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Since the current
generation of
systems came out
years ago, EA has
taken a lot of time
to make its two
football franchises
two separate
entities. We’ve seen
Madden and NCAA
Football share some
qualities, but we’ve
also seen the core
gameplay and the
look of each game go
in different
directions. NCAA
Football 11 doesn’t
do a ton of
different things
from what it did
last year with game
modes, but the
football
advancements made in
gameplay are enough
to make it stand out
and apart from
Madden.
New this year is the
dual stick running
mode. The right
stick operates as
your top half; the
left stick operates
as your bottom half.
You control the way
your shoulders lean
and operate using
the right stick and
you can hammer out a
few extra yards if
you use it
correctly. Also new
is the ability for
wide receivers to
make sideline
catches. They
position themselves
correctly when a
ball is tossed to
them when they’re
close to the lines
and they adjust
their toes
correctly. My
favorite fix in this
game is blitzing.
You’ve always been
able to blitz in
this game but
usually they’re
picked up by the
fullback and it’s
ineffective. In this
game- if you do a
great job at timing
your blitz you will
have success with
it. Not every time,
but the hit rate is
improved from what
it was in previous
versions. This is
probably the biggest
fix in this game
with gameplay and
feeling like college
football. A good
blitz wins games in
college games, in
pro games it can be
effective but
coverage is more
important.
Those gameplay fixes
make this a fun game
to play through, but
the control
mechanics make this
one more challenging
too. Gone is the
ability to juke
someone easily and
gain at least twenty
yards on the ground
every time. Also
gone is the ability
to use the hit stick
with success every
time. Both tactics
are harder to use
and at times you’ll
miss completely when
you’re trying to
bash a running back
in the backfield.
Other than those
mechanics, AI is
improved from the
computer stand point
with some solid play
calling on offense
and defense. Your
opposition is harder
to predict in this
outing. If you like
to pursue with
blitzes you’ll be
caught off guard
with screens. If you
like to drop back
into coverage and
play with four guys
rushing the passer
all the time they
will catch you off
guard with some draw
plays.
Game
modes in
NCAA
Football 11
aren’t over the top
good, or even
different from what
they were in last
year’s version. Erin
Andrews is back with
Road to Glory… but
she’s using the same
videos that she used
last year so you
won’t see anything
altogether new in
that game mode.
Dynasty mode is
solid again this
year with the online
dynasty mode being
hugely fun. Not only
can you recruit on
your console- you
can recruit from
your PC or mobile
device with online
dynasty. It’s a huge
amount of fun and
you can take your
dynasty everywhere
you go. Plus the
recruiting system
has been fixed and
made more difficult
than in previous
years. It’s harder
to get a school off
the ground with
quality players, and
it’s harder to land
that prized five
star recruit.
NCAA
Football 11
has some fantastic
gameplay fixes. It’s
disappointing to see
no adds in dynasty
or road to glory
modes, but the
online dynasty and
functionality of
recruiting on your
PC makes up for
that. The commentary
isn’t as good as it
has been in previous
years- Lee Corso is
missed as an extra
voice, and although
the ESPN graphics
look cool and the
functioning with all
things ESPN is cool.
It’s not over the
top amazing. Still,
if you take a look
at gameplay and the
game modes that are
there you’re going
to be playing
NCAA
Football 11
for the next year
without any problems
at all because it’s
fun, challenging,
and interactive. It
feels different from
Madden and will
continue to go in
fun and exciting
directions.
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