14 DAY TRIAL // Somehow, Electronic Arts has made us all rather cynical when it comes to the improvements it makes in its sports games. It seems that, every year, we get most of the same, with just the names database updated and maybe a few small tweaks thrown in for good measure, along with graphics update. Up until now, the new NCAA Football 09 looked more of the same, but EA Sports seems decided to create something different with this one.
Apart from minor improvements, like the way the receiver tries to bring the ball nestled into his arms before starting his attack run and the way touchdown celebrations can now be triggered by pushing a succession of buttons, it seems that the crowd will really play an important part in the American football experience of the game, just as they do in real time.
This means the Electronic Arts is implementing certain mechanics created to make it harder for the away player to get a good game. The usual on-field routes that the receivers have in the game drawn on the surface of the playing field will be blurry if the crowd is really in it chanting for the other team, which means that you need to really use your memory to know the plays you are executing, as visual aids will be of little help.
The pressure of the crowd goes up if you manage to win a lot of games in a row. As the number of wins increases, more and more fans show up for home games, making it very hard for other teams to beat you on your home turf and some of the hardcore fans even go with you out on away games, making the pressure of the crowd more bearable.
If well implemented, without being too restrictive, such gameplay concepts could make NCAA Football 2009 a really innovative game. The title is currently in development for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, the Nintendo Wii, the DS and the PlayStation Portable.