Madden vs. NCAA

[KeithTalent]

I've been playing the NCAA 09 demo on my PS3 and am finding it pretty fun. The mechanics are easy enough, and the game feels pretty realistic. However, I'm not much of a college football fan in real life, so I have no attachment to any of the teams.

I haven't played Madden in several years, but I remember not enjoying the way you controlled the players, etc. the last time I played it. I'm a big NFL (go Vikings!) fan so it has that going for it and I just watched this video: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/34358.html and 09 loks like it will be a beautiful game to look at.

Anyway, with both of these releases imminent, I am trying to decide which one to get. Of course, there is no Madden demo for the PS3 that I'm aware of, so it makes it a little more difficult to determine which is better.

Has anyone here played both series and can comment on which may be better?

Thanks in advance!

KT

 

[Queasy]

I think it depends on which gametype you enjoy more. I'm a big college football/recruiting fanboy so I gravitate towards the NCAA version....though I didn't buy last year's version.

If you're a NFL fan/draft-nik then you'll want Madden.

Typically though, NCAA Football is based off of the previous year's Madden engine with some enhancements.

 

[benzylic]

To me NCAA has the better gameplay, and Madden has the better graphics. Thats just my opinion

I love doing the recruiting, and scouting for the college teams, so much fun. And the rivalry games, and winning the national championship with Mizzou

I like playing NCAA football a lot more, and I like NFL just as much as college, but if you arent really into college football. You'll probably want Madden, like Queasy said.

 

[oznerol]

Based on the 08 sports titles - the two games play very similar. Game mechanics are the same - the controls are the same. NCAA feels a bit lighter and quicker, as it should since that's how college football is. The playbooks and types of plays are also different between the two - with Madden having a lot of heavy-run, power-football type plays. NCAA has some trick plays (flea-flicker to name one), and many plays designed to allow the QB to run (many QBs in NCAA are very fast, as opposed to the traditional pocket-QB in Madden).

I'm also apathetic about college football, but I prefered NCAA over Madden last year because of the great dynasty mode. I really enjoy the "RPG" aspects of the game - creating players, recruiting prospects, etc. Madden is more salary-focused - so instead of recruiting rookies, you need to deal with salary negotiations and drafting. They seem to have gutted many of the features of this mode since the PS2 days, actually, but of the two NCAA had more depth.

This year they're heavy with the online play - both games will have online leagues. They will be a bit different, though - with NCAA simulating an actual season with every team (including CPU-controlled ones), while Madden is a self-contained league where every team must be human-controlled, but you can have less than 32.

For pure gameplay, though, I'd choose Madden over NCAA (actually NCAA 08 was my first college football game ever - recommended by someone on these forums) - but that's just because I know the teams, players, and follow the league. I didn't go to a college that had a football team so I have no allegiance to any school, and I find it a bit boring to watch.

 

[hdeck]

ive always enjoyed the ncaa games better, but that's just me.

 

[KeithTalent]

Good information guys, thanks.

I seem to recall some sort of crazy 360 passing mechanic in the last Madden I played, but as I said it was quite a while ago, so I may be forgetting exactly how it worked. I come from the old Tecmo Bowl days, so I prefer simplicity and fun over graphics and detailed play calling and special moves. I found the last Madden I had to be very difficult and not very fun, but if you are all saying the gameplay is quite similar in both NCAA and Madden, then maybe I'm either a) just forgetting how that Madden actually worked or b) I'm better at console football now.

I really wish there was a demo for Madden so I could test this for myself, but gameplay being relatively equal, I guess I'd have to choose Madden so I can play the Vikings.

KT

Edit: Actually the online mode for NCAA sounds much better to me, according to what ducci said, I don't like the idea of only having to play with other people. Arrggh, tough decision...

 

[dlock13]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Good information guys, thanks.

I seem to recall some sort of crazy 360 passing mechanic in the last Madden I played, but as I said it was quite a while ago, so I may be forgetting exactly how it worked. I come from the old Tecmo Bowl days, so I prefer simplicity and fun over graphics and detailed play calling and special moves. I found the last Madden I had to be very difficult and not very fun, but if you are all saying the gameplay is quite similar in both NCAA and Madden, then maybe I'm either a) just forgetting how that Madden actually worked or b) I'm better at console football now.

I really wish there was a demo for Madden so I could test this for myself, but gameplay being relatively equal, I guess I'd have to choose Madden so I can play the Vikings.

KT

There should be a Madden demo up soon, I'd think.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: dlock13

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Good information guys, thanks.

I seem to recall some sort of crazy 360 passing mechanic in the last Madden I played, but as I said it was quite a while ago, so I may be forgetting exactly how it worked. I come from the old Tecmo Bowl days, so I prefer simplicity and fun over graphics and detailed play calling and special moves. I found the last Madden I had to be very difficult and not very fun, but if you are all saying the gameplay is quite similar in both NCAA and Madden, then maybe I'm either a) just forgetting how that Madden actually worked or b) I'm better at console football now.

I really wish there was a demo for Madden so I could test this for myself, but gameplay being relatively equal, I guess I'd have to choose Madden so I can play the Vikings.

KT

There should be a Madden demo up soon, I'd think.

Here's hoping. I'm surprised they didn't still have the '08 demo up. They still have the old basketball demos up, unfortunately they all suck.

KT

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Typically though, NCAA Football is based off of the previous year's Madden engine with some enhancements.

For the 360 and PS3, this is no longer the case. NCAA is built alongside Madden with the same engine enhancements.

For those being surprised that there is no Madden demo yet, Madden is still over a month away. I'm surprised that the NCAA demo was released so early, I'm wondering if they'll do the same with Madden. In year's past, it's only come 2 weeks early, not a month like NCAA did this year.

As far as which game you should get, OP, you said yourself you don't keep up with NCAA and don't really have a team, so why would you even consider it? NCAA and Madden are by and large the same, you won't find too much difference beyond the speed of the game, the playbooks, and franchise mechanics.

 

[cpacini]

I've played a lot of both, but over the last couple of seasons I've enjoyed NCAA quite a bit more. The game play is similar, but there are some subtle differences. The option running attack is pretty well represented in NCAA, and is a major weapon offensively if you learn how to use it properly. I've also found the dynasty mode to be more enjoyable than Madden's franchise. And Campus Legend > Superstar, especially the camera work for certain positions.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: Queasy
Typically though, NCAA Football is based off of the previous year's Madden engine with some enhancements.

For the 360 and PS3, this is no longer the case. NCAA is built alongside Madden with the same engine enhancements.

For those being surprised that there is no Madden demo yet, Madden is still over a month away. I'm surprised that the NCAA demo was released so early, I'm wondering if they'll do the same with Madden. In year's past, it's only come 2 weeks early, not a month like NCAA did this year.

As far as which game you should get, OP, you said yourself you don't keep up with NCAA and don't really have a team, so why would you even consider it? NCAA and Madden are by and large the same, you won't find too much difference beyond the speed of the game, the playbooks, and franchise mechanics.

Well the main reason I am considering it is because I felt the gameplay in the NCAA demo was quite different than what I remember from the last Madden I played. I could just be confused though, it happens all the time. I suppose I just need to wait for a demo then to test out my suspicions.

I also figured I could just choose one the West Coast schools that one of my friends went to and form an allegiance there, so as much as I'd love to be playing the Vikings, if the NCAA game has better play, then I won't be too fussed about choosing a team to side with.

Originally posted by: cpacini
I've played a lot of both, but over the last couple of seasons I've enjoyed NCAA quite a bit more. The game play is similar, but there are some subtle differences. The option running attack is pretty well represented in NCAA, and is a major weapon offensively if you learn how to use it properly. I've also found the dynasty mode to be more enjoyable than Madden's franchise. And Campus Legend > Superstar, especially the camera work for certain positions.

I do recall the Superstar mode from Madden, and I didn't like it very much at all. Maybe it's changed now, but back when I tried it, I became bored very quickly.

KT

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Well the main reason I am considering it is because I felt the gameplay in the NCAA demo was quite different than what I remember from the last Madden I played.

No, you're definitely not confused. You said the last Madden you played was "years" ago, things have changed quite dramatically now that EA finally got their act together with Madden 08 (Madden 06 was a shameful, shameful game, and Madden 07 did nothing to help next-gen football). As of last year, EA's football games finally took that next step, and gameplay is on another level IMO.

If you're really liking the NCAA 09 demo, then I honestly believe you'll like Madden 09 simply based off Madden 08.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Well the main reason I am considering it is because I felt the gameplay in the NCAA demo was quite different than what I remember from the last Madden I played.

No, you're definitely not confused. You said the last Madden you played was "years" ago, things have changed quite dramatically now that EA finally got their act together with Madden 08 (Madden 06 was a shameful, shameful game, and Madden 07 did nothing to help next-gen football). As of last year, EA's football games finally took that next step, and gameplay is on another level IMO.

If you're really liking the NCAA 09 demo, then I honestly believe you'll like Madden 09 simply based off Madden 08.

Good to know I'm not crazy, it does feel very different from how I remember, but if that feel is the same in both game, then I should be good.

Now to just wait another month for Madden, which sucks because I want some football goodness now.

KT

 

[ZOOYUKA]

Madden usually gives you insightful comments like "the team with the most points at the end of the game usually wins." In NCAA you don't get this helpful tips.