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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Sport Developer: EA Sports Publisher: Electronic Arts |
If there is any game that is ready to be sent to the major leagues, to the next generation console, it would be “NCAA Football 07.” Last
year the franchise surpassed everything that players could have hoped for in “NCAA Football 06.” The solid game play, addictive Race
for the Heisman mode and the fully immersive college football atmosphere pushed the franchise so far ahead that it was nearly next
generation already, so why is it that when “NCAA Football 07” finally made its way to the next generation console it has proven to be a
major disappointment?
Somehow the franchise actually went backwards. While it is still a fun college football experience, there are many features missing
from the new Xbox 360 version that the game many players may be expecting to see a patch for the game to come out soon to help fill
the gaps that are very apparent. From Race for the Heisman, Campus Legend, Defensive Hot Routes, Spring Game, Drills, Create-A-
School to Stadium Pulse, ESPN Magazine, and more, where did it all go? If it all worked so well in 2006, why couldn’t it be included in
the 2007 package?
On the field, “NCAA Football 07” features a tightened version of the “Madden Football 06” game engine with a lot of good end results.
Collision detection has been cleaned up and players will see some of the best football animations available today on both sides of the
ball. Also, the control layout is something that mimics “Madden Football 06” format and adds a new pitch button. Sprinting feels natural
with the use of the right trigger, allowing players to use their thumb to flick the right analog stick for strong hits on offense. However,
when players go back to an older console, the controls will feel awkward, but everyone should be moving forward, not back.
The biggest selling point of the game this year is Momentum. The broadcast team obviously recorded a lot of extra dialog about
momentum and a meter allows players to see how much momentum they have at any given time, though it usually doesn’t reflect on
the scoreboard. High momentum doesn’t mean a high score. When the opponent scores, their meter fills, when players score will
decrease for the opponent. It is a little awkward and hard to understand at first, but players will get the hang of it and hope for the meter
to at least sit in the middle, instead of swaying to the opponent’s side. However, when the meter is filled, the crowd gets into the action
a little more and players will act more excited between plays, but it doesn’t feel like momentum really plays into the game play as much
as it should. In the end, momentum seems to work as more of an atmosphere setting control instead of factor of the game.
When players are logged into Xbox Live, they can take full advantage of the ESPN ticker, which displays the latest headlines from both
the dynasty that the players are involved in and real life sports results. This isn’t nearly as useful or functional as the ticker and live
ESPN Radio updates that were introduced with “NCAA Baseball 06.” It is still a mystery as to why ESPN radio didn’t make it into this
next generation game.
Visually, “NCAA Football 07” is a mixed bag of tricks, some work and some don’t. For every great addition to the game, such as the
living stadiums, helmet reflections and dynamic light, there is some kind of overbearing error or flaw to pull the game down again.
Weather, such as rain and snow, looks terrible. The rain looks more like a two dimensional static on the television set. It doesn’t
splash on the players or the field when it hits, it is only a bunch of white lines slashing across the screen. Some locations have hedges
and walls that the rain seems to dimply disappear behind instead of going in front of it and landing on it. Snow also appears as a dull
gray fog across the field instead of large, fluffy, white snowflakes that should build up on the ground over time. Again, the sidelines
never seem to be affected by the snow, they stay cleared at all times, no matter how long it snowed for, even during white out
conditions. Players will also notice that there aren’t shadows cast from players and objects and the sun shines on them, however, as
time passes, the lights will come on around the field.
This next generation game, “NCAA Football 07” was one of the most anticipated sports titles since the announcement of the Xbox 360.
Football fans wondered where EA would take the franchise, considering the great release for the franchise last season. Sadly, they
took the game backwards quite a few steps. The game looks, sounds and plays alright, but there is a complete lack of polishing and a
painful lack of depth to the overall game play. If there was an slight improvement to the graphical elements, an increased presence
from ESPN and the inclusion of the awesome Campus Legend mode, this could have easily been the sports game of the year, no
questions asked. While “NCAA football 07” is a good game, there are just too many things that were left out with no particular reason
as to why. It is a game that will always leave players wondering why was so much left out, what could have the game been with these
inclusions and what features will next year bring, or bench?
year the franchise surpassed everything that players could have hoped for in “NCAA Football 06.” The solid game play, addictive Race
for the Heisman mode and the fully immersive college football atmosphere pushed the franchise so far ahead that it was nearly next
generation already, so why is it that when “NCAA Football 07” finally made its way to the next generation console it has proven to be a
major disappointment?
Somehow the franchise actually went backwards. While it is still a fun college football experience, there are many features missing
from the new Xbox 360 version that the game many players may be expecting to see a patch for the game to come out soon to help fill
the gaps that are very apparent. From Race for the Heisman, Campus Legend, Defensive Hot Routes, Spring Game, Drills, Create-A-
School to Stadium Pulse, ESPN Magazine, and more, where did it all go? If it all worked so well in 2006, why couldn’t it be included in
the 2007 package?
On the field, “NCAA Football 07” features a tightened version of the “Madden Football 06” game engine with a lot of good end results.
Collision detection has been cleaned up and players will see some of the best football animations available today on both sides of the
ball. Also, the control layout is something that mimics “Madden Football 06” format and adds a new pitch button. Sprinting feels natural
with the use of the right trigger, allowing players to use their thumb to flick the right analog stick for strong hits on offense. However,
when players go back to an older console, the controls will feel awkward, but everyone should be moving forward, not back.
The biggest selling point of the game this year is Momentum. The broadcast team obviously recorded a lot of extra dialog about
momentum and a meter allows players to see how much momentum they have at any given time, though it usually doesn’t reflect on
the scoreboard. High momentum doesn’t mean a high score. When the opponent scores, their meter fills, when players score will
decrease for the opponent. It is a little awkward and hard to understand at first, but players will get the hang of it and hope for the meter
to at least sit in the middle, instead of swaying to the opponent’s side. However, when the meter is filled, the crowd gets into the action
a little more and players will act more excited between plays, but it doesn’t feel like momentum really plays into the game play as much
as it should. In the end, momentum seems to work as more of an atmosphere setting control instead of factor of the game.
When players are logged into Xbox Live, they can take full advantage of the ESPN ticker, which displays the latest headlines from both
the dynasty that the players are involved in and real life sports results. This isn’t nearly as useful or functional as the ticker and live
ESPN Radio updates that were introduced with “NCAA Baseball 06.” It is still a mystery as to why ESPN radio didn’t make it into this
next generation game.
Visually, “NCAA Football 07” is a mixed bag of tricks, some work and some don’t. For every great addition to the game, such as the
living stadiums, helmet reflections and dynamic light, there is some kind of overbearing error or flaw to pull the game down again.
Weather, such as rain and snow, looks terrible. The rain looks more like a two dimensional static on the television set. It doesn’t
splash on the players or the field when it hits, it is only a bunch of white lines slashing across the screen. Some locations have hedges
and walls that the rain seems to dimply disappear behind instead of going in front of it and landing on it. Snow also appears as a dull
gray fog across the field instead of large, fluffy, white snowflakes that should build up on the ground over time. Again, the sidelines
never seem to be affected by the snow, they stay cleared at all times, no matter how long it snowed for, even during white out
conditions. Players will also notice that there aren’t shadows cast from players and objects and the sun shines on them, however, as
time passes, the lights will come on around the field.
This next generation game, “NCAA Football 07” was one of the most anticipated sports titles since the announcement of the Xbox 360.
Football fans wondered where EA would take the franchise, considering the great release for the franchise last season. Sadly, they
took the game backwards quite a few steps. The game looks, sounds and plays alright, but there is a complete lack of polishing and a
painful lack of depth to the overall game play. If there was an slight improvement to the graphical elements, an increased presence
from ESPN and the inclusion of the awesome Campus Legend mode, this could have easily been the sports game of the year, no
questions asked. While “NCAA football 07” is a good game, there are just too many things that were left out with no particular reason
as to why. It is a game that will always leave players wondering why was so much left out, what could have the game been with these
inclusions and what features will next year bring, or bench?
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