NCAA Football 10 Demo Impressions
by 
Having played the full game at E3, which was probably built off a different and slightly more recent build, it makes it difficult to evaluate the demo. There are some things that seemed better at E3, yet there are also some things that seem better in the demo. So I’m not sure exactly how valid some of my impressions can be as they relate to the final build. Because of that I won’t go into much detail on those things.
Continue on to read some general thoughts on the game/demo and check out the videos of a full demo play-through.
I’ve continued to argue against two minute quarter demos because of the inability to get into any rhythm. The faults of this are more pronounced with NCAA 10 though because the improvements and additions to the game I see as being more subtle. So it is less likely you’ll see the effect of game planning, or have the chance to run a fully “set up” play, or see the AI adapting over the course of the game. So in general I think the game comes across as feeling very similar to 09 and for the most part it does even in extended play.
In the demo I’ve had a real difficult time running the ball on All-American. In most cases a rushing attempt results in getting taken down in the backfield. I didn’t have the same reaction when playing it at E3 and hopefully the final build provides better run blocking than what is seen in the demo. Otherwise I feel forced into passing the ball more than I want to even in short yardage situations.
In somewhat of a surprise I don’t see too much of a problem with the pass rush. In fact on some occasions I was frustrated having run play action and getting no time to throw before being hit. While on defense I found blitzing to be effective, especially by using Player Lock and user blitzing. Still the sliders being broken is inexcusable even with the promise of a fix to come via patch.
As to Player Lock I didn’t talk about it much out of E3 but I’m finding it natural to use during the course of a game. This is especially the case when looking to blitz where the new perspective can really be of benefit. It is a detriment in pass coverage though. I had the CPU QB throw deep over the middle when I was controlling the FS. It was overthrown and in normal view it would’ve been an easy user pick. However the view was disorienting and I couldn’t tell where the ball was going to land which led to misplaying it and cost me an easy INT. I haven’t tried to player lock on offense yet. I like it as a punt returner and wish they would allow you to lock onto kick returners. Why they decided to leave out that possibility I don’t know.
Something that really bothers me is how the game resets you in the play calling screen. At each timeout you get the option to change your gameplan which is efficient. However then you go back to the game and are at the start of the play calling menu instead of it sending you back to your previous formation or even formation selection. This means navigating back through with multiple button clicks just to get where you want. Frustrating and a waste of time. Also a problem that remains even after complaining about it the past few years is after a special teams play you’re sent back to the special teams formation. After punting the ball I’m fairly certain my next selection isn’t going to be a special teams play EA.
I think the biggest problem with the game is that there is just a lack of emotional attachment. Some of that has to do with how the game doesn’t present a lot of the real life touches that Madden is adding this year or that have been found in MLB The Show. But also there isn’t much emotion shown on the field or felt from the crowd and commentators. In the demo video I got what was a critical touchdown yet there was no celebration and the QB did something along the lines of a boring fist thrust. It just didn’t draw me into the moment.
It remains to be seen how the final of the version of the game will be received but the demo does deliver a good idea of what to expect. There is nothing revolutionary for gameplay or presentation this year. Feature wise having Online Dynasty and adding Teambuilder could be what preserves it as an entertaining game that has value past just being what holds people over until Madden releases.
June 20, 2009 at 4:27 pm
the players run like robots and are not fluid at all.. WHEN HE HELL WILL EA SPORTS FIX THE CROWD i mean if MLB the show can have a full 60fps crowd why does ea sports continue the sprits crowd? it has been that way since madden 2000 10 years no update in the crowd but cut scenes
June 20, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Gameplay not much different. I will definitely be renting it. There are some gameplan/coaching aspects that are different but that's it…waiting for Aug 14…
June 20, 2009 at 5:12 pm
BOO THIS GAME! BOOOOOOOO, Animations are ok, but one thing that NCAA always does are the little freezes right before an animation starts. I hate that. I just dont see why people would buy this if they have 09. Madden is gonna blow this game away. Ill just play Fight Night for now, rent NCAA for some draft classes in Madden, and then greatly enjoy Madden 10. NICE TRY THOUGH
June 20, 2009 at 11:52 pm
hey umm no one really gives a shit if you rent it or anything fucker
June 20, 2009 at 9:42 pm
anyody else annoyed by the defense chants
June 20, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Another thing I noticed..that is very big is the Interceptions…Now when a db gets a pick..that take a quick step forward instead of whatever was going on last year…where there was a pause for them to gather to footing that mad a lot of pick sixes not happen..A lot more realistic…Great improvement…..
June 21, 2009 at 12:58 am
the demo sucks blls
June 21, 2009 at 3:09 am
my god if some of you folks did'nt have so gripe about this game you would just drop dead
the game isn't and never will be perfect if your not gonna buy just don't buy and don't get on this site and other
to bitch about it being so bad.it's just a game.
June 21, 2009 at 3:29 am
This game sucks a fat ****
June 20, 2009 at 8:39 pm
The game is cool! Yes there could be improvements but it’s cool, maybe next year……ok life is great stop all the negative talk
June 21, 2009 at 5:17 am
The demo just shows me what the guys that work on the NCAA Football game are all about. Minimal changes to GAMEPLAY with spending time on retarded modes such as SEASON SHOWDOWN or TEAMBUILDER. Pass rush stills sucks, and weight and strength for the most part. I wish that I could just see what they wasted 9 months on doing at their studios. When you see and play games like MLB 09 The Show, it really just angers you to see that crap that is NCAA Football 10. Pathetic. I will not be playing this game this year. Maybe they will get the picture in NCAA Football 11…
June 21, 2009 at 6:33 am
I also LIKE TO put things in CAPS to EMPHASIZE their importANCE
June 21, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Does this GUY really KNOW what hes TALKING ABOUT?
June 21, 2009 at 6:57 am
The camera angle alone kills it. I really hope that it will be changeable in the full version.
It's a real PITA to pull off a user catch, or pick.
June 21, 2009 at 1:27 pm
a couple things i noticed is that on a kick off they dont say ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo u. its so small but its a big part of college football. and whats so hard about new commentary
June 22, 2009 at 2:46 pm
It's more like oooooooooooooooooooooooooo u SUCKS. They should not of even been in the National Championship game and they showed it when they got there. UT should have been
June 22, 2009 at 4:40 am
I really think that the demo felt nothing like 09. To me it was more intense, more intimate, and it actually felt like a national championship.
I've only played a couple of games, but in my opinion the demo in no way resembles 09.
June 22, 2009 at 7:16 am
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME i CAN STILL IMPORT MY OWN MUSIC INTO THE 2010. iF THIS IS GONE i WILL BE TOTALLY PISSED
June 22, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Are you going to be able to get the rosters names like 09. If not I aint buying it cause yea this is 09.5 nothing difrrent frew sprinkles
June 22, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I am si sick of people saying 2K5 is the best football game yet. I'm sick of people saying the next gen Madden games suck i.e Madden 08-present. People have to high of expectations as a resault had the game and think it sucks. Madden is one of the best games in the history of games!! Now shut up or be happy with the game
June 22, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I am so sick of people saying 2K5 is the best football game yet. I'm sick of people saying the next gen Madden games suck i.e Madden 08-present. People have to high of expectations as a resault hate the game and think it sucks. Madden is one of the best games in the history of games!! Now shut up or be happy with the game
June 28, 2009 at 8:48 am
thank u…ppl bitch way too much…with there expectations to the roof…ppl r just so spoiled n ungrateful…we have come along wayy ppl from madden 98…now we bitch about there not being patches on the jerseys lol…cmon..only complaints i have…is that wen next gen game it felt like they started over…franchise mode was way better on ps2 then next gen…but other than that..madden keeps gettin better.
June 22, 2009 at 1:51 pm
hey guys,__ I just opened an account to leave some comments, along with some questions. ____Ok, I don't really understand the questions here??You guys have asked about 90 questions but none of them have been answered? Does Padre ever answer you guys? and if he dosen't…why do you keep asking questions if nobody answers them?…It seems pointless. __How can any of you rip on the demo or say you are not
June 22, 2009 at 4:53 pm
he does answer questions.
June 22, 2009 at 1:52 pm
buying the game? Ummmm, what are you doing reading about the game then?…if it sux, go read about "my little pony" or something else.
Complaining about a $60 game…we are lucky they could be charging $200 for these games (madden, ncaa), and we would buy them. You get way more then your money worth out of them. How many hours do these games entertain you for? ummm about 4,000 hours on the average. Yes the game is worth 60 bucks.
I also hope they have the juke-box feature to input music.
I hope the EA locker room is easy to use.
Hopefully all the glitches are fixed before the game is released (my opionion…they should make online play 100% fixed before spending their time anywhere else)…Mascotts games and all the other bs???
Could you guys also leave your ps3 screen names so we can send you invites, it would be cool to play other members and hard core gamers like you guys…we could actually learn and talk about alot of gaming stuff, also I am a hard core fantasy baseball and football player.
thanks guys…
June 22, 2009 at 4:56 pm
PSN ID #1: PackDuDe425
PSN IS #2: KatoKing4
June 22, 2009 at 4:56 pm
PSN ID #1: PackDuDe425
PSN ID #2: KatoKing4
June 22, 2009 at 11:05 pm
The game is worth $60, but to charge you every year for basically the same game is a slap in the face. they're calling you stupid.
June 24, 2009 at 11:47 am
PSN-Geauxdee
that would be cool always looking for hard core college football gamers
if interested PM me we have 9 players for our create a high school league should be fun.
June 22, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Madden question…
with the online co-op…can we play with a friend in another city on 2 different ps3's?and be on the same team…..? anybody know this question?
June 22, 2009 at 2:42 pm
What is everyone smoking? NCAA 9 was a GREAT game. Everyone I knew loved it… So if this is pretty much the same game with some additions how can it now suddenly be "old" and "horrible"?
It does play slightly different from last year but nothing major. I enjoyed the demo… and still play it. I'm looking forward to the game and online dynasty.
I think everyone should relax. NCAA has always been the little brother to Madden when it comes to updates. Next season we'll get all the things Madden is getting this season. For now we should be happy we have a solid NCAA game to play with great online features we only dreamed about a couple of years ago.
Oh how quickly people forget what they have been given in less then a year.
June 22, 2009 at 8:44 pm
These games just arent enjoyable like they used to be, I cant even put my finger on it, I often leave that to guys like Apexisfree, but I know something is missing, and more often then not its REAL FOOTBALL. im not a video gamer, I only like to play sports games.
June 22, 2009 at 8:45 pm
NCAA 10, a big steaming pile of shit accumlated over years with a few sprinkles on top
Madden 10, a big steaming pile of shit accumlated over years with lots of sprinkles on top
Thats all folks
June 22, 2009 at 8:48 pm
WRONG FUCKING REPLY!!!
June 23, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I was disappointed with how the DEMO played. It seemed too fast, and I saw ALOT of the same tackling animations. I know that this isn't the final copy of the game, but it seems like there are SO MANY things that need fixed. For me, the worst thing about the DEMO was the sound. On 3rd down, the "DEFENSE" chant sounded like they recorded it in a tin can! Honestly, EA…. it was that bad.
I guess I just expected more. But I guess I feel that way every year
June 23, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I DONT THINK I LIKE WHAT THEY DID WITH THE CROWD CHANTS SO FAR. SOUNDED A LITTLE CHEESEY. ILL BUY THIS GAME A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BUY MADDEN BECAUSE I AM HAVING FUN WITH TIGER 10 FOR NOW.
BUT STILL A SMALL THING HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. OU WAS THE HOME TEAM IN THE DEMO AND THE CROWD WAS CHANTING FOR OU LIKE THEY WERE IN NORMAN OR SOMETHING. IF ITS A BOWL GAME THE CROWD SHOULD BE SPLIT AND CHANTING FOR BOTH SIDES.
June 24, 2009 at 1:50 am
Whoa that looks bad, sorry about the caps there.
June 23, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Doesn't the clock stop in college on first downs until the offense comes out of the huddle?
July 1, 2009 at 6:47 pm
yeah except the clock starts as soon as the football is "set" by the referee not really when the offense comes out of the huddle just because a lot of teams run no huddle.
June 30, 2009 at 11:43 am
i noticed some bugs also, if you try and fake hike it 3 times your entire line will jump resulting in a penatly which made no sense at all….
July 7, 2009 at 9:42 pm
you people are idiots, people like you that fill up message boards with crap!! Boo hoo no have time show, oh the crowd looks crappy, oh i wish i could created a team. this is bullshit if idiots like some of you would stop complaining about the useless parts of the game maybe we could get ea to fix some of the real problems.
July 8, 2009 at 4:01 pm
The DB coverage skills are horrible, & if you switch to the DB & hit the button to pick it off the guy won't put his hands up. Also, what's the point of having speed ratings if you don't follow them? I'm tired of having a 96 speed guy getting ran down when the fastest player on the defense is 92. Lastly, DeMarco Murray's speed is 93? Really? Have you actually seen the guy run? I know it's the in thing to hate on OU, but disdain doesn't make people slow.
July 25, 2009 at 10:05 pm
whats the f-ing special teams on this crappy ass game? every team in the nation can get at will about 40 to 50 yards a return on you. and it might just be me, but i can't get more than about 15 yards a return on the computer with any team. that pisses me off beyond belief. sorry ass ea sports should let someone else have a license to make the game so that they would be pressured into making a better freakin game. how are those bastards still in bussiness putting out horse crap like this every freaking year. they shouldn't be alowed near another ncaa football game ever again. why are they so afraid of competition? like dude said, nothing besides the teambuilder and season showdown is any freakin different from last year's or so on. and the teambuilder was totally overhyped by those losers at ea. it doesn't seem like anybody's complaints to them make a bit of difference every year. they should step down from their possitions and let someone else take a crack at the series. i will leave you all with a f*** ea sports.