NCAA Football 07: Next-gen Leap or Derivative Rerelease?

The college gridiron is a sacred field of blood and glory. Yes, this is an overly used cliché in a world now full of underhanded recruiting tactics, steroids, and off-season arrests. But there still remains something overtly hallowed about a chilly November football game, when no matter where the star player is from or how much money he's getting from the alumni or how fast he can run his forty yard dash there is still the human element at play. 

It's a human consecration, a testament to the brutal play of the game and man's will to survive. That being said, it’s hard to imagine how a video game franchise for an aging previous generation system could possibly simulate such an atmosphere. But let's be realistic here; this is a game and is not expected to be an accurate representation of actual football. What matters is that the newest iteration in EA Sports' long-running football series is uncompromisingly fun.

Presentation
Obviously, the first thing a player will notice is the interface and graphics of the game itself. And for this, the Xbox certainly does not disappoint. It’s sad to notice that the aging Microsoft system seems to be at the end of its graphical rope; the models and details remain little better than last year's title. But the new, realistic animations that EA implements make up for it in a big way.

As someone who has played football for six or seven years, I can personally say that the tackling, jumping, and other related movements have improved much over previous years. There is a stunningly natural nature to the way a running back flings his would-be tackler to the turf. Wide receivers make spectacular leaping catches and one-handed grabs. Linebackers punish foes with wildly big hits. However, it is this improvement that makes the rest of the game seem drab and downright fake.