First game - Dumb AI
I just got my game today and played for the first time. I haven't played Madden and I haven't played the NCAA game since it was last out, so I'm quite rusty. For my first game, I played at the Varsity level as my alma mater, Univ of Florida. I chose an opponent that I figured would be relatively easy, so I played against Army. Rusty as I am, I didn't do great and threw a couple of INTs, which had me in a close game.
So I was leading 21-19 late in the game, but Army was driving, and suddenly I couldn't stop them. With half a minute to go in the game, they got it down to my 1 yard line for a 4th and goal. Trailing by two, all they needed to do was kick a field goal to take the lead. Rece Davis stated that it was "obvious" that Army had to go for it, and sure enough they brought the offense out. They went for it and got stuffed, and turned the ball over on downs. And that was it. I ran it once or twice to run out the clock, and the game was over. Final score 21-19.
It sure seems to me that it was a terrible idea to go for it on 4th down when a FG would have won the game. I'd certainly say that it wasn't "obvious" to go for it. Another dumb decision (in my opinion) was when Army scored a TD in the 3rd quarter (on a terrible pick-six throw by me) to take a 16-14 lead, and they decided to go for two. (And failed).
All game long, I felt that Rece Davis, David * and Jesse Palmer were saying things that didn't make sense. At halftime they talked about the amazing offensive performance by both teams, even though it was only 14-10 with each team having only 3 or 4 first downs.
So okay. I've only played one game. But it seems like the AI is not very smart. And the lines being spewed by the announcers aren't great either. The graphics are amazing... but if the gameplay and announcing is as dumb as this, I don't think I'm going to like this very much. Anyone else feel the same?