NCAA Football 13 News Post

NCAA Football 13 Review (360/PS3)

11:30 AM - July 10, 2012 by RaychelSnr

Death, Taxes and a new version of NCAA Football in July.

That's the mantra around OS, and it signals a brand new release season for sports gamers. This year's NCAA Football 13 comes packed with enhancements to the passing game, presentation and dynasty mode -- but it is missing the real time physics engine which Madden is going to be debuting in a month.

With that in mind, and with the limited nature of the improvements, one can't help but feel that this year's NCAA Football iteration has a bit of a lame-duck feeling to it.

However, if you are willing to stomach a lot of the same old flaws within the series and some unrealistic moments of football, there is a fun game of pigskin waiting to be unleashed.

Read More - NCAA Football 13 Review (360/PS3)

Game: NCAA Football 13Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 60 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 maddenfresh @ 07/10/12 11:33 AM

Cool bro! =)

# 2 beermn76 @ 07/10/12 11:35 AM

Fair review. Played my friends' copy. Glad I canceled my preorder. Praying Madden will be better.

# 3 Pared @ 07/10/12 11:35 AM

Good review Chris. I have to say, you are becoming much better at reviewing sports games.

# 4 coogrfan @ 07/10/12 11:42 AM

Fair review, imo. I'm liking it more than Chris, but I play almost exclusively in "C-USA: Where Defense Is Optional".

# 5 volwalker @ 07/10/12 11:46 AM

"Speaking of super sim, when you are playing as a coordinator in Dynasty mode, I have found that the computer really doesn't do very well in games where you super sim. I should never have the No. 1 defense as simmed with UTSA -- but I did and hardly ever gave up points. I did this against better teams, worse teams, and I never gave up points. I hope my experience was unique and perhaps it'll change with time because it really does make the game rather easy."

Can someone explain to me what the above paragraph means? Since defense in general is so bad this year I plan on being just an offensive coordinator, but from what I am reading that this is not advisable. Please help with clarification, thanks.

# 6 ngw411 @ 07/10/12 11:48 AM

I noticed in the Madden Physics that there are still tackle animations and physics only appear if you run into somebody or get stuck in the break tackle animation where the guy falls in front of your feet and you trip on him.

# 7 MrRudy @ 07/10/12 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volwalker


	"Speaking of super sim, when you are playing as a coordinator in Dynasty mode, I have found that the computer really doesn't do very well in games where you super sim. I should never have the No. 1 defense as simmed with UTSA -- but I did and hardly ever gave up points. I did this against better teams, worse teams, and I never gave up points. I hope my experience was unique and perhaps it'll change with time because it really does make the game rather easy." Can someone explain to me what the above paragraph means? Since defense in general is so bad this year I plan on being just an offensive coordinator, but from what I am reading that this is not advisable. Please help with clarification, thanks.

As the OC, when your offense is not on the field... the Super Simmed Defense apparently is out of this world. In MMChris's case, as UTSA, he had the #1 rated defense in the country. (Which I'm sure Vegas odds are about 15,000-1 that this would ever happen this year)

# 8 RaychelSnr @ 07/10/12 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRudy


	As the OC, when your offense is not on the field... the Super Simmed Defense apparently is out of this world. In MMChris's case, as UTSA, he had the #1 rated defense in the country. (Which I'm sure Vegas odds are about 15,000-1 that this would ever happen this year)

Exactly correct. It was my only experience with Super Sim, with 8 minute quarters and realistic play numbers...and it was on Heisman level. So maybe it was a fluke or maybe it might not be fully 'there'. I'd advise testing it with your own mileage before determining. Maybe my 12 games of experience was just incredibly fluky and that's entirely possible. Toughest part of reviewing games right there

# 9 roadman @ 07/10/12 11:57 AM

Good review, not much mention of the read and react defense, though.

# 10 PioneerRaptor @ 07/10/12 12:02 PM

I appreciated the review. I managed to enjoy NCAA 12, and since the gameplay and dynasty features seem to work as advertised, I do not regret my purchase.

# 11 UMiami @ 07/10/12 12:02 PM

Completely agree with this review. I played College Ball and I'm a passionate CFB fan. However, NCAA 2013 doesn't play anything like real football. The AI for both the offense and defense seems broken to me. Almost as if random plays are selected by the playcalling AI and the execution of the plays isn't remotely close to real football. In fact, I think FPS Football, from back in the 90s, was a more realistic representation of the sport.

I give NCAA 2013 a 4/10 when compared with previous versions. Heisman still tries 60 yard FGs? WHERE IS THE QA DEPARTMENT!?!?!?!?!

# 12 bigsmallwood @ 07/10/12 12:13 PM

Great in depth review!

# 13 schnaidt1 @ 07/10/12 12:21 PM

i absolutely hated ncaa 12. i played maybe 15 games total. call me crazy....but i am actually really enjoying ncaa 13. i played it alot the past few days and really enjoy it. i am looking for all the things that drove me crazy about 12 and havent seen it. i have won games and lost games and have yet to feel cheated. if anything i feel like i have the advantage with all the sacks on cpu screens. the games would be more challenging if they fixed that. i really want to buy this game...but im torn because i want ea to fix the stupid screen play issue first. im worried i buy the game and they dont fix it...cuz i mean..its EA. and then i have another game thats broken. other than that...i really was enjoying this game.

# 14 LastExit @ 07/10/12 12:28 PM

Great review....thanks for taking the time and posting it here.

Loved this part that I think the EA folks need to consider -

Quote:


	However, it all becomes pointless when the presentation itself really doesn't have a true focus. Are you watching a game on TV? In the stadium? What?

# 15 Feldman011teen @ 07/10/12 12:43 PM

I feel if you're a fan of the series, you'll really enjoy the step up this year. Total control passing, you have to experience it.

# 16 22cedric @ 07/10/12 12:56 PM

I will get NCAA Football 14 instead.

# 17 mestevo @ 07/10/12 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Good review, not much mention of the read and react defense, though.

It goes a step further actually and claims it isn't there, from the cons section at the top:

"defense is the same old thing and hasn't changed in years"

# 18 mcpats @ 07/10/12 01:01 PM

I haven't played NCAA since '09, and I did enjoy it then. I stopped playing Madden 2 years ago because I felt I needed a break from EA football. Is there enough difference between '09 and now where it may be enjoyable to someone like me?

# 19 RustedWalleye @ 07/10/12 01:08 PM

Excellent review, one of the better ones I have read in quite some time. I appreciate your review, as I was truly beginning to be on the fence about buying NCAA for the first time. I know now since I didn't spend a lot of time at all with 12, that 13 is a must purchase for me, based on your review.

Kudos!

# 20 chi_hawks @ 07/10/12 01:08 PM

Well written review. I completely understand the frustration with the boring side of user defense. I ended up simming my defense a lot last year as I just got bored. Hopefully its something EA addresses next year (in addition to line play).

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