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NCAA Football 08 Review (continued)
More User Submitted NCAA Football 08 Reviews
Date: 2007-08-14
Don't play 360 or PS3 first!!!
I first played NCAA 08 for the PS3. Let me say EVERYTHING is different. The games can't be compared. You'll be greatly disappointed (like me at first).
In sticking with the Xbox version, here are the pros and cons:
PROS
-GAMEPLAY GRPAHICS. No more guys walking through each other on the replay or the chain gang getting knocked down every time (became annoying to me). The graphics are improved and guys look real.
-PENALTIES. Excessive celebration penalties are vastly cut down which is a big plus. Running into the kicker every freaking time on a block attempt seems to be cut down as well.
-RECRUITING. Let me say, this is basically the same as last year. Start off the year selecting 15 recruits and divide 100 pts between them however you like. The big add, some recruits want promises. The ones I find the most common are a WR wanting jersey #72 or a HB wanting #91. Something pretty odd ball but if it gets you the 4 star prize, why not? Playing time is tricky. It doesn't mean, play me sometimes. It means, they start every game. If not, they may transfer. You can always go back to the promise screen and see what promises you made and a percentage meter of adherence helps you to know how you fare. If you start a guy sometimes, the adherence level may be 33%. I don't know what level they will transfer but don't redshirt them. That is stupid and something I did. I got greedy and didn't want to waste his year of eligibility because unknowingly I had a bunch of upperclassmen who improved a lot and got an even better recruit offseason. Even if he never played, I'm sure he'd transfered but definitely don't redshirt the dude. When conducting a visit, you can select 5 different pitches to sell to recruits. Usually, there are hints of what recruits don't like (sometimes what they do like) on the prospect screen. It's a welcome added twist.
-RUSHING. No matter how good my running back was, my offensive line, or if he was a fully composed redshirt senior, team captain, impact player, it was no fun to run on NCAA 07. Anyone feel me? I got so tired of 2.7 yd averages. No matter the down or distance or team, it was a nightmare. I'd have a few big gains but really, it was a waste to run. I recruited fast quarterbacks and did SOOOOO much better than a stupid running back. In 08, rushing is a bit easier with a stud running back. If you have a less than stellar back, he won't be so hot to trot but at least it makes sense he'd struggle unlike having a beast struggle in 07. Stats are more likely to realistic than in previous versions. I don't play with cheat codes or anything so those of you who say I beat the CPU 80-3 on Heisman level is full of it. No pennants, no cheats, no tutorials for hardcore trickster manuals. Just open the game and play it to the best of my ability. You can't just throw 70 yd TD passes everytime and break off ridiculous tackles with impact receivers either. There's more balance of big throw and running the ball. I love it.
-SUMMER DRILLS. It's so awesome to have training camp like in Madden. You can develop your backup quarterbacks with 4 different drills. That is a huge help. There are a total of 17 drills but I believe developing the QB of the future (while also the QB of now) is the most important aspect. Simply love it.
-MEDICAL REDSHIRTS. Ability to save a player for another year if he has a lengthy injury early on. I can't tell you how great this is and can make a major difference to your team. Gives the game even more of a realistic feel.
Now for the CONS,
CONS
-Played PS3 version before. Got to see it's recruiting interface and also the ability to play high school games in campus legend. Xbox really didn't put much development into this game since it's the last for the Xbox. I almost sold the game on the spot finding out it was nowhere close to the 360 and PS3 version. The PS3 has a lot of cons the Xbox doesn't have so I'm not saying go out and buy a PS3 for this game and be in Heaven. I'm just saying, the Xbox should've taken a cue from the 360 and PS3 versions when it comes to recruiting and campus legend.
-HEISMAN LEVEL. Don't attempt to play this game on anything harder than All-American. It's just complete idiocy if you do. Guys drop way too many balls in All-American as it is. Heisman is for those who have a sadomasacist (sp?) complex. It's pure torture.
-PROMISES. I really wish you could make promises to players in the offseason portion of recruiting as well. Would've been a nice addition.
-BASICALLY 07. Looking for a completely different game, 360 or PS3 is your answer. If you love 07 the way it is with a few nice tweaks here and there, you have 08. Fall in love again with NCAA 08 and the new rosters. It's just not updated player names, it's updated ratings. Brent Schaeffer was pretty solid in 07 and now he's properly rated. Mediocre. It's more than just, well, Troy Smith is gone, no big deal. It's the entire team has changed and the ratings and makes it completely different. It's a great incentive to purchase the new game.
4 out of 5 stars. Once I got over the initial shock of it not being anything like the 360 or PS3 versions, realized the game is so much like 07 which I loved, and also realized the 360 and PS3 versions have a lot of cons this didn't, I was able to truly enjoy this game. Enjoy!
Date: 2007-07-31
terrible gameplay
I waited for weeks in anticipation of this the latest and last ncaa football for xbox. I have been a loyal EA customer for years, annually saving my money to buy NCAA and Madden each fall. This year I wish I would have saved my money.
As an experienced gamer, I automatically jump to the highest level, in this game Heisman level. I enjoy a good fair challenge from the A.I. when playing by myself, however this year the A.I. is an opponent on steriods, with the ref in their pocket, and a spy in my lockerroom. No matter if I'm playing USC or Florida International, the computer always knows exactly what play I plan to run. Not only that, the computer's players become super human. As a University of Michigan fan I tend to always play as the Wolverines. I literally played Eastern Michigan, and reset the game 12 times to repeat my first drive. 10 times I turned the ball over, once I was forced into a 4th and long, and once I scored. Against EASTERN MICHIGAN!!! Their no name defensive end ROUTINELY flattens T#77 (aka Jake Long top 5 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft). WR#86 (Mario Manningham) dropped 1 out of every 3 passes, while their defenders intercepted anything they touched, and made spectacular plays on balls bouncing off of one or two other players with ease.
Believe me, this is not a review made after a day or two of playing, I've had this game since its release date, and have played it pretty steadily. The computer defense is just beyond frustrating. Now on the flip side, playing defense is easier than ever, and I find myself with as many takeaways as turnovers. After totaling up giveaways and takeaways after 20 full games played, I had an AVERAGE of 8.6 turnovers between both teams per game. That is absolute insanity, and in no way makes for a realistic game.
Now I give it two stars thanks to an excellent dynasty mode (albeit as easy as ever to master). The addition of summer drills allows you to improve 17 players in addition to normal spring game training boosts, which is a great enhancement. Recruiting is improved as well, with new twists in the details of your focus on recruits and the ability to recruit year round. The My Shrine does a better job in detailing your accolades, and Campus Legend is back with some slight tweaks if that's your bag.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a realistic football simulation, this is not the place. Trust me, you'll get as sick of the computer as me after they get their 3rd straight Great Jump! no matter how many times you vary the snap count. I bought the game so I'm stuck with it, but I'm just counting down the days until Madden comes out, when I'll trade this pile of junk in for some trade value towards it. If college is your thing, save a few bucks in get a used copy of NCAA 07.
NCAA Football 08 Reviews Page: 2 of 2 Prev<< 1 2
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