Great Game but Understated Additions
The best way to sum up this years game is deceiving. At fist glance the game looks a lot like NCAA Football 08. The interface looks the same and the background images are mostly taken From the 07 edition of the game. This similar look gives somewhat negative first impressions. However, after you spend a few hours with the game you realize that it just seems like a really polished version of 08. The animations are smoother, the graphics are better, and the gameplay is more fluid and responsive.
However, the game is not without its problems. The thought of custom stadium sounds is very appealing but in reality, atleast for the 360 version, the execution is severely flawed. In order to set a specific song to play during the game you not only have to have it on your hard drive, you have to have it at the top of a playlist. This pretty much boils down to the user having to make playlists for a bunch of songs and editing them to start in the middle before the whole process because the game lacks that feature.
Personally, I found the downloadable rosters to add an enormous amount to the gameplay in dynasty mode. It just is simply more fun to make depth chart decisions with players that you know. Or knocking Tim Tebow out of the game with a bone shattering sack is just more satisfying than injuring QB #15.
The addition of an online dynasty mode also adds a lot of value for the fanboy that hosts a fantasy football team every year and loves that in depth group based experience.
Overall, I would say this game is a blast to play. Even if the $60 price tag feels a little too expensive for the small amount of additional features.
