NCAA Football 2010 came out a week ago yesterday much to the delight of fans of college football. The Matador and I have enjoyed the series since its beginning and we have both bought it every single year without fail. I picked up the Xbox360 version last Tuesday during Gamestop’s Midnight Release and spent a couple hours playing Wednesday after work.
I’ll start by saying that this game has definitely beefed up the artificial intelligence on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerbacks and wide receivers interact much more throughout the whole course of the play than before and it affects the receiver’s ability to run routes and catch passes. The running game has been finely tuned and feels much more realistic than previous years as well. Having a speed back does not guarantee you an automatic 5 yards every carry anymore. Patience is a must and you will have to learn to follow your blockers and choose the right running lanes in order to be successful on the ground.
Another noticeable difference is the inability to complete the long ball as frequently as before. Gone are the days of throwing the ball up to a 99 speed WR and having him chase it down for a TD. The corners are more aggressive and they go after the ball much more frequently. The overall game-play of the game is smooth once you get used to it.
Some key additions to NCAA 2010 include Teambuilder, Season Showdown, Road to Glory, and Strategic Playcalling. My personal favorite is the Teambuilder. Teambuilder enables you to create a team from scratch by setting the roster, uniforms, stadium, etc. and upload it from the Teambuilder website to your console. You can use your teams for a regular dynasty or for an online dynasty. I’m in my first season with my user created team and I’ve enjoyed it a lot.
Online Dynasty is a blast as usual. The Matador and I had a heck of a ballgame a couple days ago in an online dynasty that we are in. For his sake, I will not disclose who won. Recruiting for online dynasty mode received a little bit of a facelift this year. People who play in online dynasties know how competitive recruiting can get and will appreciate the option to purchase recruiting boosts for your schools. These boosts include an extra pipeline state addition, a recruiting advisor who gives you insider information on pitches that work, the ability to downplay a competing school to a recruit, and recruiting reports. These perks cost Microsoft points but are worth it if you participate in online leagues.
I give EA Sports NCAA Football 2010 a 4 out of 5 as it is one of the better football titles that I have played. It is a must have if you’re a college football fan and it will help pass the days until the actual season starts.
Also for you Madden fans, copies of NCAA 2010 can be traded in at Gamestop for $40 dollars against the price of Madden ’10. In any case, check out the game, you won’t be disappointed.
