#1 of 2008: NCAA Football 09
by 
The NCAA Football series has always filled its role as the first football game of the year effectively holding me over until Madden. I’m more of a fan of the pros than college so there is more attachment to Madden. Once that was released I’d turn my full attention to it even though in many cases NCAA was a better game.
That was the case until this year anyway. NCAA Football 09 introduced Online Dynasties which changed the course of sports gaming and how the games can be enjoyed. I’m still playing NCAA to this day in multiple dynasties and have barely touched any others sports game over the last two months. That displays just how much value NCAA 09 offered.
The dynasty setup bypasses the difficulties of leagues in that you can have a dynasty that consists of teams that rarely have head-to-head games. Scheduling becomes less of an issue. Teams also always have something to play for. Even if they aren’t in the National Championship hunt there is always building for the future. This allows dynasties to continually progress at a smooth rate. Basically you have the interaction and competition by being involved with other users without the frustrating elements that have plagued online gaming. That would be mainly taking a larger member dynasty into consideration. It should not be forgotten that many of the active dynasties out there consist of 2-4 close friends where more head-to-head may be appealing.
Tiburon delivered the wide open gameplay that was promised with NCAA 09. It still seems to lack some of that “anything can happen” feel as the game leans towards offense but in more of an efficient manner than a big play one. There were some well documented gripes such as the ineffective pass rush, overly accurate QBs, and over-powered kicking. Despite that scores and statistics were realistic when using six minute quarters even with the “wide open” gameplay. Most importantly the games remain fun to play.
NCAA Football has always taken a backseat to Madden. This is the year where it really surpassed it though. While Madden remains somewhat stale avoiding any risks, NCAA took a big innovative leap by adding the Online Dynasty. Not only did it make it my top sports game of 2008 but it stands as a barometer for all future sports titles to live up to.
#1 NCAA Football 09
#2 NHL 09
#3 MLB 08: The Show
#4 FIFA 09
#5 NBA Live 09
#6 NBA 2K9
#7 Madden 09
#8 Blitz: The League II
#9 NFL Tour
#10 Tiger Woods 09
December 29, 2008 at 4:30 am
My favorite game of the year too Ive been playing online dynasty non-stop since it was released. Never spent this much time with a game.
December 29, 2008 at 4:31 am
IF UR NOT 1ST UR DED LASS
December 29, 2008 at 4:36 am
dis iz da worse #1 pic cents TONY MANDARICH
ERRRRYBODY no dat LIVE shoud hav dat #1 SPOT
LIVE wuz robbed lik PARIS HILTON JEWELRY
HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA
December 29, 2008 at 5:58 am
Get over it!!! Live 09 Sucks Lik Swizzy!!!
December 29, 2008 at 9:15 am
DON'T GET MAD MA GET RIGHT
December 29, 2008 at 7:58 am
Swizzy.. do me a favor..from reading past comments i think you are some 7 to 10 year old sneaking off and using the computer when you are not suppose to. so listen to your mom and stay off line!!!
January 26, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Huukd on fonikx wurkd fer swizzy. Learn to spell man.
December 29, 2008 at 4:40 am
I think NHL 09 and FIFA 09 also could have been #1 but NCAA Football was great also. I can understand why you have it as your favorite.
December 29, 2008 at 4:43 am
Wow. I was really disappointed with NCAA this year and I can hardly stand to play it. The game, when you get down to it, is just not much like real college football. The cartoonish broken tackles, the bad playbooks, this was just a huge step back from '08, which I loved and still play.
I liked Madden this year much better than NCAA. The games look similar, but if NCAA would play like Madden (and still had the '08 playbooks), it would definitely be my #1.
December 29, 2008 at 4:58 am
NCAA 09 was god awful this year. Great choice as always, Pasta
December 29, 2008 at 5:04 am
NCAA was a great game, OD is still running strong.
December 30, 2008 at 6:44 am
WHOEVER PUTS MADDEN 09 OR NBA LIVE 09 NUMEBR 1 IN THEIR TOP 10 DOES NOT OWN ANY OF THESE OTHER SPORTS TITLES! MADDEN WAS HORRIBLE BOTH OFF-LINE AND ONLINE(GLITCHES) AND NBA THE GAME STILL PLAYS LIKE ITS A FRANCHISE WORKING IN ITS FIRST YEAR! THE BEST SPORTS GAMES BY FAR THIS YEAR WAS NCAA FOOTBALL 09, NHL 09, AND FIFA 09! I WOULD SAY 2K! BUT ITS LIKE NUMBER FIVE BECASUE WITH OUT THE ABILITY TO PLAY ONLINE FOR PAYING $60 IS THE WACKIEST SHIT EVER!!!!2K DROP THE BALL HEAVY THIS YEAR IN THAT REGARD! BUT OVERALL ITS STILL BETTER THAN NBA LIVE AND MADDEN 09! YOU CANT EVEN STRAFE CATCH ANYMORE UNLESS YOU KNOW THE GLITCH! ITS PRETTY ANNOYING THAT YOU CANT USE RANDY MOSS OR CALVIN JOHNSON HEIGHT BECAUSE THE GAME WONT LET YOU! HOW AND THE BLUE HELL CAN A GAME I PURCHASE TELL ME WHAT NOT TO DO???????? AND YOU GUYS STILL PLAY IT?? AT LEAST ON NCAA THEY TONED DOWN THE STRAFE CATCH BUT YOU CAN STILL STRAFE AND USE YOU PLAYERS HEIGHT! ITS NOT MY FAULT FSU RECRUITED GREG CARR WHO IS 6'6! MADDEN BLOWS! ALL YOU CAN DO NOW IS RUN THE BALL AND USE THOSE WEAK ASS JUKES AND RUNNIG CONTROLS! THEY NEED TO RE-DO THAT WHOLE GAME!
December 30, 2008 at 6:45 am
AND WAHTS UP WITH THE TOWELS AND THE COLORED CLEATS! IM SICK OF THE SAME EQUIPMENTS! AND HOW COME WHEN YOU EDIT A PLAYER LIKE ED REED HIS SHOULDER PADS ARE BIGGER THAN HIS HEAD DONT BELIEVE ME GO TO HIM AND MAKE HIS JERSEY TUCK UNDER AND WATCH WAT HAPPENS SAME THING WITH RAY LEWIS, ADALIUS THOMAS AND ANNTRELL ROLLE! WHY CANT I CHOOSE WHAT COLOR I WANT MY PLAYERS GLOVES OR CLEATS TO BE! THE MOST OF THE PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE WEAR BOTH COLORED GLOVES AND CLEATS ALONG WITH TOWELS! BUT IN MADDEN YOU GET BLACK OR WHITE CLEATS WITH GLOVES THAT ARE WACK! CAN WE PLEASE HAVE MORE VARIETY NEXT YEAR DAMN! IMPROVE TE DYNASTY TO! I MISS THE OLD XBOX MADDEN GAMES THEY WERE SO MUCH FUN THAN THE ONES NOW! THE MADDEN NOW IS ALL ABOUT A FUCKIN MADDEN IQ THAT DOES NOT TEST NO FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE IN ANY KIND OF FORM! MADDEN NOW IS PRETTY MUCH FOR THE WACK ASS GAMERS WHO COULD NEVER WIN IN THE OLD VERSIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN THE SHIT WE HAVE NOW! GOOD LUCK NEXT YEAR IM RENTING IT! TILL THAN ITS CALL OF DUTY, LEFT 4 DEAD, AND GEARS OF WAR 2 FOR ME! NOW THOSE GAMES ARE GREAT! CANT WAIT FOR UFC AND FIGHT NIGHT TO DROP!
December 29, 2008 at 5:08 am
this game is the best by far of the year. MADDEN was straight trash this year!!! No crowd noise, no online dynasty, no franchise update, all it had was a few new animations. NCAA 09 took the game and online dynasts changed the face of sports gaming. That Swizzy dude is full of shit!! I see him on the NBA2k9 site all the time talking about that game, and then he comes here and says Live is the Best, lol I see ya playa
December 29, 2008 at 5:13 am
Honestly this game was so good. I might not even buy Madden next year if they pull that same bullshit
December 29, 2008 at 5:26 am
I know that ranking these top 10 game is just an opinion, but here is how I would have ranked them …
#1 MLB 08: The Show
#2 FIFA 09
#3 NHL 09
#4 Madden 09
#5 NCAA Football 09
#6 NBA 2K9
#7 Tiger Woods 09
#8 NBA Live 09
#9 NFL Tour
#10 Blitz: The League II
December 29, 2008 at 5:55 am
I like your list commish!!!
December 29, 2008 at 7:19 am
Good List, mine would have been:
1. NHL 09
2. The Show
3. FIFA
4. NCAA Football 09
5. Tigerwoods 09 (wii version)
6. Madden 09
7. NBA Live 09
8. NBA 2K9
That's pretty much the sports games I've tried out this year, so I can't think of any other game, unless you include Smackdown vs. Raw 2009.
December 29, 2008 at 5:47 am
Is it still worth buying now? even if Ncaa Football 2010 is comming out soon?
And is it fun on the ps3?
December 29, 2008 at 6:14 am
If you're involved with a good online dynasty I'd say it is especially since you can find it for $30 new in some places or used for a good price.
December 29, 2008 at 7:13 am
Buy it used and yes it's worth buying, you have a good 6 months to play it.
December 29, 2008 at 5:58 am
Umm…NCAA 2010 won't be out soon. Unless July is 'soon'.
December 29, 2008 at 6:10 am
Agreed
December 29, 2008 at 6:34 am
7 out of 10 EA games, im guessing Peter gave you a nice bonus this year Tully (I mean Pasta)
December 29, 2008 at 7:09 am
So I'm guessing you're upset that Prize Fighter and Top Spin 3 didn't make the top 10.
December 29, 2008 at 8:10 am
Jr Im starting to think you work for Ea also.
December 29, 2008 at 8:20 am
Seeing as the sports video game market is saturated with EA games, is it a surprise that EA has most of the top games? Look at other Top 10 list and you'll see the same. I guess we are all working for EA.
December 29, 2008 at 6:43 am
Seems like the right ratio to me, not that I sought out to get a certain mix in. But I'd think that probably about 70 % (or more) of the sports games released come from EA.
December 29, 2008 at 6:36 am
Pasta Looks like Tully from the movie Kids LMAO
December 29, 2008 at 6:37 am
how i see it
#!1–nhl 09
#2–fifa 09
#3–mlb the show 09
#4–madden 09
# 5—ncaa football 09
#6- nba live 09
#7–nba 2k9
#8–ncaa basketball 09
#9–tiger woods 09
#10–pes–09
December 29, 2008 at 6:37 am
It's Telly I thought
December 29, 2008 at 6:42 am
Pasta, would you have still put NCAA 09 #1 if it didn't have online dynasties?
December 29, 2008 at 6:45 am
No, it probably would've been down around Madden's range. I'm guessing I would've played Madden more in that scenario like I have in the past.
December 29, 2008 at 7:25 am
Yo Pasta good pick but can you and your buddies at Ea fix the interception and high completion percentage problem??? and maybe a couple of sacks or so would be great also while you are at it! but overall this game is fun. nothing like taking akron to the top 25!!
December 29, 2008 at 7:33 am
Yeah I think at least they're aware of those things, so they should be addressed next year. If I get an early look at the game those would be areas I'd check into.
December 29, 2008 at 7:48 am
So because of one feature this game puts it at number one? Because of this it would of been down around maddens range? Thats pretty bad.
December 29, 2008 at 8:23 am
Not a small feature, but a major one. Online gaming has become part of the foundation of NEXT GEN gaming. Many sites that do review games, knock games for lack of online or multi-player features; whereas in past generation titles this wasn't the case.
December 29, 2008 at 8:42 am
I think I explained why that is the case though and it goes to show how much impact that mode had. It totally changed my playing habits and where my time was distributed based on how much enjoyment and interactivity I have gotten through NCAA
December 29, 2008 at 7:56 am
Swizzy is a bitch, go home !!!!
December 29, 2008 at 9:14 am
I TOLD U SHORTIES GOT a SLICK MOUTH need 2 get PAID 4 dat MA DON'T go givin it away 4 FREE
SO U sum kinda of GANGSTA B!T@H (let me find out U a DOPE GIRL)
HA HA HA HA HA HA
I NEVA bin USSY WHIPED or WHIPED by a USSY
December 29, 2008 at 9:00 am
NCAA Football 09 is basically broken, like it has been for years. I bought 09 and it looks like electric football. As long as EA holds the rights, the series won't be any good. I would LOVE a good college football game, but it isn't happening. The Show wins the year hands down.
December 29, 2008 at 9:17 am
ENUFF wit da Chit Chat Ma if datz how U feel take action
but I assure U I WON'T go down like Romeo from Steve Harvey
ho's actin like "YUNG MIKE" out here
ADVANTAGE: SWIZZY
December 29, 2008 at 11:33 am
Ok Swizz.
1. You aint no gangsta cause gansta dont talk shit over a computer and they dont talk shit ona video game blog site at that.
2. You aint from the " hood"..the hood you have seen is on your moms volvo parked outside.
3. shut the hell up with these dumb ass comments its getting rediculous.
4. didn't the bill to make ebonics a language fail???
5. Im sure you are probably that "brad" dude that played on malbu's most wanted…so drop the fake gangsta talk or whatever you think it is pick u your book and keep studying your ABC son you whack as hell.
December 29, 2008 at 11:34 am
6. gangsta dont talk about mandarich or paris hilton!!!
December 30, 2008 at 12:20 pm
7. RESPEK MY GANGSTA
8. ADVANTAGE BIGG SWIZZ DOGG
December 30, 2008 at 12:16 pm
MA cut da BULL SH…
NO SUBLIMES if U DON'T like my typin say so DIRECTLY
datz a H0 M0 move I seen it & had 2 CHEC HOOK dat SH…
U was actin 2 grown like a DAUGHTER growin up TOO FAST w/o a FATHER so I had 2 CHEC dat
U MAD HO MO SON GIT OFF DA SWIZZ MAN NUTZ
December 29, 2008 at 9:18 am
LOLOL Swizzy why these haters on yo nuts playboy lololol
December 29, 2008 at 9:40 am
LMAO da nerve of dem COWARDS tryin 2 use sum SUCKA SH…talkin like he a KILLA
HA HA HA HA HA
DEY CAINT HOLD DA SWIZZ MAN DOWN
YA DIGG???
December 29, 2008 at 11:22 am
Swizzy I am offended by your stupidity
December 30, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I SWEAR 2 many H0 M0's B HEAR
ya'll probably take turns DRINKIN da THROAT YOGURT SWAPPIN & ISH ILL
December 30, 2008 at 8:12 am
I swear you're probably from white suburban Michigan, you're a straight A student, and your mom drives a minivan, you probably have never sworn in real life because you think its wrong, and you are probably a really nice kid in Junior High.
Nobody from the hood brags about being from the hood dumbass.
December 29, 2008 at 11:17 am
great choice at number one.. i still play NCAA although i wish my connection didn't suck so i could play a game with out it lagging and disconnecting every time. i would definitely get into online dynasties…i feel like im missing out
December 30, 2008 at 8:04 am
Are you playing wireless? If so, check the channel you're using on your router, you should either be using 1 or 11. Hope that helps.
December 29, 2008 at 11:17 am
whn is the madden roster update coming out… playoffs are here afterall
December 29, 2008 at 11:53 am
Gotta keep those free “paid for by EA Sports” trips coming, huh Pasta? Nothing like a little old school payola to place EA garbage ahead of a true next gen sports game like The Show.
December 29, 2008 at 6:59 am
if you don't like it…leave…stop cryin
December 29, 2008 at 7:09 am
The Show is great, no doubt. But like NBA 2K9 its tough for me to justify what is many ways is half a game with damaged online play experience. Online elements are a big part of what I get out of these games and when those are poor it affects my feeling on them a great deal.
December 29, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Yo pasta I got live over the weekend the animations aren’t as good as 2k9 but the halfcout game and ai is by far the best since inside drive a very underated game, the way they run plays and teams truely play to there real live counterparts it nice, hopefully then can get the animation I little bit better next year, I love sports games and I don’t have time to advertise for 2k and EA like some of these guys on ur site they don’t pay my bills 4 me to do that.
My number 1 would have been fifa
December 30, 2008 at 1:03 am
The only problem is collegial sports are the only sports that have enough teams where you have a situation where very little head-to-head competition. You wouldn't be able to do this for any pro sports because in a league like the NFL, for example, where there's only 32 teams, and with a dynasty of 20 players, most of those teams would be quickly taken up by real players.
With 100+ teams in NCAA, it's easier to have AI controlled teams.
December 30, 2008 at 2:12 am
I agree, i would like to see the use of double jersey numbers for 2010, other than that i never had a complaint about the series.
December 30, 2008 at 3:32 am
just limit the people in the dynasty. to me 8 is the maximum reasonable number
December 30, 2008 at 3:43 am
Dead on, Pasta! NCAA is so much better than Madden this year… and it's by far the best sports game of the year, with NHL 09 coming in 2nd. The rest everyone can argue all day long.
NCAA just gives you more flexibility in gameplay. Want to play against humans? Set up a big league. Against AI, but want to manage? Set up a small one.
There's no argument on the little issues the game has, and I like how you've readily admitted that. Even moreso, EA once again dropped the ball on a few key elements… online intergation with their website is somewhat weak and they bungled the player transfers/players leaving thing pretty bad and just refused to fix it. That's EA for ya, and that's why they suck as a corporation. All in all, though, this game is great. Better than anything out there, so kudos to the programming team.
December 30, 2008 at 3:44 am
MLB 08 The Show is hands down the best sports game out! To put NCAA College Football 09 over it is a TRUE insult to REAL gamers like myself.
You should really be ashamed of youself Pasta. I hope EA paid you a fat bonus.
December 30, 2008 at 8:02 am
I think many more people felt that NHL 09 was the game of the year. Everyone has an opinion, and no one single person's opinion is the end all be all, so please step off your soap box.
December 30, 2008 at 4:18 am
Wow, I agree with most of the list but I personally HATED this years NCAA. So many features still missing, the gameplay still feels incredible unresponsive to me, and the presentation as always is horrid. The NCAA series used to be by far my favorite of any sports game out there, but over the last 3 years I have grown to despise it. Its gone from best to worst IMO.
December 30, 2008 at 5:46 am
No doubt about it, NCAA was the best game of the year…The online dynasty took this game over the top. Madden is stale. It's draft scenario and scouting is WEAK! I probably won't but it in '10 if they don't make dramatic improvements in the offseason stuff, draft, etc.
December 30, 2008 at 8:00 am
Pasta,
Could you put up a poll for game of the year for the readers possibly using your top 10 list. Think this could be a good way to end 2008 on PastaPadre.com
December 30, 2008 at 8:09 am
I think NCAA 09 Demo was the best. The gameplay on that was awesome… oh well…
Anyway the PS2 versions of NCAA and Madden are also VERY fun especially for sim gamers.
December 30, 2008 at 10:13 am
good #1 choice… Ncaa deff surprised me this year, now all they have to do is polish the gameplay and add to the presentation and atmosphere
December 30, 2008 at 10:21 am
NCAA FOOOOOOOOOOTBALLLLLL
December 31, 2008 at 1:37 am
i got this game for christmas and i love it. i never realized how much of a difference there is between ncaa and madden until i played my brother in both of them back-to-back and i realized how much better ncaa plays. it just feels better playing. also, are there any spots left in your online dynasty patsa?
December 31, 2008 at 2:08 am
This is a game I'm going to have to revisit. In the past I'd rush through NCAA football before Madden would be released. Even though I did enjoy Madden it didn't have the longetivity I was seeking. I really do miss the owner mode, which would keep me playing multiple seasons.
January 3, 2009 at 8:44 am
Right now we're set but feel free to check back with me within the next couple weeks.
December 31, 2008 at 4:26 am
No thanks. NCAA football is the worst game at representing the NCAA experience. THe playbooks are laughably pathetic. The defense is atrociously simple. There is zero strategy involved in the game….I am appalled that this game is ranked #1 by anyone.
Online franchise I agree is something that everyone wanted and they delivered but the core gameplay is terrible and the presentation is beyond boring.
December 31, 2008 at 4:39 am
Anyone who thinks NCAA 09 is joke or whatever must be the type of person who is never satisfied. NCAA 09 is great. It's the best NCAA yet, by far.
December 31, 2008 at 6:40 am
ncaa has set the bar,now we want online franchise for madden and live,hopefully we'll get it soon.
December 31, 2008 at 2:08 am
I think that's the direction EA is going in.
January 1, 2009 at 4:56 am
I agree NCAA is a good game but I didnt give it a chance I been so busy playing Madden which grew on me. Im renting NCAA again
January 1, 2009 at 12:08 pm
To:cabrillo24 Thanks for all the info on NCAA football 09! I'm buying it Saturday. Is the offline dynasty fun? I only play online once a week, but I'll still start a dynasty.
Thanks again
January 2, 2009 at 2:22 am
To game would be so much better if they updated the rosters. A LOT of players improve in college, so updates would be nice.
January 2, 2009 at 2:53 am
my game of the year also im still playing it because of online dynasty
January 4, 2009 at 1:36 am
I got it today!<saturday Jan.3> it's amazing i thought Pasta was crazy for putting it over NHL 09 but Now I can see why! the Campus Legend Mode and dynasty(s) are the best
January 5, 2009 at 9:03 am
I disagree with your choice for number one games because FIFA 2009 is much better than NCAA Football 09 as FIFA 2009 is the real football.
January 5, 2009 at 9:40 am
Hey swizzy my pizzy are you five? you arn't from the hood. you arn't even black! your white as a gohst. Quit the act or i''ll call the cyber cops!