NCAA Football 07 [X360]

So why does EA insist on using the same clunky save system that prompts you through several screens to make a simple save? NCAA is a game meant to appeal to a huge audience, but the simple mechanics of saving remain needlessly complex. When almost every aspect of presentation is next-gen, the save system is anything but.

In-game, all pertinent info is delivered cleanly, and the new dynamic camera angles between plays add a lot to the broadcast-style presentation. The close-ups of players are dramatic, and the persistent details impressive: dirt and grass stains and scuffs will mar helmets and pads. The stadiums and fans are also better than anything we've seen in sports on the 360 to date, much less on other consoles.

That doesn't mean the appearance is without flaws. Some of the beauty is only skin deep. Too often players look all alike, and move alike, too. You'll frequently see a line of four players all running the same animation, and sometimes aimlessly bumping into each other after plays. The included animations are often quite good, especially when it comes to tackles and dives. But we'd like to see more variety, especially with the thin roster of player models. The impeccable stadiums and much improved audiences are undercut by the homogenous players.

Also disappointing is the simplification of the deep Career and Dynasty modes. The Career and associated Race for the Heisman storyline are gone, as is the option to create a school. NCAA 07 is limited to existing institutions, which is very sad, given the potential for showing off your own school via Xbox Live and the extra detail possible on the 360. That's not to say that dynasties are empty in 07 -- in the 30 years covered by each Dynasty, there's in-season recruiting and loads of coaching options, and totally revamped playbooks that feel a lot more faithful than before.

Instead of the school creation and Race For The Heisman modes, this version of NCAA tosses three mini-games into the mix. They're entertaining when played head to head, but we'd prefer the deeper value of the modes cut from this release.

Even with cuts made to the major game modes, NCAA 07 looks like a total triumph compared to the neutered Madden released last year for the Xbox 360. And it's definitely a fun, respectable game. But it needs to be more than that to really keep our attention; even the graphics bump might not be enough to make you ditch the current gen versions or (shh!) Take 2's efforts.