NCAA 11 vs. Madden 11 (demo) - johnprestonevans's Blog

johnprestonevans's Blog

NCAA 11 vs. Madden 11 (demo)

Posted on July 29, 2010 at 08:40 AM.

(5)

I wanted to share my initial impressions after playing a few games of the new Madden 11 demo.

Overall I was impressed. I was not expecting to be impressed, but the demo exceeded my expectations. I will give you the rundown of the 2 football games and which one is the best for its given category.

Graphics.
Madden 11: Its very close, but Madden remains the sports game graphics king - especially when looking at replays. Player models are fantastic looking. It has a high gloss polished look to it. Not leaps and bounds over last year, but still improved.

Animations.
NCAA 11: Player movement looks more natural in NCAA than it does in Madden. Both games have implemented new "locomotion" engines into their game this year, giving players more realistic moves. NCAA players turn, accelerate and juke with animations that are very lifelike. Madden still looks a little robotic in comparison.

Stadiums/Crowds.
Madden 11: While NCAA has 120 stadiums to worry about and all of them are excellently rendered this year, Madden has one big thing in its favor: the crowds look way better. Improved jumbotron lighting and amazing sidelines this year.

Commentary:
NCAA 11: Kirk Herbstreit and Brad Nestler still hang on for the win in this category. The addition of Mr. Excitement Gus Johnson is definitely a boost for Madden, but overall the audio production and editing still sounds fragmented and off at times. Collinsworth is back again as the excellent, but repetitive color man. A close race.

Gameplay:
NCAA 11: This is a big category and each game has its own pluses and minuses this season. NCAA just FEELS better than Madden. Again this related to their impressive new locomotion engine. Running the ball feels right. Player cuts and accelerations feel authentic. NCAA does have issues with deep passes being nearly impossible to complete on higher difficulty settings. Madden feels more pass-friendly and not as friendly on the run. The big blemish on Madden this year is the new Strategy Pad which replaces traditional pre-snap audibles and adjustments from buttons to having everything on the D-pad. I don't like it. Seems more cumbersome and I was missing those adjustments and didn't have time to make them before the computer snapped the ball.

AI:
NCAA 11: Both games have made big strides in their run blocking and pass protection up short. Exploiting the flats is a thing of the past. But blocking AI is a little better in NCAA than it is in Madden. There were a few times in Madden where safeties would not get in position to make a play on a deep pass when they clearly had time to do so.

Big New Feature:
Madden 11: I have to say I was VERY impressed with Gameflow. I wasn't expecting to be. I like it not because it speeds up the game or that its more "realistic" to have the coach calling plays in your ears, but rather that it VASTLY improves the presentation. That is something I didn't consider until I saw it in action. No longer are you stuck in menus picking plays - you are enjoying the presentation of the game (which ill get to below).

Online:
NCAA 11: The Online Dynasty is incredible. Definitely a note for all other sports games to take note of. Recruiting, contracts, trades, scores, stats and highlights are all available for the world to see online - whether on your console OR on your computer OR on your mobile device!

Camera Angles:
Madden 11 . NCAA 11 only has 1 choice for camera angles, and while i like this angle better than Madden's zoomed out angle, you do have some choices - like broadcast.

Presentation:
Madden 11: This is probably the closest race of this comparison. Both games have improved presentation. NCAA's new ESPN look is great. The logo wipes and highlights are better than those in Madden. Looks a lot like TV. But Madden takes it in the overall presentation because of how GameFlow lets you enjoy it. There are WAY more cutscenes between the whistles that make it look more broadcast. Sidelines are fantastic. Instant replays are plentiful in both games this year. Madden still has a weird fade-to-black editing thing happening in their highlights and the angles are quite as compelling as in NCAA. Still, both games are sadly lacking a blown out halftime/post game show (a la 2K5).

I will leave my full review of Madden for the final retail version.

Comments

# 1 str8artist @ Jul 29

Facial graphics = Madden 11
Graphics overall = Ncaa 11

Everything else, I can kinda agree... Madden player models are to skinny and cartoonish. Linemen are built like running back and have no sense of weight. Ncaa position players are distinctive.

# 2 Trustpt @ Jul 29

Quote:


	Facial graphics = Madden 11 Graphics overall = Ncaa 11

This. NCAA11 looks better to my eyes.

# 3 Gocats11 @ Jul 29

i reserve further comment, on madden 11 when the full game comes out

# 4 palmer08 @ Jul 29

NCAA 11 looks better but it has ESPN presentation that Madden 11 doesn't have. It's a huge difference in my eyes.

# 5 waspman3 @ Sep 8

I don't have Madden 11 but I do NCAA 11 and it's pretty darn good. Graphics are better and game play is smooth. Commentators are like Gameday just need some crazy Corso now.