The Gaming Tailgate Video Podcast
NCAA Football 07 kicked-off the next-gen revolution of college football in the summer of 2006 on the X-Box 360. The game is considered the “lost” next-gen game due to only being available on one console and being released at a time when many were just starting to make the switch to the 360.
The move to next-gen gaming saw both gamers and studios alike place a huge emphasis on the improved visuals that were now possible thanks to the new powerful technology at-hand. The majority of early previews of these consoles and upcoming titles focused on their visual capabilities with screenshots and CG movies touting the possibility that laid ahead in the years to come. Continuing with this trend, visuals would be an aspect that NCAA Football 07 focused heavily on.
70 schools & stadiums had their venue visited by EA Sports, getting completely mapped, measured, and photographed. According to IGN, “one Tiburon producer claimed that the 360 version is the closest replica you can see of a stadium without having the blueprints.” On the technical side, on the PlayStation 2 & X-Box stadiums consisted of 2,500 polygons while on next-gen that number rose to 125,000. Lighting reached a new level of detail with the sun moving accurately through the skies throughout the game and temperatures reflecting the average for the current date.
In terms of gameplay, NCAA 07’s main focus was an all-new Momentum Meter. This addition seemed very fitting following the previous season’s national championship game – Texas’ 41-38 upset over Southern Cal, a game filled with big, momentum-changing plays. With this feature, during big plays in the course of the game the Momentum Meter would shift from in favor of one team to another after defensive stops, touchdowns, fumbles, and other pivotal moments.
With the game being rebuilt, the gameplay lacked the polish and depth of its last-gen counterpart. However, the change was a welcome one for those ready to move on from the last-gen gameplay engine. One of the biggest knocks on the gameplay was porous pass defense.
Here is a video of NCAA Football 07 in action, featuring Texas vs. USC:
“Back of the Box” Features:
- Build Momentum: The all-new Momentum Meter swings like a pendulum during the biggest moments of the game as big plays, defensive stops, and turnovers dictate who holds the advantage.
- The Living Stadium: Innovative Smart Fans bring stadiums to life as alumni, student, and visitor sections – complete with mascots and marching bands – react dynamically to the action on the field.
- ESPN Instant Classics: Share your greatest highlights anytime with the new Photo Album, or get real-world updates and Dynasty Mode results with the ESPN Sports Ticker.
- Deepest Dynasty Mode Ever: Build a powerhouse with in-season recruiting, coaching contracts, customizable schedules, and the deepest stat-tracking ever.
- All-New Ways to Play: Hone your running skills in Option Dash, maintain momentum in Tug-O-War, or score a perfect game in Bowling mini-games.
Final reviews would leave NCAA Football 07 with a metacritic score of a 79, but the overall theme was that the game exhibited potential (a chance to build a better and more realistic gameplay experience compared to last-gen), sharp visuals, but lacked the features and depth of the last-gen versions. The game would go on to sell approximately 750,000 copies according to VGChartz.com.
Top Teams:
- A: Michigan
- A-: Florida, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, Virginia Tech
- B+: 24 teams
Top Players:
- 99 OVR: LSU FS #30, Colorado K #16, Clemson RE #93
- 98 OVR: Penn State LOLB #31, Ole Miss LOLB #49, Oklahoma HB #28, Georgia Tech WR #21
- 97 OVR: Notre Dame QB #10
- 96 OVR: Wisconsin LT #72, VT LOLB #11, USC WR #8, Texas RT #63, Oklahoma ROLB #42, Notre Dame WR #83, Miami FS #19, EMU K #40
- 95 OVR: 24 players
Recap:
A Look Back at NCAA Football 07
A Look Back at NCAA Football 08
A Look Back at NCAA Football 09
A Look Back at NCAA Football 10
A Look Back at NCAA Football 11
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