“NCAA Football 2014” is a statement title for EA Sports- its last opportunity to “get it right” on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
And boy do they.
“NCAA Football 2014” is EA’s best college football game in years and easily ranks among the best ever on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
How this all happens is incredibly intriguing. Using the Infinity 2 engine, “NCAA Football 2014” plays a lot like Madden. The Force Impact System works well for stiff-arms, trucking moves and dive tackles and although some of the animatics don’t blend perfectly into well another, it’s some of the best work in a NCAA game to date. Some may not appreciate the gameplay changes, but for a series that was beginning to run out of air, the changes in the run game and on defense are a coat of new paint that gives the franchise a sort of semi-makeover it needed to firm its legacy on the PS3 and 360.
However, where the game really shines is the added depth to the Dynasty mode and the implementation of the Ultimate Team mode. Simply put, there have never been more ways to enjoy an NCAA Football game. For the first time ever in the series, the “college feel” is really there. It doesn’t feel nearly as much as a generic football game with a college license anymore.
The new “Coach Skills” options make you care about the development of your team and make it fun to unlock skills that can benefit them. The same thing goes for Power Recruiting, which add another level of detail to the most important element of team building. Although these modes add layers to the gameplay that may turn off casual football fans, these are options that series loyalists will eat up.
What doesn’t feel tacked on is the Ultimate Team mode. From Deion Sanders to Bo Jackson, a plethora of former college and NFL stars are in the game and at your disposal for use in the game. To create your own super team for both online and local play is super gratifying. While the gameplay changes make the game genuinely better, the Ultimate Team mode adds hours to the gameplay experience.
Regardless of the positives, the lackluster passing game and sometimes inadequate A.I. hurts the overall experience. Particularly on pass plays, where the routes break down and protection allows you more time than normal and coverage is tight, it becomes increasing difficult to incomplete a long pass. Like previous years, your best bet to to throw to the sidelines and allow play action and good route running receivers to do their magic.
In spite of a few hiccups, “NCAA Football 2014” will ultimately be remembered as an enjoyable title that goes for two points and gets it far often than its predecessors. Thanks to Ed O’Bannon, it’ll also be the last EA Sports college football title to wear the NCAA name.
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