I listened to Andy Staples and a couple other podcasts today of people who played and some interesting tidbits I liked:
- Picture in picture of cut scenes and crowd reactions while picking plays
- Pass meter similar to kick meter to control velocity
- RPO's are OP
- Wide variety of playbooks - Air Raid, Option, Read Option, RPO, Go-Go, Pro Style, Borderline Erotic Smash Mouth, etc. I didn't hear specifically, but I would imagine Iowa State 3 safety defense will also be in the game.
- Switch up in read option mechanics on mesh/QB Keep
- Tackling emphasizes the player doing most of the tackling instead of letting the AI do it - easier to break tackles vs AI
- Road to Glory mode will have NIL component, but you can also flunk out of school and be ineligible. Should my first guy be Ajiye Hall?
- Tons of easter eggs and school specific traditions even down to band formations pregame, Iowa waving to childrens hospital after 1st quarter, etc.
- Some serious considerations have to be made between portal and HS recruiting in Dynasty in terms of where and how to spend resources
- Big hit mechanics and animations are way better
- Gameplay is about 30% faster than madden, and the star players can really make you pay
- Improved OLine/DLine mechanics including the ability to slide or change protections on the OL
- The campusIQ thing should be pretty dope, but will get more info on that tomorrow with another official release of news
- True home field advantage and impact - way harder to convert 3rd and long on the road
Some things I didn't like
- NIL is not in Dynasty mode in the true sense because it is changing too fast right now. Instead they have abstracted it into a team brand score which can sway recruiting, which substitutes for NIL.
- Lack of cross platform online dynasty is a bummer, as is lack of ESPN branding
- Texas A&M will be in the game