Test Your Memory: Let's Talk Old School

[Village Idiot]

I'm really jonesing for some college football action and, unfortunately, the 08 game doesn't cut it. So I was racking my brain trying to remember which of the previous versions of the game was the best, and I'm coming up a little short.

I know that around these parts most everyone will tell you the 2004 game was the best one. While I do remember playing the crap out of that game, I'm finding it difficult to remember why I didn't return 2005 and go back to 2004 if it was so great, or why I didn't go back to 2004 after buying 06 or 07 for that matter. In other words, I can't quite buy it: even if the game was really good, there must have been something wrong with it, right? In fact, the 05 and 06 versions of the game were fine, weren't they?

So here's the question for everyone: Do you remember the fatal flaws of each version of the game? If memory serves, the 05 version of the game had problems because the CPU never ran the ball. Is that right? Or was that 06? There was another game where the CPU tried to run, but couldn't. Which game was that? (I'm even tempted to say it was 04.) 07 (PS2 version, that is) I remember rather clearly was too easy; the last slider set I made for that game included every AI defensive slider being maxed.

I wanna say it was the 05 game that was the crown jewel of the series, but maybe I'm remembering it wrong and I've just forgotten how good 04 was.

So set me straight, fellas. Who can remember what the fundamental flaws were from the past games? Or, more specifically, what was wrong with 04, and what was wrong with 05?

[steez3]

I personally thought 05 was the best of the bunch, and this coming from a college football gamer since way back to bill walsh football on the genesis....Some people hated the HFA 9home field advantage) where the camera shook and all that but I loved it, first time in a football game that being at home actually meant something in a video game beside wearing your home jersey, I was super excited to hear that they are bringing this back in some variation in the 09 version. As far as flaws I couldnt tell you, i havent played it in so long but I do remember me and my buddy having epic battles in it, we would play all the rivalry games and alternate the home field, and just like in real FBS football it is ALOT harder to win on the road...hoping the 09 installment has this or a variation of this

[SageInfinite]

05 was garbage. 04 was definitely the best.

[spankdatazz22]

'04's biggest flaw imo was it's overemphasis on speed - you could put a CB at QB and wreak havoc. But the game was tremendously enjoyable. The momentum-tugboat steering that was so prevelant in Madden was just beginning to be refined in NCAA '04. '05 sucked. But '06 to me became their jewel. While the game was limited by the Madden engine long showing it's age, I thought the momentum system had been tweaked to near-perfection. I was just playing it last night and probably spent an hour just in practice mode. It's the only game to my knowledge where there's a difference between quickness and speed - you could actually run left, and if the player was quick enough run back across the grain to make a Barry Sanders-type gain of making nothing into something. I don't think acceleration has ever been that well-done in a football game; you could use a defender's momentum against them just as you would in real life with the various right stick juke moves + the basic moves. The passing game in '06 is fantastic. Defense was nothing special, but wasn't so bad that it got in the way.

The only thing that held '06 back was that old/limited player-interaction Madden engine. People should play '06 since it's backwards compatible and get an idea why some people are so disappointed with next gen NCAA/Madden

[SageInfinite]

I forgot about 06 having the impact moves and the tweaked hit stick. So its definitely between 06 and 04.

[jdrhammer]

Quote: Originally Posted by steez3

I personally thought 05 was the best of the bunch, and this coming from a college football gamer since way back to bill walsh football on the genesis....Some people hated the HFA 9home field advantage) where the camera shook and all that but I loved it, first time in a football game that being at home actually meant something in a video game beside wearing your home jersey, I was super excited to hear that they are bringing this back in some variation in the 09 version. As far as flaws I couldnt tell you, i havent played it in so long but I do remember me and my buddy having epic battles in it, we would play all the rivalry games and alternate the home field, and just like in real FBS football it is ALOT harder to win on the road...hoping the 09 installment has this or a variation of this

I really liked '05 as well. It would be on up there. Was it '04 or '05 that had the players walking through the tunnel before running out onto the field? That was the best intro, IMO.

I loved the homefield advantage. The passing game was great too. The only problem, was an overdone feature, that caused WR's over the middle to drop passes due to hearing footsteps. The WR would have the middle of the field open with someone 3 steps behind them and it was usually a drop. Drops were a problem. They just needed toned down a bit.

I also think '05 was the year ATH's were introduced in recruiting and position changes were included as well. This was a good thing. It was also the first year I used the rosters with real names. I had a lot of fun. There was a glitch that ended up saving over my rosters, but they fixed it.

For '06, Impact players, especially HB's, were the overdone feature. The game was fun though. 1st year for in-season recruting?? It was kind of lame with the same old guys each year.

I think '07 was pretty cool. Spring game helped. It seemed like the gameplay on '07 was the most well-rounded.

I was PS2, by the way.

[TheGamingChef]

I definitely had the most fun with 03... it was my first NCAA so that's probably why. I think 06 was the best game though. 04 is the clear #3.

05 was easily the worst... I think 05 began the WR drops problem?

[SageInfinite]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheGamingChef

I definitely had the most fun with 03... it was my first NCAA so that's probably why. I think 06 was the best game though. 04 is the clear #3. 05 was easily the worst... I think 05 began the WR drops problem?

Yes. That was my main problem with it, and the TERRIBLE frame rate on the Xbox version.