| Posted : Friday, July 20 2007 / 7:03 AM |
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Forum Impressions : Sanitarium
Here are some NCAA 08 impressions from forum user Sanitarium.
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Managing Editor/Owner
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Here are some NCAA 08 impressions from forum user Sanitarium.
Pros:
- Improved passing. I've noticed the deep ball is a lot more difficult to complete; my longest pass so far is 25 yards.
- Improved animations. The game just looks smooth, there's hardly any clipping in the models and the tackles look great.
- Recruiting. I haven't had a chance to get too involved in the new recruiting system, but I think I'm going to like it after week 2 of my dynasty. For me, recruiting has always been one of my favorite things about NCAA, and it's just been given a massive upgrade. On older versions, people used to say recruiting was a game within a game... well now that's actually true. It's not just some side thing you spend a few minutes on and that's it, you really have to stop and spend time getting these prospects interested in your program. Me likes.
- Ability to save replays (FINALLY). This feature has been sorely lacking from Madden and NCAA; it was one of the things I loved about NFL 2k5, the ability to save replays.
- Improved running game. My interior linemen actually open holes for my RB now, instead of having to bounce 90% of my dives outside just to get a gain. Also, I've noticed running outside of the tackles has gotten a lot harder. In versions past, I'd rack up 250+ yards a game on the ground because it was so easy to bounce the ball outside. Haven't been able to do that yet in 08. A final note, pulling guards actually do something! When I ran a counter, I actually watched AJ Trump get off the ball and haul ass down the line of scrimmage to pancake the DE just before he got to Baby J, allowing me to break for a nice gain. I was like, "OMGWTFICANTBELIEVEIT". I've never seen a pulling lineman actually do something worthwhile in NCAA.
Cons:
- No atmosphere. I've seen this brought up before, and the ones who did are exactly right. There is no atmosphere to speak of. When I have 3rd and goal on the 1 in the Orange Bowl - against FSU - I should be able to hear a little crowd noise. Alas I hear none in this game. They stay a few shades below a dull roar no matter who you're playing or what's happening on the field.
- Linebackers are too fast. Why can a 6'3 230lb guy with 80-something speed run stride for stride with my receiver who has 90+ speed and acceleration while he's running a streak pattern? That - does not - make - sense. He should have been torched, but oh no, he was right there running happily along with Lance Leggett. After the play I checked to see if this guy was a safety or something, but he was definitely an LB.
- Not enough player celebrations. After a big play is over I want to see the guys acting like they give a damn. Calais Campbell knocked the poop out of Drew Weatherford for an 8 yard loss to force a punt, but all he did was put an arm in the air for half a second and then run off the field. Meh.
- Infallible DBs. I'm glad they made the deep ball harder to complete, but I've seen too many DBs get a perfect jump on routes they shouldn't have been able to. It's like they're psychic, they know exactly when the ball is thrown and right where it's going, even if their back is to the QB they can turn in some weird way to grab the INT. I can understand it if I'm going up against a top rated guy, but I doubt Marshall's corners are all replicas of Deion Sanders.
- Fumbles. Too many - way, way too many. In my game against Marshall, there were 6 fumbles by the end of the 3rd quarter, 2 by me and 4 by them. That's too many.
- Commentary. For frick's sake, can we get an update? They're using the same dialogue from like 5 years ago. Come on EA, open up those greedy pockets a little and get Corso, Herbstreit, and Nessler in there to do some new stuff. You'll still be able to afford your fleet of gold plated jumbo jets, I promise.
Overall:
It's a good game. I'm liking the new recruiting system and they've taken steps to balance the offense. One year, it's too easy to throw and too hard to run, the next year it's too easy to run and too hard to throw. Finally they seem to have gotten it right, at least from what I've seen so far. The running game has been toned down along with the deep passing game and I get more realistic stats without having to severely handicap myself. The only problem is the DBs who read the QB's mind; that gets a little annoying. I haven't really seen much of the player momentum deal. I think once I saw this explosion thing under Kenny Phillips' feet... it reminded me of NBA Jam (He's on fire!), maybe that was it. Not sure what effect it had, because he didn't really do anything amazing for the rest of the series. I'd have to say, this game seems like it's designed more for multiplayer than single player (not counting recruiting). If you play it with someone else your experience will be that much better (assuming the person doesn't do a lot of BS like always onside kicking or going for 2 every time).
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