NCAA Football 14 Demo is Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[JerseySuave4]

Quote: Originally Posted by BellSKA

I would say demo hype. It's going to be an excellent game, but a large majority are playing through rose colored glasses.

agreed, i think it has to do with the fact that NCAA 13 sucked. It wasn't a good game. So this demo is better than that and I think people are going overly dramatic with how good the game is. I got through a couple games on the demo and got bored because it still has the same feel its had for a while. Yes running is improved (now it's too strong) and colors pop and some other things improved but based on some people's reaction you'd think we have a football game on the level of MLB the Show here.

I had been reading about how great the demo was, then I try it out and I get a game glitch freeze my 1st game and then in the next game i'm playing a team running no huddle and I can't call plays on defense because the play selection screen takes forever to show up, by the time it shows up the ball is being snapped. Still get the same things we've gotten for years, I had a run play where I had a pulling lineman running to block a safety, only person that needs to be blocked and I have a TD and the lineman literally ran right by him and continued downfield towards no one while I got tackled.

Is the demo better than last year's game? Yes. Is the game game great? No. I'd say this is the kind of game we should have had 3 years ago.

[booker21]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rezzo503

So am I really the only person who notices the CPU STILL CHANGES THIER GAMEPLAN TO AGGRESSIVE IN ZONE COVERAGE? I posted a video on page 44 or 45 showing the safety do the db glitch at the end of a half on a 4 very play. If you switch sides during a game, you will most likely see the CPU has changed thier GAMEPLAN to aggressive in zone coverage

I´m not seeing any video on page 44 or 45. COuld you please link me to the video?

[jmik58]

Definitely a fun demo. I'm not as big a fan of the coordinator cam as others are because I find it hard to read the depth of the field and defenders. I find that on All-American the run blocking is a little bit too much like an over-powered magnet. I play with the Mike most of the time and found it nearly impossible to get around or away from blocks. I also saw evidence of the "Superman Linebacker" on a deep out pattern. The game created a low trajectory to sync up the interception for the LB even though the receiver was 5 yards deeper and outside the LB. There is no way that ball would have been thrown there. I've explained this many times in previous years, but this isn't actually a "super LB" problem, but a programming issue where the game decides the result (INT) and makes the rest of the play (flat pass) match up to the result.

I'm going to tinker around with settings and sliders a little more, but I like how challenging the game is. I'd rather try to make it easier instead of more difficult (which is hard to do). Reminds me of The Show and how it's tough to just pick up and win.

[booker21]

Quote: Originally Posted by N51_rob

So picking up where my last post left off. I played a Virginia Tech vs Alabama on default Heisman. In years past despite the difficulty I could and would usually win games like this. Like I said default Heisman so take this for what it is. -First thing that jumped out to me, on my first running play the backside backer did a good job of chasing the play down from behind and making a nice TFL. On the very next play, the CB "ran the route" better than my WR, but not in the "psychic DB" way. The play was infront of him and he made a better break than my WR, no problem with that int. -On Bama's first posession (and much of the game for that matter) I felt like Bama threw the ball too much. I was expecting them to pound me into oblivion and they did it through the air. Which leads to the point that I felt the Bama QB was a bit ROBO in his decision making. No real deep shots and extremely accurate. I know he is highly rated so I will have to see with another passer. -The blocking on the Oline will make it fun and rewarding to run the ball again a la NCAA 09. Bama pretty much stuffed me, and limited my usefulness running the ball, which I expected. But the few runs that I was able to break were so rewarding and felt "earned" I followed my blocks and watched my linemen get to the second level. I had a running back in NCAA 09 that I recruited and loved, he was a beast finished his career with 9,000+ yards. I have missed feeling like a RB could take over a game ever since. But now I could see myself recruiting a kid and having that kid of career and fun with him. Running the ball bored me recently, but I can feel the fun of that returning. -Defense still feels "boring", I made a nice user pick but other than that it was just hoping for something to happen not really feeling like I could dictate or disrupt the game even outside of that. Hell my pick came when I disregarded my "assigned" zone and used instincts. It almost felt like the CPU knew my play and was suprised that I abandoned my zone to make a play on the ball, because if I stayed in my flat zone the pass would've been completed. I don't know what can be done, but despite all the good, I still don't think playing defense is as fun as offense, and I am one of those that actually likes to play defense from time to time. -I feel like the new running controls are a little over powered. I didn't use them in this game, but in the next one I played I made a spin and from there picked up another 15 yards mostly while off balance. Did a Juke and literally shook three guys that were closing in on the tackle. -Hit Stick seems to be completely nerfed. I was hit sticking most of the game, and there was little visible big hit impact, it was more solid wrap tackles, but I got the "user big hit" message. No complaints from me, but I'm sure there is a community that will be upset. -I think the presentation aspects of the game are a nice touch and add something to the overall feel of the games. It is much improved over what I remember in NCAA 13. Which isn't saying much, but it should be mentioned. Overall, I am very impressed with the demo. NCAA went from a game I had ever intention of skipping this year, to a game with I will be waiting for the OS review and looking for the eventually $20 price drop. Which given that I had basically ignored the game upto this point is a major change. I have EA's Season Ticket so I will have some time with the game as well, but I won't be killing myself to to play it, because this is golf season. But the game is now firmly on my radar. Great Job EA and the NCAA team. This is the first time I felt better about the game after playing the demo.

I´m playing with QB ACC at 5 and i still feel QB are too accurate for College football. The bad thing is that when i set 0 QB don´t connect one single pass. I don´t have a happy medium that a 3 would give me.

[AlreadyKnoJ]

PLAYING ON HEISMAN, Gameplay is smooth and sharp; Option plays, when ran by the cpu, can be a little overpowering on Heisman diffiiculty; The players do zig zag at times, but overall, its a great step in the right direction. Blocking looks great, I didn't see not one errantly missed block; Good DT and DE must be accounted for,esp; Very realistic man, I didn't spot any cheese.... HOWEVER.... I HATE THE REPLAY ANGLES. Sweet baby jesus, why cant they make the replay angles realistic. The close up/ grass level/ right next to the player replays, really takes away from the immersion factor. Hopefully, someone from NCAA development team sees this and they do something about it, bcuz again it really takes away from immersion, a good broadcast, overhead espn style shot, and some 50 yard line field level shots would do numbers; Another thing, the commentary is very... how can I put this... AIRY. Its no chemistry between the announcers, their not colorful in their gamecalling in the least bit.

But again, gameplay is tight, very much improved, considering the last two lackluster excuses for college football that have comeout. I for one cant wait to run a dynasty with my dawgs and jump into road to glory, for the first time since 08.

Cheers folks, we got a winner on our hands

[AlterEgoDuane]

I have always been one of the harshest critics of this series and I was pretty impressed with this demo. I played my first game as OSU vs Meeeeechigan because I wanted to try a spread playbook without the breakneck no-huddle pace in Urban runs some standard huddle stuff.

All I can say is, 'wow'. I was expecting to crush the CPU on default sliders and Speed threshold at 60, and I couldn't stop the CPU AT ALL. Gardner was just an animal out there. Granted, I kinda suck at playing defense, but, the amazing thing was, it was still FUN. It's amazing how much more fun a game is when the CPU offers a legit challenge and it plays more realistically.

Had one sick 39 yd TD run with Braxton on a read option play from the Shotgun Ace Twins formation with twins to the boundary and Miller took it wide side 39 yds to paydirt. It was amazing to see the safety actually bite on the read allowing braxton to reach the corner. Then, I tied Michigan with :00 left on a slant inside the 5. Also great. Then, in Triple OT, I lost on a middle screen on 2nd and 2 from the 3 that was intercepted. I have never been so alright with losing. It actually felt legitimate, not like the CPU was cheating, or warping, or anything.

Color me impressed.

Is it just me, or does the man coverage seem overpowered? I would run the shallow crosses or the Mesh play and the Meeeechigan secondary was ALL OVER my receivers, which is not supposed to happen on the mesh play because it is supposed to create a pick. If Michigan was in zone, fine. But vs. man to man, the mesh should be wide open most of the time, if it is run properly.

[noplace]

PS3 Version

Played the demo a few times and I must say I’m lukewarm on the game at this point.. Here’s why

Good:

First I must say that the game play has improved much over the last year. Tackle animations are a lot better, OL/DL interactions are a lot better which makes the run game look great at times, seen some very nice catch animations also which gives a fresh feel to the passing game. CPU AI has gotten a boost and plays a lot better and more like its real life counterpart than years before. Love the training mode that helps fine tune your skills. Colors pop out making the game look more vibrant. The fixed the lights at night so the field doesn’t look dark..

Bad:

Defense feels like it’s been left out again… Defense needs more control and commands..
Still see instances where the pass rush isn’t there although it better containment is still a issue. Can still manipulate the pocket a lil… 4 verticals was still money although I didn’t run it over and over again when I did it was money. Option game seems a tad overpowering at times but I’m hoping adjustments can be made to stop it or slow it down.

Still see some dumb tackle animations and pinball running at times but not much.

Presentation is meh… Like the opening shot of the stadium but the montage is dumb because it features the team you haven’t played yet.. Commentary has some new lines but still dry and stale. Hopefully it gets better in dynasty mode. Crowd is better but still too much dead air between plays. Need more band play and chants but custom sounds should help this area…Still hate the post play animations just looks stale and unnatural.

Graphically the game is good but should alot better at this point. Game still doesn’t look like what I see on Saturday s..The 360 still seems to be a lot sharper with less jaggies. I saw that Ohio State lost its glair on the helmet at night just as last year going from a metallic look to flat grey. Sidelines look bad still, no real interaction between players, coaches, no yard markers etc.. Just some little things missing. The lack of equipment makes the players look dated and kills the realism of the game IMO.

All in all the game is better if you get past the irritating overlooks by EA.. Not a 1st day buy IMO but I’ll eventually pick it up closer to the season…

[booker21]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rezzo503

http://youtu.be/scg4XCkxdtw Looked up NCAA 14 Impressions on Youtube. This came up, if you watch, he completes two deep passes... Both look like DB Glitch. His receiver was wide open twice. ( 7:00 Minute mark of video) Happens at end of half too. As I said earlier, the CPU still uses Aggressive Zone coverage on for their defensive gameplan, which leads to "Db glitch" Makes me wonder if I didn't notice it on Coordinator cam. This kind of worries me abit. Everything else is great.

You are correct. While i haven´t seen the DB glitch when i played the demo yesterday this is a DB glitch. Safety let the WR go deep instead of following it waits.

Look at the screenshot all 3 WR wide open in a hail mary with 3 sec left on the 2nd half.

God people worrying about foot plants, uniforms, and mask and this is still happening.