NCAA Football 2004

"A Great game that only gets better with time!"

In the past, I know I was definitely more of a Madden kind of guy. Ncaa football had poor graphics, bad plays, and absolutely horrible control; but after playing 2004 - I have a brand new outlook on this franchise.
Graphics 8/10
The graphics are good, especially on the Xbox system, but there are a few things that are bad. The crowd looks like painted cardboard figures, and every player's facials look exactly the same. It is a football game and it runs pretty smooth so that's all you really need any way. This isn't an RPG. One way to definitely increase your resolution is go buy a connector for your Xbox to use component cables, they're even better than a S-video link.
Sound 6/10
I'm an Auburn student myself and I love my school, but hearing a school's fight song and annoying commentary for 20 minutes can get extremely annoying. My friends and I usually just crank up some other music to make the game more intense, and to make sure we don't go absolutely crazy. AND CORSO IS AN ANNOYING ANNOYING OLD MAN!
Gameplay 9/10
This is part of the game that really shines. The main difference between Madden and this game is definitely the playbook. I mean the NFL doesn't run the option, and there really isn't a more exciting play in football. The amount of options you have in plays, and the playbooks you pick are out of this world. There are delayed runs, a lot more QB runs, and a ton of play action plays that actually work. The strategy in playing a game with a run game and a pass game really becomes an art.
Replay 10/10
The Dynasty mode is absolutely wonderful. I almost love the off-season more than playing the game. There are hundreds of teams you can choose, and the challenge of making Memphis the best team in the nation is a great accomplishment. College classics are also a great touch. I've spent hours trying to beat all of these, and college rivals are awesome!! Especially if you support one of those teams. You can play this game by yourself forever, or when friends come over - We always debate whether we're going to play Halo or NCAA, and that's a pretty big comparison.

My final note - Don't rent this game ever(It's a waste of money), get up right now and go buy it. It's really worth every penny.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/22/04