Article published November 07, 2009
Game review: NCAA Football 2010***1/2
Pigskins, rocks, and Mud Pits
Score: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Game: NCAA Football 2010
System: PSP
Genre: Sports
ESRB rating: E (Everyone)
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By TOM FISHER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Like most games, NCAA Football 2010 was created for the console, then adapted to fit the PSP or other handheld devices. The graphics and onfield mechanics are certainly less impressive, resembling games from a decade ago. Gamers have learned not to expect too much in this area, and 2010 isn't visually more appealing than it was last year. So what did manufacturers do to make the game more enjoyable? They added more features.
EA has presented a Road to Glory mode that allows players to create their own player and take him from budding freshman to Heisman Trophy winner. You can crush rivals and keep track of your progress in becoming the biggest thing in college sports history. Within that mode you can also use the Super Sim feature which speeds things up by allowing you to only take part in the plays that you are involved in.
Another new addition is the Spring Training mode that allows you to hone your skills on offense, defense, and special teams. Work on staying in the pocket, mastering the option, or defending against the pass. More than 16 different areas are covered.
All my favorite features from previous years are still available. The Mascot game turns all players into mascots, and the Dynasty mode lets you take your team through a 10-season stint to become the team of the decade. The best feature is one that reduces all controls to a simple one-button command and eliminates the play clock and penalties.
Despite its popularity, the NCAA Football series has had a difficult time competing against Madden, the industry standard for gridiron games. But with a few changes from last year, NCAA Football 2010 is closing that gap fast.
When it comes to racing games I tend to like the dirt and mud as opposed to the tar and asphalt. It just seems like it would be more fun to do in real life. Motor Storm: Arctic Edge, however, has taken me to some different road conditions — namely, snow and ice — and it sets a mark for racing games on the PSP that will be hard to reach.
There are stunning visual effects.
The snow and mud are extremely realistic, as are the lens fl are effects from driving into the sun. From cars to mountains, everything looks remarkable, and it is clear that this game was made with a special attention to the PSP platform
Players can choose from conventional vehicles like dirt bikes, ATVs, and buggies, or they can pick a snow machine, snow plugger, or a snow cat. All are designed to handle differently based on the different tracks and road conditions, and can be customized. Many vehicles start out locked, but soon become available as you progress through the tracks.
When you start there are only four tracks to race on, but after you place in your first race the others open up. Starting out with limited vehicle availability and tracks seemed silly to me at first but it helps get you acclimated to the game.
The tracks are littered with slippery corners and mud pits. Mud bogs down the vehicle and reduces speed, and the ice forces drivers off of corners. Occasionally you will even witness someone getting buried in an avalanche. The realism is powerful.
As race games go, Motor Storm: Arctic Edge for the PSP is nothing less than spectacular. Well worth the money.
The front of the box claims that NBA The Inside is the No. 1 Rated NBA Sim on the PSP for three years in a row. That catches your attention especially when you realize that it's up against some big names like NBA 2K10 or NBA Basketball 10 from some major players in the gaming industy. So how does this game beat the elite in basketball titles on the PSP? Simple; it's made by Sony and it's a PSP exclusive. They wisely decided to keep it off the consoles, where the competition is tough, and focus on the handheld, where their superiority is obvious.
During the game, players feel as if they are moving in a more realistic manner even though the graphics weren't really any better. A nice feature is the turbo that gives your player a burst of speed to get around an opponent and take it to the house. When going for a shot, a meter appears around the ball as a halo to allow you to wait until you have the perfect angle before releasing the ball.
Like most other titles there is a franchise mode, a playoff mode, a practice mode, and an All-Star Weekend mode where you can prove your mad skills with the rock. Where the game really shines, however, is what it offers that the others don't, and that's mini-games. There are team games like Elimination where you eliminate your own players in order to win, Pick UP Games where you choose players from around the league and compete against the best and my favorite, Dodgeball. When you hit someone with a head shot, the sound effects are fantastic.
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