NCAA Football 13 Demo Is Out, Post Your Impressions Here

[mkharsh33]

Quote: Originally Posted by NDAlum

First impression: it plays just like NCAA 12. Cut scenes are the same Player models are the same Dreads are still terrible Motion blur is overdone and looks bad IMO Players "warp" too much I do like the ESPN bottomline, the updates, and the new overlays. Also the crowd atmosphere is much improved. The new passing mechanic is alright and the catch animations are better. I'm torn on what I'm going to do this year

You have just summed up my feelings on this EXACTLY!!! I love the ESPN bottomline (and actually found myself looking down it at, kinda throwing me off - LOL!!). But it's NCAA 12, with another patch or two. The players weight doesn't feel right at all, and tackling is nothing more than just touching a guy.

And (VERY important): if the cpu AI playcalling isn't fixed, this game will be a joke. 3rd and 14 and they run a running play up the gut?? I'm reading that some like the ball physics, but will admit I think it's a bit too floaty...

Right now, I'd give this game a 6.9 out of 10. It's just not that good, and much more of the same stuff. Really on the fence on this, and in reading the roster information, those guys will have a TON of work to do on them to even make this game remotely resemble real college football ratings.

[mwjr]

I'm still really bothered by the amount of hiccups and poor framerate. Anyone else?

[newbsrus22]

I feel the passing alone makes it leagues above ncaa 12. But I'm sure the people that think it's like ncaa 12 aren't big passers.

[tHurley2010]

The passing game does make it feel different than NCAA 12. The graphics look at least somewhat newer and crisper, but maybe that's a result of me not playing 12 for a while. I'm sure on a higher difficulty the defense will play tighter, which will be great.

The ESPN bottom line and the studio updates will be a great addition to dynasty mode, both on and off line. I do have a question, and I think it to be bit of a stretch, but: in online dynasty, say you and your friend have a game at 3:30, and say you're both playing at the same time. If they score, will that update on your bottom line?

I do not like the motion blur, and some of the hiccups during replays, however. I feel they could do with more player models, instead of working on the USC cheerleaders...

And, I am all for a more animated sideline.

[PowerofRed25]

Quote: Originally Posted by newbsrus22

I feel the passing alone makes it leagues above ncaa 12. But I'm sure the people that think it's like ncaa 12 aren't big passers.

The passing is a lot smoother, but I also had zero problem passing last year. My worry this year is that while passing got better, CPU defense got worse. In every gameplay video released by EA and in every demo game I've played, there are horrible problems with CPU pass defense that make it incredibly easy. Among the problems are:

- In Cover 2 Man, safeties get to their assigned spot and freeze. They don't get as deep as the deepest and by the time they react, the WR has 10 yards on him and the man coverage is on an island. Post/Corner/Streak routes have been wide open for me almost every time.

- In Cover 2 zone, the problem is the same except when the underneath zone hands the WR off to the deeper zones, the safeties don't run with him until it is way too late. And with the way you can precisely control the passing game, it is MUCH easier to just throw over the top and own them.

- Hook zones are improved in that defenders pick up guys as they enter the zone, run with them through the zone and hand them off. But there have been two problems I noticed. 1) Occasionally the guy will never hand him off and will run with him, turning it into basically man coverage and leaving an area of the field wide open, or 2) The guy in hook zone will move to cut off the WR's route before he runs it. Which takes me to...

- Psychic defenders are still in the game. However instead of being psychic in man coverage, they are psychic in zone. Zone defenders automatically hedge their positioning on plays like slants and in's because they know it is coming, even before the WR breaks out of his route. This isn't the worst thing in the world but I could see it being a problem. I personally just rationalize it by saying it is good coaching and they picked up a formation tendency or a tell in a WR's footwork. Obviously that isn't happening, but it makes it better in my mind.

- Cover 3 Zone has a few problems. First, the outside zone defenders seem to latch on to guys coming off the line of scrimmage from time to time. Taking them WAY out of position. I first saw this in the gameplay video EA released a few weeks back where a touchdown was scored because of this problem. The option glitch from last year still remains for Cover 3. The hook zones slide like it's a foosball table and the outside CB stands still. Unlike last year, they do react once you cross the line of scrimmage. Too late though.

I love the feel of the passing game from the offensive side. It'll take a lot of getting used to and really love some of the QB animations like on Z Spot or off play action, but the CPU defense side of the passing game is terrible and is going to lead to some significant problems in the game if it isn't tuned.

[BigDofBA]

Quote: Originally Posted by mwjr

I'm still really bothered by the amount of hiccups and poor framerate. Anyone else?

I noticed that too. It always happens right at the end of a play.

Honestly, I'm that excited about this game and it's usually one of like three games I buy a year.

It's the same game they just added some window dressing.

[bigbob]

I'm going to run a few games later, probably one with each team, and list the pros and cons I noticed in each of them.

One thing I got really excited about earlier was a helmet catch made by one of my receivers. The receiver went up high for a ball, got hit as soon as he made the catch and started losing it on the way back down. He then pressed the ball against his helmet and made the catch.

Something that did disappoint me was poor defense on a option I ran inside the 5 yard line. I ran it and the corner covering me came to a dead stop and let me run right by him before chasing me.

[AussieChiefsFan]

My first time playing any ncaa game. I love it! It's so smooth!

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