Alright guys, so, just go through with my first game. Here is the review I posted on the Operation Sports forums. I included some videos from the game as well.
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I just finished my first game. I had a lot of fun.
Settings
Difficulty: All American
Quarter Length: 5
Slider Adjustments: None
System: XBox 360
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Opened up the game and without making any changes, jumped into an exhibition game. Toledo @ BGSU. This game is definitely different to me compared to the last few versions of NCAA Football, and much better in my opinion.
The sliders do need to be adjusted to improve defensive pass rush, offensive rushing and perhaps pass defense. But not too much, and they are not game killers at all.
I won the game 21-16.
I jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, off a big play by Marques Parks and then a bigger run by Chris Bullock. Toledo countered with two Interceptions in the 2nd quarter, but could only muster 3 points out of it. They missed, just barely, a 56-yard field goal on the 2nd turnover. I like the feature that asks you to select which play the defense ran out of their set formation after you throw an INT, and you gain or lose composure points based on your answer. Nice touch.
I broke another long drive for my third touchdown late in the 2nd, and went into the locker room for halftime winning, BGSU 21, Toledo 3. The second half was a completely different story. While there are admittedly some glaring problems with the AI, it seemed as though Toledo was much tighter defensively against me in the second half, and it indeed felt like the AI had learned and adapted to my offensive play calling.
They were able to march down the field in the 3rd for a touchdown, but a failed two point conversion left them trailing 21-9 heading into the final frame. Suddenly I could do nothing on offense. With 3 minutes to go Toledo forced a 3-and-out. I blitzed on the proceeding play, and was able to get one of my few effective pass rushes and sack the Quarterback. So it's difficult, but not impossible. Unfortunately, on the next play they hit a WR screen and went 70 yards for a touchdown. My lead had been reduced from 21-3 to 21-16.
But there was just under two minutes left and all I had to do was run out the clock. I handed the ball off to Chris Bullock, but he fumbled it away right around the half-field mark. Now I was sweating it a little bit. Was I going to lose my first game? That'd be awful!
Toledo opened up their offense and started to slice and dice me. The pass defense needs a little work, but not too much. Most notable in this drive was the lack of defensive pass rush, something I could live with when I had an 18 point lead, but at this point in the game it felt like they had all day. The Rockets were able to get it down to about the 28 yard line, when they went from broke with 49 seconds remaining, and my DB picked the ball off at the 5 yard line, game over.
Highlights included from my EA Sports World account below. Great stuff.
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http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/20546
Nice little leap for a Touchdown.
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/20555
Patience in the backfield!
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/20534
Punt coverage breaks down and would eventually lead to a UT TD
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/20559
Fourth Quarter sack just before Toledo cuts the lead to 5.
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/20538
Game saving INT with 49 seconds to play
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Verdict: Despite all the paranoia surrounding this game, I LOVE IT. It is a lot smoother then the last few versions, and plays a visually stunning and high quality game of college football. The extra features such as the EA Locker and the Sports World instant uploads are awesome additions that will allow games and game stories to be shared a lot easier. The gameplay is still the same old EA engine, sure, and will definitely need some tweaks with the sliders to get it right, but what is impressive about this year's game is how nothing is cheap. The defense, nor the offense, nor the special teams seems to be ridiculously lop sided. It's flat fun.
I hope you can get your hands on it and play it out over the next few days because it is enjoyable. It might not be perfect, but it is fun. That is what a game is supposed to be about, right?
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Stats
PASSING:
Tyler Sheehan; BGSU - 11 for 17, 164 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 161.0 QB RAT
Alex Petee; Toledo - 17 for 24, 216 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 165.5 QB RAT
RUSHING:
Chris Bullock; BGSU - 17 ATT, 42 yards, 2.4 AVG, 1 TD, 1 FUMBLE
DaJuane Collins; Toledo - 15 ATT, 48 yards,3.2 AVG, 0 TD, 0 FUMBLE
RECEIVING:
Corey Partridge; BGSU - 4 Rec, 72 yards, 18.0 AVG, 1 TD, 31 LONG
Marques Parks; BGSU - 4 Rec, 73 yards, 18.2 AVG, 1 TD, 36 LONG
Tyrone Pronty; BGSU - 2 Rec, 12 yards, 6.0 AVG, 0 TD, 8 LONG
Freddie Barnes; BGSU - 1 Rec, 7 yards, 7.0 AVG, 0 TD, 7 LONG
Nick Moore; Toledo - 5 Rec, 43 yards, 8.6 AVG, 0 TD, 13 LONG
DaJuane Collins; Toledo - 4 Rec, 32 yards, 8.0 AVG, 0 TD, 14 LONG
Stephen Williams; Toledo - 2 Rec, 96 yards, 48.0 AVG, 1 TD, 72 LONG
Tim Cortazzo; Toledo - 2 Rec, 12 yards, 6.0 AVG, 0 TD, 6 LONG
Trumaine Smith; Toledo - 2 Rec, 14 yards, 7.0 AVG, 0 TD, 9 LONG
Tim Burzine; Toledo - 1 Rec, 10 yards, 10.0 AVG, 0 TD, 10 LONG
John Allen; Toledo - 1 Rec, 9 yards, 9.0 AVG, 1 TD, 9 LONG
