The Best College Football Game You Haven't Played...

NCAA Gamebreaker 2004 is a hidden gem that might just be the most realistic-playing college football video game ever made, but it was overshadowed by EA’s NCAA series.
The League’s video that inspired this one: • EPIC HIGH SCORING GAME...
--
Intro song: Elegy of a Cosmonaut by haraiva
#retrospective #softdrinktv #game #review #sdtv

[@Mr.Misanthrope]

Bold of you to assume I'm not old

[@stevenashscousin]

Felt old hearing the first college football game I owned be called "even more obscure". Lol.

[@Rudeboishht]

Right I had ncaa 2003 but we rented this from blockbuster 😂

[@rylanrobinson8487]

Your momma is old

[@SourSewerSeal]

Your mom's mom is old!

[@OsceolaNola7]

Facts 😂..

[@jonsatvoutdoorchannel6686]

I just turned 35 years old. I was the #1 player in world on NCAA 14 throughout its whole first full year of existence. I was 10 in the year 2000. And in the late 90's early 2000's I played all the football games on a lot of systems and I always loved Gamebreaker/Gameday the most. I remember Gameday 2004 had online 1v1 gameplay as well and i played the crap out of that. But the Gamebreaker games (especially the ones on PS1) were some of my absolute favorites. So underrated

[@johnbasedow8973]

im the number 1 in the world at ncaa 06

[@IndependentWhistleblower]

​@johnbasedow8973 that's the only one that matters, I play it almost daily on ps2

[@RealRosters2012]

I woulda trashed you in game breaker from ….till

[@Anthony-i6i]

#1 in the world? Yeah, buddy. Sure you were. 🙄

[@normienormie9425]

@@Anthony-i6iwho tf lies about being a number 1 player in a 10 year old game 😂

[@RiVer-Parish]

That's old school for real had almost forgotten that one.

[@shawnchristianson324]

I have played this a ton

[@famous9681]

It’s crazy cause growing up I had owned all the sports games except Gamebreaker I even had the College Football 2k with Drew Bress on the cover and most of the Gamedays on PSX but never played a Gamebreaker. There were so many options in the sports game genre. Those were some good times in gaming, I can’t explain the feeling. I remember when I first seen Madden 2001 commercial for the PS2, the graphical jump was ridiculous it actually had grass stuck in their face mask on the commercial.

[@ron2399]

Played the hell out of this game. I loved 989 studios back in the day

[@byefelicia8429]

They made great games yes.

[@championgamer3294]

When 🎮 was 🎮 miss them days!!!

[@pp3k3jamail]

You did? I always thought 989 sports games were mid. Besides maybe game day 98 and game day 99 like those NFL games were mid at best the NBA games to shoot out series were okay I guess nowhere near as good as live or 2K.

[@Bagelboy325]

I love this game. From the create a team, to the innovative passing system, to the arcade-like gameplay. Just fascinating

[@nomad1764]

Never heard anyone say nine eighty nine sports. It’s always been nine eight nine sports . It’s cool seeing when younger audience finds these games I played on release day.

[@A_Trill_OG]

I know right this youngster don’t know any better lol

[@XVNRX]

I’ve always said “ninety nine” lol even tho it’s 989 Sounds like 99

[@snakeeyes3614]

The fact you can add towels to a player is crazy compared to other games at the time

[@willflint5014]

One of my favorite things to do on old NCAAs (NCAA 07 on original Xbox specifically) was to play other teams games for fun during my dynasty seasons. It kept the season from going by too quick and it was fun to play the rivalry games and big time games.

[@the.disrespected.sports.gamers]

NCAA 07 on the original Xbox is the GOAT in my opinion

[@willflint5014]

@@the.disrespected.sports.gamers same!

[@understandliving9294]

NCAA 06

[@the.disrespected.sports.gamers]

@@understandliving9294 I've played 06 and I just think 07 is better.. maybe because I put a lot more time into it. I'm gonna make a video on why I think it's better one day actually. Stay tuned lol

[@IndependentWhistleblower]

@@the.disrespected.sports.gamers just can't trust that madden 06 engine but I'd watch for sure

[@JohnDest-tb7zt]

12 year olds these days: “BuT thERe”S No X fAcTOr!” 😂

[@outof_mymind]

The hit sticks on these were THE BOMB.

[@chomppig]

This one was good, but it wasn't better than NCAA 2004. But Gamebreaker will always hold a special place in my heart for being the only football game to have the Wing-T offense.

[@jefferydever6909]

The stiff arm in this game was soooo OP Chris Simms breaking off a 90 yrd TD scramble. Good times

[@fptrees937]

What killed the Sony foootball games was the AWFUL debut on the PS2. Also, NFL 2K sort of market corrected GameDay as thee alternative to Madden, even though the PS1 GameDay games were better than the Maddens. Unfortunately, it was too late for Sony to re-emerge in the market, even though they finally got back on track after the horrible PS2 debut and the lack of innovation with the later PS1 releases. Even though I miss NFL 2K much more than the next person, I would be beyond thrilled to have the modern equivalent of 2004 GameDay, GameBreaker or NFL Fever. I HATE EA sports lol

[@GridironMasters]

The new EA game is going to make a lot of people forget about EA being EA. I get why but it's sad to see.

[@jameskeller1910]

Omg, I remember the career mode and thought it was the greatest thing ever. But I had completely forgotten this game before this video. Thanks for the reminder.

[@altonmccoy8899]

This game was ahead of its time honestly the mechanics and game engine was insane

[@cruiselifeeric]

I had NCAA Gamebreaker 2000 for the PS1 and really liked it. Commentary by the legendary Keith Jackson (RIP). The commentary was minimal, which I think is better than hearing the same 30 sec soundbytes over and over. Gameplay was fun and there was a "dynasty" like mode, although recruiting was minimal. Never played any of the other games in the gamebreaker franchise. Nice video.

[@zakkreiser5727]

Ngl, I’ve never seen your channel before, but you got me here because my Nittany Lion Larry Johnson on the cover, but I like it. Keep up the work!

[@TheAJohnPerez]

I never played this game cause I was always a EA NCAA fan. I’m 43 but after watching this video I downloaded this game and I can’t wait to try it out. You have peaked my interest sir. I love your videos cause they turn me to games I may have never played but now I can try them. Thank you sir.

[@TheASHTON33]

My favorite channel on KZbin. These videos take me way back to my childhood!!

[@davidstring8301]

Bold of you to assume that I haven't played it. Fun game!

[@RoysWorld1985]

I did played NCAA Gamebreaker 2004 and it was awesome! Other than NCAA Football, NCAA Gamebreaker was the best college football video game series ever.

[@realnicoswrld]

Actually this was the first football game I ever played

[@joestans1337]

I personally have no issues with emulation. But i think it's a little disingenuous to talk about the graphics being good when they are so obviously upscaled through pcsx2. Not saying to play at stock graphics, but maybe a disclaimer that it's upscaled through use of an emulator. For the record do enjoy your vids just giving my two cents.

[@leethecomedian]

If you run component (rgb rw) cables on your ps2 and run progressive scan they look pretty close to this.

[@joestans1337]

@@leethecomedian not a shot in hell, it's upscaled least up to 1080p if not higher, if I'm not mistaken pcsx2 can run up to 8x native and if you have the power to why wouldn't you. I agree it would be better than native output but it's not upscaling to 1080p+ But that's not the point of the comment I made, the point was if you're going to compliment the graphics of the game be upfront that it's being upscaled via an emulator.

[@leethecomedian]

@@joestans1337 Not everyone emulates and I get what you mean. Emulation is best no question, but if ya don't go that route this is better than red yellow white We're all here for the same reason, to share our passion of football games and learn about the old ones.

[@joestans1337]

@@leethecomedian you're completely missing the point of my main comment

[@coachdarby6934]

I have that game and got a dynasty and created me a team. That game is fire 🔥 with great graphics. I play it daily ❤

[@TitleTalkTCL]

Appreciate these videos. Getting so amped up for CFB25 and this type of content is A+

[@natnaelberhanu-i8w]

This game was fun to play as a kid. Idk where the hell the case for this game is located. I might as well get a new one. It was basically the college football version of nfl gameday.

[@natnaelberhanu-i8w]

At the time I played the game I couldn’t find nfl game day 2004 but I ended up finding NFL gameday 2004. Now I have nfl gameday but not ncaa game breaker 2004

[@TacoSSC]

0:50 this game already looks better then a modern ea game 🔥😭

[@f9nestsvp]

No it doesn't ngl

[@finley9317]

@@f9nestsvpthe graphics bad?

[@f9nestsvp]

@@finley9317 nah the games graphics is fine for it's time but not better than the modern game tbh

[@TraxxJamez2088]

RIP SHAWN TAYLOR

[@PatMartin-m7m]

Sean**** I’m from his hood 😭🐐🐐🐐 305 legend 🕊️💪

[@topper_ace]

Oh, I’ve played it already. It’s so good yet underwhelming.

[@leethecomedian]

It's really a shame that 2003 was the last year of these games because they were finally starting to get them right. I still play game breaker and game day to this very day

[@Aaron80B]

Watching this made me realize Gamebreaker 03 with Clinton Portis on the cover might have been my first ever College Football game. Completely forgot they had an early version of a coaching career mode. This and Gameday really were some different but good alternatives to Madden and NCAA.

[@RobSoRandom]

NFL Gameday!!! Mannn you hit a nerve, I’ll never forget the first time I went to my cousin house and saw this game on the big box screen. The graphics, the lead blocking went home that Sunday begggged my dad to get me the game.

[@Mixtapeweezy17]

You’re doing the lord’s work young man!

[@moorebounce]

I played NFL Gameday when it took the crown from Madden for 2 or 3 years. That was around the time Visual Concepts either left or was fired by EA. I think the bosses at EA heard Sony had a 3D football game and they wanted the same for Madden but VC said it was too far in the production cycle to make Madden 3D. Either way it was a bad move by EA. Gameday took the crown because it was 3D first. I knew of NCAA Gamebreaker but never played it like your title says.

[@bjnt92281]

In high school, it was this and NFL Gameday that made me want to get a PS1 over the N64.

[@user-btrqarfxzcjfgom]

Love ur videos! These deep dive of these great sports games get's me everytime!

[@chasemarkland4437]

I was just a child when I played this game but I remember fake punt was extremely op. I would use it just about every play

[@BlackDragonRuler]

I always loved 989 sports football games I loved the hits and how punishing they use to be.

[@Memento7Vivere]

I wish we could have multiple NFL and College ball games again. If Sony/microsoft started making Football games. Man, that would be amazing.

[@acjordangaming52]

First college game i played. Fell in love then

[@joeloftus5345]

989 sports was awesome. I had whatever one that had Clinton Portis on the cover

[@christopherpagliuca4129]

989 Sports will always have a place in my heart.

[@mjdf122]

I’ve seen all from 1980-Now what a life of gaming

[@JohnDest-tb7zt]

This game is way beyond EA which is incredibly sad

[@snakeeyes3614]

I have 2001 version of this game and it’s really good and lots of offense

[@daccitv4651]

Why do the throwing mechanics look better than madden 24💀

[@edwindeming2148]

I remember saving up to buy this the day it came out. Loved gamebreaker. I liked gameday too

[@leethecomedian]

That's a sweet lateral at the 4 minute 18 second mark

[@jay242409]

I liked 989 sports better than EA SPORTS. I played GameDay so much more than madden back then!

[@JesseDiebolt]

The player models and animations on this game look really good. It’s crazy that in many ways we haven’t improved graphics since then. Of course things are so much higher quality now but games from 20 years ago look good enough and play mostly the same or better than what we have currently

[@BingoBob-c7h]

why does everyone hate on new stuff 😭😭😭😭

[@spencergeers3975]

This was my first sports game. I was 5. The drum lines in the soundtrack were insanely good I remember

[@scottreeser8225]

Loved this game and still play it. 2004 was when they started to get it right. Presentation was always good with the PS2 GameBreaker games, but passing was tough (or maybe EA and 2k was too easy 🤔). Anyway thanks for posting this video. Always love your stuff!

[@swoopnscore3056]

Yo me and my Pops use to clock in hours on Gamebreaker 98 on PS1 so much. That’s where my love of College football began!

[@racelegend799]

I may be mistaken, but I believe you could also import your player from Gambreaker to GameDay. It was the reason EA did it! Great video either way! It's truly sad that we sports enthusiasts have had to take a step back in game play in favor of graphics and micro transactions. I can assure you that back then, I was thinking we would have VR level gaming with that level of game play and dynamic replayability. This isn't just football but racing and Gran Turismo have taken massive leaps back in what they once were able to do. 😐

[@LandotheDrummer1]

I remember playing and liking Gamebreaker. It's the only NCAA game with a PSU player on the cover, but it's also bizarre that it's Gamebreaker '04 since Larry Johnson's last season was 2002...

[@chucksmith4839]

The tackle graphics at the 1:42 mark was way ahead of its time. Horse collar now, but🔥!!

[@syed123911]

Better passing animations than Madden 24.

[@garlandbarry9243]

All I played for the most part back then was 989 football Games. From Gameday 98 to Gamebreaker 04, my Fave was actually the 2000 set of games.

[@KDRusha]

Bro I played GameDay and still never heard of this college series lol

[@mgene8093]

I was a freshmen in high school when this dropped. Would go after practice to play this at my friends house. Good times

[@RonaldDorsinator]

*still till this day I play NFL GameDay & NCAA GAMEBREAKER got multiple copies of both series...very underrated*

[@East_Texas_Gaming]

I had Ncaa Gamebreaker 97' on demo disc as a kid. I got it from a walmart magazine.

[@mgene8093]

I miss the 989 sports days. It’s when mlb the show was actually good, and wasn’t called the show yet

[@KashanJabari]

I’m 29 and remember playing this game

[@Raesilvafightingchannel]

This was the most underrated game yet!

[@punkdrumm3r_83]

Ah man I had this back in the day as a kiddo. Penn state is my squad so that’s how I remember it!

[@jeffwinter1651]

This is when sports games were the best and had multiple games for each sport

[@EarthPrime52]

You underestimate my ability to be old 😆

[@da6965]

😆🙋🏾‍♂️

[@kushclarkkent6669]

Bro those player models move so well! WTF! How have we gone backwards!

[@Popcultureplaybook]

27, never played this but when this came on the screen I literally said wow. For an 03-04 game this looks insane

[@thisguy8373]

Played gameday 98, played a lot, man.. played gamebreaker, etc, when games were fun to play ( football)

[@clw22580]

Man its soooooooo SAD anyone younger than 40 or late 30s likely has ZERO CLUE that consumers used to have 2 3 or even 4 options for each sport.

[@tryintomakeit]

Im old enough to remember this and qb club 98

[@ManiacMonkboon]

I own many Gamebreaker and Gameday game's. My Son's and I loved playing old sport's games. But then again, I'm in the 50+ club. 🏈 Oh yeah, say what you will, but other than NFL 2K5 and All Pro 2K8, my 3rd favorite Football game is NFL Fever 2004 simply because of the Read & Lead Passing. I also loved NFL Game Day 2004 because LT was on the cover and I loved Sony's Gameday series.. 😊

[@themeat70]

I remember bill walsh college football 95 you could do a tournament instead of bowl games.

[@m.freedomlovingamerican2723]

Not me, I used to love Gameday and Gamebreaker. Gamebreaker had playoffs and you could even be a 2 way player.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

The little details in Gamebreaker on PS1, the letters afger after every season, the fact you started out as a special teams coordinator and could leave a school just because even if you'd just won a natty, you could actually get fired. The attention to detail was right there, never got to play the PS2 ones though, did they keep the impressive attention to detail or did the series lose that with the jump to PS2 or? EDIT: Oh and one more. The little crosshair on the map that showed where each school was. Also the cheats had consequences. I used the BLUECHIP one to get blue chip recruits (hence the name) as an OC so I had built a killer offense, and then saw I got head coach jobs to open up after winning a title, then head canon'd it as hey this bigger school wants me, the hot prospect so I jumped ship to a conference rival and got to recruting. Only to find out the hard way my former team still had all the recruits I had signed. Nothing like having your former team shred you for many scores, whoops

[@bradydicarlo9143]

I’ve never played this one but I have 98 and 2001 for the PS1 and they’re really fun.

[@CutterHistorical]

I think it wouldve been better if u could edit the rosters to include names cause ppl dont like to guess who Miamis QB #7 is for example

[@XJumpManReturnsX]

Got this game for my bday back in 03 but ayo pause taking bout cream state university " the creamiest in the state" you wild for that

[@thegamingchef3304]

Forgot about Gamebreaker. I remember it.

[@Trevor-08]

i had the gamebreaker games on ps1 and had no idea they made any for ps2

[@darnell16player]

I haven’t played this one for sure. My first one was NCAA Football 05 with Larry Fitzgerald on the cover as this one I didn’t hear about til today but I guess marketing for this game wasn’t that strong

[@NBWDOUGHBOY]

This game looks really good for its age. I cant even lie.

[@youngcity4241]

This era had so many football games I only heard of Gameday

[@mrmartinez4247]

4:12 bruh Kellen Winslow was wide open 😂😂😂

[@mglperson]

Great content 👏 subscribed

[@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane]

I heard of the NCAA Gamebreaker series. Never played them though, but I'll like to try them out because I enjoyed NFL GameDay '98.

[@thedrizzle619]

my cousin had the gamebreaker that had the ucla qb on the cover

[@Mynameismyname01]

Used to love the 989 sports games

[@Rudeboishht]

Some good things aren’t noticed till they’re gone

[@MrAliex09]

It’s probably gonna be better than the college football game we’re getting this year tbh

[@zleyow]

stop it 😂 y’all be reaching more than dhalsim from street fighter.

[@m.u.sik4eva]

At least this isn’t another madden 05 video love letter.

[@grantdooley1942]

The lateral after the Miami player catches the tipped pass was illegal. lmbo

[@VictoryVideoVault]

I used to prefer 989s NBA Shootout over EAs Live series in those years. Even chose Gameday over Madden for a few years. 989 made some great games before these companies monopolized sports games.

[@dirkhartman1271]

It's okay, but you can't name the players, and there are no FCS (1AA) schools. NCAA 2003, 2004 and 2005 are better with all the FCS Schools.

[@ceoxchris]

i’m 29. never played this but it looks dope !!😤

[@da6965]

This game had visors to match uniforms (blue, red, orange, yellow)❗️

[@jasonshaneyfelt1039]

4:36 lol why are the stands so far back from the field??