NCAA Football 2011 [Review]

For years, EA Sports’ NCAA Football has been the stepchild of Madden. But this year, the NCAA Football series sets itself apart from Madden by providing enough features to stand on its own and no longer be a one month tease before the NFL product hits the shelves. NCAA Football 2011 is different than Madden in just about every way and captures the college experience like no other. You have got to give kudos to that.

Visually, NCAA ’11 is stunning. The player models and lighting give the game an even more realistic look. The animations are on point and the view of the stadiums is breathtaking. The attention to detail is remarkable and you truly feel like you are playing a college football game rather than a minor league version of Madden. Each college team provides a certain level of authenticity that die-hard college football fans will truly appreciate. From rubbing the rock in Clemson to

But who cares about how the game looks if the gameplay is horrible? Thankfully, that is not the case in NCAA. Quite honestly, this is one of the better playing football games I’ve ever touched. The control mechanics are simple enough but it takes true dexterity to get it down pat. This year finds a new usage of the analog stick. Instead of flicking the stick left or right to juke, the amount of lean that is put on the stick influences how hard each player plants, shifts and leans. It’s pretty sweet to watch in action and makes all the difference between a short gain and getting those extra few yards for a first down. All 120 college teams have their own playbook so you’ll be busy dissecting which one works best for you. Teams like Nevada utilize the “Nevada Pistol” while Georgia Tech masters their patented triple option.

The animations are also an enhancement from the previous year’s game. Rather than having a toss to the sideline see your receiver bolt out of bounds, 2011 finds the receiver look to keep his feet inbounds while stretching for the catch. It’s a small – but much needed – detail that helps. The blocking finally matters in NCAA as well. Sure, there will still be times the Right Tackle doesn’t pull during the counter, but more often than not, you can rely on the offensive line to pick up their assignments. The passing game still has a few forehead slapping quirks that can be pretty frustrating (dropped passes, receivers running into each other, etc) but it’s nothing that will kill the experience.

That isn’t to say the game is perfect. Many of the game modes are the same. The biggest culprit is the “Road To Glory” mode where you take your own created player from high school standout to college stud. Erin Andrews again hosts while Kirk Herbstreit gives some insight on your performance. It’s frustrating to see Andrews appearance in the game is an exact replica of what was in 2010. Pretty lame. The dynasty mode hasn’t changed too much, but the recruiting process is a brand new minigame that feels refreshing and rewarding when trying to lock down high school stars for your team before, during and after the season ends. It makes you feel like your efforts to track down a particular player are worth your time, rather than being random.

The commentary of Herbstreit and Nessler is also a bit on the boring side. Lee Corso is no longer a part of the commentating team either – for better or worse. As the game rolls along, you’ll hear the same dialog recycled and there are times where the duo’s comments come a few seconds later than they should. With a game that pays so much attention to detail, you would expect that the commentators would get a brush up. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

For the online gamers, the game is solid and is what you would want out of a sports game online. The biggest treat however is the online dynasty where you and some buddies can battle it out to see who’s the best year after year. The best part is the web-based recruitment interface where you can keep tabs on everything via PC. It’s pretty cool to try and nab the best players while away from your gaming system.

NCAA Football 2011 is exactly what the doctor ordered for those who want a game that doesn’t feel like Madden. It has taken great strides visually to bring the college experience to your living room. It’s unfortunate that some of the game modes weren’t improved upon, but that is a minor detail. Overall, NCAA Football 2011 is a game that every football fan should have. The only question now is if Madden can keep up.

Pros

- Visually stunning

- The running game feels much better

- Truly captures the college football experience and does an excellent job of distancing itself from Madden

Cons

- The passing game could use some tweaks

- Not too many changes to game modes

- Blocking is a little suspect

Rating: 4 out of 5