NCAA Football 2001 (PlayStation)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Greene Brown
• Reviewed on: 08/02/2000
• Updated on: 05/17/2006
• Released on: 07/25/2000
• Originally published on GameSpot: NCAA Football 2001 (PlayStation) Review

NCAA Football has been the longtime leader of its genre for several good reasons. It plays like a dream, and it stokes up the ol' college spirit better than any other. Now if it could only nab announcer Keith Jackson away from 989 Sports' GameBreaker, it would be just about perfect.

A few years back, NCAA Football was nothing more than an afterthought to its big brother, Madden NFL. Currently, its popularity is legendary among college students and equal opportunity football fans alike. Initially, the title consisted of a recycled Madden engine and a plethora of 1-AA and 1-A teams. Making the sim a unique entity was not foremost on EA's agenda. In the past few editions, however, EA has settled on a decent game engine, only tweaking it from year to year to include more advanced AI and other doodads. Now on its third incarnation, the series might leave some itching for a change, especially when the current Madden engine is so superior.

Is NCAA 2001 different than last year's title, or the year before that? Nope, it's pretty much the same experience with a few new tricks. It's somewhat disappointing to see another PS version glide in looking and playing the same. Even the world's biggest fans of the game would like to see some innovation. Still, if you can get over your disappointment, there are some interesting new features.

If you've played NCAA Football, you've experienced the joys of running an option offense. It's a simple maneuver wherein you, the quarterback, roll to the right or left with a halfback or fullback in tow. If the field is open, tuck the ball and run. If it looks bleak, lateral the ball to your running back. It's more than a play - it's an art form. Once you master it, you can dominate every team in the game.

This year there's a new twist to the option, as well as to the entire offensive format. The advanced player control feature (APC) lets you control any man on the field. It's simple to use and surprisingly fun. It's like playing multiplayer co-op with the computer. Before the ball is snapped, you scroll through the players and select one you'd like to control. Once the play is in progress, it's your responsibility to find the open field as either a receiver or running back. It forces you to understand the play before it's executed. The reason being, the quarterback won't blindly throw it your way if defenders surround you. You must find the open hole and call for the ball. If you don't do it quick enough he'll find a different receiver, which is a credit to the game's AI. In addition, you can play as linemen, but it's not half as fun. The question remains, however, of whether or not the APC feature is entertaining enough to warrant a purchase.

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