NCAA Football 08

Developer: Electronic Arts
Platform: Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2
Reviewer: Marty Webb
 Single Player: 4.5
Learning Curve: 3.8
Presentation: 4.5
Online: 4.0
Extra Features: 5.0
     Amidst the off-season, a rather dull and anxious time, there is a day that comes along, which allows you to get your football fill in before the season. EA Sports released it's first "True Next-Gen Game" NCAA Football 08 on July 17th, 2007, promising to hold us over until football season.

After a slightly dissapointing release of NCAA Football 07, which felt like just a copy and paste of every other NCAA football game, Electronic Arts spent great amounts of time for everyone to get the true next generation in gaming type of experience. Whether it be the revamped recruiting stages, or the jaw-dropping gang tackle engine, EA was determined to make this game as real as real can get.

When you put the game into your console, you're immediately greeted by a in-depth look at all of the games new features, and how to use them. TackleAlthough your anxiousness may want you to 'hit any button,' watching this film will increase your knowledge of the game, before you even get to the start menu.

You're welcomed to your EA Shrine. The Shrine is more than your practical start menu, as it is continuely personalized as you play the game. With your favorite school, or maybe even your alma mater's mascot on the floor, there are three big screens for you to do with it what you will. Allowing you to record, and take snap-shots of your favorite moments in games, putting them on a marquee to scroll across your accomplishments. Allowing pictures to speak louder than words, that 'you should've seen what I did' turns into a 'check this out.'

EA sports reached out to ESPN, as you have more than football at your fingertips. With your internet connection, you can download sportscenter video updates, to see what's the latest in breaking news. Within the game, it downloads and plays a most recent ESPN radio cast. Letting you hear about anything that happened in today's sports, whether it's Michael Vick's dog days, or Barry notching ever so closely to the record. With the classic ESPN Bottom-Line, scores and news also scrolls across the bottom of the screen, once again, keeping you informed on the latest in sporting news.

If you've ever played an Electronic Arts football game, the controls will come as no problem. If you haven't even played a football game before, there is more than enough help, whether it be in the loading screens or in the start menu, to help you learn what to do with those fingers. Booting up a game is no problem, as it's the simple task of picking the home and away team. The next step, is another ground-breaking addition EA has added.   You can set what quarter time you'd like, how hard you want the competition to be, and the weather. If you want to play in horrid thunderstorm in Boise, you're more than welcome to do so. The Weather Channel docks in, and allows with internet connection, for you to get the weather for your location as it is currently with real life. Hurricane season in Florida? No problem, you can duke it out with any team in the Orange Bowl while you're players struggle to see 15 yards in front of them.

When you're in the game, is where all your wildest dreams come true. For the sports enthusiast, the game runs at life-like speed. Want a play-action pass deep on the left side? You better have your moves or timing ready. You can't sit inside the pocket for 15 seconds going untouched. Want to hit the sidelines with Pat White to make a last second throw? You better have your aiming on point, as controller sensitivity may cause you to throw the pass to the defending safety. For everyone that loves embarrasing your best buddy? Two words; Tackling Precision. In this years game, EA has changed the hit stick for the better. If you're a speedy cornerback that needs to knock down the likes of Chris Martin from UCLA, you better aim for the legs; as it's almost assured a body tackle will be shed and leave you in the mud of your mistakes. If you're Vince Hall, Virginia Tech linebacker, and you have some speedy back trying to hit the hole; hit him in the numbers, as an agile back might just leap over your leg-wrapping attempts.  Group tackling has also been changed dramatically. TackleIf one guy can't bring a power running back down as he stretches for a first down, your teammate can come in and plow the runner back to keep the chains from moving. If you're trying to put the finishing touches on a tackle and happen to hit your teammate who's attempting a tackle, both of you will be left behind, letting the runner advance. With the advanced group tackling, it allows for a defender to attempt to strip the ball as his teammate has a stronghold on another player.

In game analysis is standard in this game, and whether it's Kirk's analysis or Corso's witty remarks, you won't usually hear the same thing twice in one game. Although it may get old soon, the play by play is solid and precise. Usually never a play where you go thinking, 'Did they see the same thing I did?' The play calling menu is tweaked, and at times can be frustrating. It eliminates the hassle of squinting, as you can choose to view plays four at a time, or zoom in and scroll through each play. The 'Ask Corso' option leaves you 16 options, sometimes duplicates, on what you may want to do next. If you've got a gameplan you want to stick to, you may want to have the gift of memorization. Scrolling through either 'Formations' or 'Play Types' may be a little too advanced for a simple game. Rest assured, if you wan't to find a three reciever set that involves play action, there's no doubt that with the correct team playbook, it will be there.

This years game also continues the Campus Legend option. You'll start out by creating yourself or just a prospect with an awesome football name(Roman Killebrew). Although slightly basic, you'll be able to give the credentials to him; height, weight, handedness, player type(speed running back, coverage linebacker etc.), hometown and high school. Your high school name will be on your sleeves, as you head out of the creating mode, and into the state high school playoffs. You'll work hard behind your team to reach the dream of a state title, meanwhile, getting notes on what schools where there to watch you dominate the game. Don't want to watch your offense, and want to get your all-state linebacker on the field? No problem, this years game allows you to watch the game through a gamecast type experience, or speed up the game until you're back on the field. You'll spend a good amount of time on the field, but not watching your offense's 4 minute drive, will keep you on the edge of your seTackleat, and not wondering 'when can I play again?' After your last game, whether you claim the state title or not, you'll see a list of schools that are willing to offer you a scholarship. Immediately next to each school, is your roster spot if you so choose to accept it. Determined to play for your favorite team? Beware, you may be 5th on the depth chart, and have to work your way up through practice. Want to take on the challenge of putting a small team on the map? There may be a starting role for you to take at a low-level team along the likes of Florida Atlantic University. After you choose your school, you're immediately greeted by your calender for the season. Along with the calender, is a legend bar, in which it's your job to try and fill it as high as it can get. Along with practice, you can choose your evening events to effect your GPA, your popularity, or other physical aspects like Stamina. Along with keeping tabs on your career statistics, or seeing the headlines week by week across the nation, this years Campus Legend mode is completely adaptable, and interesting.

In Dynasty mode this year, almost everything expected is in here. Red shirting players and the likes are included; Players of the Week and the Heisman watch also are intact as well. Building a dynasty is no easy task, as the key to any teams success is recruiting. This years recruiting portion, is incredibly in depth. You add prospects to your watch list, keep in touch with them, and try to locate the correct pitch for this guy to sign with you. Types of recruiting pitches have been revamped as well, as you also have your schools Pro Factory reputation, Facilities reputation and more in your arsenal. Beware though, as you can bore out a prospect to the point he hangs up on you. If you can master recruiting, this dynasty mode will serve greatly for you, as you'll be able to continuely reload your team with great talent. Don't want to mess with the recruiting and just want to play the game? No problem, just don't expect in a few years that your teams ability, or lack there of, are due to losses. Recruiting is key.

EA also returned the mini-games portion of the game, which is great to blow through some free time. Including Bowling, Tug-Of-War and the Option Drill; the mini-games vary in different approaches. The same time that was so good to you in the red-zone, may not have a shot in hell for the Option Drill(I'm looking at you Brian Brohm.)

For football fans across the country, this game should provide more than a fill, but a need to either build your legend, build a dynasty or just pummel an opponent online. EA Sports did amazing things for this game, and they're more than appreciated from sports fans.

Discuss This Review
Single Player - 4.5
-Great realism provides for exciting football, quarter in and quarter out. If you get tired of romping opponents left and right, then uping the difficulty will provide for a greater challenge. In Dynasty mode all features are great and improved, but recruiting is tough, and will make many people impatient.
Learning Curve - 3.8
-The controls keep the consistency from former versions, and help is always at your fingertips. The hit stick takes time and practice, and pre-snap audibles are hard to get a full grasp.
Presentation - 4.5
-Great graphics and sounds from the game. You feel like you're there, which is one of the best parts about any game. The soundtrack is basic, and as many usually due, you'll get tired of it in about a week.
Online - 4.0
- Yes, and it's very easy to access an opponent. Although the gameplan online is a little lagged, a good connection on both sides should fix that problem. Keeping tabs on your overall record is easy as well, and there's sure to be a player of your caliber available.
Extra Features - 5.0
- An extremely fun set of mini-games and the great ESPN aspects including radio, video clips, and a bottomline ticker make this game connect you to the sporting world, not limited to just football.
Overall - 4.35
-This game is a must if you're a football fan. Looking to expand your sporting spectrum? This game will give you a great college football environment to play in. EA Sports went all out to make this game next-gen, and if this isn't it, then I can't wait until next year.