The series has returned this year with just enough features to squeak by for another season, including an extended Campus Legend mode. Making the hall of fame takes more than just great skill on the field; you must also be a good boy off the field by studying and behaving during social events. This goes as deep as actually picking a major and maintaining a great GPA in your studies. Of course, you still have to be the master on the field as well, which makes the Campus Legend mode one that will keep you occupied for weeks and months on end. If the game was just exhibition games, tourneys, a season a dynasty mode, and the Campus Legend mode, one might think that would satisfy the masses, but alas, there are a few new additions that will hone your skills as well. You have a Spring Game mode that provides the opportunity to decide which underclassmen get the most reps and who will become your Impact players for the upcoming season. Hone your skills even further with Spring Drills that break down into 11 mini games, which focus on all aspects of the game. Lastly, a new kicking mechanic uses the analog stick as your kicking meter very much like the Tiger Woods series.

Sure, the gameplay remains virtually unchanged barring a few tweaks here and there in the momentum meter, fixed glitches, and new camera options, but for most that is a good thing. The current gen version of NCAA Football 2007, because of the bells and whistles included specifically, is still the version to go with, even if it isn't as pretty.

This leads me to the freshman year introduction of NCAA on next gen hardware, namely of course the Xbox 360. Yes, the game is flat out gorgeous - let's just get that out of the way. The animations are incredible, the textures are fantastic, the stadiums look like cathedrals, and the new menus are slick and very easy to weed through. But alas, you still don't have a full integration of the ESPN license, the presentation is lacking with no pre-game studio views, ala current gen, and there is a few hiccups in the frame rate when scoping the entire field.

Even though you get the gorgeous visuals and solid game play, there is a laundry list of what you DO NOT get in this first next gen attempt. First off, the Campus Legend mode is null and void. You don't get the Spring Drills, the Spring Game, the TV Style Presentation, and oddly enough no ruckus camera shaking from the crowd noise, which was a signature of the games past.

Don't fret as it is not like EA completely "Maddened" their rookie year on the 360 for NCAA, as you do still have the Dynasty Mode which allows you to build your favorite school into a collegiate powerhouse. You can even draft to the 360 version of Madden due out in less than a month. You also still have a momentum meter that affects the overall tempo and pacing of the game. Even the new kicking mechanic made its way to the Xbox 360 version. What the next-gen console has over its current gen counterpart is innovative Smart Fans that will react to the action and momentum on the field including chants, waves, and signature crowd gestures like a tomahawk chop. You also have the addictive nature of 50 achievements if that is your thing.

Both versions do have superb game play and really capture the college atmosphere greatly. Both also include addicting online modes over the PS2 or Xbox Live servers. Both include the new game play integrations like jump the snap, slide protection, smart routes, defensive hot routes, and precision passing.

The real choice of which is the superior version of NCAA Football 2007 is up to you. If you want modes that will keep you busy until next college season, then by all means the current gen versions are a no brainer. If you are a graphics whore and want the best football game to date on next-gen platforms (until Madden comes out), then the Xbox 360 version is for you. No matter which category you fall into, as they said in Nintendo's Pro Wrestling, "A winner is you".