video game of the sports genre released in 1997 by EA Sports. Its cover athlete is former University of Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier.
Gameplay
The game added a new “create player” feature (up to 28 players) and custom schedules, new animations and all 111 Division I-A teams. Players can also compete in a customized Tournament with support for up to 16 players in a single-elimination or round robin format.
Players can also adjust penalties, set weather type, enter user records, perform substitutions, set audibles, toggle injuries, and change game length, as well as difficulty level. Authentic playbooks (with plays like the Wishbone), a USA Today/CNN Coaches Poll, and the Sears National Championship Trophy were also available.
Reception
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7/10 (GEN)[3] |
| Next Generation |   (GEN)[4] |
Reviews for this installment were still positive, but reviewers generally commented that the additions and improvements from College Football USA ’96 are too subtle, and advised gamers who already owned the previous installment to carefully consider how important the new features are to them before purchasing.[5][3][4] However, GamePro called the Super NES port “a complete gridiron debacle. Players fly around the field – except for the man with the ball, whose movements slow down and become jerky. The frame rate and animation are poor (the players look armless), and the sound features the most obnoxious whistle in sports gaming history.” They rated it a 1.5 out of 5 in graphics and a 0.5 in every other category (sound, control, and funfactor),[6] making it only the second game to receive a 0.5 or lower from GamePro in any category.[7]
