Let's just say that College Football has grown over the years and has become a huge part of our culture. Unlike the pro game, the NFL, college football is filled with uncertainty, upcoming stars, and some exciting plays with a huge fanbase. While the NFL has most of this, you don't get the amazing atmosphere you do with a college game.
EA Sports has done a great job with their presentation in College Football 08, their newest addition to the popular franchise. With a load of options and breathtaking graphics, does this game really have what it takes to compete with its partner, Madden NFL 08? You bet it can.
It has ESPN integration, including the Dynasty Mode's very own "ESPN.com," which shows recent highlights around college football. You can check out other teams' progress, recruited players, signings, and so much more. It's better than before and really adds new depth to the game.
Let's start out by saying the presentation is great here; while not overdone, the team got the job done with ESPN-like replays and integration. One thing that we are excited to talk about is what is called the video and picture highlight feature. If you make a big play against the AI or your good friend, you can then save that moment, choosing from a multitude of camera angles, and then have it play in the main menu on a screen. It's done so well and at any time you can check out your highlight moments from any game.
What's really nice about this feature is that it is nearly all automated. When you make a big play, it let's you know by taking a quick snap shot. Then you pop up the menu, select save highlight, and you can save both the photo and the actual replay. These both can appear in the main menu, as well as any trophies you earned by playing the various game modes. It's pretty seamless and well done, giving you something to show off and to even to taunt your fellow victims with. How about placing a video up of that interception that won the game? You can certainly do it, and why not?
Making the game so solid, however, isn't its presentation. While it is so important to have, the core gameplay mechanics really shine here. The gameplay is everything, whether it is a sports game or not. It's obvious that EA really put their focus into the gameplay engine, creating some new animations and "gang tackling," which is a really nice feature. Now you can really break tackles when running and juking, have midair collisions when catching a ball, and there are plenty of "Oh My God!" moments in the game.
The animations are so well done sometimes you forget you are playing a game. And the sound is also exellent, as helmets clash together, sounds of linebackers crash the line, and the crowd and band music is just a great addition. It seems like nothing was left out. The commentary is also very strong and alive, simply because there are three commentators in the game, including "The Coach" and many others.
One thing that we can certainly say about the game is that it is damn smart. This holds true with the Dynasty Mode, which has a new recruitment feature. This feature includes a new search engine database, allowing you to sort recruits and search them by weight, height, their 40 time, position, and many other options. It makes it so easy to navigate recruiting screens and you'll immediately be able to get your target list up and running. But what is really cool about this is the fact that EA Sports took somewhat of a dull feature and turned it into something fun. By calling recruits, you'll have the opportunity to select a variety of topics and find out their likes and dislikes. However, on the other hand, if you do talk about something they have no interest in, expect their attention span to drop and many times they'll even hang up.
Calling a prospect week-to-week may sound boring, but it's limited in that it keeps track of their likes and dislikes throughout the season and off-season. Again, this is a very smart system and let's you know which topic to continue to talk about. Recruiting in the off-season is also a real hoot, as you can offer up some promises. Let your prospect know that he'll be a starter the first year. If you don't keep your promise, it will hurt your coach integrity and it'll cause you problems with later prospects down the road.
The in-game action is smooth, now running at an easy 60 frames per second and it is a looker. From the player models to the stadiums, everything this year seems to be dead-on. One minor complaint has to be some of the collision detection issues, as players sometimes go right through one another, but this happens rarely. When it does happen, however, it can be distracting.
NCAA Football 08 isn't shy on features and gives you everything for your money. It's great to see EA Sports nail a game and come out on top with nearly every aspect. Although some of their games may be behind, NCAA Football 08 isn't one of them. It is by far the best title in the series, with an easy navigation menu, great graphics, sound, and even some extras to boot.
Although we didn't talk about Campus Legend Mode, we suspect that most of you will be playing Dynasty Mode, simply because it is the core of the game. You'll be able to really earn some awesome trophies and achievements in this particular mode, but if you are in the mood to build your superstar from scratch then Campus Legend Mode is for you. Basically, this game has something for everyone and it doesn't disappoint.
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