Frustration.
The new Heisman mode is alright. Its basically Road to Glory except you absolutely dominate. Dynasty is exactly like last year, the action on the field has a few changes though. The new catch animations are fabulous on offense. However, the defense also has new catch animations and you will find them making absurd interceptions at times, especially online. If you do not like being intercepted, do not buy this game. Its going to happen. Open receivers in NCAA 12 are no longer open. Defenders jump passes too easily. In NCAA 12, i relied heavily on Air Raid offenses and slant patterns. Slants, which are the easiest throw in College football, are now jumped way too often and receivers are hardly open. Once again, its frustrating. The only routes i have found to work so far are routes that cut to the sidelines, which are probably the hardest routes to throw in real college football. Running game is smooth. Not any issues to point out. Dynasty is still fun though and All-American difficulty is not that bad, once you get the hang of it.
So far, my online experience has been abysmal. Im not saying this to brag, but to better state my point. I was 30-6 in NCAA 12 online and was pretty good. I am struggling with NCAA 13 not because ive lost ability, but because the reasons i stated above. Slants and short routes are not reliable and if you try to abandon the short passing game, which i was forced to, longer passes are intercepted way too easily. Its a very difficult game and newer players will be frustrated out of their minds online. Cornerbacks run step by step with your receivers online and then as soon as a small amount of separation appears, which in NCAA 12 would suffice as being open, you throw the ball and it is jumped by a corner. This is online im talking about. Dynasty is very easy if playing on Freshman or Varsity. Blitzes online are ridiculous and there is hardly anytime to throw. However if you dont blitz, its extremely difficult to get ANY pressure on the quarterback. So pick your poison. Do you want to get alot of pressure on the quarterback but leave basically every receiver open, OR get minimal pressure causing the quarterback to sit in the pocket an eventually find a receiver. I have yet to find a defensive formation that balances the two out. If you are able to, kudos to you my friend. This isnt only an issue with me. Opponents i play online also make tons of mistakes and their defense is exactly what i just described.
This is not a necessarily a flaw with the game. Its a personal experience that angered me to the point of getting a bloody nose. It literally made my blood boil i guess. I am currently 2-2 online. My second loss was a result of "Excessive delay". I was leading 17-14 in the fourth quarter when i was booted from the game because i committed my 4TH offside penalty of the game. I had one penalty each quarter and was booted because of this. If i had 4 penalties in a row, i could understand this ruling. On defense, i always try to anticipate the snap with my ends and therefore i am often offsides. Its not a big deal. My left analog stick is worn out and when im anticipating the snap and moving forward, i will often carry momentum and be offsides. I have learned to accept this and shrug it off, its only 5 yards. But apparently 4 penalties IN AN ENTIRE GAME is excessive. I have never watched a real college football game where 4 penalties or more have not been committed. This just proves EA SPORTS is just trying to develop a realistic game. They are not trying to make it resemble real college football.
Overall, the gameplay is smooth. Road to Glory is the same however, as is Dynasty. And even the Menu music is the same besides 2 or 3 songs? Really EA? Perhaps maybe when i figure out this complex game, i will post a more positive review. I doubt it though because it doesnt make sense. Easy short routes are hard, long passes work. Doesnt make sense. Ive actually seen the most success so far with the Hail Mary. And one more thing, the crowds still suck. This game is a solid 5, just because dynasty is still pretty enjoyable.