Customer Reviews

NCAA Football 08

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first played NCAA 08 for the PS3. Let me say EVERYTHING is different. The games can't be compared. You'll be greatly disappointed (like me at first).

In sticking with the Xbox version, here are the pros and cons:

PROS

-GAMEPLAY GRPAHICS. No more guys walking through each other on the replay or the chain gang getting knocked down every time (became annoying to me). The graphics are improved and guys look real.

-PENALTIES. Excessive celebration penalties are vastly cut down which is a big plus. Running into the kicker every freaking time on a block attempt seems to be cut down as well.

-RECRUITING. Let me say, this is basically the same as last year. Start off the year selecting 15 recruits and divide 100 pts between them however you like. The big add, some recruits want promises. The ones I find the most common are a WR wanting jersey #72 or a HB wanting #91. Something pretty odd ball but if it gets you the 4 star prize, why not? Playing time is tricky. It doesn't mean, play me sometimes. It means, they start every game. If not, they may transfer. You can always go back to the promise screen and see what promises you made and a percentage meter of adherence helps you to know how you fare. If you start a guy sometimes, the adherence level may be 33%. I don't know what level they will transfer but don't redshirt them. That is stupid and something I did. I got greedy and didn't want to waste his year of eligibility because unknowingly I had a bunch of upperclassmen who improved a lot and got an even better recruit offseason. Even if he never played, I'm sure he'd transfered but definitely don't redshirt the dude. When conducting a visit, you can select 5 different pitches to sell to recruits. Usually, there are hints of what recruits don't like (sometimes what they do like) on the prospect screen. It's a welcome added twist.

-RUSHING. No matter how good my running back was, my offensive line, or if he was a fully composed redshirt senior, team captain, impact player, it was no fun to run on NCAA 07. Anyone feel me? I got so tired of 2.7 yd averages. No matter the down or distance or team, it was a nightmare. I'd have a few big gains but really, it was a waste to run. I recruited fast quarterbacks and did SOOOOO much better than a stupid running back. In 08, rushing is a bit easier with a stud running back. If you have a less than stellar back, he won't be so hot to trot but at least it makes sense he'd struggle unlike having a beast struggle in 07. Stats are more likely to realistic than in previous versions. I don't play with cheat codes or anything so those of you who say I beat the CPU 80-3 on Heisman level is full of it. No pennants, no cheats, no tutorials for hardcore trickster manuals. Just open the game and play it to the best of my ability. You can't just throw 70 yd TD passes everytime and break off ridiculous tackles with impact receivers either. There's more balance of big throw and running the ball. I love it.

-SUMMER DRILLS. It's so awesome to have training camp like in Madden. You can develop your backup quarterbacks with 4 different drills. That is a huge help. There are a total of 17 drills but I believe developing the QB of the future (while also the QB of now) is the most important aspect. Simply love it.

-MEDICAL REDSHIRTS. Ability to save a player for another year if he has a lengthy injury early on. I can't tell you how great this is and can make a major difference to your team. Gives the game even more of a realistic feel.

Now for the CONS,

CONS

-Played PS3 version before. Got to see it's recruiting interface and also the ability to play high school games in campus legend. Xbox really didn't put much development into this game since it's the last for the Xbox. I almost sold the game on the spot finding out it was nowhere close to the 360 and PS3 version. The PS3 has a lot of cons the Xbox doesn't have so I'm not saying go out and buy a PS3 for this game and be in Heaven. I'm just saying, the Xbox should've taken a cue from the 360 and PS3 versions when it comes to recruiting and campus legend.

-HEISMAN LEVEL. Don't attempt to play this game on anything harder than All-American. It's just complete idiocy if you do. Guys drop way too many balls in All-American as it is. Heisman is for those who have a sadomasacist (sp?) complex. It's pure torture.

-PROMISES. I really wish you could make promises to players in the offseason portion of recruiting as well. Would've been a nice addition.

-BASICALLY 07. Looking for a completely different game, 360 or PS3 is your answer. If you love 07 the way it is with a few nice tweaks here and there, you have 08. Fall in love again with NCAA 08 and the new rosters. It's just not updated player names, it's updated ratings. Brent Schaeffer was pretty solid in 07 and now he's properly rated. Mediocre. It's more than just, well, Troy Smith is gone, no big deal. It's the entire team has changed and the ratings and makes it completely different. It's a great incentive to purchase the new game.

4 out of 5 stars. Once I got over the initial shock of it not being anything like the 360 or PS3 versions, realized the game is so much like 07 which I loved, and also realized the 360 and PS3 versions have a lot of cons this didn't, I was able to truly enjoy this game. Enjoy!

im an old school video gamer..thats why i like the original xbox system. ncaa 08 is a great game. it's the last game they made for the original xbox and the gameplay is great for that system.

As a fan of this series of titles, I looked forward to playing the latest edition. The last one I bought was 2005.

There are many improvements to the gameplay which make it more enjoyable, such as being able to see which audible you're calling during the game and more options to do during the off-season. The recruiting aspect is also much improved. Also, the more successful you are, the more influence you'll have over your star players leaving early or staying on for another year.

However, unless I am wrong, they have taken out the play mode where you got to play the biggest plays in history; such as doug Flutie's Hail Mary in the last seconds of the game agains Miami.
These were always fun to play.

They've added (atleast since the 2005 edition) an option of creating your own player and getting him through college. You have to do well in the drills and the better you do, the better the school that will offer you a scholarship. Part of being a player is balancing academics, social and practice. The academics are not all that challenging and you can choose from pretty much any subject, including college football. This is interesting but at the end of the day I find myself playing dynasty more than anything else.

The AI is also "smarter" as in previous editions, there was always one or two plays you could call and you were sure to get big yardage every time. Not so in this game, you do have to mix up the play calling and depending on your settings, the AI will shut down your offense.

A good aspect is the "momentum" factor. Sack the QB, run a big play, and the momentum goes in your favor and your team will be playing better. Lose that momentum and you're more likely to fumble or to drop a pass.

Some downsides:

As I said, the "Big play" part of the game is gone. I thought surely, I'd get to play Boise State against Oklahoma from last year but nope.

Some of the aspects of game don't make sense. I've played 5 seasons with Auburn and have won 4 Heismans with Wide Receivers and not the QB's, maybe they've tweaked the Heisman voting a bit too much. And as for Auburn...are we ever going to have the real Auburn fight song in the game or not????? This is Auburn, not some formerly 1AA team whom nobody has ever heard of. Okay, a petty gripe but come on!

In order to even compete for the Heisman, you are forced to run up the score, which I don't like.

There are some other minor things but there will never be a perfect game.


Overall, this is a much improved version of the NCAA Football game series. Yes, the season is over and we're in the bowl games but the good thing about this game is that you aren't confined to one season, you can play for as long as you want.

We have purchased just about every version of "football" games for the original Xbox since we purchased our Xbox in 2003. My husband continues to play this version to this day. He enjoys the features offered on this iteration; however, it is very similar to the 2007 version which he enjoyed as well. A must have for anyone who wants the last NCAA Football offered for the Xbox.

They've done it again. Another great NCAA football game from the producers of the greatest sports games in the industry.

[[ASIN:B000P0TCDQ NCAA Football 08]
I bought this for my 11 year old son for Christmas. I also bought Madden 08. He loves sports games but he has fun on this game because it lets him pick classes and take exams. It's a lot more than just sports, it has many college activities to do. A video game that lets them use their brain.

I'm the Grandma so I basically got the review word of mouth: "Gramma, thanks for the game, it was awesome."

overall, i am not very impressed with the game. in fact it seems like EA subsituted a few features with an existing platform, slapped some stupid additions to it and took it to the bank! not sure if it is just my console, but this game has been VERY frustrating in that it is consistently freezing up (no problems with Madden '08, though) and eventually forcing me to restart a game i was more than 3/4 of the way through on! this happens consistently and i think i am on the verge of sending it back to EA for a full refund.

to date, i would have to say that NCAA Football 2006 is still my favorite version! EA even managed to take off the cool music tracks... more evidence that they just slapped a few features and packaged to sell. not much thought went into this one!

I waited for weeks in anticipation of this the latest and last ncaa football for xbox. I have been a loyal EA customer for years, annually saving my money to buy NCAA and Madden each fall. This year I wish I would have saved my money.

As an experienced gamer, I automatically jump to the highest level, in this game Heisman level. I enjoy a good fair challenge from the A.I. when playing by myself, however this year the A.I. is an opponent on steriods, with the ref in their pocket, and a spy in my lockerroom. No matter if I'm playing USC or Florida International, the computer always knows exactly what play I plan to run. Not only that, the computer's players become super human. As a University of Michigan fan I tend to always play as the Wolverines. I literally played Eastern Michigan, and reset the game 12 times to repeat my first drive. 10 times I turned the ball over, once I was forced into a 4th and long, and once I scored. Against EASTERN MICHIGAN!!! Their no name defensive end ROUTINELY flattens T#77 (aka Jake Long top 5 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft). WR#86 (Mario Manningham) dropped 1 out of every 3 passes, while their defenders intercepted anything they touched, and made spectacular plays on balls bouncing off of one or two other players with ease.

Believe me, this is not a review made after a day or two of playing, I've had this game since its release date, and have played it pretty steadily. The computer defense is just beyond frustrating. Now on the flip side, playing defense is easier than ever, and I find myself with as many takeaways as turnovers. After totaling up giveaways and takeaways after 20 full games played, I had an AVERAGE of 8.6 turnovers between both teams per game. That is absolute insanity, and in no way makes for a realistic game.

Now I give it two stars thanks to an excellent dynasty mode (albeit as easy as ever to master). The addition of summer drills allows you to improve 17 players in addition to normal spring game training boosts, which is a great enhancement. Recruiting is improved as well, with new twists in the details of your focus on recruits and the ability to recruit year round. The My Shrine does a better job in detailing your accolades, and Campus Legend is back with some slight tweaks if that's your bag.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a realistic football simulation, this is not the place. Trust me, you'll get as sick of the computer as me after they get their 3rd straight Great Jump! no matter how many times you vary the snap count. I bought the game so I'm stuck with it, but I'm just counting down the days until Madden comes out, when I'll trade this pile of junk in for some trade value towards it. If college is your thing, save a few bucks in get a used copy of NCAA 07.