Difficulty levels

[damion2721]

I've always been intrigued by this and have a few questions if any of you have the answers.

1. What are the differences between all the difficulty levels? For example, faster reaction times, more penalties, better/worse coverage? Has this ever been explained by EA?

2. Why is all American considered to be the most "realistic" difficulty? Also, I noticed during the pre release videos when D. Edwards and the youtuber were in the selection screen, all American difficulty was selected and "darken" out meaning no other difficulty could be chosen. Was that EAs way of telling us all American is the most balanced?

Any answers on this would be greatly appreciated because I feel like I'm going back and forth between difficulties and would like some input.

[GOIRISH65]

I think The biggest difference is just the way that the non-user controlled players act. It’s been a while since I have played on the lower levels, but I think that the non-user players AI is fairly high. I know I personally feel all American can at time La post challenges and I can lose games, but I can also win a lot and blow teams out at times. I do play on Heisman sometimes and have only noticed that all the games are tight and your coaching decisions really matter. For example if you do stupid things you will lose. I can’t really speak to the AI at that level because I have not played it enough to notice the computer guys playing a certain way. But I’d guess you’d just get a little less assistance and need to take over manually in all circumstances.

[sherrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by damion2721

I've always been intrigued by this and have a few questions if any of you have the answers. 1. What are the differences between all the difficulty levels? For example, faster reaction times, more penalties, better/worse coverage? Has this ever been explained by EA? 2. Why is all American considered to be the most "realistic" difficulty? Also, I noticed during the pre release videos when D. Edwards and the youtuber were in the selection screen, all American difficulty was selected and "darken" out meaning no other difficulty could be chosen. Was that EAs way of telling us all American is the most balanced? Any answers on this would be greatly appreciated because I feel like I'm going back and forth between difficulties and would like some input.

Quote: Originally Posted by GOIRISH65

I think The biggest difference is just the way that the non-user controlled players act. It’s been a while since I have played on the lower levels, but I think that the non-user players AI is fairly high. I know I personally feel all American can at time La post challenges and I can lose games, but I can also win a lot and blow teams out at times. I do play on Heisman sometimes and have only noticed that all the games are tight and your coaching decisions really matter. For example if you do stupid things you will lose. I can’t really speak to the AI at that level because I have not played it enough to notice the computer guys playing a certain way. But I’d guess you’d just get a little less assistance and need to take over manually in all circumstances.

You could probably play Varsity level game on the All American setting if you cut all the CPU sliders from the default 50 to 25 or lower. The CPU players react more quickly, tackle better, and can defend passes more efficiently on defense and they block better, throw more accurately, and catch better on offense. I have not determined if they adjust and anticipate to your play calls or not, but I do suspect the difficultly will determines the intelligence of the CPU opponent.


Regarding #2, I think the most "realistic" setting is the one you are comfortable playing. I played so much NCAA 14 that anything less than Heisman was too simple for me. I think Heisman is too difficult in 25 because it seems like all LBs have 10 foot verticals. Every time I played Heisman I would think "that is impossible" on several plays per quarter. I haven't played that level in over 4 months, so my observation may no longer be valid because I am fairly used to the game now.

[canes21]

If we assume it is built like Madden, which it very likely is, and we go off what we can see when modding Madden, then:

- On all difficulty levels both the user and cpu players get attribute boosts. The lower the level, the more the boosts favor the user, the higher the more they favor the CPU.

- There are certain timings that change per level. An example being how quickly a DE can perform a pass rush move. On a lower level, the CPU DE's have to wait longer before the game allows them a pass rush move. On the higher levels they can perform it much quicker after the snap.

- And then there are reaction times. The higher the level, the quicker they react.

That is the simplistic overview of it all. What should be noted is a good source from OS, Mills, has said that with CFB25 EA set out to change how the difficulty levels function. They aimed to get rid of boosts and increase the difficulty by improving the CPU logic/decision making. How much progress they made in doing that I don't know, but that's a step in the right direction and if they continue down that path, hopefully we continue to see improvements with the AI in general and we also see sliders allowing us to fine tune the logic within the game.

[damion2721]

Thanks for the replies! Is there a level where the CPU or the user doesn't get any attribute boosts? That is difficulty I would like to play the game on.

[sherrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by damion2721

Thanks for the replies! Is there a level where the CPU or the user doesn't get any attribute boosts? That is difficulty I would like to play the game on.

that would be No based on what canes21 posted.

Quote: Originally Posted by canes21

If we assume it is built like Madden, which it very likely is, and we go off what we can see when modding Madden, then: - On all difficulty levels both the user and cpu players get attribute boosts. The lower the level, the more the boosts favor the user, the higher the more they favor the CPU.

Based on this, I would think you would want to play on a middle difficulty setting (Varsity or All American) to equalize the system's attribute boosts.

[canes21]

Quote: Originally Posted by damion2721

Thanks for the replies! Is there a level where the CPU or the user doesn't get any attribute boosts? That is difficulty I would like to play the game on.

There's not. All American or Heisman would be the most even with regards to how each side is boosted, but there is no level where the boosts don't exist.

Again, that's based off how Madden used to work. Things could be a little different now given the work EA put in to change how the difficulties work.

[damion2721]

Quote: Originally Posted by sherrane

that would be No based on what canes21 posted. Based on this, I would think you would want to play on a middle difficulty setting (Varsity or All American) to equalize the system's attribute boosts.

I think you're right. I've played on all levels and Varsity seems to be the most balanced to me. I have noticed the CPU will go for it on 4th more frequently as well. Strange but it its true.