NCAA 07: The Pledge
I actually liked that movie, BTW. (The Pledge)
Anyway, been thinking a bit about Todd’s post re: NCAA 07 and the marketing buzz words surrounding the press release. I really, really, really want to like NCAA 07. I miss that game so very much. I think we played a 7 year multi-player NCAA 04 Dynasty (I took UTEP to the promised land!) hot-seat style over the course of 5 months. I can’t express just how much I enjoyed that game. Playing the game with buddies, recruiting against them, battling out each game…one of the best gaming experiences of my life. Then came NCAA 05 and NCAA 06 which I still contend were vastly inferior products, poorly produced, under developed, and generally unpleasant.
But the past is the past.
It’s a series that I want to see get good again.
I’ve read a lot of thoughts about the IGN preview and the released screen shots and I gotta admit — I don’t care that the game looks like NCAA 05 and 06 (based on those screens anyway).
Here’s all I want from the game:
- Fix the silly QB stats (some INTs, please?)
- Fix the inexcusable deep ball problems
- Make the Discipline system either optional or stop suspending my lone placekicker for missing Bio.
- Make underneath crossing patterns a viable play, as this seemed to be the pattern that caused WRs to drop balls when wide open, regardless of catching ability. Thing is, I want drops in the game. I don’t want ten, all of which to open targets. If my WRs all have catching skills in the 70s, I can see a lot of drops, but shouldn’t good WRs catch open passes most of the time? When Braylon Edwards dropped that 4th down play against the Bucks that would have given them a first down back in 2004, it was a stunning play. He was wide open. In NCAA 05/06, it would have been no big surprise.
- Tone down Impact Players just a smidge
- Fix the money play running game. There was a play, (4 WR set, 1 back, and run the ISO off left or right guard) that the CPU simply could not stop. The fix was to just not call that play, but I’d think any ISO run should be fair game. This isn’t a flea flicker we’re talking about.
If these things alone are fixed, and if EA doesn’t break anything that already works (which they are very prone to do) I swear to you all that I’ll be happy with the game. That’s how much I want to like NC AA 07. It would be nothing more than a glorified patch. I’d play it and I’d enjoy it.
I’d be downright giddy if they programmed better CPU coaching/playcalling AI. For instance, I can play a prevent defense in NCAA 06 — I can call a dime package every single play and the CPU will not alter its playcalling. It should, obviously. I don’t expect that, but boy thad’ be nice to see the CPU audible to a running play if it sees I’m just sitting in a Cover 4 and it’s 1st and 10 and not desparation time.
So I’m not getting all worked up about playbooks, animations, fight songs, play by play, uniforms, trick plays, test taking, or a lack of smaller schools on the 360. I just want my college football fix back.
April 21st, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Man, I loved The Pledge!
April 21st, 2006 at 5:31 pm
I’m with you Bill. NCAA 04 was the first incarnation of the series that I anxiously awaited for before the release date. I had bought 03 the December before - the lone reason I bought my Xbox (the last console I had was an SNES). That game was fun, enjoyable, and one of the few games I played a ton.
Then came the last 2 incarnations. Total frustration and I gave up both of them within a month of picking them up. I just want the spirit of 04 back.
April 21st, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Oh bill, you are so lame. I mean seriously, if you find a money play, just don’t use that play. If the game sucks, just dont’ play it. what kind of reviewer are you?
April 22nd, 2006 at 1:29 am
ncaa2004 was the best videogame ever made. 05 sucked, but 06 was very good, 2nd best to 04. you people can’t get over 2004. EA never makes a great game followed by another great game. It’s their cycle. Its the same strategy they used on ps1.
So the next ncaa 2004 will be ncaa 2011 on ps3.
April 22nd, 2006 at 9:22 am
I loved NCAA 2004 and also hold it as the finest entry in the franchise. It’s still one of my favorite games ever, especially in terms of how it played…just something “right” about every aspect of the game.
What scares me the most about NCAA 07 — at least on the 360 side — is the camera. I pray EA doesn’t get lazy and re-use their broken MADDEN 360 engine…the camera among other things made the game unplayable (at least if you didn’t have a HD set). Let’s hope EA actually makes NCAA 07 the first good “next gen” football offering! (though I will not hold my breath).
April 22nd, 2006 at 11:56 am
Amen. I hated the Madden 360 engine and that damn camera angle. Even playing it on my HDTV, it still hard to adjust to.
Knowing EA though, I would be counting on a Madden 06 (360) engine in NCAA clothing (pretty much like every other year where they use last season’s Madden engine).
Because of that, I’ll be holding onto my cash until I rent the game first (something I’ve never felt the need to do previously with either title).
April 22nd, 2006 at 5:20 pm
The PSP screens of NCAA07 loook better than the 360 ones.