NCAA Football 13 Demo Is Out, Post Your Impressions Here

[PowerofRed25]

Quote: Originally Posted by franch1se

Remember with all the "easy" stuff you are playing on an easy difficulty setting. The game isn't set to heisman or anything challenging.

It isn't easy because of difficulty level, it is easy because of the things the CPU is doing on the field. Option defense remains glitched out in Cover 3. The LB's simply slide like they are on a foosball table while the outside DB's simply backpedal and stop.

Zone defense in the passing game also have problems as players seem to get stuck on receivers running through their zone and never release them, which leaves entire sides of the field wide open. It happened in all the preview videos and it is happening in the demo. The CPU is almost trying to cheat its "read and react" coverage to beat the player to the spot in zone, but in doing so, takes them way out of their assigned area.

There are a lot of problems that I would classify as glitchy gameplay, rather than simply difficultly level. As others have pointed out, varsity is actually a bonus neutral difficulty level, meaning it plays fairly straight without one side getting a boost (as opposed to a level like Heisman which gives the CPU an incredibly unrealistic bonus).

I should preface my comments though and say I haven't lost to the CPU in the last three years of this game and I play with VERY hard sliders that are supposed to make you lose in my 12 user OD.

[rerdivine]

Quote: Originally Posted by PowerofRed25

It isn't easy because of difficulty level, it is easy because of the things the CPU is doing on the field. Option defense remains glitched out in Cover 3. The LB's simply slide like they are on a foosball table while the outside DB's simply backpedal and stop. Zone defense in the passing game also have problems as players seem to get stuck on receivers running through their zone and never release them, which leaves entire sides of the field wide open. It happened in all the preview videos and it is happening in the demo. The CPU is almost trying to cheat its "read and react" coverage to beat the player to the spot in zone, but in doing so, takes them way out of their assigned area. There are a lot of problems that I would classify as glitchy gameplay, rather than simply difficultly level. As others have pointed out, varsity is actually a bonus neutral difficulty level, meaning it plays fairly straight without one side getting a boost (as opposed to a level like Heisman which gives the CPU an incredibly unrealistic bonus). I should preface my comments though and say I haven't lost to the CPU in the last three years of this game and I play with VERY hard sliders that are supposed to make you lose in my 12 user OD.

Lol the hardest sliders on these forums are jarrods heisman sliders black set. I guarantee you will lose.

And actually friend it has been said that all American is where none of the both sides get boost.

[DetroitStyle]

Played a few more games today and the PS3 issues are still nagging. I thought maybe I needed to get used to the stuttering and framerate drops but it's too hard to ignore. It might be a demo issue, but then again it might not be.

The graphics are awful on the PS3. From the shimmering, to the low res textures, to the 3D grass and aliasing issues it's just awful in what could be a really polished and refined product. I bring this up constantly because these issues are nowhere to be found on the 360 and it really makes me nervous as a PS3 buyer.

I also noticed and can confirm that WHITE uniforms do NOT get dirty. Oregon's pants had the proper wear and tear, but the white tops were sparkling at the end of the game. Also, the bench players are a horrible mix of PS1 rendered players and next gen rendered players. It doesn't mesh well at all, especially on close up cutscenes that sometimes have them in it. It's like two different versions of the game are being rendered. This is not a demo issue either, as full retail versions in the past have had this. Lastly, the crowd is awful when not in a specific crowd cutscene. It's blurred (too much blur is rampant across all platforms) and pixelated.

The good news though is that I'm still really impressed with the gameplay, as it's solid and fun when it runs smoothly. Still not impressed with CPU playcalling though. I'm still loving the presentation elements and the ESPN integration is really well done. Commentary is good enough as well as the Reece updates, but I don't really pay that much attention to sound anymore in that aspect. The crowd noise and on field sounds are great though.

[PowerofRed25]

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaticus

OK. Makes sense. Some of this I am (fanboyishly) attributing to the fact that this is a demo for a game that, to the best of my knowledge, is yet to go gold. It does have some kinks to be sure, but it is one of the most fun experiences I have had with current gen football games.

I'm willing to chalk a lot of it up to a month old game in demo form. Especially the slow down and lag and flickering and some other rough spots. But the things I'm seeing in CPU zone play go back to both last year (option glitch in Cover 3) and the gameplay videos EA has released this year.

The option glitch is back, but it is slightly different than last year. Last year, the LB's would slide and the CB's would simply freeze in place. This year I'm noticing that the LB's slide and CB's freeze in place UNTIL the ball is advanced beyond the line of scrimmage, at which point they react. Of course by then it is pointless. I'm a little worried about that.

CPU Zone defense I'm a little less worried about, but concerned none the less. There have been problems both in the demo and released gameplay video of zone defenders essentially latching on to WR's as they run through their zone (as they should) but then failing to release and running with them. Obviously that leaves a huge part of the field open. I've been trying to isolate when this happens and it seems like it is usually Cover 2, but with no replay, I can't verify it too easily.

It is most noticeable on combo routes like Shallow Cross. Where a zone defender will cheat towards the in route (before the in is actually run) and then stick with him across the field while the underneath runs completely uncovered.

Like I said, I'm trying to experiment but with barely any quarter length, no replays and limited playbooks, it isn't easy. I do know many others have made similar observations though.

[DerkontheOS]

Reece sounds awful... His lines sound backwards.

[DerkontheOS]

And dear god fix the sim stats for qbs! I can't play a dynasty where everyone has below 50% completion percentage.

Also, my player seem to be celebrating pretty hardcore at the end of the first for being up 3-0.

Then, there is the thing about my interior line not pass blocking and I get sacked before I even complete my drop back. Pretty annoying.

[SonOfEd]

Quote: Originally Posted by PowerofRed25

- Finally saw a new play! Within Wing Offset, there is a play where the WR on the outside runs a jet across the formation and you can either hand to him or keep and run a speed option back from where he came. Very cool.

I saw this play today as well. I like the little mini-series of plays that go with it. Not owning '12, I wasn't sure if this was new, and was something I really wanted in '11.

Back to Impressions, I just really need to see what will happen with sliders and threshold adjustments. The gameplay is reminding me alot of Madden 12, wich I still enjoy, but my heart is with the college game.

Really digging the in-game update addition, at least the fact that I will be able to see what is going on in my dynasty. Nice touch.

Its been hit or miss for me with the DT super blockshedding, either crazy quick or real nice pocket formed.

Overall, I'm still excited to get my hands on the game.

[DetroitStyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by DerkontheOS

And dear god fix the sim stats for qbs! I can't play a dynasty where everyone has below 50% completion percentage.

^This. Sim stats have been bad since last gen. It's probably not going to get fixed.