NCAA Football 14: A Look Back at the Culmination of a Generation

College football is a sport followed with passion, and the NCAA Football series provided a way for fans to engage with their favorite teams beyond Saturdays. NCAA Football 14, released on PlayStation 3, arrived at a time when the franchise was striving to deliver the ultimate college football experience. While not without its flaws, the game introduced several features and enhancements that made it a standout title in the series, and arguably the best football title to date to be released on that generation of consoles.

Streamlined Design and Enhanced User Experience

Upon launching NCAA Football 14, players were met with a redesigned interface, adopting a more simple approach in the layout of the game. Inspired by the Windows 8 tile layout, the menu system eliminated unnecessary layers, allowing for easier navigation. This inviting and simplistic design made it quicker to jump into game mode.

Dynasty Mode: A Deeper Dive into Coaching

Longtime fans of the series found familiar modes, but the Dynasty and Online Dynasty modes received significant upgrades. The biggest addition was the Coach Skill Trees, which added an RPG element to the game. As coaches leveled up, they gained specific bonuses and abilities. Each coaching position (Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator) had different unlockable skills. Offensive and Defensive Coordinators focused on a single skill tree, such as boosting passing abilities or improving defensive instincts. Head Coaches had access to two skill trees, one for recruiting and one for game management, that included giving the team a pep talk during a time out to being able to discover the best athletes to recruit.

The Coaching Carousel at the end of each season presented opportunities for coaches to move to different schools. Earning jobs at more prestigious schools required winning, fulfilling promises, and building up the football program. These actions increased the coach’s prestige, leading to better job offers. This addition to the Dynasty mode not only gives the game more of an RPG feel, because your coach really does level up as you play the game, but it makes it seem more realistic. Being able to unlock/learn things as a coach as you play adds so much more realism to the mode.

Road To Glory: The Path to College Stardom

The Road To Glory mode remained largely unchanged. Players started as high school seniors, aiming to earn a college scholarship. College scouts evaluated their performance during games, with better performances leading to scholarships from higher-ranking teams. Players then guided their chosen athlete through a full four years at their chosen university.

Ultimate Team: Building a Dream Team

NCAA Football 14 marked the debut of the highly popular Ultimate Team mode, previously seen in the Madden franchise. Players started by choosing a team and building it with card packs earned through gameplay or purchased with coins. They could then take their teams online to compete against other Ultimate Team players or play offline to complete tasks. Playing games earned packs and coins, which could be used to buy more packs or acquire specific player cards through online auctions. The ultimate team mode is highly addictive. It can also become expensive if you're not careful, but you don't have to pay to play.

Gameplay Revolution: The Infinity Engine 2

The gameplay in NCAA Football 14 was where the game truly shined, feeling more realistic than previous entries. The implementation of the Infinity Engine 2, which had debuted in Madden NFL 13, played a key role. This second iteration of the engine fixed many of the bugs from the previous year, resulting in improved physics. Offensive lineman and other players would actually block.

The option game was completely overhauled, offering a more realistic experience for fans of option playbooks. Players now had to read specific defenders as the play developed, making triple option plays more complex and strategic. The defense would also adapt to offensive tendencies, increasing the risk of interceptions if passes were thrown into double coverage. The level of realism in both the running game and passing plays was great, using the analog stick when passing allows for much better ball placement than in past entries. This allows your WR to get to the ball, without any threat from the DB. When running the ball, the cuts that your RB can make will shock you, no longer are you just running to a specific hole in the offensive line. If the play breaks down there may be another hole elsewhere, if you see it simply flick the left analog stick in that direction.

Defensively, the game retained familiar elements but with enhanced effectiveness thanks to the Infinity Engine 2. Pass rushing was improved, with offensive line attributes playing a more significant role. Players could quickly switch to defenders and break on the ball, with ball hawk players making aggressive interceptions.

Visual Enhancements

Graphically, NCAA Football 14 looked and ran smoothly, with optimizations made since the first implementation of the Infinity Engine 2. While not a major graphical overhaul, the game showed noticeable improvements. The stadiums looked great, but it would be nice to see more teams added in future releases.

Read also: College Football Gaming on PS2

Imperfections and Drawbacks

Despite its many improvements, NCAA Football 14 was not without its issues. Some players experienced delays in play choices when running the no-huddle offense, particularly when defending against it. This could make it challenging to call defensive plays in time.

Some critics noted that the game, while improved, still suffered from some of the same problems that had plagued the franchise for years. The on-field action was generally praised, but other aspects of the game were considered sloppy. Some users also reported heavy scripting of game outcomes, strange AI behaviors on defense, and bugs. While the Infinity Engine 2 introduced physics, some players felt that human-controlled runners lacked weight and struggled to push forward after contact.

Recruiting Refinements

The recruiting process in Dynasty mode saw some positive changes. The elimination of phone calls streamlined the process without sacrificing strategy. While some missed the personal touch of phone calls, the new system was a step forward. Players could get involved in the competition for recruits, adjusting their recruiting points from week to week. The new coach skills, offseason points, and visit scheduling were well-integrated into the recruiting system. The timing of campus visits, including who the recruit met with and how the team performed that week, added a new layer to the recruiting experience. Naturally, you can make any dynasty an online one, which means that all of the game's recruiting nuances are playable with your friends in an online dynasty. You can also create an online dynasty that's comprised of just yourself if you want to use the game's companion browser page which lets you manage your team - including recruiting - online.

A Sentimental Favorite

Despite its flaws, many players look back on NCAA Football 14 fondly. Some preferred it over the Madden games, appreciating the more wacky and fun modes. The game's mascot mode, in particular, was a source of entertainment for many.

Read also: Deep Dive into NCAA Football 13

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