NCAA Football 13′ | Full Review (PS3)

Review Score:

With college football right around the corner, there is no doubt in the minds of many college football fans this is their time to celebrate. And what a better way to celebrate the tradition of college football with the release of NCAA Football 13‘ right? Well, actually there’s a catch to that. If you haven’t played a college football game in quite sometime, this is one you’re not going to want to miss. However, if you purchased last year’s game, you’re really not missing much. Something that is unfortunately all too familiar with EA Sports football games.

Don’t get me wrong NCAA Football 13‘ is a fantastic football game. It’s as real as you’re going to get in accordance to tradition, rivalries, and school spirit. There isn’t anything like it in the industry today. The crowd getting fired up, the marching bands on the football field prior to kickoff, the pre game traditions before taking the football field, the in stadium chants – it’s all there in NCAA Football 13‘. It’s the little things like this that make NCAA Football 13‘ an enjoyable college football game. EA Sports surely knows how to capture it’s audience when it comes to that.

There are multiple new modes of play with NCAA Football 13‘. With this year being the 20th anniversary of the game (wow I am really getting old if the first game came out in 1992) EA Sports added the Heisman Mode. Basically, this gives you the opportunity to control a player from the past who won the coveted trophy and take them to any college football team in the game. For example ever wish Barry Sanders would have chosen Oklahoma over Oklahoma State? Done. How about Desmond Howard playing for The Ohio State Buckeyes? Sold. Or Robert Griffin III playing for Alabama (as if they need another superstar on their squad) no problem. I thought this was a really cool feature to be added in this year’s game as it also gives you a history lesson of that player’s journey throughout his college career, highlights, and more.

In terms of graphics, NCAA Football 13‘ has not changed much over the years; which well, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The animations are the same but where EA Sports seemed to really improve upon was the time lapse during the duration of the football game itself. You’ll find yourself playing a game during the late afternoon and by the fourth quarter the stadium lights will begin to turn on as the sun sets over the stadium. It’s a really nice touch.

Recruiting in NCAA Football 13‘ in Dynasty Mode still has the usual recruitment map but some AI improvements were made. For example if a player is interested in attending your school, if you do not recruit him, he will gladly choose another school. In the past, usually if the player had your school ranked in the top 3 with your school having the most prestige it was a shoe in and you didn’t have to devote nearly as much time to that player. This time, around though, you have to do your homework and make sure you follow through with the recruit or you might find yourself having headaches because he’s lacing up against your rival in the same conference.

Perhaps the best addition to the game this year was the in game updates. Reese Davis provides in game updates during your game in dynasty mode as if the game is live on television. It made the game feel a lot more real in terms of presentation and I welcomed this addition with open arms. Transitions are flawless between the in game updates and your game as if you’re watching an ESPN television broadcast. Another nice touch – the ESPN Bottom Line. It updates as if there are live games going on just like an ESPN broadcast. It’s really superb.

NCAA Football 13′ Video Review

Outside of that however, there really isn’t much that has changed with NCAA Football 13‘. In fact, a lot of people might think it’s the same exact game. I had a close friend of mine watch me finish up a game in the fourth quarter and he mistakenly thought I was playing the previous year’s game. This is a testament of how EA Sports tends to stay with the, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. With that said in conclusion, NCAA Football 13‘ is a fantastic game, but I would only recommend it if you’re a hardcore college football fan, or if you haven’t played the previous year’s game. There’s a lot that is offered in this year’s game but there is also too much of the same as well. But all in all, a solid college football game. NCAA Football 13‘ is out today, July 10th 2012, for Xbox 360, and Playstation 3.