NCAA Football 14 Impressions Thread

[jeremym480]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

After giving up another 200 yards on the ground, I've decided that maybe I need to bump the CPU's offense down to AA like Ben suggested. This time I was Wyoming and lost to Colorado State 22-17. Overall, it was a great game, but that's three straight games that the CPU's starting RB has averaged more than 8 yards a carry (it would have been more than 10, but I stopped them 3 straight times at the end of the game. I never thought I would say this, but I think the CPU's option game is a little too effective. Their QB seems to make the correct read every single time.

Other than that my two biggest complaints are

1) Zone coverage: The defense just gives too soft of a zone. When I call a Cover 2 zone, I don't want my MLB's dropping back past my safeties.

2) The CPU's play calling on third and long. I saw this complaint in the demo impressions thread, but didn't really see it too much. In the past game I saw it twice. When it's 3rd and Goal on the 10-11 yard line I don't think Four Verticals would be the best play to call. Like I said I once I saw it for the 10-11 yard line. Then it happened again later in the game on a third and 12 or so. I don't think I held the CPU to third and long except for those two times..

I'm hoping for a patch soon since most of the problems/complaints on here are the same as the demo. If so, and it rectifies most of the problems, then this game is going to be a real treat.

[Flightwhite24]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Is it just me but on the Skills trainer during the running drills my RB always pauses/hitches for a split second which at times causes me to be caught??

[fsufan4423]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

I'm just echoing a lot of people at this point, but in my experience:

-QBs are too accurate.
-Defense is terrible all the way around. I wonder if QB Acc is tied to the fact that the pocket is mostly clean. Unless you blitz the QB is hinder free but if you do blitz and don't hit home you are going to give up some yards. Don't bother playing most of the zones.
-The option is finally functional and a blsat to play.
-Presentation is improved. Love the halftime show.

I have a love-hate relationship with this game. It is fun to play, but many things aren't realistic and it seems like having good strategy isn't rewarded. Line play needs a massive overhaul to reflect mismatches. In my experience, the offensive line gets the edge most of the time. I'm going to play more with my season ticket, but I don't know if this will be a purchase. I was leaning yes after the demo, but the defense definitely needs some love, and I don't mean a skills boost. My defensive strategy is limited to man coverage 80% of the time and blitzing selectively. No assignments, etc.
The option is great, but I'd like to mention that in real life the bubble screen is often packaged in with the read option play. The triple option is nice, but it would be nice to see the QB able to throw the bubble screen when the defense runs a scrape exchange. Too bad the casual gamer EA caters to doesn't even understand what I just said....

This sums up exactly how I feel about the game. although it's the best NCAA football game to date, there are a few things lacking thats taking away from the experience.

First thing I noticed was, the pre game was nice right up until the coin toss when the crowd goes silent....A total buzz kill. But there were times in the first half when the crowd and atmosphere was rocking (for a series) then dull again.

Also, the teams that run the no huddle, the pace is completely off. I play on hesiman default, and no matter the level of QB, you will be picked apart thanks to the zone defense. One other thing driving me crazy, for some reason on a higher difficulty, your WR's can't seem to get down the field on deep routes. Maybe my timing is off, but it seems the corner and safeties are just camped and waiting for the ball to drop every deep throw.

I can't figure it out. I can't stop playing this game even though I want to.

[kc10785]

I can't figure it out. I can't stop playing this game even though I want to.

This comment sums it up for me. I want to stop playing but I can't. Maybe because I stop playing Madden in January and traded in NCAA after 2 weeks because I hated it. I guess im fiending at this point but I know the buzz is going to die down and the glitch and cheese is going to get to me


Sent From a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with Tapatalk 4

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Just played a test dynasty game. Saying they made recruiting deeper is a great understatement. Going to be a while before I master this skills tree thing they have in there. I just glimpsed over it and was thinking hmmm what is this and what does what ? LOL

Then as you are playing the game, a sentence will appear on the screen saying blah blah blah skill activated. That was another what the hell is this moment I had. Didn't seem to make the players play better though. So it seems it is just window dressing with no real effect on players.

Big games in dynasty don't feel big at all. Don't matter who is playing, the level of excitement is still the same. They need to fix that. Crowd shouldn't be sounding the same as when you are playing a FCS team when you are playing your rival in the game of the week. For next year I hope they add Game Day pre-game for dynasty along with a post game show.

All in all I am just waiting for the named rosters to come out.

[BenGerman]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Couple of things I've noticed:

- The CPU Punter seemingly has no awareness. They just punt the ball right through the endzone.
- Special teams is slightly better in regards to blocking kicks. I had one blocked in the demo, and have had numerous close calls. Still not where it needs to be, but I trust it will be revamped for next-gen.

[Ferweezy]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Downloaded the early release, played it for about an hour. Blocking is better, running is different, passing and defense feel almost the same as last year. 2 impressions to make. first, this is the best playing NCAA of this generation. That being said my second impression is, its so ungodly boring its not even funny. The NCAA and Madden teams are definitely making the right moves gameplay wise, but my oh my is this game insufferably boring. And by boring I mean there is almost zero immersion for me. The presentation is so bland, the atmosphere is so untouched from 6-7 years ago its hard for me to get through a game.
Gameplay wise, great steps forward. Presentation and immersion, they really need to step up in this aspect.

Exactly!! I find it extremely difficult to get immersed to this, because it feels the same like past years and they couldn't do anything to fix it this gen, and quite frankly. I have no faith in them for next-gen.

[jeremym480]

Just played with BenGerman's sliders that he posted a while back.

TCU (me) vs Oklahoma St. I finally got my first win, 31-24. I ended up with 423 total yards and the CPU had 386. 318 of those passing. Their QB's accuracy was definitely more hit and miss. Their starter was 17-34 for 224 yards, 2 TDs and 1INT and their backup was 4-8 for 94 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. There was certainly more erratic throws on AA than on Heisman and of course they threw some absolute darts too. I saved some replays that I will post in the highlight thread later.

Their running game was hard to judge, as their RB had only 5 carries for 30 yards. I'm looking forward to playing GT again with these. Good job, Ben.

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[Ro Da Truth]

Gameplay is good but the hit sticks are weak!

[Skyboxer]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Gameplay is good but the hit sticks are weak!

Well EA has made some progress then!

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Gameplay is good but the hit sticks are weak!

I don't know man. I've had some sick hit stick tackles that sent the ball flying. I do like that there's a risk/reward and it's not overdone though. I've whiffed plenty of times trying to go for the big hit and I've also bounced off of guys too. I've found that I'm usually better off just going for a regular tackles unless I know for sure that I'm squared up.

[kmp714]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Is Home field Advantage not available in online play. Unless I'm crazy I could have sworn it was in previous years, for online I mean.

For those of you who play online dynasty are you getting the hfa effects? I'm not seeing them in ranked games.

[goh]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Not true. Playing a test franchise with auto named rosters as we speak.

For the non-franchise/season modes.

[weeeeeeez]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Man recruiting can be intense. Doing a test sim dynasty with Ohio State and all of the big recruiting battles are between Michigan.

[dererstesoldat]

Re: NCAA Football 14 Available For Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions H

Anyone else really digging the new recruiting in Dynasty? I love how it isn't mindless asking of questions about weight rooms over and over and over. I feel like there is definitely some strategy about how to balance resources between scouting, catching up on the next school ahead of you, and offering scholarships/visits. I have stolen a few guys, lost a few guys, and generally felt pretty responsible for what happens because I feel like I have a ton more control now. Not to mention the upgrade trees!