This game means one thing, NCAA Football 2006 is going to be awesome.
User Rating: 8.3 | NCAA Football 2005 XBOX
This will be short, since it has been discussed by many already. I just bought this game and I have mixed reactions to this game. First off, if you have NCAA 2004, that is the better game. I traded in my NCAA 2004 for this game and while I'm not upset, I don't feel like it was greatly needed. The game play is largely the same (as all EA games). They did make it more immersive by adding the match up sticks and crowd meter add-ons. First off, I really like the match up stick. You can tell if the opposing QB is rattled (after picking or sacking him) or if the RB is shaken after the goal line stand. There have been a lot of occasions where I've checked to see which cornerback is rattled or playing badly, then I throw to the receiver he's covering. What happens? Usually a touchdown! This game really makes you feel like the QB. Then there is the crowd noise meter. You can pump up the crowd (home team only) and get the opposing offense to be unable to communicate and screw up plays. It's awesome to see on 4th and goal, a QB barking out commands that his WR can't hear.... nothing but awesome. Now the reason why I gave it an 8.3 overall. The frame rate. It's horrible. Running the ball is extremely annoying, because the frame rate goes from 30fps to 1-2fps when you try to run the ball. Its crazy EA sports let this game come out like this, maybe they were focusing on XBOX live way too much. The frame rate is the only thing that kept me from giving this game a 9.5+. Next year, NCAA Football 2006 is going to be the best in the series. If they keep the core of 2005 and improve the frame rate, EA has a winner on their hands. Recap: If you own NCAA 2004, should you pay $50 for 2005? No. If you're a die hard football fan regardless, should you get this? Yes, but only used. Do not pay full price for this game, it's not ok for EA to let an unfinished product out on the market.
