By Rick Tittle

EA Tiburon is a studio that truly embraces their assignment when it comes to making NCAA FOOTBALL 12.  There have been some critics over the years who assume that this annual title, which always releases a week before MADDEN does, is just a filler for the college football masses in communities like Norman and Lincoln.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  NCAA FOOTBALL 12 is it’s own sovereign state and a great game.

It could seem overwhelming, but there are over 100 <a id="_GPLITA_1" title="Click to Continue &gt; by Vid-Saver" href="http://www.sportsbyline1.com/book-reviews/377-ncaa-football-2012.html#">colleges</a> which play big-time football. Maybe they’re not BCS schools, but their programs are rich in history and tradition.  The NFL has only 32 teams.  Yet EA manages to correctly encapsulate the fight songs, mascots, and replica stadia in a legitimate fashion of all the universities.  Speaking of the mascots, one could claim that they’re the real stars of this game.  It’s all good and fun, as they do not get in the way of gameplay.  I simply like the way the games begin with the television commentary and new shots of players walking through their respective tunnels.

Dynasty Mode was awesome last year, with its ability to run an online league.  You could kick the <a id="_GPLITA_0" title="Click to Continue &gt; by Vid-Saver" href="http://www.sportsbyline1.com/book-reviews/377-ncaa-football-2012.html#">tires</a> on recruits, create brand new conferences, and with fudge with bowl games, as well. You have the ability to be a head coach or a coordinator – really cool choices.

The thing is, when your contract expires, you go to the new Coaching Carousel – a place where you interview with different schools vying (or not!) for your services.  Believe me, you’ll want to show potential employers good stats from your previous <a id="_GPLITA_2" title="Click to Continue &gt; by Vid-Saver" href="http://www.sportsbyline1.com/book-reviews/377-ncaa-football-2012.html#">job</a>.  It’s a nice way to make the game more realistic. For playing options, Road to Glory is back and better than last year, as it is more like an RPG this time around.  You build up your character more like a knight in medieval times, but it works really well.  You earn experience points and can spend them on several upgrades.  Just beware the shady boosters!

Overall this game is an improvement over last season’s incarnation.  The gameplay is rather the same but it honestly didn’t need much fixing in that category.  I like the presentation and think it has tons of replay appeal.  I give it a solid 9.