Prodigious Powerhouse- NCAA Football 10

Photo of Robert Allen Robert AllenJuly 14, 2009
116 1,700 3 minutes read

NCAA Football 10 for the 360 & PS3. Developer: Tiburon, Publisher: Electronic Arts. ESRB: E

The best sports games have the power to bridge worlds. As a college student, I was an avid gamer and casual sports fan, and purchased NCAA Football ’98 on a whim. The title quickly caught the attention of my non-gaming roommate, and soon highly spirited daily matches became the norm. Some of my best college memories involve the revelries heard around the block when the University of North Carolina and Notre Dame met for a virtual matchup.

Over the course of several console generations, Madden gradually replaced NCAA as the football game of choice. Although I preferred the splendor of college pigskin, Madden had the larger budget, and consequently received more refinement to the core game engine. This year, NCAA Football 10 looks to have caught up with the pros, and offers a magnificent recreation of college ball.

This year the developers at Tiburon, seek to silence the “I’m not paying $60 for a roster update” detractors with a healthy amount of new content. NCAA Football 10’s Teambuilder allows players to create a custom squad, while the Season Showdown which cleverly showcases school loyalty.  Additionally, the game has received a number of mechanical and graphic enhancements that contribute to the game’s already-magnificent recreation of the celebratory spirit of collegiate football. 

Once player’s direct their web browsers to the Teambuilder site, players have the ability to craft a real or imagined team using a variety of potent tools. Would-be coaches can import logos, design jerseys, and even modify existing stadiums using an intuitive interface. Within fifteen minutes, I had a fictitious team assembled, along with uniforms sharp enough to instill doubt into any opponents. A field with corresponding colors was carefully groomed, along with the team name in the endzone. Importing the saved data into NCAA Football 10 was extremely easy, as well as browsing through other player’s handiwork. A game with my newly formed squad showed skillful integration, the only caveat was a left over team logo displayed on the stadium scoreboard.

New to the series is Player Lock, which allows gamers to control a single specified athlete during a play. While this option can’t produce consistently interesting gaming moments, it does feel invigorating to control a blitzing linebacker or safety.  One of my fundamental concerns with any football game is exploitable A.I- most titles allow the player to replicate successful plays persistently. NCAA 10 is quite savvy, particularly on the higher difficulty levels, requiring gamers to keep a varied repertoire. Last year, players that had a sizable lead over a CPU opponent could turn on the game’s Super Sim to have the console calculate the results of the game. Unfortunately, the option lead to a high number of unrealistic underdog victories for the computer. This year’s game rectifies these outcomes, allowing for a much more accurate estimation of game results. For sports fans that are casual gamers, there’s also a handy ‘family play’ option that simplifies the title’s control scheme.

Although the title’s Season Showdown won’t become fully realized until the start of the actual NCAA football season on August 31st, this component of the game looks to expand the already-competitive nature of the game.   Once players select the Season Showdown from the main menu, they will be prompted to select their favorite collegiate team. While in pre-season, every single and multiplayer-game grants their preferred team units. Upon the game’s release, trivia questions will also add to the pool. Although unproven, Season Showdown could be a robust enticement that lures players back to NCAA each week, giving the title a large online constituency.

NCAA’s graphical strength lay in the title’s diversity- from the carefully rendered stadiums, to the range of real time weather conditions culled from The Weather Channel. Late summer games in the Midwest displayed ominous thunderclouds, while a game at the Rose Bowl displayed lucid azure skies. When the gamer is controlling the on-screen action, the game’s framerate remains buttery smooth, allowing for split second jukes and precise passing. Between play cheerleading exhibitions add authenticity to the proceedings, but don’t display the same fluidity as on-screen interactions. NCAA still exhibits an occasional split-second pause immediately before the play calling menu appears; although this is a negligible quibble that will likely be overlooked by many fans. Players connected online are treated to real-time tickertape scoring of actual sports, along with ESPN radio, appreciably augmenting the overall experience.

NCAA Football 10 starts with extremely solid foundation- its refined engine offers a superb recreation of the sport. Yet, it’s the title’s supplementary material that makes this game a must-have for aficionados of collegiate ball. With the inclusion of a simplified control scheme, Electronic Arts has wisely opened the game to new audiences; I anticipate playing this with friends well past this season’s bowl season.


                                                           NCAA Football 10 was reviewed on retail Xbox 360 code.

Photo of Robert Allen Robert AllenJuly 14, 2009
116 1,700 3 minutes read
Photo of Robert Allen

Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

116 Comments

  2. Awesome review. I always wanted NCAA to be on par with Madden. This year they both sound like solid games.

  3. Between this review and the one at TeamXbox, I’m convinced.

    Penn State’s the squad to beat, by the way.

  5. I liked the way your review did get all crazy into football terms. I love the game, but don’t know history from the early 80’s…

  6. My problem was the demo. Two minutes quarters don’t give you enough time to get the flow of the game.

  8. Notice how the Team Xbox Review came out first and basically didn’t saw anything was wrong with the game?

    I’m just saying…

  9. Did the fix pocket protection? That was broken last year. Glad to hear the sim thing is working. I used that about three times and it seemed completely busted.

  10. Anyone know if Gamestop is going their nearly NCAA to Madden trade in promotion this year?

  12. Great review. The IGN said something about a “win” button, but don’t really explain. What do they mean.

    “This year, EA has included a win button on defense. Hold it down and your defender takes proper position (even sticks to his receiver like peanut butter to a bear’s ass). And if the man he’s covering blocks instead of running a route, the win button knows to attack the running back”

  13. Solid review. I think some of the other sites are jaded from reviewing this year after year.

  16. Even with all the change, I cant buy this. I know next year will offer a few bug fixes and better stuff.

    Also, the fact that EA owns the rights to NCAA football bothers me. Competition is good.

  17. no interest in video game football. I thought yo guys were into more indie stuff.

  19. No real reason to buy this year’s game. Season Showdown sounds cool, but not $60 cool.

  21. So you hold down a button and a guy does what he’s supposed to do? Isn’t this like the Sim feature?

  24. Great review. Sounds like you played the game, unlike these other site who go by last year’s model.

    Still did you notice any major bugs?

  26. Buy one game, buy them all.

    Why cant they do roster changes/ additions via DLC and put the game out every other year?

  29. Hopefully, NCAA 10 is much better than Madden 09. Still, I’ll probably buy both….

  30. I just read the IGN review, and it seemed lacking, like the reviewer didn’t want to play/review the game.

  34. My friend has been playing this since yesterday (he got his copy early) and loves it. WWWWAAAYYYY better than 09.

    EA really tightened it up this year.

  36. Yeah, but lets be real what company has the money for a presentation on EA’s level.

    Buy the independent Black College Football Experience and tell me if it’s better than NCAA.

  37. I forgot I preordered. I just got the Voicemail. Two minute demo be damned, I guess.

  39. I may have to buy this, only because I put 2 hours of work into Team Builder online. I’ll probably hold off until a price drop.

  40. Whos the cover star this year? Not that that will affect my purchase decision, just curious.

  43. They make too many small changes to the game, animations, tweaks, etc to just change via a patch.

  46. If they fixed the pockets, maybe. Last years programming was embarrassing.

    And I hope they add throw past/in front of the receive passing like madden.

  47. awesome review!.I can’t wait to play this game tomorrow and play as the U.Hurry up gamefly with your shipping!.

  51. I’ll be online playing as my Wildcats, trying to score some early points for the school.

  54. I definitely need to get this game ill do whatever, this in depth review just basically convinced me to get this game before i die!

  55. I liked the demo, but as it always is with these games, I’ll probably buy it for about $5 in two years. I just finished playing NCAA ’08 not too long ago.

  59. I think it really depends on your football preference more than anything.

  61. I’ll wait for the Madden review before making a decision on a football game this year.

  62. I hope this is better than NCAA 08.5. Season Showdown will put it over the top. /sarcasm.

  65. Yeah, with only two players, there’s never too much lag. Last year’s NCAA was fine.

  66. I read they there were pretty much the same. The days of 30 fps PS3 Madden are over.

  70. I’ve been playing 06 for a while. Could be time for an upgrade with all the new stuff.

  73. Also take a look at this:

    http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/05/06/ncaa-football-lawsuit-brings-more-legal-trouble-ea-sports

    So it rankled Keller to note that “with rare exception, virtually every real-life Division I football or basketball player in the NCAA has a corresponding player in Electronic Arts’ games with the same jersey number, and virtually identical height, weight, build and home state. In addition Electronic Arts often matches the player’s, skin tone, hair color, and often even a player’s hair style.”

  74. Ultimately gamers are responsible for the yearly update on sports games, by paying the ridiculous price of a new sports game.

    It’s nice to see upgrades and bug fixes so go ahead and buy your flavor of sport game every year…just buy last years title each year. You’ll save hundreds or thousands of dollars in the long run.

    If enough gamers did this, they might consider providing low cost roster updates and minor features, and going to a two year cycle.

  75. Wow that is one well written review, looks like they have another hit on their hands.

  78. Glad to see we have something worth buying this year. Time for some ORANGE POWER!!!

  79. Well I have not played a NCAA title for a couple years now as I have always waited for Madden. But I’m also cheap XD. This would be great fun and will be holding me over till Madden’s release.

  80. Great review. I have a feeling I’ll be playing this soon, if the GF is in a good mood.

  81. I’ll buy it once it reaches a good enough price or when NCAA Football 11 rolls around

  82. Looks good. Always love the atmosphere the NCAA games have. Will probably stick with Madden though.

  85. I’d love to play this game. Haven’t bought a football game for a couple of years now. Pac10 baby, Go Beavs!

  91. everyone i know has been a big fan of NCAA > Madden. or at least that’s what they play usually. not into sports games myself but maybe I should give them a whirl if it’s as good as all that.

  100. Very Nice review. REaly in depth. WOuld like to play this game now after reading this since I don’t like much sports games, hopefuly I’ll win and make it happen thanks

  102. Nice review, very informative.

    Never purchased an NCAA Football title before, but always been tempted. Looks like this may be a good year to start.

  103. This game looks pretty sweet. Too bad SJSU doesn’t have a better football team. Oh well… looks like I’ll have to build them up in the dynasty mode.

  104. Despite the thorough review, I will have to wait until I can find this one used for $30 or less, unless of course I can win a free copy…that would be sweet.

  114. Nice review, glad to hear they are going back to a more basic control sceme. I played Madden abuot 6 years ago but stopped playing. I tried to play NCAA last yean and JEEZ they were definately getting way too complex.

    I also find you inclusion of Erin Andrews amusing given the recent events.

  115. Nice little review here. Its great to see that there is enough new content to warrant the price tag.

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