NCAA Football 09

"Another July, another NCAA."

So, you're standing there, a copy of NCAA Football 2009 in your hands, money burning a hole in your pocket, at your trying to convince yourself that this year it's going to be different; That this year is the year they totally redid the Franchise system; That they made Superstar start before the high school playoffs, and that your offensive line isn't just a two second roadblock for average defensive linemen.

Well, to be blunt, it's nothing different. If you've played an NCAA football title in the past year or two, you're basically getting the same game, with a few added features mixed in. While there is nothing wrong with the game itself, it's a very good game, and a vast improvement in some aspects over its Madden counterpart, it's still just the same old bag of tricks. All of the big name teams, the Georgia's and Ohio States, are beefed up, even teams like Michigan, my personal favorite team, is overrated, pretty much just because of the name it carries, while other teams are left in the dust, the Navy's and Eastern Michigan's of the world, and are nothing but fodder for the better programs.

Playing with the 360 controller is a pretty smooth transition from playing 08 any of the other consoles. While irritating in some aspects and things that veteran player's will find annoying, such as moving the RB button to throwing the ball away, instead of electing to keep it as your fifth receiver, 09 flows pretty good throughout the course of the game. Pitching the ball is a lot more fluid, should your Running back be totally prepared to catch it. As well, the defensive audibles and substitutes are a lot easier to control and have a greater depth to it than in past years. Offensive hot routes are more or less the same thing, while smart route can still be equally as frustrating.

One new and wonderful addition to the mix though, is the introduction of Formation Audibles, which lets you call an audible, at the line of scrimmage, without changing to brand new formations. Other impactful new systems include things like icing the kicker, where in the 2nd and 4th quarter, calling a time out before a kick, actually makes the kicker's meter freeze over with ice, and zooming in on the player as you try to get it through the uprights. Toughest places to play in, makes some stadiums extra hard to compete in, as well, in Dynasty mode, these places change year to year. Quarterback Quizzes and Bluff Play Art are a few other pretty cool features, which enhance 09.

Dynasty mode got a few revamped systems to it, as well as getting some new features. You can now add in recruiting strategy's to your game, which allows your assistants to do the work for you if you feel the need to skip it, as well as quick calling recruits, so you no longer have to pitch specific aspects of your college yourself. The ability to ship classes to Madden has been added again, and everything from during to after the seasons have a new look to it. Online has also gotten a new look, with the option of Online Dynasty's making an appearance, where up to twelve players can compete in a full dynasty for up to 60 years. Of course there are still the old Quick and Custom matches that allow you to jump right into the action, as well as EA Sports World, and the ESPN news along the bottom of the screen.

Commentating for your games, as always are Lee Corso, Herbstreit, and Fowler, with the same old lines and played out dialogue we've been hearing for years. While a few new snippets ever now and then, it's really nothing to warrant keeping the sound on while playing. Crowd noise isn't much of a factor, and if you've ever heard your teams fight song, that's basically what you'll get whenever you do something great. The only new and pretty cool addition they made to 09 was adding Custom Stadium Sounds, which allows you to take your own tracks, and rip 20 different ones into the game.

A step up though would defiantly be in the visuals department, graphically, 09 is defiantly the best out there. While it's still not the, oh my god, stopping power of everyone's dreams, it's getting there. Crowds still look unpleasant and dull, and players, while showing more wear and tear, still have the basic bland facials and textures. Celebrations improved, sometimes allowing you to even dance with the mascots, but you'll still find yourself going through the back wall on occasion.

Overall, 09 isn't terrible, it's not even not worth picking up, but it's still not enough to make you think that it's a brand new experience. Until they pick up on key aspects, graphically, game play wise, and even tweaking the same old commentating, the series will continue to just be a new roster, couple new improvements, waste of sixty dollars, game. As Lee Corso so boldly states, EA got their hands caught in the cookie jar this time, trying to dish out a repeated game, with new cover.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/08/08

Game Release: NCAA Football 09 (US, 07/15/08)