READ a good, honest review: EA's Sophomore season > freshman effort mainly for one reason, Solid GAME PLAY.
What’s working for the game?
1. Well to start off...all the hype about the 60 Frames per second, and new animations...well it lives up to it. The game runs so much faster than its previous version, and the animations this year add so much more to the games over all look and realism.
2. A.I.: Best A.I. I've seen in a NCAA game. The Computer makes better blocks for running plays, and you can no longer always beat the Computer by the long ball. It’s over all a more realistic feeling game with the A.I. 3. Campus Legend Mode: This I have had a lot of fun with, where I am disappointed you couldn't create your High School Uniforms or anything and chose specific colors (they give you like 7 different options for color combos), the position specific camera and the quick run through plays until you are on the field is a lot of fun and very quick. The "scouts" watching is cool, and the whole college career is cool.
4. More Stadiums, where they don’t have all 118 schools or whatever, what they do have looked even better this year.
5. Dynasty Rules again, dynasty and recruiting is so deep this year, only question is, do you have the patience to do all that you can do?
What is just fine, but nothing extra special?
1. Online play: now this isn't a knock on online play, because it runs smooth and has great connection. It just still doesn't have like an online league or dynasty like you would hope. But if you’re just looking for online to be able to play a friend...then have no fear, it runs great.
2. Graphics: Graphics look wonderful. To tell you the truth though, I think last year’s textures/detail were a lot better. Lighting is 10 times better. I have noticed that some teams pants, can be REALLY too shinny. Helmets don't seem to have as much sparkle to them as last year (see Buckeyes/Notre Dame Helmets compared to last year). Uniforms do look a lot better, I haven't noticed as much grass stains on uniforms. Player models are a lot better as well. I think the textures have been truly simplified to help make the game run a lot faster. Game play is more important remember.
What’s missing?
1. Create a school
2. Crowd Loudness Control
3. Still needs something more to give it the college feel? Maybe animations of the College Bands? Cheerleaders I haven't seen in this year’s version? Student Section Animations?