PlayStation 2
Released in 2005 by EA Sports
Grade: A+
This game is a total blast, combining solid action and a perfect control scheme with the unpredictable, wide-open nature of college football. It’s among the best football video games ever.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the fifth of ten NCAA Football games on PS2. It’s in that sweet spot, where the developers had years to perfect the game on the console, but just before they were focused on the next gen.
Praises and gripes
I tend to think EA’s college games are basically Madden with a few gameplay tweaks and all the college-themed crap. But this year, the gameplay tweaks are just right, with an open style of play, effective use of option and trick plays, and slightly less skilled players.
The control is very intuitive, with speed that’s ramped up from the previous year. I like how there’s enough depth without going overboard, with spins, jukes, and well-tuned “hold for a bullet, tap for a rainbow” passing. On defense, you can tackle by simply running into the ballcarrier, as well as diving or using the hit stick, and the “swat pass” command works like it should.
I like how passing isn’t quite as crisp as in Madden. You can’t fire a bullet on short routes. It’ll either be off target or the receiver will drop it. You need to put some air under the ball so your receivers can adjust to it. This simple aspect of the game makes the passing game feel natural and requires some finesse. The surefire slants and curls that I abused in Madden don’t work here, forcing me to come up with other strategies.
Runners have the right amount of open space. Defenders tackle with realistic speed and ferocity, resulting in some broken tackles and a generally fun time playing offense. Runners also fumble more often than in Madden, another nuance that adds to the unpredictability. Balls are prone to be tipped in the air, causing fluky interceptions and spectacular second-chance catches.
Most teams have unique offensive playbooks, equipped with plenty of different option plays and trick plays. The open-space feel of the game allows trick plays to unfold organically, which is nice. The option game is well designed, allowing a quick pitch with R2. The “read option” wasn’t popular back in 2006, but there are some plays that allow a quick handoff by double-tapping X.
Teams with a strong QB and a star receiver connect on long bombs a lot, which may be frustrating at first, but it means that you need to take control of a DB to stop it. In general, you’re better off doing the dirty work yourself instead of letting your CPU teammates do it for you, which I like.
Lower-tier teams have a harder time passing, and they rely more on the run game. In a game between low-tier teams, star players shine brighter with long runs and returns. I’m not sure it’s a perfectly balanced spectrum of skill among the game’s 200+ teams, but there’s certainly a lot of variety.
In terms of strategy, Madden veterans will feel at home before the snap. The one thing you can’t do is individual player changes on defense, and therefore you can’t “redraw the play” like you can in Madden. I’ll take it. It feels right.
As usual with EA’s games, the CPU will botch late-game scenarios, but it’s delightfully aggressive the rest of the time, pulling out trick plays and going for it on fourth down.
To recreate home-field advantage, there’s a crowd meter that shakes the screen and rumbles the controller when you’re on the road. In highly hostile environments, your audibles take longer to execute, and sometimes your receivers simply can’t hear the call and they’ll run their original route. If you don’t care for all this, you can switch it off in the settings.
The game is also known for one of the most rewarding dynasty modes ever, with a recruiting system that gamers loved. I didn’t actually play the mode myself. I’ll defer to the other online dorks on this one.
The college atmosphere is fleshed out with unique stadiums, school bands, cheerleaders, and mascots. You can even play as the mascots, a pretty cute novelty.
The graphics are standard for 2006, but nitpickers might groan over some repetitive tackle animations and awkward pileups on short runs. Also, the commentary is downright agitating, so you’ll probably switch it off quickly.
Anyway, put it all together, and the game is just great fun. Its intuitive yet wide-open action struck me immediately when I started to play, and it only got better as I got deeper into the game. It’s an easy must-own for fans of football gaming, whether you prefer college or the pros.