NCAA Football 13 - Video Review

This might be the WORST review I've ever seen on gamespot.  EVER!  He obviously doesn't care about NCAA football.  Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the recruiting system; it's freaking excellent!  And every other NCAA gamer that I know feels the same way.  What a complete idiot they got to review a game that he hated before he opend the case.  It's like having European review this game--in other words, someone who doesn't know shit about it!!

EA, ever striving for excellence!!! lolz

EA put out another crappy version of NCAA football. Nothing changed in a long time. Blah...

Ok..Army and Navy got love...why no Air Force!? We have the trophy!!!

God review Tom. I hope you review the new Madden since I was thinking about buying it. Everybody who is complaining about a 6.5 being a low score, it is not. It is a fair score. This isn't a great game, just an okay game, so it deserves the score it got.

Just returned this game after a few hours of playing.  I agree with the reviewer on pretty much all counts.  The menus being clunky is what killed it for me, it's pretty bad.. the gameplay really isn't that smooth either.

I wish they'd release NCAA/Madden for the PC so we could have some good graphics and smooth framerate.

Heres the thing. McShea seems to not like EA at all. Weve seen it in the past and especially with MOH and the video from E3...Has NCAA changed a lot over the years? Not really no, BUT he also said so himself that the on field gameplay is great....That alone should merit better than a 6.5 am I right? Do I care that the menu system is clunky and slow? No I dont. Now if the gameplay itself was clunky and slow Id be upset. He seems to be nit picking about it all. Like the DLC for instance. We as gamers are honestly and sadly kinda being used to getting screwed with DLC that should just be included. The pre order bonuses suck. Do them, BUT a month or so after the release let everything that was pre order bonus be Free DLC. Makes sense. We are getting used to paying for things that should be included anyway. 

But he truly seems to nit pick a lot over this. Ive played it and own it and its not as bad as he makes it out to be. As one person said the passing alone is way better which it is. Plus he also said DBs and Safetys drop easy picks....Did he not see the EA changed the dynamics of pics? DBs and Safetys used to just jump up last min and catch it without even knowing a pass was coming. EA changed this so they have to see the pass in order to make a play on it. From my perspective defense is a lot better than previous years. Problem is hes not a big fan of EA and prob even more upset about sports games because he could never play them or mommy wouldnt let him lol. 

If the metacritic score for PS3 is a 83 then obviously people like it enough to consider it a good game correct? Is it a revolution no, its not. Madden this year however looks like they finally changed a lot of its issues and it seems great. 2K does need to come back yes and make some competition for EA with sports games....But honestly have any of you played MLB 2k recently? Want to talk about a lack of innovation and a MASSIVE POS to play...

I care about gameplay. Not menus and DLC. If the actual gameplay is solid which is where ill spend 95% of my time im ok with crap menus and all. The game is good and there have been a lot of good changes. Its a solid game GAMEPLAY wise. If youre unsure rent it. But if you hated last years youll hate this year. As youll prob hate next year too. Maybe if McShea actually noticed the improvements offensively and defensively he would have noticed how much better it was

The sad thing is he didn't even mention all the Road to Glory problems. Broken Coach trust. O-line doesnt block exc...

Personally I think the game is fairly good, and I enjoy the NCAA series much more so than Madden, which may have to do with a lack of a favorite college team.

"We Consider Games On Their Own Merits

First and foremost, our reviews are an assessment of one particular game at a time. We approach each review assignment without assuming anything about the quality of the game, irrespective of prerelease preview coverage, the history of any previous games in the series, any perceptions about the developer's or publisher's track records, and so forth. That is, every game we review gets a fair shake, and is treated with the same level of care and attention with which we approach every review assignment."

That is taken straight from the gamespot review philosophy. Every game is based on its "own merits" however you grade this game based on differences from previous years. If the game play is great then the score should reflect the game as a whole not based on changes from the last entries. 

This is Y we need 2k sports to compete with EA in football. We get the same game every year (with little tweaks) because there is no competition...Gamers Unite!

Wow, majorly harsh review.

I can see being disappointed because you wanted more radical changes, but even if there were NO changes over last year, the base game is still way better than a 6.5 title. The passing game improvements alone rate better than that, IMHO.

So what is the reason to pay full price for this one and not paying half price for the last one. "EA SPORTS, THEY ARE NOT INTO THE GAME!"

This is why I haven't bought a Sports game (other than the lastest UFC game) since 2008. I tried the demo and it's a quit a bit differnt than NCAA 08. Think I'll give this a go. Every 5 years is about right me thinks.

Tom Mc Shea does not strike me as the sports game type of guy.

People shouldn't be mad about Tom giving his honest opinion of the game. I agree with what he says for the most part. I came back to the franchise after skipping a 11 and 12 and it has the same feel as the other games. Granted there are changes since 10, which is a good thing. The 6.5 is more of an indictment to the franchise rather than the game.

I do respectfully disagree with recruiting being tedious. I enjoy recruiting. It's what makes NCAA worth buying. I would hate for the developers to try to simplify.

As far as the lagginess of the game, that is probably due to the consoles being outdated.

There are only two things that bother me about this game. The DLCs that came out the first day (those should already be offered as part of the game). Second is the fact that this is not on the PC. Loading times are slow and advancing weeks is slow, I would have preferred to play it on my desktop.

With all that said I like the game. It's more entertaining than anything out right now.

This moron also gave skyward sword a 7.5 or something. I'm 12 hours in and absolutely love it. Don't review sports games gamespot, there are no real athletes who have played varsity sports in this staff

Shame that 2K Sports cant make an NCAA Football game...........or NFL. Bring me back NFL 2K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright Tom I'm going to tell you my problem with this review. First off you said you are an casual football fan somewhere below me. Then get someone else to review the game. I'm a casual gamer of soccer, and i'm willing to bet if I sat here and said for casuals Fifa is about a 7 you'd be looking elsewhere for a review. Secondly, I find it funny you toss up a prayer while you complain about random interceptions. The slow down in Heisman challenge is so you can read the defense. It's a way to reward you for making good plays and allowing you to make a better play by reading and reacting to the defense. This year the defense also has to be Looking at the football to make a play. If you couldn't notice the fact that the defense doesn't have a 6th sense for swating the ball away despite never turning around I would debate you've never actually played the game. Look I have no problem with your score, but I must ask is there no one who works at gamespot who knows about football, who can review these games?

Why are Gamespot's reviews so off?  All the other critics are on PAR with each other, but I've noticed Mcshea and Watters (GS editors) review games with a closed mind.  Then when I buy the games they turn up to be SOLID titles, I.E. "NCAA Football 13," "Ghost Recon Future soldier," and the recent "Spec ops: The Line."  No wonder I don't subscribe to Gamespot anymore.  The reviews by Gamespot are too "opinionated."  I find nothing wrong with NCAA, GRFS, or Spec Ops: The Line.  Stop rating your opinion and start rating the physicality and "play ability" of these games!  Review games for what they are, not for what they "could be."

Last year, NCAA 12 didn't impress me, didn't buy it, after playing NC13's demo, got it 1st day. I'm not taking anyones word, not when I can decide 4 myself. Tom in his own mind is right, for him the game is disappointing, and for me, and others like me, it works, it has nothing to to with money. That's because I only play 2 games, NCAA & Madden. So even if it cost $70, if I think it's worth it, I'm buying. Tom, I enjoyed your review, didn't agree with it, but I enjoyed none the less!

i agree with this review to an extent, the game has no major updates, the stuff they've added should have been added a while back, yet we get them like a little trickle of water in a starving desert.. we think its great updates but in reality, its lazy on EA sports parts for no major updates in modes that need it, road to glory is a joke... updates they should have added last year and now this year but, its not much of one, u get more passes for your qbs and more runs for your rb, ok !? what else?!

please.. make me feel like im going through an actual college experience, make me feel connected to what im doing and who i am in that mode, there is no covergae on my player, no drama, no anything, its bland and sad... 

the menus lag and bug out, slowed down transitions make the game feel super slow when changing scenes, the commentary still sucks for the most part and isnt innovative at all as the mentioned in their live streams... your O line still misses easy blocks and seem zombie like on at least 3/5 plays...  i didnt buy this game this year due to the lack of effort EA is shelling out on it college experience.... im actually considering Madden for the first time, in a long time, maybe this was their game plan all along?!im not sure.... 

At best im renting this game, there just wasnt enough of an update for me to spend 60$ on a game thats the same as last year with a few minor tweaks... no excite in dynasty, although i do like recruiting (except the massive menus you have to travel through) it isnt enough to warrant a purchase i think.. i feel no connection to my team university or coaches... i cant hire my staff?! or go get coaches that would make an impact and help my team.. as in college.. there is no perks for winning seasons.. no stadium add ons.. or upgrades i can give my team or university if we win anything.. no build up to games or bowl games OR championship games... 

id like to feel connected to what im doing and my team.. i know its prolly stupid at this point to wish for such things.. then i look at other games ive played and see all the hard work they acutally put in to make you wanna keep playing and feel connected and i just see how lazy EA was on this game... sure there is a lot more to be added to this game but the fact is they  never do it.. its a cycle.. as soon as the next gen comes.. we start all over and again. with a new ncaa that will lack features and game play.. and by the time they figure it out a new system is out and here we go again.. they never add an depth to the game and dont listen to the public... they add new features that are horrid and take out stuff we love ( i cant remember the last time i saw a helmet fly off when a huge hit came)  anyways this my rant.. take it for what its worth.. i know there are dye hard fans who dont believe anything is wrong with the game and still buy it.. thats fine..  but not for me.. just not worth it.. sorry.. thanks for listening.. 

"My job is not tell you what you want to hear or make sure my score is the same as the Metacritic average." Said by Tom.  I agree Tom, but do not mistake being negative for being edgy and bold.  

Are the people beating up this review the same assclowns that go out and buy NCAA and Madden every year and prevent me from getting the overhaul I've been waiting for?  I'm the biggest madden/ncaa fan you'll find but refuse to buy it until I see some quality changes.  This game is dated bros, EA just doesn't put the money in to change it because they have a crew of morons waiting to pay 60 bucks every year for essentially the same game.  Wake me for an overhaul, thanks.  

Go read IGN or Gameinformer they have solid reviews up! Don't read this dribble. Where is the ECK, how we miss you so. Gamespot really needs to go out and hire someone who really knows sports because it is sad when a site this big puts out reviews this bad. That is why i respect Giantbomb so much, they don't have a sports guy so they don't review a ton of sports games. I love the game, I am not saying it's perfect but somewhere between an 8.5 -9.0! The new animations, the new touch passing (FINALLY), they finally fixed the juke so it can now be used effectively, the Heisman challenge is Fun, Tweaked recruting some by adding scouting(I like the fact that recruiting takes time) and the fact that the start of an animation doesn't mean the play is over. The only thing i will agree with and it has been a problem for years is surfing the menus! I listed a lot of things up here that show what has changed but according to this reviewer it's the same old crap, well he is wrong!

Haven't bought Madden since 05, NCAA since 06.

I love this series but this looks way too much like the last version I bought in '10. Video-game football is so incredibly frustrating with its lack of innovation. How have they not made recruiting more engaging? why do so many of the animations look the same? Why isn't there a good formation and play editor (I remember doing this with PC games back in the mid-90s and can't believe the genre has advanced so little in the past 20 years)? It's a shame the experience has become so stale.