Despite occasional slowdown and player models who look like 'roid abusers, this is a very solid American football game for the 360!

“Let’s play some football!” Finally, Xbox 360 owners can herald that cry and delve into the game that really should be our national pastime, college football. Football fans have been left out for the past year as far as the 360 goes, with the lackluster version of Madden 06 that was released at launch being the only real pigskin title to speak of (that’s what happens when one company is allowed to tie up the NFL license, kiddies) on the system. EA has finally changed that with NCAA 07 and, of course, its big brother Madden set to release later this year.



The sad thing about NCAA 07 is that many players will use it simply as a gauge for the upcoming Madden release. After all, it stands to reason that if the features, gameplay, and overall depth in the collegiate title are worth their salt, then so will the big game, right?

For those wishing to do just that; you have nothing to fear. NCAA 07 shows that EA has gotten back on track when it comes to the 360 gridiron. In addition to a solid football engine of the sort we have come to expect from EA Sports, this game has depth and atmosphere in spades. Never before has a college football game felt so much like, well, college football. Every facet of the presentation, from the opening shots of whatever stadium you’re playing at to the roar of the crowd and the playing of the band seems to exude the essence of game day at the school of your choice. You can almost smell the Hibachi grills from the tailgaters in the parking lot.