Check out my thoughts and review on one of the most underrated and forgotten masterpieces in the history of football games. How does NCAA 2004 play all these years later? Let's find out!
I saw the name of your channel and instantly liked and subscribed! As a 37yr old gamer dad, this game is cherished part of my HS years. Lee Corso saying "he can scoot!" is burned into my brain, lol. great video.
The only downside to the GC games at least back on release is a franchise mode would take up the whole memory card. I do think the ea games of that era looked the best in the GameCube
@LameDadRetroGamer *you can do progressive scan mode on maddens on gc, which means the picture would be in 480p instead of 480i. Lmk if you can do progressive scan mode on ps2.*
I would agree that the NCAA games were more fun than Madden. I think it has a lot to do with the atmosphere around college football and the traditions, rivalries, and different stadiums. Interesting that you mention playing on higher difficulties results in the pocket collapsing faster. That's something I probably wouldn't have noticed but I did notice that coverage is much tighter instead of your receivers getting open by three yards. While I'm very nostalgic for this era of sports video games, the AI just cheats when you ramp up the difficulty. I'm not sure how they could have tweaked it but IMO it's much less based on skill when the difficulty is cranked up, and just sheer luck of how much you can stop the COM from cheating. Oh wow, I totally forgot about the Sports Illustrated portion... that stuff used to jack me up so much. I miss those details in sports video games. As you know, my first ever PS2 game was NCAA Football 2002 and I played that for an infinite amount of hours. Never got another college football game afterward but that series was great. I hope if it ever returns it comes back to the core gameplay and presentation that made it so special to begin with. Nice video, LD.
2001-2004 [NCAA/Madden 2002-2005] felt like a lifetime, and in some ways it was. Then you had the whole ESPN 2k5 and exclusive license nad switch to Xbox 360 and so forth. It was never the same again.
@LameDadRetroGamer - To be fair, in Madden 13 or 14, they copied CBS with Jim Nantz and Phil Sims. They worked with the TV crews where cameras were; they already had the stadiums built since Madden 2006 and made the press box accurate to each stadium; the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters had the then stylized commercial break cut and return anggles and replays. It was good, but everyone hated 13 and didn't give 14 a chance, and it was forgotten. Go check it out JUST FOR PRESENTATION and tell me what you think.
Yea 13 was terrible. I will have to check it out as I am curious. I know NCAA did the whole ESPN presentation for a few years which was really nice but not much since then. Yea hearing Phil Sims and Jim Nantz wasn't terrible.
I have to say man, reviewing sports games are your bread and butter. The knowledge and passion you have for this is clearly evident, and has me intrigued to fire this game up one day soon. Also, lmao at the StarCraft box scene 🤣. Great review man!
I’m an anarco-communist gender fluid Buddhist vegan person of colour that’s from Seattle...I absolutely love the fact that someone like you and someone like me can connect with shit like this..mad respect to you man and big ups. Glad I found your channel
I honestly think that 04to 06 where the best years for this game I just think 14 gets so much hype because it was the last one but honestly the way the players run on 13 and 14 makes me sick the motion wasn’t realistic to me.
I agree it's definitely one of the best in the series. NBA Live had some great years as well. Being a rockets fan I loved seeing Steve Francis on the cover of Live 2002
Question, you mention a stretched image, but also an HDMI. I really only have familiarity with 05/06. But in each of those games there is an option for widescreen display. You might already be aware of that, but if not it greatly improves the experience on modern displays.
Unfortunately, NCAA Football 2004 on the original Xbox has a bug where the draft classs are corupted when transfered to Madden. They only work on PS2 and Gamecube. I read that EA offered some kind of a disc swap, and I don't remember which was to blame - the college game way it saved filed or how Madden read them - but if you don't specifically have that replacement disc, you are out of luck.
@LameDadRetroGamer - I have a softmodded xbox and ran into the problem 2 years ago. I looked it up, and there are archived threads and conversations about it + an archived reply by EA from 2003. Back in the day, I played on Game Cube and never had this problem back then.
Amazing game! How about the lower level D2 games or non ranked games that didn't have any tv coverage thus no play by play commentary during gameplay. This game had it all!
I just finished a dynasty w umass , won heisman with a 72 over WR , finished with 3500 yards and 27 touchdowns. Great game. Hardest level on this video is very challenging to say the least especially with a garbage team like umass
I saw the name of your channel and instantly liked and subscribed! As a 37yr old gamer dad, this game is cherished part of my HS years. Lee Corso saying "he can scoot!" is burned into my brain, lol. great video.
Thanks for watching. Agreed these games are a special part of my life with so many good memories tied to them.
I’ve been the Playing the hell out of NCAA Football 2004 on the GameCube. NCAA 2003 & 2005 were Classics as well!
The only downside to the GC games at least back on release is a franchise mode would take up the whole memory card. I do think the ea games of that era looked the best in the GameCube
@LameDadRetroGamer *you can do progressive scan mode on maddens on gc, which means the picture would be in 480p instead of 480i. Lmk if you can do progressive scan mode on ps2.*
I would agree that the NCAA games were more fun than Madden. I think it has a lot to do with the atmosphere around college football and the traditions, rivalries, and different stadiums. Interesting that you mention playing on higher difficulties results in the pocket collapsing faster. That's something I probably wouldn't have noticed but I did notice that coverage is much tighter instead of your receivers getting open by three yards. While I'm very nostalgic for this era of sports video games, the AI just cheats when you ramp up the difficulty. I'm not sure how they could have tweaked it but IMO it's much less based on skill when the difficulty is cranked up, and just sheer luck of how much you can stop the COM from cheating. Oh wow, I totally forgot about the Sports Illustrated portion... that stuff used to jack me up so much. I miss those details in sports video games. As you know, my first ever PS2 game was NCAA Football 2002 and I played that for an infinite amount of hours. Never got another college football game afterward but that series was great. I hope if it ever returns it comes back to the core gameplay and presentation that made it so special to begin with. Nice video, LD.
The very 1st NCAA football game I’ve ever brought NCAA Football 04 is where it all started
And a fantastic game for you to get started with
2001-2004 [NCAA/Madden 2002-2005] felt like a lifetime, and in some ways it was. Then you had the whole ESPN 2k5 and exclusive license nad switch to Xbox 360 and so forth. It was never the same again.
No it has never been the same. I really wish Madden would try and duplicate the ESPN broadcast now as I think that would go a very long way
@LameDadRetroGamer - To be fair, in Madden 13 or 14, they copied CBS with Jim Nantz and Phil Sims. They worked with the TV crews where cameras were; they already had the stadiums built since Madden 2006 and made the press box accurate to each stadium; the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters had the then stylized commercial break cut and return anggles and replays. It was good, but everyone hated 13 and didn't give 14 a chance, and it was forgotten. Go check it out JUST FOR PRESENTATION and tell me what you think.
Yea 13 was terrible. I will have to check it out as I am curious. I know NCAA did the whole ESPN presentation for a few years which was really nice but not much since then. Yea hearing Phil Sims and Jim Nantz wasn't terrible.
I still play the classics on PCSX2 on my PC, it scales it up to 2K at 60FPS as well. These games kill anything out today STILL
They are so much better than anything released today. Thanks for watching!!!
Facts brother untouchable
I have to say man, reviewing sports games are your bread and butter. The knowledge and passion you have for this is clearly evident, and has me intrigued to fire this game up one day soon. Also, lmao at the StarCraft box scene 🤣. Great review man!
I’m an anarco-communist gender fluid Buddhist vegan person of colour that’s from Seattle...I absolutely love the fact that someone like you and someone like me can connect with shit like this..mad respect to you man and big ups. Glad I found your channel
I love a comment like this. Thank you. At the end of the day we are all just people and need to treat everyone as such. Thanks for watching!
Trans football-loving POCs unite!
@@pipingpepsi6665 damn right
Go Huskies
@@KNR6292 go dawgs
This game was my childhood since it came with our PS2
It's such a classic and so easy to go back to.
I honestly think that 04to 06 where the best years for this game I just think 14 gets so much hype because it was the last one but honestly the way the players run on 13 and 14 makes me sick the motion wasn’t realistic to me.
In the early 00s Live was better than 2K, but NCAA 2004 is underrated. Could be the best one. My user skills in this game is crazy.
I agree it's definitely one of the best in the series. NBA Live had some great years as well. Being a rockets fan I loved seeing Steve Francis on the cover of Live 2002
Loved this vid man! Keep it up
You aint lien brother it was a great time to be alive. I myself didn't realize how good we had it in gaming back then
We had it so good. Better times back then
Greatest sports game ever
It's an absolute banger. Thanks for watching
Question, you mention a stretched image, but also an HDMI. I really only have familiarity with 05/06. But in each of those games there is an option for widescreen display. You might already be aware of that, but if not it greatly improves the experience on modern displays.
Unfortunately, NCAA Football 2004 on the original Xbox has a bug where the draft classs are corupted when transfered to Madden. They only work on PS2 and Gamecube. I read that EA offered some kind of a disc swap, and I don't remember which was to blame - the college game way it saved filed or how Madden read them - but if you don't specifically have that replacement disc, you are out of luck.
I had no idea about the bug
@LameDadRetroGamer - I have a softmodded xbox and ran into the problem 2 years ago. I looked it up, and there are archived threads and conversations about it + an archived reply by EA from 2003.
Back in the day, I played on Game Cube and never had this problem back then.
Ps2 era was the greatest era for sports gaming..
We had it so good back then
@@LameDadRetroGamer u aint lyin. I still have my ps2 lol.. All the 05/2K5 games.. Arguably the greatest year in sports gaming history (2004)
Amazing game! How about the lower level D2 games or non ranked games that didn't have any tv coverage thus no play by play commentary during gameplay. This game had it all!
I remember that aspect! I played a lot as UH and there was never any commentary. Such a classic game, truly one of my all time favorites
GREATEST games during that time period!! Wtf happened?? 🤦♂️ I REALLY hope NCAA 25 knocks it out of the park!!
Agreed! These games were bangers and some of the best in the series. Hopefully 25 is decent and not a half @$$ Madden clone
I just finished a dynasty w umass , won heisman with a 72 over WR , finished with 3500 yards and 27 touchdowns. Great game. Hardest level on this video is very challenging to say the least especially with a garbage team like umass
thats the game that had the new facemasks and dreadlocks
Hell yes it did!!!
7:12 poltergeist confirmed!
They're here!!!!!!
Not ever played an American football game but this looks fun 👍
Strangely enough NCAA wasn't a thing over here 😂 I have a NTSC PS2 now, so perhaps I can give them a look now 😉
And brad nessler
Yup absolutely
6:00 Florida State looks awful! How many different shades of garnet and gold is that?
At least 37 LOL 😂
video gets a like just because wayne
NBA live was better than 2k for a while when I was a kid probably till 06 when 2k made all the games $19
2k was going for the kill when they pushed out their games at $20.
brock berlin was NOT that fast
That wasn't Brock lol but good catch
Everyone was fast in the game
Then a xbox game falls off hahaha
Just got to roll with it sometimes
@@LameDadRetroGamer just had to do it for the playstation people keep up the good work
I got ncaa 2004 for original xbox
That's honestly the best version of the game
I picked up this game used back in 2020 and played the shit out of it
(It was the game cube version)
The gamecube version I believe looks the best out of the 3 systems but yes this game is so much fun to play.
I have every ncaa football game 2002 to 14 for ps2 and ps3
Such great games