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NCAA® Football 07 PreviewXbox 360 owners finally get a taste of collegiate pigskin
PREVIEW by Anthony Brawner It has only been a scant six months since the launch of the Xbox 360, and one very large part of the gaming community is STILL in an uproar. That’s right, I’m talking about football fans. While the launch of the new system did feature next-generation graphics, player models, and sound, the reality is that Madden ’06 was a bust. It couldn’t deliver in the areas that matter the most, namely play control, innovation, and fun. Since Madden ’06 was the only football option for Xbox 360 owners last season, many gamers were forced to play a title that seemed rushed, lacked features (of the regular Xbox Madden), and was a tad slower than football games of the current generation. What’s EA to do? Their backs are clearly up against the wall, with some of their titles (Fight Night Round 3, World Cup Soccer FIFA 2006) being truly next-generation while the rest seem like spruced-up ports of current-generation titles… Enter NCAA 2007 College Football. I had faith that EA would come correct with their second round of Xbox 360 games, and starting with NCAA 2007, they are starting to wash that bad taste out of my mouth left by last year’s football offering. The thing is, NCAA has always been the more fun game in the EA Sports football lineup. Madden may have the more recognizable coach as their “pitch man”, but at the end of the day, college football is a faster, flashier, more competitive brand of football. From the sheer volume of Division 1 teams, to the roar of the momentum-altering crowd, NCAA Football is definitely football at it’s finest. NCAA 2007 College football boasts a number of key features. First up is building momentum. You can track the overall tempo of the game via a new Momentum Meter that changes as players and crowds react to the on-field action. Capitalize on your window of opportunity as big plays, defensive stops, and special teams keep you in a constant struggle for momentum. This momentum in turn has an effect on things off the field. For example, it provides something for what EA calls ‘smart fans’ to react to. The living stadium jumps to life featuring unique alumni, student, and visitor sections that react dynamically to the action and momentum on the field. Watch as fans do team specific traditions such as Florida State’s Tomahawk Chop or the Florida Gator Chomp. Of course the Dynasty Mode is heavily featured. Build your favorite school into a collegiate powerhouse – with in-season recruiting, coaching contracts, customizable schedules, and the deepest stat-tracking system ever. Export your draft class into Madden NFL 07 on the Xbox 360 and continue your dynasty at the pro level. Building upon progress made in their most recent Major League Baseball title, EA is kicking their ESPN Integration to the next level. Get EA SPORTS Dynasty™ results, conference updates, and real-time sports scores and news updates with the ‘always on’ Sports Ticker powered by ESPN, or take a shot at the greatest games of all time with ESPN Instant Classics. Some of the smaller features that must get mention are an NCAA Photo Album, mini games and new gameplay mechanics. The Photo Album lets you capture your greatest highlights anytime. You can add captions and share them with your friends and football gamers alike. Lets just hope this doesn’t turn out like the ‘share’ features in Burnout Revenge 360 which ended up having annoying ‘friends’ bugging you to download and rate their clips even if you really didn’t know them like that. The mini-games include Bowling, Option Dash and Tug-o-War. It’ll let you go head-to-head with your fiercest rivals. New gameplay mechanics like Jump the Snap, Slide Protection, Smart Routes, Defensive Hot Routes, and Precision Passing will give you what you need to gain every advantage over your rivals. The all new analog kicking controls will give you total command of every kick as well.
We’ll have more on NCAA ’07 soon; stay tuned, and start getting those pre-orders ready… | |
