NCAA football just keeps getting better and better!

Undoubtedly one of the most successful series in EA's illustrious selection of sports games, the company's NCAA football titles have been steadily improving since the beginning. I was introduced to NCAA football 2002 by a roommate who purchased the game, and I cherished the apartment-wide dynasty games that soon sparked friendly rivalries between otherwise amiable friends. We were pleasantly surprised at the improvements found in the 2003 version, which added collectable trophies and awards, as well as a more involved recruiting system, to say nothing of the wonderful create-a-team option and the myriad other bells and whistles added in the new version.

NCAA Football 2004 continues in the spirit of EA's relentless drive to improve the series. They've added over 160 new teams, including some new 1-AA squads and (more than 100) classic teams from the past. Online play has also been added, and I've heard it's quite fun, although I haven't tried it yet. In addition, the Dynasty mode (In which you take over a program and manage it over up to 50 years) has been updated, fine-tuning the high school recruiting options. There are also many more achievement-oriented changes, with many more ways to gloat over your past victories. There are mini Sports Illustrated covers that note remarkable games, and "All time best game" rankings for outstanding performances. Of course, there are still the individual bowl game and rivalry trophies to collect, as well. The small fine tunings to the games interface are too various to mention here, but they are, for the most part, positive changes.

As for the game itself, there are many improvements to speak of. There are a lot more plays to choose from, including trick plays loaded with fake tosses, play action passes, WR flea-flickers, and much more. Play action passes can actually fool an opposing player this time around, since the camera follows the runningback for a moment, while the quarterback sneaks off to the side. There seems to be more large plays on both sides of the ball, as there are more opportunities to break long plays, and defensive backs are more aggressive and capable of intercepting passes. In addition, the passing mechanics have improved, and it's almost impossible to nail a behind-the-back, rotating on one foot miracle pass like you could in previous versions. These changes make the games more realistic than they were in the 2003 version.

As usual, the in-game commentary is delightful, with several new sayings from our friends Lee, Brad, and Kirk. The crowd responds more naturally to the play, rising to a climax, for example, as a breakaway receiver heads for the endzone, exploding as he crosses the line. The commentary follows a more natural flow, referring to previous drives and events that happened in the recent past, which gives it a more realistic feel. And God bless Lee Corso and his quirky exclamations. "That big boy jumped on it, and gobbled it up... like a barbecued pork sandwich!"

If you have the 2003 version, and you're wondering whether or not the changes made in 2004 from 2003 warrant a purchase, rest assured: It's worth it. The improvements in gameplay alone make it worth your while, and the various new features are just icing on the cake.