Run For Heisman Keeps '2006' From Being Just Another Year's Entry

The ESPN college football analyst is about as well-informed and articulate as any sports "talking head" out there, yet -- because NCAA rules prevent EA Sports from mentioning any real college player by name -- his in-game color commentary in "NCAA Football 2006" makes him sound like a party guest with a particularly bad memory for names ... his speech littered with oodles of "that guys" and "this quarterbacks" and other such nonspecifics.
At least he fared better than fellow sportscaster Brad Nessler, whose animated visage during the (finally!) revamped "pre-game" sequences looks like something that'd be more at home in "Resident Evil 4" than in a sports game. - College Football -
We kid. We kid because we love. Because, of course, we all love "NCAA Football 2006," which supplies the same deep, multifaceted (and at times overwhelming) gameplay that the previous generations of "NCAA" have provided ... and a little extra. - College Football -
The biggest change -- in years, actually -- is the introduction of "Heisman" mode, which allows you to create a character, work him out for college scouts, accept a scholarship and then play through your career, hopefully getting a shot at someday winning the coveted trophy of the mode's name. As big a change as it is, in terms of game-to-game performance, it's familiar. You still call the plays and control the offense and defense, as always. You just return to a dorm room at the end of the game, instead of the coach's splash screen. - College Football -
But, in a series that's growing a little stale, it's enough to keep it worth buying.
Modes: Standard "play now," online, "Heisman," "Dynasty" and assorted mini-games, including first-timer spring drills and the always-welcome "Mascot Games."
Game Play: The "Race for the Heisman" is fun but it turned me into a stats monster. In full control of the offense, I nonetheless paid little heed to the passing game or spreading the ball to my other backs as I concentrated on getting my halfback Heisman candidate as many touches as humanly possible. - College Football -
My strategy paid off, as he was invited to three Heisman Trophy ceremonies, winning once following his junior year.
They've also added in-season recruiting, which ... if you're anything but a top-tier program ... merely gives you an opportunity to taste bitter rejection and disappointment all season long, instead of merely between seasons. - College Football -
Technical Presentation: Load times are excessive and simulation times are s-l-o-w.
Beyond that, the graphics have been pushed about as far as they're gonna go, and you still get some of the collision overlap/pixel bleeding issues that you've seen the last couple of incarnations of "NCAA." - College Football -
Ease of Use: It might just have been me, but the defensive backfield seems more proficient at picking off the errant pass than previous versions. Other than that, if you've played one "NCAA," expect no real stunners as far as difficulty level goes.
Nice Surprise: The soundtrack during practice mode includes some mediocre current releases along with several classics by such luminaries as The Clash and De La Soul.
Enraging Quirk: Two things: First, the game is screaming for a slaughter switch ... a function where you can "opt out" of the rest of a particularly lopsided contest and let the computer quickly sim out the remaining quarters in as painless a manner possible. Way too much time is wasted on games that are entirely out of hand. - College Football -
Second: The save files are so massive for Heisman and Dynasty modes that they clog up most of a memory card. I switched out my Heisman campaign into a Dynasty mode (effectively taking over as a head coach rather that "going on to the NFL"), and that worked fine, but when I went to save, it wouldn't over-write the existing Heisman file, and I lacked the space to create a new Dynasty file.
Net result: A lot of wasted time. - College Football -
Tip: Need five or fewer yards for a first down? Out of any team's I formation, select triple option. Immediately hand the ball off to the fullback as he bulls upfield. Roughly 90 percent of the time, I got at least five yards. I almost never lose yardage.
As a general rule, in your running game, trying to get around the end is probably a waste of time. Head straight at the line and pick your spots.
Bottom Line: It's good the next-generation consoles are due, because this series is becoming somewhat played out. Having the up-to-date rosters and such is nice, but not worth the price of what's turning into essentially the same game year-in and year-out.

Matt Thompson