Official NCAA Impressions Thread (360, PS3)

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

1. i wouldn't know because i can't get the rosters loaded! ARGH! I need help loading the rosters (360)! 2. can't help you here 3. def. does not feel too arcadey, feels great in how the controls are finally very 100% responsive! 4. oh yes, huge difference in teams (finally!) 5. just the punt block is hosed up, nearly always good for a 30 yard return 6. the cpu is great at trying to run, it will try a LOT...as for how good it is, it depends...when they were wisconsin and vtech they ran all over me (as ohio state and UCLA) but other times they've tried to run on me (michigan) and i've shut them down (ohio state) completely.... i can't stress enough how great it is that teams TRY to play like their real life counterparts now. it's huge IMO if you like to play the CPU. just wish the CPU would manage the clock better and take more shots deep when it has an advantage. otherwise the cpu is quite good on offense.

Excellent impressions about the offensive play from the AI. The nice thing about the negatives you listed is that I think we can feel pretty confident those will be addressed to some degree in a patch.

One quick question. Have you noticed the cpu making use of different personnel, like subbing in DT's or RB's?

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by callmetaternuts

I dont mind there being an emphasis on offensive teams this year or having that "breakaway" feeling, but like so many people have said, please dont neuter the defense or make them make dumb plays. Its one thing to have the offense be great, its another to make the defense suck. Im a big fan of defensive games irl, how on Earth is this type of defense where players run away from the ball supposed to enhance the game?

look i hate to be devils advocate here (as it seems I always am) but i will say i've had some defensive struggles in some games i've played, it's just not as common as it should be. hell one game, ucla (me) vs vtech (cpu) we battled it out all game 7-7 with punts left and right. so don't think that there is no defense in the game, there is, it's just that EA has def. made it more of an offensive game.

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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....

the wide open gameplay is great, it's not cheesy or arcade like at all IMO.

the cpu interception throwing is gone. i've thrown more interceptions in my 10 games or so than the cpu has.

i've not messed with sliders. i did just max out KICKOFF power was all.

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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.

i agree, this is TOTALLY a case of the sum being greater than the parts IMO! yes this flaw is true, yes that flaw is true but just like the community guys said, the bottom line is this game is FUN and addictive as hell!! i'm mcloving it baby!!

[josh1559]

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

Is the QB AI actually insane or does it just benefit from not having to deal with pressure? In the demo it seemed like the QB AI wasn't particularly enhanced over last year's it just seemed like the QB's ability was amplified by the ineffectiveness to cause any pressure on him. I think the biggest thing the past few years with QB's is that the AI simply couldn't make smart decisions when facing any pressure and the play calling AI wouldn't adapt to a defense bringing a lot of pressure so the QB would be stuck still trying to execute standard pass plays. I think part of it related to the receiver play not developing quickly enough relative to the pass rush. It seemed to cause the QB to just throw the ball up instead of making a smart decision like stepping up into the pocket or escaping the pocket, or plain just throwing it away or to a safety valve in the flats.

I have the game and from what I've seen after a few games, the CPU's passes are almost always right on, the only time they missed was if a DB jumped in front and picked it off, or it was a short pass and a defense player just happened to be standing in the way with his back to the QB. Otherwise it's always completions, they aren't even dropping the ball. Keep in mind this is with CPU AI pass accuracy and pass blocking at 0 and human awareness at 100.

Oh and this is opposed to one of my passes, QB was standing still, not moving at all, launching 10 yards over the head of a receiver 15 yards away and getting picked.

[callmetaternuts]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

look i hate to be devils advocate here (as it seems I always am) but i will say i've had some defensive struggles in some games i've played, it's just not as common as it should be. hell one game, ucla (me) vs vtech (cpu) we battled it out all game 7-7 with punts left and right. so don't think that there is no defense in the game, there is, it's just that EA has def. made it more of an offensive game.

I appreciate the feedback, i have no problem hearing im wrong or that i have made incorrect assumptions. I dont have the game and right now, im relying on you (and anyone else with it) to give me and the other OS'ers impressions. I appreciate it.

Do you feel like in any game your D has a chance, or is it just when the CPU decides its gonna be a close game?

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by AuburnAlumni

Like I said...AA is where I'm having some damn good games. Heisman is B-R-O-K-E-N . Plain and simple.

dude heisman has always sucked...AA is where it's at..

[ODogg]

i just maxed out kickoff power to 100 and the computer kicked it to me in my own end zone. so i'd like to know why the big uproar about kickoffs if moving the kickoff power up fixes that issue? i may move it back to 95 or so now.

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

Excellent impressions about the offensive play from the AI. The nice thing about the negatives you listed is that I think we can feel pretty confident those will be addressed to some degree in a patch. One quick question. Have you noticed the cpu making use of different personnel, like subbing in DT's or RB's?

nah dawg, the cpu don't sub people like it should either unfortunately

[AirLobo23]

I have a question for people like AA who are claiming that there is no defense and is claiming that Heisman is broken cuz there is no pass rush...

As with any game isn't there always a learning curve?

You can learn how to play better defense. For example, manually control the middle LB and drop him into cvg to take away some of that over the middle stuff. Take away the first read of the QB which you know is usually over the middle and you will get more pressure on the QB. Think about it, the reason there is no pressure is because it sounds like the QB always throws short so he releases the ball before the pressure can get there. So take the short crap away.

It can't always be just the way you want it for every game. Each edition of the game is different. I actually kind of like the fact that it's going to be a challenge to shut the cpu down this year.