey, pick this one up.
Best Yet
On: 2007-07-21Man, when I picked this up at midnight the day it came out I was excited, then i played it and I got pumped. This Obviously is the best of all NCAAs yet. The all ne my shrine is a great feature and group tackleing is so cool. Campus legend would haf to be the biggest improvement this year and they even hace the actual high schools real life colors!!! Amazing!
Yet another failure for EA.
On: 2007-07-20Once again the programmers at EA have shown that they truly know nothing about how the game of football is played. They are so concerned with graphics and being able to make video replays that they once again forgot about realism. Thankfully I did not buy this game but I rented it and only had to play it one day to realize that this game is terrible in the gameplay department.
As with last years game, players on the field make ridiculously impossible moves on a play to play basis. Cover men run full boar in one direction and in one fluid move somehow dive back the other way to knock down a pass or intercept it. Linemen can still jump four feet in the air to knock down a pass. But the one play that really made me laugh was when I ran at a running back with my linebacker and for some inexplicable reason my linebacker suddenly dove sideways right when he was about to make the tackle (no I did not hit the dive button).
Penalties are once again a big problem with this game. I played three games in the day and a half that I had it and I had fifteen penalties called against me and not even one called against the computer. It doesnt help that the button for jumping the snap on defense has changed from the y button to the left trigger.
One feature of the game that I truly found to be ridiculously stupid was the super simulation. This feature as Kirk says in the tutorial at the beginning of the game allows players to "simlulate playing defense if the player only wants to play offense" or vice versa if youre so inclined. If you dont want to play defense then dont play the game at all. This is a perfect example of EA showhing that they only care about features and gimmicks and not about actual gameplay.
There were a few features of this game that I thought were better than last years version. Anyone who played the 07 version knows that weather and wind had no effect on the ball whatsoever. At least with the 08 version EA actually took the time to have weather be a factor. Also in the 07 version there was no hurdle button. The game had an auto-hurdle feature that hardly ever worked. The hurdle button makes a welcome comeback in 08. Also, because I only had a rented copy I did not actually make a video highlight but the ability to make one is a nice addition. Sometimes a picture just doesnt quite do a play justice.
So to put an end to this rant, this game is not by any means a drastic improvement over last years game, as we all hoped it would be. There are a few new features, but none are so great that they make the game worth buying (and the super sim is more of a drawback than an addition). I personally have seen enough in one day to know that I dont want it and I am taking it back to Blockbuster tomorrow.
y all the fighting?
On: 2007-07-20i thought that this game was a big improvement over last years game wen i just simulated everything to get acheivments nd played games with my friends. my 360 is broken so i played this at a friends house and we made a quaterback and started campus legend mode. in the beginning we made our high school with the colors and were surprised to find one of our rival high schools in the playoffs with us as well. we won the playoffs (granted we had an amazing running back.) and by this time i was hooked.
the game is very much better thn the last years football games and i played the demo for about two minutes before i got the 3 red lights and it seemed like lasts years but this is defintly better
i havent played dynasty but i never reely do i just usually import my campus legend into madden or sim through everything for the draft classes. i have heard from my freind tht it is time consuming but fun and in depth
i thought tht the games of tug of war and bowling were very random but very fun and creative and a blast to have if u want some quick fun with some friends
i also loved the simming in campus legend i would usually have to wait and would just flip on tv wen the defense was playing
another thing i love about campus legend is the need to gain a starter job i could have been thrid string on michigan and was intrigued by having to gain a spot but could also be an immediate started for the razor backs evn though they are very dull and i am a devoted wolverines fan. i liked this aspect because in 06 i wasnt tht all good in the tryouts and went to the minnesota golden gophers and had fun taking them to the top by my senior year. i did this in 07 by going to temple but i still had the ability to go to ohio state i just chose to goto temple instead
for the controls and feel being different i didnt really mind madden for the current gen consoles was getting to easy any way i had a rookie running back with a rating of a 95. so im glad it feels different and has more to do with reading a defense thn just throwin to huevr runs the farthest down the feild
the only cons i can think of is not four person although madden is supposed to be but y not just make it for both and the players seemed to move a little slow but i also thought i saw this wen i went from ps2 madden 06 to xbox madden 06 so it just might be tht way
and for this whole fighting over who makes a better game 2k or ea i dnt see why people are getting so defensive if u dnt like 2k buy maddenif u dnt like madden buy 2k its as simple as tht i buy madden and ncaa for football and 2k for baseball (which was crazy fun both 2k7 and the BIGS)
so just buy whatever one u want and stop comparing which is better they are meant to be different so people will buy their game who dont like the other just like ECW and WWE were different way back in the day and like how the phantoms are more exciting to me to watch then the flyers (mainly because more fights) they are made for two different types of people so just layoff of each lets hve PCE
and oh GO WOLVERINES And E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES
much improved
On: 2007-07-20NCAA 07s in game preformance did not match maddens. This years version is much improved and meets madens preformance. The legend mode is fun and the new recruiting interface is GREAT. NCAA 08 is a great game, well worth the money.
Horrible. EA Sports is hopeless.
On: 2007-07-20Yet another year goes by,now for NCAA 08,that I will not buy the game.
Its like a broken record,we all hope that "this will be the year". Then
again its not good,so AGAIN were saying "oh well,maybe NEXT year".
Where is the game day atmosphere? No pre-game,half time,game end presentation to speak of. Play selection is wacked,the field surface is
funky,players seem to be sliding around,and the crowd of morons jumping
up and down continually is tiresome. The play by play calling is basically
the same,year after year after year. And WHY cant you just put the controller in the middle and watch a game if you want?,you used to be able
to. Isnt the idea to have a game like this improve each year? And theres
more,but its given me a headache at this point.
I have to accept that EA just will not get it.
Good thing that theres some nice FPS games coming out soon.
Best Yet
On: 2007-07-20Man, when I picked this up at midnight the day it came out I was excited, then i played it and I got pumped. This Obviously is the best of all NCAAs yet. The all ne my shrine is a great feature and group tackleing is so cool. Campus legend would haf to be the biggest improvement this year and they even hace the actual high schools real life colors!!! Amazing!
best one yet
On: 2007-07-20this is without a doubt the best ncaa version to come out yet the dynasty mode is drastically better while recruiting you actually have interaction with your recruits which to me makes it a little more difficult but also adds to the excitement of the game because it is you tryiung to land the big recruit not the comp the playcalling is also 100 times better and i also like that all of the achievements are based on regular gameplay not xbox live this is a must get if u even slightly like football
y all the fighting?
On: 2007-07-19i thought that this game was a big improvement over last years game wen i just simulated everything to get acheivments nd played games with my friends. my 360 is broken so i played this at a friends house and we made a quaterback and started campus legend mode. in the beginning we made our high school with the colors and were surprised to find one of our rival high schools in the playoffs with us as well. we won the playoffs (granted we had an amazing running back.) and by this time i was hooked.
the game is very much better thn the last years football games and i played the demo for about two minutes before i got the 3 red lights and it seemed like lasts years but this is defintly better
i havent played dynasty but i never reely do i just usually import my campus legend into madden or sim through everything for the draft classes. i have heard from my freind tht it is time consuming but fun and in depth
i thought tht the games of tug of war and bowling were very random but very fun and creative and a blast to have if u want some quick fun with some friends
i also loved the simming in campus legend i would usually have to wait and would just flip on tv wen the defense was playing
another thing i love about campus legend is the need to gain a starter job i could have been thrid string on michigan and was intrigued by having to gain a spot but could also be an immediate started for the razor backs evn though they are very dull and i am a devoted wolverines fan. i liked this aspect because in 06 i wasnt tht all good in the tryouts and went to the minnesota golden gophers and had fun taking them to the top by my senior year. i did this in 07 by going to temple but i still had the ability to go to ohio state i just chose to goto temple instead
for the controls and feel being different i didnt really mind madden for the current gen consoles was getting to easy any way i had a rookie running back with a rating of a 95. so im glad it feels different and has more to do with reading a defense thn just throwin to huevr runs the farthest down the feild
the only cons i can think of is not four person although madden is supposed to be but y not just make it for both and the players seemed to move a little slow but i also thought i saw this wen i went from ps2 madden 06 to xbox madden 06 so it just might be tht way
and for this whole fighting over who makes a better game 2k or ea i dnt see why people are getting so defensive if u dnt like 2k buy maddenif u dnt like madden buy 2k its as simple as tht i buy madden and ncaa for football and 2k for baseball (which was crazy fun both 2k7 and the BIGS)
so just buy whatever one u want and stop comparing which is better they are meant to be different so people will buy their game who dont like the other just like ECW and WWE were different way back in the day and like how the phantoms are more exciting to me to watch then the flyers (mainly because more fights) they are made for two different types of people so just layoff of each lets hve PCE
and oh GO WOLVERINES And E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES
WHY THE DOWNGRADE?!!!
On: 2007-07-19THIS GAME WAS A BIG LET-DOWN. YOU CANT PUT YOUR PRIME PLAYERS IN CERTAIN SPOTS OF CERTAIN FORMATIONS BECAUSE THE GAME NO LONGER ALLOWS YOU TO FORMATION SUB. THE RECRUITING OPINION IS A LITTLE TO REALISTIC AND TIME CONSUMING. THE PLAYERS AND GRAPHICS ARE GOOD ON PS3 BUT TO ROBOTIC IN CUTS. LAST YEARS GRAPHICS SHOULD HAVE STUCK TO THIS YEARS BASIC AND NOT DELETED OPTIONS LIKE PICKING AND DESIGNING YOU OWN PLAYBOOK AND FORMATION SUBBING BECAUSE THAT HAS TOOK THE GAME BACK TO THE 01 VERSION INSTEAD OF THE 08 VERSION. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND WAIT FOR MADDEN.
Why I would buy this game rather than 2K All pro
On: 2007-07-19Ok I admit it, EA hasnt been making good soccer games lately, (you can see my rant on the product pages for FIFA 07 and UEFA) but I have always been impressed with the NCAA and MADDEN series coming out of EA Tiburon. Therefore you can be assured that if this game was a piece of junk, I would have said so already.
Graphics: On the graphics side, you can easily tell the difference in the very first play of the game. It is a lot more smoother (NCAA 07 played at 30 FPS, this one does so at 60) and the player models look really good (Heck I can even look past the fact that the players are called names like WR #747 and QB # 5). The stadiums and the crowds look incredible as well. The player animations also seem a lot more "natural" than last years game.
Overall, the graphics beat 2K All-Pro to the ground, which still look last gen. Score: NCAA 08: 3(Field Goal), 2K All-Pro: 0
Gameplay: However beyond just whats pretty, its the gameplay that matters. Impressions so far are that my running game is a lot better in 08 than it was in 07, however, I am throwing a lot more interceptions in the passing game. I still havent figured out the perfect combination yet, but its more fun executing plays in 08 than 07. However I still prefer the playbook of 2K All-Pro and the play executions feel more realistic. The game AI of 2K All-Pro is probably better too.
Score: NCAA 08: 3+3(Field Goal)=6, 2K All-Pro: 7(Touchdown and PAT)
Dynasty Mode and Campus Legend mode: This is where NCAA08 shakes off its defensive backs to run for a touchdown (cheesy analogies galore :)). You can only go as far with good gameplay. This game offers so much depth with its franchise modes that I will probably have to look past the difference in gameplay, which means I will be playing this game a lot longer than I would be playing 2K All-Pro. The modes dont seem stretched out too long thanks to a believable SuperSim which you can trust to make decent decisions and game outcomes on your behalf(despite the fact that it chose UCLA to win over USC in my Campus Legend mode).
Score: NCAA 08: 8(Touchdown + 2 pt conversion)=14, 2K All-Pro: 7
Online: I havent played online yet (still working on the achivements and campus legend) but from what I have heard that 2K All-Pro plays a lot better than NCAA 08 so I guess 2K All-Pro gets the benefit of doubt.
Score: NCAA 08: 14, 2K All-Pro: 3 (Field Goal) + 7 = 10
Final Score: NCAA 08: 14, 2K All-Pro: 10
Personally I think its a good rivalry game, and I am happy that 2K has entered the fray. Hopefully both these games will push each other to keep getting better and better, thus providing this genre the help it needs.
Warning XBOX 360 version is Superior to PS3 version
On: 2007-07-19I love College Football and I love this game! Ok, now that I got that out of the way, the Legend mode is both good and bad in that you only play as your player but have no control over the plays that are called and is very tough if picking a defensive position. The Dynasty mode is awesome, recruiting is a big step up.
Here is why XBOX 360 is better than the PS3 version:
-The PS3 is only 720p....the XBOX 360 got the full 1080p
-The PS3 is only 30 frames per second....the XBOX 360 is the full 60
-The PS3 version is no more than a minor upgrade to the PS2 version
*For you psycho sports fans like me, Madden will have the same specs on both systems (good if youre a 360 owner).
Here are the negative aspects I found with the game but not enough for me not to love it.
-Weather is awesome but doesnt affect players much (Dont get wet in rain, no footprints in snow)
-No cut-scenes to crowd or cheerleaders like in 06
-No random team selection
-Rare additions to Herbstreit and Corsos commentary
Much more positive than negative, it plays very smooth and to me much more realistic. Hopefully they can add those small features as updates or ad-ons. If you like Dynasty mode you will definitely love this game, but if youre expecting a "next generation blow me out of the water festival" you aint going to get it.
much improved
On: 2007-07-19NCAA 07s in game preformance did not match maddens. This years version is much improved and meets madens preformance. The legend mode is fun and the new recruiting interface is GREAT. NCAA 08 is a great game, well worth the money.
Almost Great
On: 2007-07-19Here are my initial impressions after playing NCAA Football 08 for a few hours.
The game is very fun to play. The action seems realistic with a good balance between running and passing.
The new and improved Campus Legend mode is where the game really shines. You start as a high school player in your states playoffs. From the beginning you are able to simulate every play that you are not involved in. This significantly cuts down on the amount of time that it takes to play this mode. You also control only your own player. This means that if you are the quarterback and you hand off to the halfback, you will still only control the quarterback through the rest of the play.
The game looks pretty good too, but the presentation is where the game starts to show some flaws. There are numerous glitches and a lot of lag. Every time a new menu screen is shown the game seems to freeze for about half a second. This thankfully doesnt really affect game play much, but it does detract from the overall experience. I seems like this could have been fixed easily, so I dont know why EA would release the game with these bugs.
Overall the game is still very fun to play, and I am not sorry I bought it. I really wish that some of the bugs had been worked out before the game was released, then this game would be awesome.
WHY THE DOWNGRADE?!!!
On: 2007-07-18THIS GAME WAS A BIG LET-DOWN. YOU CANT PUT YOUR PRIME PLAYERS IN CERTAIN SPOTS OF CERTAIN FORMATIONS BECAUSE THE GAME NO LONGER ALLOWS YOU TO FORMATION SUB. THE RECRUITING OPINION IS A LITTLE TO REALISTIC AND TIME CONSUMING. THE PLAYERS AND GRAPHICS ARE GOOD ON PS3 BUT TO ROBOTIC IN CUTS. LAST YEARS GRAPHICS SHOULD HAVE STUCK TO THIS YEARS BASIC AND NOT DELETED OPTIONS LIKE PICKING AND DESIGNING YOU OWN PLAYBOOK AND FORMATION SUBBING BECAUSE THAT HAS TOOK THE GAME BACK TO THE 01 VERSION INSTEAD OF THE 08 VERSION. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND WAIT FOR MADDEN.
Why I would buy this game rather than 2K All pro
On: 2007-07-18Ok I admit it, EA hasnt been making good soccer games lately, (you can see my rant on the product pages for FIFA 07 and UEFA) but I have always been impressed with the NCAA and MADDEN series coming out of EA Tiburon. Therefore you can be assured that if this game was a piece of junk, I would have said so already.
Graphics: On the graphics side, you can easily tell the difference in the very first play of the game. It is a lot more smoother (NCAA 07 played at 30 FPS, this one does so at 60) and the player models look really good (Heck I can even look past the fact that the players are called names like WR #747 and QB # 5). The stadiums and the crowds look incredible as well. The player animations also seem a lot more "natural" than last years game.
Overall, the graphics beat 2K All-Pro to the ground, which still look last gen. Score: NCAA 08: 3(Field Goal), 2K All-Pro: 0
Gameplay: However beyond just whats pretty, its the gameplay that matters. Impressions so far are that my running game is a lot better in 08 than it was in 07, however, I am throwing a lot more interceptions in the passing game. I still havent figured out the perfect combination yet, but its more fun executing plays in 08 than 07. However I still prefer the playbook of 2K All-Pro and the play executions feel more realistic. The game AI of 2K All-Pro is probably better too.
Score: NCAA 08: 3+3(Field Goal)=6, 2K All-Pro: 7(Touchdown and PAT)
Dynasty Mode and Campus Legend mode: This is where NCAA08 shakes off its defensive backs to run for a touchdown (cheesy analogies galore :)). You can only go as far with good gameplay. This game offers so much depth with its franchise modes that I will probably have to look past the difference in gameplay, which means I will be playing this game a lot longer than I would be playing 2K All-Pro. The modes dont seem stretched out too long thanks to a believable SuperSim which you can trust to make decent decisions and game outcomes on your behalf(despite the fact that it chose UCLA to win over USC in my Campus Legend mode).
Score: NCAA 08: 8(Touchdown + 2 pt conversion)=14, 2K All-Pro: 7
Online: I havent played online yet (still working on the achivements and campus legend) but from what I have heard that 2K All-Pro plays a lot better than NCAA 08 so I guess 2K All-Pro gets the benefit of doubt.
Score: NCAA 08: 14, 2K All-Pro: 3 (Field Goal) + 7 = 10
Final Score: NCAA 08: 14, 2K All-Pro: 10
Personally I think its a good rivalry game, and I am happy that 2K has entered the fray. Hopefully both these games will push each other to keep getting better and better, thus providing this genre the help it needs.
Very good game....dont listen to the nay-sayers!!
On: 2007-07-18This game has beautiful graphics. Absolutely an improvement from last year (dont know what guy before me is talking about). The polygons in this version doubled from last year and you can tell immediately that the graphics have improved. Gameplay is solid, still upset that the controls remained the same from last year, but i am use to it now. I actually really like the campus legend and how you only play as yourself, making it a true simulation to being a recruit!!! Really cool! The dynasty is back and deeper than ever, if you are a fan of the dynasty just go buy the game, stop reading reviews and go buy it, because dynasty and legend are amazing! Stadiums have improved dramatically, detail really comes through. The crowd is much more lively and detailed. Great game, just go buy it! Much better than the 2007 version for 360. Cant give it a five star because havent played it enough and no game is perfect. (except halo)
They just don't care anymore
On: 2007-07-18Its our fault, really. We keep buying it. They keep getting rich off of it. So why change?
You would think after getting pummeled by gamers for the next generation Madden 07 catastrophe, EA would step up and score big with the 2008 next gen football titles. Nope. More of the same. Nice, pretty, shiney graphics with terrible gameplay and no fun extras.
No create a team? What is it with these next gen consoles where we cant get create a team? Isnt this supposed to be MORE ADVANCED technology? So why does the PS2 version still have it but the PS3s and 360s dont? No create a playbook either. Oh, but the graphics are pretty.
And yes, as usual, you have your typical EA computer controlled, cheating AI. Too many INTs, too many fumbles...absolutely void of any realistic gameplay.
But I blame myself really. I bought it. We all bought it. So it will probably just get worse every year. Because as long as they make their $$$, they sure as hell wont care to fix it.
Cant wait for Madden 08. That should be a hoot.
The best football game to date.
On: 2007-07-18NCAA 2008 for the xbox 360 is by far the best football game to date. The game play is precise, sharp and intuitive. No Longer will my RB get caught on my line or my DB make super human jumps for knockdowns. They jump realistically and normal not super.
Graphics are great, the crowd look life-like and active, the whole games just look beautiful.
Sound has been improved as well, no more just fight songs, NCAA 08 has orchestrated music and helps to get you into the game.
Dynasty mode is back and better than ever with indepth requiting, and streamlined play.
The real star of this game is its campus mode. You start in the highschool playoffs and the beauty of it you only have to play when your star is in. No more watching my Defense crumble without me; i can just skip it and get back to playing my guy.
Not as bad as I thought before
On: 2007-07-18When I typed up the first review of this game I really didnt give the game a chance. This game is so different from any other EA football game. The animations are different and even though they look like they run a lot slower than the previous versions, it also runs a lot smoother. Sometimes slower is better. The graphics, as always, are top notch. The players look more realistic than any of the previous years
A lot of people complain about all of the turnovers they commit. I made a lot of turnovers at first but unlike the previous games, you have to actually set your feet and use the analog sticks to make an accurate pass. You must also cover the ball when the runner is in traffic, you know, just like in a real game. Things are more realistic than ever. You wont have all day to sit in the pocket and make a throw either, decisions must be made quick or you will surely be sacked.
The new hit stick 2.0 is wonderful. Corners are no longer doomed when a huge 240 pound running back turns the corner with a full head of steam. One flick of the stick and your small corner can take out the running backs legs from under him. Those passes over the middle arent so formidable amymore either. one flick of the new hit stick can lay that big tight end or wide reciever out.
I am sure that plenty of people got pissed when your running back gets stuck in the o-line on a running play. It pissed me off too but now that is no more. the running has never been more fluid and realistic until now.
I pesonally think the new recruiting feature is too much. I find it frustrating most of the time(I just want to play football though so I might be alone on that one).
The new ESPN.com presentation is great. It looks like the real webpage.
Overall this game has vastly improved from the previous years. As soon as you get use to the controls and realism, you will be able to blow people out just like the old games or if you arent interested in blowing out the computer, you can take it online and play as usual. For all of the people who bash NCAA Football 08 ,give it a chance because EA actually deserves it this time. For all of the people who dont, thank you for agreeing with me.
No More Big Offensive Numbers, Lots of Turnovers
On: 2007-07-18If your someone like me, who really enjoys putting up 30+ points a game and lots of yards then this game is not for you. You cant go one game without committing numerous turnovers, and running the ball is almost impossible because the CPU will "jump the snap" one every three plays. Youll only have 3 seconds to throw the ball or your sacked (regardless of how good your o-line is or who your playing) because no one will pick up the blitz, and its hard to not throw a bunch of interceptions. I guess in a way it is more realistic, but it takes the fun out of the game.
As far as graphics and features are concerned this game is phenomenal! The graphics are very smooth and the gang tackling makes a bigger difference than you think. Campus Legand is pretty cool and the recruiting process is much deeper.
Overall, awesome features but very frustrating game play.
No 4 Player!!!!!
On: 2007-07-18This the only reason I bought the Xbox 360, but EA Sports has yet to fix the problem that only allows two players to play each other on the same console. Please get the word out so they will hopefully fix it for 4 players next year.
Mixed Emotions
On: 2007-07-18Im kinda pissed off at EA. They make a lot of new gameplay features but as a result the game runs so much slower. the players look like they are jogging down the field for a touchdown. The running animations on last years game were a lot better. The game does run a lot smoother though. My running back doesnt get stuck in the line anymore. I dont have to worry about my WR running out of bounds after the catch all on his own either. Another thing that makes me mad however is the crazy amount of turnovers. I was playing yesterday and I picked the ball off 9 times in one game. i also forced 5 fumbles. This is on All-American difficulty too. How is that more realistic. I thought some corners were going to be shut-down corners, not all of them. i still reccommend buying this game because despeite all of its cons, it has enough pros that make it half-way enjoyable.
EA makes junk
On: 2007-07-18The quality of EA games has gone down hill. Why is it that only EA can make college football games? I am a huge fan of college football and I did like to play the football games! But after EA sad performance in `07 I will no longer buy their football game, and unfortunately they are the only one out there. What ever happened to 989 studies? I think it is time for competition!
Disappointed
On: 2007-07-18Graphics are impressive, however it seems to me that the load time has gotten longer, so there is more waiting for menus and games to start. The Campus Legend mode is interesting, as you only play your player. However, you cannot control anyone or anything else. So if you make a quarterback, you cannot pick the play on offense, control anyone else, and you just skip defense and special teams. The game is played quicker that way, but I enjoy playing defense and special teams. The Dynasty mode is more in-depth, and recruiting is improved with the ability to search for specific characteristics, locations, etc. One last note, and its just a preference issue, but I much preferred the playbooks from last year to this year (the overall presentation of picking the plays, not the plays themselves).
The best football game to date.
On: 2007-07-17NCAA 2008 for the xbox 360 is by far the best football game to date. The game play is precise, sharp and intuitive. No Longer will my RB get caught on my line or my DB make super human jumps for knockdowns. They jump realistically and normal not super.
Graphics are great, the crowd look life-like and active, the whole games just look beautiful.
Sound has been improved as well, no more just fight songs, NCAA 08 has orchestrated music and helps to get you into the game.
Dynasty mode is back and better than ever with indepth requiting, and streamlined play.
The real star of this game is its campus mode. You start in the highschool playoffs and the beauty of it you only have to play when your star is in. No more watching my Defense crumble without me; i can just skip it and get back to playing my guy.
No More Big Offensive Numbers, Lots of Turnovers
On: 2007-07-17If your someone like me, who really enjoys putting up 30+ points a game and lots of yards then this game is not for you. You cant go one game without committing numerous turnovers, and running the ball is almost impossible because the CPU will "jump the snap" one every three plays. Youll only have 3 seconds to throw the ball or your sacked (regardless of how good your o-line is or who your playing) because no one will pick up the blitz, and its hard to not throw a bunch of interceptions. I guess in a way it is more realistic, but it takes the fun out of the game.
As far as graphics and features are concerned this game is phenomenal! The graphics are very smooth and the gang tackling makes a bigger difference than you think. Campus Legand is pretty cool and the recruiting process is much deeper.
Overall, awesome features but very frustrating game play.
EA makes junk
On: 2007-07-17The quality of EA games has gone down hill. Why is it that only EA can make college football games? I am a huge fan of college football and I did like to play the football games! But after EA sad performance in `07 I will no longer buy their football game, and unfortunately they are the only one out there. What ever happened to 989 studies? I think it is time for competition!
don't listen to the negative reviews
On: 2007-07-17For one people calling this game a dissapointment must have thought this game was going to be the #1 seller of all time. I think for one that this is the best college football game Ive played in years. In Game wise the grapics are a notch down from last years but EA did this so the game runs a lot smoother than last years edition. The close up cut scene visuals are amazing though. The gameplay is the by far the best i have ever had on a football game, no more getting caught on lineman while running the ball, the defense actually intercepts the ball, passes are tipped and knocked down, there is mid air collisions, gang tackling and realistic hits in general. Campus legend mode is very fun and of course the dyansty is back this year with a much better recruiting system. If your a college football fan by this game!
Big Disappointment
On: 2007-07-17What a huge disappointment! I was really expecting big improvements in graphics and gameplay but was really let down this time. Seems EA is going backwards in the NCAA series. Not impressed at all with graphics, gameplay, AI or overall smoothness. I have heard that the PS3 version is 200% better, how can this be EA?
