I LOVE that the rosters are now 70 per team, so that you are less likely to have to start a true freshman CB because five graduated or left early. (I hate that it's going to take me that much longer to input my rosters, however.)
I love transfers.
I love that Husky Stadium is the 6th-hardest stadium to visit. (If only the TEAM were the 6th-toughest to actually PLAY.)
“To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
I LOVE that I didn't know this game was out already. Not only did I know it was coming out, I know absolutely nothing about it. I'd go pick it up were it not that my copy of NFL 2K5 will be in my hands in less than a week.
Quick first impressions: how different is it from last year's game? Enough to warrant a purchase? I usually buy all three games (NCAA, Madden, and 2K), but with them all hitting stores within four weeks of each other, I don't see that happening this year.
What are these "sanctions"? Can you get busted for breaking recruiting violations or something? I'm surprised they'd let that in there...
"It's the four pillars of the male heterosexual psyche. We like naked women, stockings, lesbians, and Sean Connery best as James Bond because that is what being a [man] is." -Jack Davenport, Coupling
Difference from three hours of playing last night:
- Bigger rosters
- Home-field advantage so if you're visiting Husky Stadium and you get the crowd riled up the screen and your opponent's colntroller will shake
- "Composure" ratings, where a true freshman who drops a ball is more likely to drop more balls than a senior who does the same
- Players will transfer away in Dynasty mode if they're unhappy with playing time
- Players will skip classes or commit crimes and it's up to you as the coach to discipline them enough to keep other players from running amok but not too much that it'll turn off potential recruits
- Gameplay is similar and they've added some of the "Playmaker" feature from Madden
- Create custom fans and signs in the crowd
Anyway, GO BUY THIS GAME.
“To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
I'm really enjoying this game. I've already had to suspend Anthony Davis for cutting a class, and as much as I hated to miss him for that game I loved that I was able to do it. My only two gripes are that A) They still don't have the renovations to Camp Randall added in yet. and B) The commentary is almost a complete rehash of last year's. I think NCAA has had some of the best commentary of any sports game series, but they've got to do a new recording session that isn't just about the crowd noise.
Another great addition: The ability to actually change a player's position in the off season. That's great especially when you're like me recruit one too many defensive ends and are weak at D-Tackle. This also is pretty neat when they let you recruit "Athletes" who don't actually play ANY position until you pick what to mold them into.
Tonight I wanna ruin my life, I wanna throw it all away, In a spectacular way
One thing I've noticed so far is that the playbook is slightly different, as is the timing of the pass patterns. So I had to spend about an hour working on pass timing in practice mode. One good thing about practice mode in this game, by the way, is that you can set up the defense to either call random plays within, say, a 4-3, or call plays at random showing different looks, so you actually have to react to what the defense is doing without the offense knowing, as opposed to previous practice modes.
Playing with the University of Miami, part of the reason I practiced for a while before I got into gameplay was because I knew that the first game was against FSU. Just BARELY eeked by with Berlin doing his patented "stink up the joint in the first half, be the big hero in the second" routine. Then beat the living crap out La Tech in the sparring game I probably could have used before FSU.
Also, I'm 2 for 2 as far as games that require disciplinary action. I had to suspend Thomas Carroll 2 games for sending in a false progress report and Roger McIntosh 1 game for routinely being late to team meetings. And I'm sure this being the Hurricanes, the fun stuff is still around the corner.
Other things different about the game is that the graphics are a little brighter, so it makes the field and the players look different than 2004, the AI looks like it's been jacked up a little bit level-for-level. But also, you can do little things like add names to the All-Time Teams and designate an offensive captain and a defensive captain. This game excels at little things. Like how during time-outs you can pinpoint the part of your offense/defense you want to coddle the most. Or how because of how player ratings move around based on performance and the composure meter, I'm more likely to have to give a player the hook rather than stick with them until they start producing.
I haven't really had the problem of crowd noise throwing me off yet, but I think the OB has for my opponents, but I haven't played a road game at Doak Campbell or Clemson, either.
Highly reccomended, as some beautiful new advancements and the gameplay being a little different make this more than just a $50 roster update.
Has anybody had someone get in trouble and NOT punish them and get in trouble for it? Can you have scholarships and bowl games taken away like in real life?
I'm picking up the game on the way home from school today so I'll probably be back with my opinions tonight, if I actually take a break from playing it at some point.
Originally posted by JayJayDean Players will skip classes or commit crimes and it's up to you as the coach to discipline them enough to keep other players from running amok but not too much that it'll turn off potential recruits.
Oh wow. To blatantly rip-off SI, that has to be this week's sign that the apocalypse is upon us.
Obviously, it's realistic. And that's the very sad thing.
Question for all concerned: does 2005 allow you to import dynasties from 2004? Would be nice to know before I spend my money(I've finally had Maryland beat Florida State, so I don't want to lose that).
Of course at the same time, I can see how that could be problematic(fewer ratings, conference schedule algorithms, etc)
What's disturbing about Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 is that both are classic propaganda. Events are shown out of order, suggesting conspiracy by confusing audiences about the sequence of events; events are shown out of context, edited to create an appearance differing from actual events; scenes of horror are intermixed with scenes of normalcy, suggesting all is horror; viewers are given no way of knowing what is fact, what is opinion, and what is made up. - Noted Warmonger Greg Easterbrook
Originally posted by QuezzyHas anybody had someone get in trouble and NOT punish them and get in trouble for it? Can you have scholarships and bowl games taken away like in real life?
I'm picking up the game on the way home from school today so I'll probably be back with my opinions tonight, if I actually take a break from playing it at some point.
There are x-amount of discipline points per season, and the stiffer the penalty, the more points it costs. EX: The reccomended penalty for Thomas Carroll's fuckup was a 3-game suspension, which costs more points to enact than the 2-game suspension I handed down. Plus, there's also a meter gauging how interested the NCAA is in your team's discipline problems-- although it would be great if it were TRULY realistic and be where the Toledos of the world get the book thrown at them for small stuff and look the other way for the most part while the big-money programs get away with murder.
SLIGHTLY OFF-TOPIC: I would be remiss if I didn't mention the first-time inclusion of my alma matter, Florida Int'l University, into the game. That might end up being my pet project with this game when I get bored with being UM.
I SO want to run a program so renegade it gets the Death Penatly. Especially if I do it with someone like Stanford.
In my first Dynasty game last night as IU, I played I-AA James Madison (mainly to annoy co-workers who went there) and won 56-7, with my HB getting 227 rushing and 7 TDs.
Originally posted by GrimisQuestion for all concerned: does 2005 allow you to import dynasties from 2004? Would be nice to know before I spend my money(I've finally had Maryland beat Florida State, so I don't want to lose that).
Of course at the same time, I can see how that could be problematic(fewer ratings, conference schedule algorithms, etc)
No. But IMO 2005 is definitely worth purchasing if you have 2004. (Landmark Dynasty mode victories notwithstanding.)
“To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
Originally posted by GrimisQuestion for all concerned: does 2005 allow you to import dynasties from 2004? Would be nice to know before I spend my money(I've finally had Maryland beat Florida State, so I don't want to lose that).
Of course at the same time, I can see how that could be problematic(fewer ratings, conference schedule algorithms, etc)
Finally beat FSU? In three years of my 2004 dynasty, I'm undefeated with Maryland at the All-American skill level.
From what JJD and the others have said, you should pick up 2005. They have never made games backwards compatible with older dynasties, sadly. I'd love to pick up my dynasty in 2005 with the new features but one glaring incompatibility is the roster bump from 55 to 70 players.
Again, not to pimp my work but to let fellow wieners know about a good deal. Go to any Blockbuster with a Gamerush with any 1 trade-in from Genesis up, and get this game for 29.99 (+ the credit for the trade).
Originally posted by QuezzyHas anybody checked out the classic games yet? Anybody know if there were any additions or subtractions?
According to the gameFAQs board they are the same, though I know they changed the dreaded BYU-SMU one so it's a bit easier than last year's.
I just played my first FULL game, Oklahoma (me) vs. Texas. I led the Sooners to a 24-10 win, dominating defensively (their TD was a returned INT, though Vince Young killed me in the first-half running on scrambles and the option, he ended up only 3-9 passing), and struggling with the passing game as seems to be common. (Jason White was 12-24, with five completions on screens.) Two fourth-quarter TD runs by Kejuan Jones were the winning points.
The coolest thing was AFTER the game Jones' rating WENT UP TEN POINTS! I had no idea they had that in the game, to change ability from week-to-week. AWESOME.
“To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
Originally posted by JayJayDean The coolest thing was AFTER the game Jones' rating WENT UP TEN POINTS! I had no idea they had that in the game, to change ability from week-to-week. AWESOME.
Actually it changes from play-to-play. During the game you can go to your depth charts and it will it show you how much your player has gotten better or worse. At one point I went for a fake field goal and my back up QB ran the ball himself and got a first down, I went and checked my depth chart and he got a +15 bonus in awareness, and that was the only play he played the whole game.
My running game is giving me a huge boost in my QB and HB's ratings but my receivers are suffering because they can't seem to catch the ball. I think my "best" receiver is down to a 78 rating.
On the one hand, the only promised feature to this game is that it exists, so we can't have another No Man's Sky on our hands, but, well, if it doesn't live up to the promise of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus...