Official NCAA Impressions Thread (360, PS3)

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by hogfan

To put this in perspective, for the most part, people have had this game for a day or less have already uncovered quite a few major issues.

Quite a few?

The only issues that I know that have been uncovered by those who are playing the game are:

*Depth chart bug
*Edit roster bug

Everything else, (kick coverage, cpu quick snap) were known going in. As for INT's, I have played on Heisman in all my games with default sliders(except for kicking sliders) and haven't witnessed anything close to what tswells had.

Maybe I'm just lucky,

[AuburnAlumni]

Ok...My initial thoughts after playing for about 4 hours on Heisman, at varying slider levels.

1. Stadium Sounds are AWESOME. Simply awesome. CD quality music sounds GREAT in game.

2. The run game on Heisman is...in my opinion..a thing of beauty. I have no issues with it whatsoever.

3. Wide Open offense seems to mean DUMB defense and superhuman QBs. John Parker Wilson went 27-31 with 4 TDs and 2 INTs against me. That means he threw a TOTAL of TWO...that's T-W-O....incomplete passes on Heisman...against a 94 rated defense on 8 minute quarters (and one of those was dropped.)

The pass defense AI is..in a word..."Sketchy". Zone, Man..it doesn't matter. There are times in the game where your DB will have great position and literally move out of position to allow a CPU WR to make the catch.

Some examples of what I'm talking about....

Exhibit A.

A simple pass into the flats. But notice Tray Blackmon, who is closing quickly to make the hit...literally turns around and runs away..for a split second. This allows the RB to easily make the catch and possibly gain some yardage. And no...at no point was I in control of Blackmon.

EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video

Exhibit B. Alabama..on their own 1 yard line, runs an end around with Julio Jones. Mike McNeil, the AU Free Safety, is strafing across the field as Julio crosses for the sideline. But does McNeil sprint for the corner...or attack Julio and try and make the tackle? Nope. He stops....yes...stops....and literally stands upright in the middle of the field, not once..but TWICE. This allows the other Bama WR to come over, block him, and the rest is history.

EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video

This is a major issue EA. Combining instances like this, with super accurate QBs and an admittedly (by their own guys) "neutered" pass rush can add up to some ridiculously offensive ballgames. This needs to be addressed IMO.

4. Punt coverage is "fair" but Kickoff coverage is absoluely, positively atrocious . Seriously...it's the worst I've ever seen in a video game. If you can't get back to the 40 yard line at least on every kickoff then, quite frankly, you suck. I took a KR back, on Heisman....in my very first game and no one was within 15 yards of me.

5. Jump the snap is alive and well. The worst feature ever to grace a football game (NO ONE DOES THIS IN REAL LIFE EA) happened...and yes I kept a sheet of paper and marked each time I saw "Jump the Snap" in the corner of the screen when the CPU did it... 27 times in an 8 minute game with Heisman settings at 65 awareness. 27 times.

I've played a total of 5 hours, I do enjoy the game, but I have some very serious concerns. The Defense is almost non existent at times and quite frankly, disturbing plays like the ones I posted above have happened in every game I've played so far on Heisman.

This was also with both CPU and HUM Defensive awareness at 65 .

[countryboy]

how is this for concentration...

EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video

and the touchdown that almost was. Great play by the DB.....

EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video

[MZizzle2]

I've played about three games so far and I have to say that I think this game is pretty sweet. My only big concern is the kick coverage. Defense is pretty tough to play. I feel sometimes like I can't stop the computers offense when they are throwing the ball.Other than those two things the game is pretty good for me so far.

[Skyboxer]

Really short and quick. Beside some wierd D play once and awhile and of course the KO coverage I simply LOVE this game. For KO returns I'm doing what J is and that's not sprinting until first tackler. When kicking off to another human I put the arrow about halfway up so there's some extra height and with the 100 power I still get decent depth of kick. Stick playing around with it.

Oh and custom stadium sounds? Freaking AWESOME. Adds soooo much to the atmosphere!

I'll be playing more and will do some vs CPU as all I've done so far is human vs human. Still testing sliders and I'm sure I'll get a happy ground.

Game is tons of fun!

[MZizzle2]

Does anyone want me to play a certain game or try something?

I'm up for what ever anyone wants.

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by AuburnAlumni

Ok...My initial thoughts after playing for about 4 hours on Heisman, at varying slider levels. 1. Stadium Sounds are AWESOME. Simply awesome. CD quality music sounds GREAT in game. 2. The run game on Heisman is...in my opinion..a thing of beauty. I have no issues with it whatsoever. 3. Wide Open offense seems to mean DUMB defense and superhuman QBs. John Parker Wilson went 27-31 with 4 TDs and 2 INTs against me. That means he threw a TOTAL of TWO...that's T-W-O....incomplete passes on Heisman...against a 94 rated defense on 8 minute quarters (and one of those was dropped.) The pass defense AI is..in a word..."Sketchy". Zone, Man..it doesn't matter. There are times in the game where your DB will have great position and literally move out of position to allow a CPU WR to make the catch. Some examples of what I'm talking about.... Exhibit A. A simple pass into the flats. But notice Tray Blackmon, who is closing quickly to make the hit...literally turns around and runs away..for a split second. This allows the RB to easily make the catch and possibly gain some yardage. And no...at no point was I in control of Blackmon. EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video Exhibit B. Alabama..on their own 1 yard line, runs an end around with Julio Jones. Mike McNeil, the AU Free Safety, is strafing across the field as Julio crosses for the sideline. But does McNeil sprint for the corner...or attack Julio and try and make the tackle? Nope. He stops....yes...stops....and literally stands upright in the middle of the field, not once..but TWICE. This allows the other Bama WR to come over, block him, and the rest is history. EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video This is a major issue EA. Combining instances like this, with super accurate QBs and an admittedly (by their own guys) "neutered" pass rush can add up to some ridiculously offensive ballgames. This needs to be addressed IMO. 4. Punt coverage is "fair" but Kickoff coverage is absoluely, positively atrocious . Seriously...it's the worst I've ever seen in a video game. If you can't get back to the 40 yard line at least on every kickoff then, quite frankly, you suck. I took a KR back, on Heisman....in my very first game and no one was within 15 yards of me. 5. Jump the snap is alive and well. The worst feature ever to grace a football game (NO ONE DOES THIS IN REAL LIFE EA) happened...and yes I kept a sheet of paper and marked each time I saw "Jump the Snap" in the corner of the screen when the CPU did it... 27 times in an 8 minute game with Heisman settings at 65 awareness. 27 times. I've played a total of 5 hours, I do enjoy the game, but I have some very serious concerns. The Defense is almost non existent at times and quite frankly, disturbing plays like the ones I posted above have happened in every game I've played so far on Heisman. This was also with both CPU and HUM Defensive awareness at 65 .

Wow, that seems like a pretty cheap way of allowing offense to be manufactured. What safety at any level would, on a run play stand stop moving and stand straight up? That's a sure fire way to get yourself killed. It seems in both those videos that there was a lack of aggression by the defense and nobody really flowed to the ball.

[rspencer86]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but can anyone check to see if neutral field games can be played in dynasty mode?

[dodgerblue]

Thanks for the impressions. I'm really on the fence on this game, especially after the interception problems (CPU) last year.

Can anyone tell me:

Is the wide open gameplay (touchdown distances, big plays) realistic or is it way over the top?

Is the CPU throwing interception problem still there? From the last few pages, it seems like it still might be a problem?

Has anyone tried adjusting defensive tackling, awareness or any sliders that might make the D take better angles or play more aggressively towards the ball carrier?

Thanks....

[ExtremeGamer]

I'm happy that I don't notice this stuff or it doesn't bother me, but this is the most fun I've had with NCAA Football since NCAA 2004. Sorry you guys aren't loving it. It's truly an awesome game to me.