EA Sports' NCAA 2008

[Jakopo]

(I've been gone for a few weeks so I don't know if this has been posted yet, sorry if it has, I couldn't find a thread).


Has anyone bought the game?

What are your impressions?



Here are mine:

1. The new recruiting, although very time consuming, is cool.

2. Game play is more fluid then ever. It is approaching Madden's level. I always thought that NCAA was a bit too "jerky" especially in the passing game, but they have made some major strides.

3. The kickoff game needs a bit of help. The average starting field position seems to be about the 35 yard line.

4. My biggest gripe by far this year is about the tackling (playing on heisman level):

a.) You can have a LB running straight at a RB and start wrapping him up to pull him down, then a DE will jump on the RB from behind and the RB will fall forward about 7 yards.

b.) The amount of broken tackles in this game is ridiculous. You will have WR's breaking tackles of impact LB's who have great angles. Very seldomly does the first guy ever take anyone down. Juke moves can be a bit too sick. A RB could be running at a wall of players, do a juke and break 4 tackles.


5. Way too many interceptions. Even though it looks nicer, the passing game still isn't as good as Madden's. I have yet to play a game where the teams haven't combined for at least 4 interceptions.

[Angry Buccaneer]

I bought it as well since I was bored and had nothing else to play. It's ok. Definitely better than the previous games, but nothing to really write home about. I agree with you, the kick off game seems to always give at least a 30 yard return, and the passing game does feel like it has a bit too many interceptions. The overall gameplay is alright, but it's not a game I'd be interested to play for the long haul.

[Cadillac Kid 22]

I think we already had a thread on this

[Legacy]

I think the interceptions are just right. I love how bad passes are almost always picked off. In Madden, it's infuriating to be the only one within 20 yards of a bad pass and still drop it. NCAA's system makes you decide whether or not you want to rish an interception when your QB is about to be hit by a defender.

The Juke moves are a bit ridiculous, though. The AI QBs are really good. It's annoying when a Division 2 crappy QB jukes three of my best defenders then throws it for a completion.


I think the BCS rankings need a bit of an adjustment. I just finished my first season with the USF Bulls. I went undefeated, beating West Virginia in the process. My schedule wasn't strong enough to get me into the Championship game, though. My main beef with it was that West Virginia made it to the Championship game and won, despite not having won the Big East Championship, which I won.

Personally, I think the game is a bit too easy, even on Heisman. I just finished kicking the crap out of USC with USF, so I'm probably going to have to adjust the sliders a bit to make it more enjoyable.


On kickoff returns, just kick it right down the middle and use the guy just to the side of kicker to sprint down the middle. You should be able to avoid all the blockers. Once you get to the Wedge in front of the kicker, just use the left/right trigger to split between two of them. I usually stop them on the 20-25 yard line with a kicker with 91 KP.

[ATL-owns-TB]

the only realy problem I have with this and madden as always is the qb sneak. if its 4th and 1, 4th and 2, you're almost always guranteed to get it. in real life, it don't work that way.

[UCLABUCSFAN]

I have it fo PS2 and I really like it. I dont think passes are picked off too much. I barely picked off any passes in a full season, but I do force a ton of fumbles, sometimes more than 3 or 4 in a game. I really enjoy playing the game and think it is a lot fun, but I would like most football games anyways.

[Jakopo]

Here is a bit of a technical question I was wondering if anyone read about:

in recruiting does it matter how long you talk to a guy or how many pitches you make to him from week to week or does it just matter about the "smiley face"?

For example, assume that your guy already has a smiley face (but not the really big grin -- extreme happiness). And you pitch something that your school is elite in and that the prospect has very high on their list. The smiley face becomes the grin. Is it then worth pitching something else that your school is elite at that the recruit also wants high (assuming if you did it the grin would stay), or is that just beating a dead horse?

Thanks

[UCLABUCSFAN]

Here is a bit of a technical question I was wondering if anyone read about:

in recruiting does it matter how long you talk to a guy or how many pitches you make to him from week to week or does it just matter about the "smiley face"?

For example, assume that your guy already has a smiley face (but not the really big grin -- extreme happiness). And you pitch something that your school is elite in and that the prospect has very high on their list. The smiley face becomes the grin. Is it then worth pitching something else that your school is elite at that the recruit also wants high (assuming if you did it the grin would stay), or is that just beating a dead horse?

I think the more you pay attention to them, the quicker they decide to come to your school. The offseason recruiting is way more important than in - season though. Way better players are available to recruit. The ones I got during the season are mostly back-ups or third strings. But I did get a bunch of amazing players in offseason, and had the # 1 class, so it might not be a good gauge.

Thanks

I think the more you pay attention to them, the quicker they decide to come to your school. The offseason recruiting is way more important than in - season though. Way better players are available to recruit. The ones I got during the season are mostly back-ups or third strings. But I did get a bunch of amazing players in offseason, and had the # 1 class, so it might not be a good gauge.

[youngbucfan]

Well, since this is my first NCAA Footbal game I don't have much to compare it to. I never really liked the series because it was so different from Madden. I have played a game or two in the other games but never actually sit down and played it. But, I really like this version there is a few things I don't like about it. The Campus Legend mode is kind of weird. I hate how you are the starter even if you do have a 52 overall.

Does anyone know if you can get redshirted though in that mode?

[bucs14fan]

I think the BCS rankings need a bit of an adjustment. I just finished my first season with the USF Bulls. I went undefeated, beating West Virginia in the process. My schedule wasn't strong enough to get me into the Championship game, though. My main beef with it was that West Virginia made it to the Championship game and won, despite not having won the Big East Championship, which I won.


so the BCS is garbage. this game sounds pretty realistic already.

[skulldog06]

Can you actually play with a D-1AA team in career mode. Or is it like last year's Xbox 360's version where you can't? Oh, can you edit players' names, numbers, uniform accessories like in 06?

[UCLABUCSFAN]

Can you actually play with a D-1AA team in career mode. Or is it like last year's Xbox 360's version where you can't? Oh, can you edit players' names, numbers, uniform accessories like in 06?

You can on the PS2 version, so you probrably can on the XBOX.

[Legacy]

Can you actually play with a D-1AA team in career mode. Or is it like last year's Xbox 360's version where you can't? Oh, can you edit players' names, numbers, uniform accessories like in 06?
I know for a fact you can edit them on the Xbox version, since one of the Player Promises involves promising jersey numbers to recruits. The options for editting players are pretty thorough.

I'm not sure about the 360, but since Tiburon made the development of the next gen games a priority this year, I don't see why they would have left those options out. The ability to edit player names is an extremely popular feature.