VGM: NCAA Football 09 Review

Jordan Rivas writes:

"Thankfully NCAA Football 09 delivers on so many levels my expectations weren’t simply met, they were exceeded. Not only does this game meet the standards set by its NFL big brother, it crafts a niche all its own and paves the way in certain areas that Madden could learn from. From opening kick off to the final overtime drive, NCAA Football 09 is one of the best football experiences available.

For anyone who has picked up a copy of Madden 09, the core gameplay will be instantly familiar, if only slightly tweaked. The control scheme on both sides of the ball is identical save for a couple of minor functions. The difference you will feel is when carrying the football – the fluidity of your ball carrier’s movements is surprisingly smooth and natural. Even after playing Madden 09, which also featured smooth animations, the freedom and fluidity in your ball carrier’s motions is amazing. A new animation feature means players aren’t "locked in" to certain animations, allowing you to quickly chain together a series of moves in a natural way; this is the same feature that Madden 09 touted, but for reasons I can’t explain, it just feels better in NCAA Football 09."