NCAA Football 12: A Deep Dive Review for PS3
NCAA Football 12, released on July 12, 2011, aimed to capture the excitement and traditions of college football on the PlayStation 3. As the latest entry in a long-running series, it arrived with expectations of building upon previous successes while introducing fresh elements to keep the gameplay experience engaging. While the game delivered some positive refinements to the on-field action, it also faced criticism for its stagnant visuals, buggy features, and a sense of familiarity that left some players wanting more.
Gameplay: Refinements and Familiarity
The core gameplay of NCAA Football 12 received praise for its realistic portrayal of college football. Years of iteration led to improvements in key areas such as blocking and artificial intelligence. Offensive lines demonstrated smart decision-making in neutralizing blitzing defenders, providing quarterbacks with crucial time to make plays. Running backs contributed to pass protection, further enhancing the sense of teamwork and strategy. Defensively, the secondary showed improved awareness, with cornerbacks making quick reactions to prevent easy passes.
D.J. from BECB noted that the running game was improved from previous years, advising players to run where the play is supposed to go, and to learn to use the sticks to maximize the runner's potential. He also noted that man coverage was effective at stopping short passing and the running game.
However, some long-standing issues persisted. The zone coverage could be exploited, though not easily with deep throws unless the quarterback was hit during the release. Passing required either lucking into man coverage from the opponent or mastering stick controls to lead receivers effectively. Incomplete passes were often attributed to a variety of animations, such as throwing a skip pass, hitting the receiver's shoes, or striking the facemask.
Returns also saw changes. Punt returns were improved with better blocking, but questionable holding calls could negate progress. Kick returns were significantly enhanced, potentially to an excessive degree, with some players housing multiple kickoffs in a short span of games.
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Despite these refinements, the gameplay felt largely unchanged to some reviewers. While the on-field action remained enjoyable, the lack of groundbreaking changes led some to view NCAA Football 12 as more of a special edition of its predecessor.
Visuals and Presentation: Showing Their Age
One of the main criticisms directed at NCAA Football 12 was its dated visuals. The animations, in particular, lacked the impact and realism found in other football games. Visual glitches, such as the hazy appearance of remodeled grass, further detracted from the overall experience. While these issues did not ruin the gameplay, they diminished the immersive quality that players expected.
Focus was given to presentation, largely consisting of college game day traditions being added, like The Sooner Schooner, Chief Osceola, Auburn’s War Eagle, Georgia’s UGA, Notre Dame’s ‘Play Like A Champion’ board, USC’s Traveler, and many more. Marching bands and cheerleaders were present as well, which all helped create an atmosphere the likes of which you won’t find in Madden. Despite these additions, the crowd was considered ho-hum, and player celebrations weren’t much to behold. The commentary was also flat.
Dynasty Mode: Coaching Carousel and Recruiting Challenges
Dynasty mode, a staple of the NCAA Football series, returned with the addition of a coaching carousel. This feature allowed players to start as coordinators, focusing on either offense or defense, and work their way up to head coaching positions. Performance metrics tracked progress, and success could lead to opportunities at more prestigious schools. However, the coaching carousel felt somewhat underwhelming, as players could choose to coach any school from the beginning, reducing the incentive to build up their credentials.
Recruiting, a crucial aspect of Dynasty mode, was criticized for its tediousness and illogical elements. The process involved contacting high school players and attempting to convince them to join the program, but the logic behind their decision-making often seemed flawed. Players might express interest in coaching pedigree but react negatively to discussions about the coach's accomplishments. The recruiting process was also time-consuming, requiring players to spend significant time navigating menus and hoping for commitments. Promises made to recruits had little impact once they signed, creating a disconnect from reality.
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Conference customization was a welcome addition, allowing players to realign up to 16 teams into new conferences and alter BCS bowl tie-ins. This provided the potential to create more lively competition.
Road to Glory: High School Season and Skill Imbalance
Road to Glory mode allowed players to create a high school player and guide them to a successful collegiate career. A notable addition was the inclusion of an entire high school football season, expanding upon the previous focus on state playoffs. Players could also choose to be an Ironman athlete, playing on both sides of the ball. However, the high school season suffered from issues with play calling and AI, leading to repetitive and unengaging gameplay.
Once players reached college, they could earn coach trust, which influenced their position on the depth chart and unlocked new abilities. Skill boosts, acquired through experience points, provided further customization options. However, the mode heavily favored stat-heavy positions such as quarterback, wide receiver, and running back, making it more difficult to progress as a defensive or offensive line player.
Online Dynasty: Plagued by Issues
Online Dynasty, which aimed to replicate the success of its offline counterpart, was plagued by numerous issues at launch. Problems included voice chat malfunctions, incorrect score uploads, inaccurate injury durations, and difficulties advancing dynasties. These issues significantly hampered the online experience, although EA Sports planned to address them with a patch. Despite these problems, head-to-head online play was generally seamless, with minimal lag.
Custom Playbooks: A Broken Feature
Custom Playbooks, a highly anticipated addition, allowed players to create their own playbooks by selecting from various sets, packages, and plays. However, this feature was also broken for many players and required a patch. Once functional, Custom Playbooks promised to be a valuable tool for veteran players, allowing them to tailor their strategies to their specific play styles.
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Animation Engine: Tangible Improvements
NCAA Football 12 featured improvements to its animation engine, resulting in more realistic collisions and player interactions. Players could shed arm grabs, spin off tackles, and lose balance upon contact, leading to more dynamic and unpredictable outcomes. Clipping was minimized, and players appeared to have real mass.
Bugs and Technical Issues
The release version of NCAA Football 12 was criticized for being buggy and unpolished. Linebackers were observed making unrealistic jumps to knock down passes, and slower players occasionally ran down faster ones. These issues detracted from the overall experience and highlighted the need for further refinement.
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