NCAA Football 13 Review for Xbox 360

System: Xbox 360*, PS3
Dev: EA Tiburon
Pub: EA Sports
Release: July 10, 2012
Players: 1-2
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p

There are more moving parts in the system, which means that you have much more to deal with when planning a safe pass, which means that you'll actually screw up passing more than you did in NCAA 12. Add to this the fact that interceptions are still far too common and you'll find that the "total control passing" system was a good idea that unfortunately didn't really fix any of the problems NCAA 12 had. That being said, the system isn't really better or worse than its predecessors and it is kind of fun, so I guess we can count this new feature as a small win.

NCAA Football 13 Screenshot

Every other mode in the game comes back intact. Dynasty Mode returns and it will still be the mode you spend most of your time in. It's nearly identical to previous iterations of the mode with a few minor changes to scouting. Road to Glory comes back, and it is also pretty much identical to its predecessor in every way. In the end, you'll still probably want to find some competition IRL or online in order to enjoy the game's competitive atmosphere and well-thought-out controls. You can still sink a lot of time into the game's diverse single-player modes, but since you've pretty much seen them all already in NCAA 12, this game seems to be more of a draw to the serious competitive gamer rather than the casual couch coach.

Like I said before, NCAA 13 is not a bad game, but that's just because NCAA 12 wasn't a bad game. It has everything you could expect from a college football title and then some, but it just doesn't have a whole lot more than NCAA 12 already had. NCAA 13 will obviously appeal to all the die-hard fans who absolutely need every new iteration of EA's sports franchises, and it will be a pretty decent buy for anyone who didn't pick up NCAA 12 in the past. However, more casual buyers of NCAA 12 probably won't be getting their money's worth out of NCAA 13, and newcomers can pick up NCAA 12 for a fraction of the price. This is just one of those situations where the new game just isn't different enough to warrant the price. The unfortunate question for EA to ask now is "what more can we possibly do with this franchise?"

By
Angelo M. D'Argenio
Contributing Writer
Date: July 10, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.8

Graphics
The graphics haven't changed much, but the addition of new teams and intros is refreshing.

4.0

Control
The controls worked well for NCAA 12 and they work well here. The new passing system is interesting.

3.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The music and commentary is just as good as it's always been.

1.9

Play Value
Unfortunately, this doesn't do much that NCAA 12 doesn't already do.

3.0

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Gameplay - With a new passing system that changes the way quarterbacks and receivers play and respond, combined with a new read-and-react defensive A.I. system, NCAA Football 13 delivers greater realism on the virtual gridiron.

Dynasty - Game days come to life with midgame updates featuring a new studio analyst, plus enhanced commentary from NCAA Football veterans Kirk Herbstreit and Brad Nessler. Recruiting now goes deeper than ever with the addition of dynamic grades and the ability to scout players. Plus, there are even more ways to interact with your Dynasty from the web.

Heisman Challenge - There are familiar faces on the field in NCAA Football 13, which now features a selection of former Heisman Trophy winners. With the new Heisman Challenge mode, fans have the ability to utilize the skill set of a legendary Heisman Trophy winner in a quest to match his award-winning historical performances and win the Heisman trophy once again.

Road to Glory - The experience of being a college football superstar is now even more exciting with a new feature in Road to Glory that allows players to see and feel the game differently during key moments, increasing on-field awareness and creating amazing opportunities.

Sights & Sounds - Revel in the pageantry of college football game days with NCAA Football 13. Featuring new team run-outs, mascots and pre-game traditions, along with significantly enhanced audio and new trophy presentations, NCAA Football 13 will deliver the passion and excitement of college football to fans across the nation.