NCAA Football 2006 has a much-improved look in most areas. The textures are deeper with finally some bump mapping taking place on the player models and field. While still not as vivid as the 2K or Fever games, a much-improved look stands out above the last few years’ attempts. This holds true for the lighting and stadium architecture as well. Gamers will also be pleased to know that the frame rate remains fluid during the entire game, with no weird slowdown or framerate dropping issues. There are a ton of new animations this season, from dropped passes, to missed carries, to tightwire walking the sidelines, and much more. Even the presentation has been stepped up a bit with new slick menus, weather effects, and the addition of a pre-game analysis from a three-man team. Granted, it is brief, but I would like to see a bigger use of this once the ESPN license takes place next year. A couple of minor quips I must address, first there is no half-time show again this year. No cheerleaders, marching bands, highlight reels, first half break down, nothing, nada, zip! Why? Of course, my biggest gripe year after year, whether it is Madden or NCAA, is the size of the freaking player’s heads! This year EA has incorporated more hairstyles and face patterns, but when the helmets are off, it is like a big head code I cannot turn off. Even with the helmets on, they look like miniature bobble heads. For the love of football, please address this in the future. In the end, there is actually a noticeable difference between this and last year’s game. While not a total engine change, any change is good when it comes to sports games.

Audio is stunning once again with all the necessary trimmings you would expect from any sports title. The commentary is informative, on time, and rarely repeats phrases or lines throughout the game. The sound effects are in Dolby Digital and the hits are hard, the grunts are low, and crowd reactions are the best I have heard in a long time. Even the soundtrack is very good, with a choice of EA Trax that include Bad Religion, NOFX, The Mr. T Experience, The Pie Tasters, and many more. With the additional choice of marching band anthems, gamers will finally be able to leave the music volume where it is.

Gameplay is key, especially in college sports. The fans of college pigskin are rabid and if there are any flaws, they will pinpoint them. Thankfully, there are few, if any gam play irks to mention in NCAA Football 2006. The controls are the tightest in the series. No longer can gamers complain about lag in the playcalling, button pressing, or throwing timing. This game plays as smooth as butter. What’s more, the A.I. is as tough as I have seen in a football title. Casual gamers who are new to the series will not only have to adjust the game’s difficulty by setting, but use the sliders as well. The game is no pick up and play title for newbies. Heck, I even had to play a few games on default just to get the rhythm and timing down. I have also yet to come across a dreaded money play, which will keep one on one matches fair as well. Now for those of you who are Madden fans, and are playing NCAA for the first time, keep in mind, these are kids, and dropped passes,and misreads are the name of the game. They over and under throw, miss patterns, drop balls, and get picked off. It is up to you to find what works consistently and hope their nerves do not get the better of them. Overall, this is in my opinion the best college game money can buy.

NCAA is chock full of new features this year. You have impact players on each team that holds the weight your success on their shoulders. They can single-handedly make or break a game for you, so know your impact players. New analog controls allow gamers to pull off breakaway jukes, QB sidesteps, and break tackles just by flicking the right analog stick. There are new spring drills that will allow you to hone your skills. There are even new Hall of Fame rosters that you can use in exhibition games. Lastly, there is the newest and coolest addition, the Race for the Heisman mode. In this mode, you begin by creating yourself or a fictional player. You then choose a position of choice and perform some plays and drills. The results of this performance will have three teams that want to give you a scholarship. You can choose one of these teams, or try to be a walk on with a team of your choice. You will obviously get more press and incentives by choosing a college who wants you outright. Once you are on a team, you get a Dorm room that provides access to your game schedule, playbooks, newsletters, fan mail, and more. As you progress through your career your living conditions change and your fan base grows. The quest is to try to win the coveted Heisman Trophy award.

The only foreseeable flaw I can see in NCAA is the fact that the difficulty is a little strict for casual or rookies to the series. Like any good game, practice and patience is key. Otherwise, hats off to EA by not just resting on the fact that they are the only NCAA game in town, and giving gamers added features and game play options this year. NCAA Football 2006 is by far the best college football game to date.