Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that EA Sports and Tiberon make this NCAA series yearly for die-hard college football fans. Each season they strive to get everything accurate as they imitate college ball. The graphics on the newer systems (PS3 and the Xbox 360) are better than those found on the Xbox and PS2, but all versions deliver sweet college football action.
Families can talk about why people have allegiances to different college football teams. Is it because they know someone who went there? Is your favorite team close to home? Are they having a winning season? Families can also discuss the differences between pro and NCAA games. Some see college football players as unpaid athletes making schools rich by risking their own health -- do you?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Andrew Bub
If you're a football fan, your heart beats a little quicker every fall. And there's no shortage of hype around the season, including the release of the year's Madden title and EA Sports' latest NCAA FOOTBALL game.
Each year, and this year is no exception, Madden 08 gets most of the tweaks, improvements, and coverage. That's fine because NCAA Football 08 is for purists.
In the real college game, the coaches adhere to the most fundamental stratagems in the game, the rules are more basic, the playbook a bit smaller, and the superhuman athletes are fewer and farther between. That's true in this video game as well. Each college team is lucky if they have a handful of NFL draft prospects on their roster -- so it's play-calling, rather than play-making that marks the college game. Plus there are so many schools, so many teams, so many titles, and the result is a fan base more rabid and enthusiastic than even fan-towns like Cleveland or Green Bay can boast.
In NCAA Football 08, the playbooks are expanded, with more than a few clever trick plays to choose from. You can select the kind of plays that can help you win big or blow up in your face. Also, the game offers a deep and massive dynasty mode that lets you control, draft, and handle the team for a set number of years.
The color commentary from Lee Corso is a "love it or loathe it" proposition -- but that's a pretty good definition of a color commentator. The calls and advice can be wacky at times -- you can be up by four touchdowns and Corso will still tell you "this is a close game." Right.
Overall presentation is stellar, with superb graphics and sound. The game has you pick your favorite school and then presents the game in that school's colors, with their fight song playing. This makes starting the game, especially with friends and rivals nearby, a source of alumni (or in some cases, wishful alumni) pride. Expect to see familiar college stadiums and mascots, and hear marching bands while playing.
If football for you means younger players, exposed calves, few superstars, and an emphasis on team play and tradition -- abandon Madden 08 and grab NCAA Football 08. It's a college gridiron classic.
For younger gridiron fans, check out the Backyard Football series or the Wii version of Madden 08.
Platform Notes
PlayStation 2
This version is solid and stable, and plays much like the Xbox version. Its graphics aren\'t as good as the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 versions.
PlayStation 3
This version shows off gorgeous graphics and is on par with the version created for the Xbox 360.
Xbox
This version is similar to the PlayStation 2 version in that it\'s solid and stable, although the graphics aren\'t as good as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 version is much improved over last year\'s version, which seemed incomplete. The graphics are outstanding!
Reviewed: 09/13/2007
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ViolenceFootball violence -- tamer than TV, though. |
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Social BehaviorKids learn that team play and strategy win the game. |
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Educational ValueIt's a great way to learn football and the college game. |
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