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

[XxJustAguessxX]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matt_GoBlue

Every time I play for more than a game or two, a couple things scream out at me that need fixed. The option is way too strong. QBs easily get 40-60 yard rushes with ease. Whenever QBs are rushing my defensive players stand and watch. Then when I switch to them and dive near a nearby QB, my guy dives the opposite way of the QB. Every time. I also notice that Virginia Tech for some reason shreds Alabama's defense whenever I play them. I also am terrible with AJ McCarron. Yet when I play as Devin Gardner or Marcus Mariota I kill everyone.

That's interesting, I have a couple pet peeves myself, one is what you mentioned with players just watching instead of engaging. My 2nd is when the CPU QB lobs a pass in the direction of a WR and I have two CB's, one is a couple steps behind and the other CB is ahead of the WR but the one ahead doesn't realize what's going on, it happens but the CPU cheeses it and I don't like it. But overall I love the game, I liked last years edition. They fixed night games to really capitalize on the graphics.

[TucsonMike]

Quote: Originally Posted by stevensa08

How is special teams this year??? Any closer to block kicks / punts or still the same?

Not that I really tried blocking one but it doesn't seem like it

[weeeeeeez]

Have really noticed how man coverage is getting torched in the demo. Really used to be overpowered and after playing the demo for this past week you almost can't call it at all on 3rd and medium situations. Guys are just wide open all the time.

[GisherJohn24]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheBostonBro

Just ran into a major (but probably infrequent) bug. Was playing as Virginia Tech against Alabama and Alabama throws a pass to the back of the endzone where it was intercepted by my defensive back. (I know this because the control switched to that player and I rarely/never switch players on defense). However the play on the field was an incomplete pass. Then the booth reviews the call and overturns it (as it appeared my player had one foot in bounds when I watched it first hand). However, instead of giving me the ball at my own 20 yd line, Alabama is credited with a touchdown and the next play is their point after attempt. If I could do replays I would try to take a highlight but while I was upset I feel this is probably a very infrequent occasion and that is why it was not caught.

this has happened to be twice in the demo already with Ohio State and Michigan. It better not be on the final game or this is a MAJOR oversight. Sure they'll patch it, but when? 2 months from now?

[mebby]

I'm still really enjoying the gameplay. I've noticed a few things that seems a little ridiculous with the animations but they aren't game killers for me (not even close actually).

I've seen a few Tecmo Bowl moments when the running back will literally just bowl over a linebacker. Not that that can't happen but the animation is almost ridiculous sometimes. They running back may just BRUSH up against a defender and the defender gets leveled as if he were close lined while running at full speed.

Like others have noted, often times when the QB keeps the ball on the option, I find a key defensive player just standing around. When I switch to him to make the tackle he inevitably goes the wrong way allowing the QB to just waltz right by him. This one MIGHT get old if it's highly repeatable but I just haven't played enough to know yet.

I'm not an avid player of football games so this may be a known issue but it seems if I'm rushing with my LB that all I have to do is pause for a half second and wait for the linemen to get engaged with another OL and then a big hole opens up making it easy to rush. This isn't a game killer for me because it's not like you can get in there every time and sack the QB. It's also a little bit realistic. Maybe different teams with higher rated DL will stay at home to keep this from happening more often? I'll have to see once I play the full game.

[SECElit3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles

Indeed it is. You've really gotta be patient and work for your points with a good team like Virginia Tech, so I can only imagine how it will be using lesser competition. These are stats from a game I just played against Alabama. I managed to move the ball pretty well, controlled the clock, and forced McCarron to have a horrible game where he threw four picks. Even with all that, I only managed to win by 3 points. Hardly an impressive victory, but you take whatever win you can get against them. NCAA is gonna log some heavy minutes in my 360. Nice to be excited about a football game again.

I think everyone needs to remember that this is a demo with 3 minute quarters. I expect we will see some completely different AI decisions and game planning from the computer with 10 min quarters. It is so difficult to determine what the AI in the final release will be like from a demo, because more than half the game is played in hurry up mode. In my slider testing over the years, I found a significant difference in how the game plays with 8 min quarters versus 10 minutes. My point is: Be wary of the judgments you make based on what you see in the demo.

[leathrneck34]

[quote=TucsonMike;2045191091not that I really tried blocking one but it doesn't seem like it[/QUOTE]

I think Special Teams play this year overall is much much better. The down field blocking on kick offs and punts are much better. I have blocked 2 field goals, well I didn't block them myself , but my AI teammates have blocked 2 on their own.

[leathrneck34]

Quote: Originally Posted by weeeeeeez

Have really noticed how man coverage is getting torched in the demo. Really used to be overpowered and after playing the demo for this past week you almost can't call it at all on 3rd and medium situations. Guys are just wide open all the time.

With some slider adjustments I have noticed the Db play improve quite a bit in Man Coverage over default sliders. I play on AA too with the slider adjustments and have not been able to torch the defense in Man to Man at all. I can complete about 70%-75% of my pass plays regardless of the team I am using with an INT on occasion. Now on the CPU side of the ball I play with Bama and Mich all the time and A&M and they have all the better overall passers on those teams so maybe it's not a fair comparison. As of right now I am using CHIEFS sliders with some modification from me for the demo and so far they have led to great games with scoring for both teams under 25 points most of the time.