Worst NCAA of All-Time?

[boxtrev]

We all agree that this franchise has lost some steam since its PS 2 and X-Box glory days. What we may not agree on is when the franchise started to turn south and what installment marked the nadir of its plummet. NCAA 08 was my first NCAA on the Next Generation consoles so while it underwhelmed, I gave it the benefit of the doubt since it was still so early on (plus, the graphical upgrade from LG was enough for me, at first). However, I can say without a doubt that the lowest point of this series for me was the horror that was NCAA Football 2009. Wide open gameplay just about scared me away from NCAA for good. 10 was pretty awful as well but it was at least playable with certain slider sets.

Which is the worst for you? Oh and for the record, NCAA 04 is what I consider to be this series' highest point.

[ViLLiO]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

cool story, bro

gameplay wise, it's the best

[jfsolo]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

There needs to be a way to ignore the thread titles of people who you have on ignore. Ignoring their posts isn't enough, they still can get you with ridiculous threads.

[SECElit3]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

We all agree that this franchise has lost some steam since its PS 2 and X-Box glory days. What we may not agree on is when the franchise started to turn south and what installment marked the nadir of its plummet. NCAA 08 was my first NCAA on the Next Generation consoles so while it underwhelmed, I gave it the benefit of the doubt since it was still so early on (plus, the graphical upgrade from LG was enough for me, at first). However, I can say without a doubt that the lowest point of this series for me was the horror that was NCAA Football 2009. Wide open gameplay just about scared me away from NCAA for good. 10 was pretty awful as well but it was at least playable with certain slider sets.

Which is the worst for you? Oh and for the record, NCAA 04 is what I consider to be this series' highest point.

I would have to go with 2009. That was the year they introduced wide open game play and the pursuit angles were all screwed up. I could literally tecmo bowl style my way up and down the field, fatigue was broken as well if I recall correctly.

2008 was my second least favorite to play on count of the deep ball issues and overpowering pass rush. I never made it through my dynasty that year either.

2007 was enjoyable but raw.

I logged a lot of hours into 2010. That was a very enjoyable game user vs user

Loved 2011, most hours ever logged into NCAA

2012 will be awesome once they get a few issues resolved so I am not sure why you say the series has gone downhill. 11 was great and we still don't know where 12 will end up.

[boxtrev]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

There needs to be a way to ignore the thread titles of people who you have on ignore. Ignoring their posts isn't enough, they still can get you with ridiculous threads.

I am confused. I have never spoken to you before in my life. Why would you have me on ignore? Additionally, why would you suggest that this thread is ridiculous and deserves to be ignored? I was just startig a discussion and never intended to raise an incendiary subject.

[boxtrev]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

I would have to go with 2009. That was the year they introduced wide open game play and the pursuit angles were all screwed up. I could literally tecmo bowl style my way up and down the field, fatigue was broken as well if I recall correctly.

2008 was my second least favorite to play on count of the deep ball issues and overpowering pass rush. I never made it through my dynasty that year either.

2007 was enjoyable but raw.

I logged a lot of hours into 2010. That was a very enjoyable game user vs user

Loved 2011, most hours ever logged into NCAA

2012 will be awesome once they get a few issues resolved so I am not sure why you say the series has gone downhill. 11 was great and we still don't know where 12 will end up.

I agree that 2009 was the worst. Allow me to clarify. I feel like the NCAA series went downhill from NCAA 08-NCAA 10. However, I feel like EA has righted the ship somewhat and is heading back in the right direction with the release of NCAA 11. NCAA 11 was the first NCAA in five years that I actually enjoyed, could play without any slider adjustments while still feeling like I was getting solid gameplay, and could get through a season without getting tired of it. NCAA 2012 seems to be even better in terms of gameplay and presentation.

[Josh Knight]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

Yeah, I've seen so many negative threads I just ignore thier posters as well.

[SECElit3]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

For the record, I don't think there is anything wrong with this thread. makes for some good discussion and some interesting stories. I would have liked to see a poll though.

[bh446066]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

Been playing it since 2003 (Joey Harrington cover), and for me, the worst by FAR was 09. That game had so many problems sliders couldn't even begin to fight against them.

[der juicen]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

I am confused. I have never spoken to you before in my life. Why would you have me on ignore? Additionally, why would you suggest that this thread is ridiculous and deserves to be ignored? I was just startig a discussion and never intended to raise an incendiary subject.

As you have the topic now, it's going to attract EA bashers and anyone who wants to cry foul on how "bad" NCAA is. How can you not see this.

[Playmakers]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

09 was actually pretty good..... but default out of the box gameplay it was really bad

Trust me that game with sliders and player edits really isn't close to being the same game EA released...

Fix defensive pursuit and adjust offensive player speed to more realistic ratings and it totally changed the way that game played.

There are actually still some guys who play NCAA 09 from time to time with a roster file i released....they will confirm the pursuit ratings was the entire key to making the defense react properly.

If you notice it was after NCAA 09 that EA started cranking up the default player pursuit ratings in NCAA 10-12.

I would say NCAA 08 was the worst game they made in the last 6 years

[falconfansince81]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

As you have the topic now, it's going to attract EA bashers and anyone who wants to cry foul on how "bad" NCAA is. How can you not see this.

i think that if anything, this thread could bring back some horrible memories of past versions and help us realize how far the game has come, bugs or not. so long as people don't bash the dev team or other posters how are negative criticisms so wrong?

if everyone just thought the game was perfect there'd be some pretty boring discussions and we wouldn't get nearly the community feedback and fixes we do now. but OT...09 for sure, i couldn't even play it...11 was great and 12 is on its way with a few tweeks.

[Solidice]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

for me, '05(xbox) was the worst, followed by '09(360). '05 is still the only one I've ever returned within 2 weeks of getting it. the stone hand WRs along with the choppyness the xbox version had made it unplayable for me(luckily I still had '04 to play). '09 kept me in longer only because of online dynasty with friends.

[SteboSSK]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

As you have the topic now, it's going to attract EA bashers and anyone who wants to cry foul on how "bad" NCAA is. How can you not see this.

Who cares? And why do you care if people bash EA? Do you work for them? Do you have investments in them? Im pretty sure the answer is no. If people feel indifferent about a game or company then let them. The people who defend EA against another customer that spent their own money is worst than the person that bashes them. Who goes around blindly defending a corporation that doesnt even pay them lol...EA does a good job on certain games and bad on others. Honestly I feel that NCAA is an afterthought...its probably the least purchased sports game that they make. The majority of the budget and marketing dollars goes to FIFA and Madden, so they will always be superior games and command real attention when there are problems. If Madden had half the bugs NCAA had they would have been addressed already...

[boxtrev]

Re: Worst NCAA of All-Time?

Thank you to all my defenders. I honestly wasn't trying to create another EA-bashing thread. I simply wanted to generate some discussion, and, as someone else indicated, hopefully remind us all of how far the series has come recently. I really do think when we look back on it that we will see NCAA Football 2011 as the turning point and the moment at which the franchise began heading in the right direction again. NCAA Football 12 has been even better and I am hoping that the development team does not become complacent but continues making big changes for 13 (FCS teams and Gameday anyone?).

I really don't get people who say that the way I have the thread now automatically means it will turn into a negative thread. Sheesh. OS used to be a place for constructive criticism. All I was trying to do was to engage in a helpful conversation regarding the low point of this series, how far it had come, and areas it still needed to improve.