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 It's great fun, but it's also the worst of the three. By Adam Pavlacka | July 26, 2003  86Excellent
The Lowdown: A solid game, but missing a few features found in the other versions.
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Platform: GameCube
 Game Type: Sports Developer: Tiburon Publisher: EA Sports ESRB: Everyone Full Game Information Advertisement
Play where you want with the Logitech® Cordless Controller for PlayStation®.
More than 150 new teams have been added to the roster in NCAA Football 2004, including a number of classic teams. Unlocking the classic teams is done through the "College Classics" mode. This mode re-creates a famous moment in college football history and places you on the field. It is up to you to make sure the underdog wins the game against incredible odds. Interestingly, the College Classics mode only re-creates the key play -- you won't be going through the entire game. To truly test the mettle of some of the classic teams you will need to bring them face to face after unlocking them. Gameplay has been tweaked, with the defensive line getting a noticeable improvement over NCAA Football 2003. Whereas last year's game was very pass-friendly, NCAA Football 2004 forces gamers to rethink their strategy and really work on a balance between running and passing. Throw that ball one too many times and the defensive line will move back a bit and you will find your passes getting knocked down -- or intercepted -- more often than you would like to admit. When in doubt, run an option play. There is nothing more satisfying than lulling the computer into playing farther back, and running your quarterback right up the center for a down. Speaking of misdirection, NCAA Football 2004 gives new meaning to the word, with more ways to bluff out your opponent than ever before. Not only can you bluff on the play selection screen and call an audible on the field, but you can also choose trick plays specifically designed to confuse human players sitting on the couch right next to you. The trick plays cover everything from kicking to running to passing and are deceptively evil. For example, if you choose a trick running play, the computer will bring up the pass information screen as well as mark the receivers with their appropriate buttons. Or you can make it look like you are punting -- complete with kick animation -- and then toss the ball to a receiver instead. Very nice stuff. Players who are new to the game can have the computer suggest an optimal play, but only if you are on the offense. When defending the line you are on your own. The suggested plays are also a good choice while you're learning the playbook for your favorite team. Because of the limited amount of time college ball allows for the huddle, it is all too easy to get a delay of game penalty. The "favorite team" feature is one that has no direct bearing on the game, but does give the player a fun way to customize the game: When you first start NCAA Football 2004 it will ask you to select a favorite team. Once you have made your selection it is saved to the memory card and then appears in the UI and as the default selection in-game -- not a bad way to show off one's loyalties. For the hardcore fan, the dynasty mode is more in-depth than ever -- offering players the chance to do everything related to the team. You are responsible for recruiting, scheduling, playing -- everything. You can even design your own school if you choose. Casual players will likely never touch it, but if you are looking for depth, NCAA Football 2004 has enough to keep you busy well into next year.  I said STAY DOWN! If you only ever played the GameCube version of NCAA Football 2004, you would think it was an awesome college football game. The play is tight, the AI competes well, and the control is spot-on. If you have played either the PlayStation 2 or Xbox versions, though, you start to notice a few things missing. Online play isn't an option here, and the training mode is nowhere to be found. While the core game is still fun, there is little reason to choose the GameCube version unless the little purple box is your sole game system. •
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Essential Links Reviewer System Specifications GameCube, Memory Card 59, Standard Controller. System Requirements GameCube, Memory Card 59, Standard Controller. Reviews Index |
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