NCAA Football 09 Xbox 360
User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 26
  3. Negative: 4 out of 26

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  1. ajjay
    Aug 2, 2008
    3
    This could have been a great game, had EA bothered to put it through QC testing. The graphics are very, very nice looking. However, this years edition has more bugs than ever, and that's saying something. Major things are broken. Tacklers should actually try to tackle the ball carrier, right? Not in this game -- they run away! The sliders don't work, and the CPU QBs never throw a bad pass. Is EA capable of putting out a single game that doesn't need multiple patches to run properly?… Expand
  2. JohnB.
    Jul 25, 2008
    4
    I love the NCAA Football series. I've long preferred it to Madden. I love the atmosphere, the game to game pressure to win, the option offenses, all that. That's why this version of the game is such a monumental disappointment.

    The game's problem's are pretty much isolated to its gameplay, but what a variety of problems there are. CPU passing is ridiculous; the CPU     never, ever passes deep. Instead, the CPU will kill you with non-stop 8-12 yard passes that it completes with remarkable accuracy. I found that even QBs with ratings in the high 70s with the QB accuracy sliders reduced significantly would still easily complete 70-80% of their passes. Generating a pass rush is damn near impossible. Neither the player nor the CPU can seem to generate a half-decent pass rush with the d-line alone, and blitzes almost never work.

    If you do manage to get a stop and force a punt, there's hope: punt returns are ridiculously easy in this game. While coverage usually runs me down before I score, I was routinely returning punts 30-40 yards without much trouble. For that matter, most kickoff returns result in great field position as well: I think out of all the kickoff returns I've had so far (CPU and me combined) only one has been stopped at the 25 or less.

    Defensive pursuit routes on goal line plays can be laughable, whether it's the CPU or the player. It's truly aggravating to see cornerbacks backing into coverage when a scrambling QB is 3 yards away from them.

    Lastly, the CPU running game sucks. While the CPU will occasionally break a long run, for the most part rushes are easily stopped for gains of 1-2 yards. Not that this matters much with the quality of the CPU passing attack.

    All in all, it's embarrassing that this game shipped with so many obvious gameplay issues. I can only hope that some or most will be patched.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Gamer 2.0
    86
    When all's said and done, NCAA 09 may have some rough spots and bugs, there are ways around it that keep them from hampering the immense amount of enjoyment that the game offers.
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  2. XboxAddict
    85
    I didn't mean to harp on the gimmicks, but while there were some minor flaws in the game, it's a very solid effort for the long running series.
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  3. GameSpot
    75
    Just as the addition of the Online Dynasty mode will satisfy many, the lack of significant improvements to other key modes of NCAA Football 09 will disappoint many others.
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