OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

[RaychelSnr]

This week's Fact or Fiction is centered on NCAA Football 14's release and some statements regarding several features within the game. Our writers look at everything from the spread option to recruiting in this year's title. Be sure to read on and let us know what you think of each statement, are they fact or fiction?

Read More - OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

[Irishwhiskey119]

I agree. This site has some sense.

Best NCAA in years while other web sites gave it bad reviews.

Weird delusional expectations by people sometimes.

[The_Wise_One]

Dynasty isn't leagues better with coach skills but I still think it is a big time improvement. Agree with everything else.

[illini4life]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

Definitely the best NCAA football game since 06. In my opinion it's not better than 06, but the fun factor is there. I wasn't planning on buying this years game. Especially after the garbage EA put out last July, but I have to say this game is great. IE 2.0 is absolutely fantastic.

[mjavon]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

I can't speak for 06 as I was a Gamecube kid back in the day, but 14 has definitely been my favorite to date. It still has a few GAPING holes, but since no patches have been introduced yet I feel like I have to give it the benefit of the doubt... for now. The running game is perfect both offensively and defensively. Players feel like they have momentum, making cutting back against the grain an actual possibility.

I personally like the new recruiting. In previous years, I would have a top 5 recruiting class every year on Heisman. Now I struggle to land 12-15 solid recruits.

The passing game and pass protection need work, but by playing with the sliders you can get at least a pretty realistic game.

[BBallcoach]

I love this years game. The gameplay feels very fresh. I loved Madden last year with IE1.0 but IE2.0 in the NCAA feels better and it feels like CFB. I like dynasty this year. Especially playing as as an OC/DC and your head coach filling out his skill tree can be frustrating but feels realistic, where coaches dont always agree but fight for the greater good of the team

The recruiting, seems tougher but like they said not deeper, but thats fine. It's still very deep they just trimmed the nuance out of it. All in all this is my favorite NCAA since 06. 06 was a great game and features stuff the NCAA wont allow anymore. So based on the similarities of the games. i would have to say 14 does those things better

[phant030]

With option, needs to be a pitch rating and maybe a generic option rating so every qb cant be effective @ it. Poor pitch rating can eliminate great human decision making and bring a poor option qb back to earth. Option rating can do the same for CPU decision making making their QB 'regular'

[acarrero]

Easily the best of this generation. I too wonder about some of the reviews it got. Did they not play the game enough? Why is is that OS gave the best review it got? It's the first time in many years where I feel like this is a different experience from year before. It's the infinity engine, combined with the new camera angles and what I consider to be the most accurate online rosters yet.

[BK_NC]

Nice article. I to agree this is the best NCAA of this generation. Need more time with the recruiting though. I put a lot of time into the system last year and got to like it and now I have to basically relearn recruiting. If it doesn't turn out to be better, then its another EA bullet point for the sake having a new bullet point on the box and for marketing but I still need to put more time into it before indal judgement.

As far as other outlets go and their reviews, I've come to the conclusion that I don't really trust some of the bigger outlets anymore when it comes to sports games. I just don't "know" any of their reviewers anymore with so much of the press the past decade moving off to the dev & publishing side of the business. So I'm not sure I fully trust their reviews. For a sports game I want to read a review from someone passionate about sports games and sports in general. They don't have to have to be experts in every sport but at least be knowledgeable about them and have a history of playing sports games over the years. That is one reason I seek out Operations Sports and other communities and the reviews they do along with the journalists featured on sports gaming podcasts such as the Press Row Podcast panelists because I can get to "know" them and learn if I want to put my faith in their opinions regarding sports games.

[friscob]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

First football game I've enjoyed in a few years. IE2 looks great and has vastly improved what we saw in M13. Think the coach tree was a great addition that added another layer of depth to dynasty. Option is a blast to run and the improved run blocking helps make it that way. I do agree w/ a previous poster that they need option ratings for QB's to limit its effectiveness.

Defensive AI needs a lot of work. QB accuracy and ability to read the field need to get toned down. Really don't like the new recruiting system. Never thought it was that tedious either. Wish they would have just improved the old one instead of completely revamping it.

Read IGN's review and started laughing. One of his complaints was the players not having names... we all know why this can't happen. He avoided talking about gameplay and basically just sounded like he was mad that it isn't next gen. Enjoyed some of the more cynical reviews that point out why EA is so hated.

[Gopher]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

Didn't buy last years game for the first time since 01. I heard it was pathetic so I saved my money.

Fact, best game since 06 but not as good obviously. BRING BACK 06's SOUNDTRACK!

[tril]

I buy an new NCAA game every 2 years. I
This years game is good, but boring at the same time. That may be because IM not in college football mode yet..

Agree with everything that was said in the article.

[OmahaKnights]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

Not to hijack the thread, but that picture where Arkansas State's beating Cal, Wisconsin, LSU, Bama, and Oklahoma State for a high-level recruit is basically what's killing dynasty for me at the moment.

This game could have been so solid, but they really need to go back to the drawing board with this new recruiting system. I just can't take a game seriously where Georgia State's loading up on three stars and Virginia Tech and Mississippi State are battling for a 48 OVR recruit.

[BigRick47]

Love the game but really hate the fact that every team, big or small, runs a hurry up offense from their first possession! How realistic is that? That is only done by certain teams like Oregon or in certain situations or late in e game, but not right off the bat. I can't ever scheme my defense because their is no time and when the CPU does throw up the play calling screen you only have 3-4 seconds and the computer will run a play while you still are looking for a play, but on the offense side, it takes human users forever to get your team to the line of scrimmage, call a play and then have the animation of your QB change the play taking 5-7 seconds off the clock. I wish they'd fix that en I'd be happier.

[BleedGreen710]

Re: OS Fact or Fiction: NCAA Football 14 Edition

Love the game but really hate the fact that every team, big or small, runs a hurry up offense from their first possession! How realistic is that? That is only done by certain teams like Oregon or in certain situations or late in e game, but not right off the bat.

That never happens on my game..