Dynasty mode is getting better, with new features that make it feel like a real improvement. Road to Glory mode, on the other hand, feels like the developers didn't try hard enough. It has too many ideas, but they don't work well together.

The good news is that the gameplay is still great. College Football feels smoother and more fun than Madden. The basic gameplay is still enjoyable.

However, Road to Glory mode didn't get many updates this year.

In the previous game, Road to Glory mode introduced high school football. You could build your reputation and get noticed by college recruiters. This was a good idea, as many players wanted to play high school games.

But the way it was done was not good. Instead of playing real high school games, you play short moments where you have to do specific things. How well you do determines how much colleges want you.

This was the worst part of the previous game, and it's still not fun. You can turn it off and start in college, which is a better option.

I don't understand why the developers thought this was a good idea. It's not immersive, and it's not fun.

This year, the game added a basic system for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Colleges can offer you perks like better academics or more brand exposure. This is a good idea, but it's not enough to make the mode fun.

One thing that's nice is that colleges will contact you and tell you where you stand. If you're not a good fit for a college, they'll tell you. But if you're a good fit, they'll try to recruit you.

Overall, the High School Experience is still not good. It would be better if you could play real high school games and keep the new recruiting process.

Once you've picked a college, the Road to Glory experience is frustrating. You need to be patient and not get annoyed with the game.

The user interface is nice, but the in-game experience is not fun. The game is hard, even on lower difficulty levels.

The same problems that were in the previous game are still here. The pass blocking is bad, the running back AI is not smart, and the wide receivers drop the ball too much.

Some players might say that you can use pass-blocking adjustments to fix this. But it doesn't work, and the AI linemen don't block well.

The running backs can't find open holes, and they run into their own teammates. It's hard to run the ball, and it's frustrating.

The receivers can't separate from defenders, and they drop the ball too much. It's hard to throw the ball, and it's not fun.

The problem is that the AI sits in zone defense the whole game. It's hard to beat the zone, and it's frustrating.

The jump balls are not fun, as the receivers drop the ball too much. Even if you throw a perfect pass, they might drop it.

There are many small things that are still broken. The injury-timeout bug is still there, and it's frustrating. The wear-and-tear system is also broken, and it's hard to manage.

I like immersion in games, and this game tries to make you feel like a real college student. But it's not enough, as the game is still frustrating.

The non-gameplay experience is mostly the same. You have a weekly agenda where you spend energy points on different things. The new addition is Fitness, which gives you passive stat buffs or nerfs.

The problem is that there's not enough energy to go around. You have to spend energy on scenarios and NIL offers, and it's hard to manage.

The skill point system has changed. Now, you have to allocate points to specific attributes, and there are skill caps. This doesn't make sense for a single-player career mode.

The simulation is still broken. The rankings are not realistic, and it's immersion-breaking. A non-Power 4 team would not be ranked high in real life.

For example, Memphis is ranked high in the game, but it's not realistic. In real life, the College Football Playoff committee would not rank a non-Power 4 team that high.

I'm still upset about how some teams are ranked in the game. It's not realistic, and it's frustrating.

Road to Glory mode is still not fun. It has a shiny new coat, but it's still broken.

The gameplay foundation is still good. When you can play football, it's smooth and satisfying. But the mode keeps getting in its own way.

The high school experience is still not fun, and the NIL implementation is not enough. The on-field AI is still broken, and it's frustrating.

The mode is built on good ideas, but the execution is bad. The gameplay engine deserves better, and the developers know what players want.

Next time, we'll look at Dynasty mode.

That's all for now.