Game: "NCAA Football 06."

Console: PlayStation 2 (also out for Xbox).

Developer/publisher: EA Sports.

Genre: Sports.

Number of players: One to two.

ESRB: E, for everyone.

Premise: Create your own NCAA team or player and lead them to legendary status.

Game play: Going into this game, expectations were high. Not because the 2005 edition was stellar (it wasn't), but because EA purchased the exclusive rights to the NCAA license, bestowing unspoken confidence on its developers to churn out excellent games, what with being literally the only game in town and all.

As a sequel, "NCAA 06" is quite the crowd pleaser. It isn't a simple repackaging with minor tweaks and touch-ups: Players are significantly more lifelike, AI has improved dramatically and athletes who pose a significant threat, called "impact players," are singled out with white markers under their feet, making them much easier to avoid.

On a lesser note, there's the addition of EATrax, a jukebox-like feature with songs that are played only in the menu screens.

The really big addition is the new Race for the Heisman mode. In the beginning, you create your own high school football hero, go through typical football drills, and interested colleges will offer you scholarships as matriculation bonuses. You build up your abilities and increase your notoriety all in the hopes of winning that glorious Heisman.

Adding to the personal feel is the mode's menu screen, which is designed like a college dorm, complete with trophy case, calendar of upcoming games and picture of your sweetheart. (Awwwww ...)

But Race for the Heisman is probably not enough to satiate the wannabe coach in true football fanatics. That's where Dynasty Mode comes in. Here, you create your own fictional college team and are in control of every aspect of it from jersey color to starting lineup and everything in between. Even with all the improvements and additions made in "NCAA 06," it's obvious Dynasty Mode is still the franchise's centerpiece.

Good/bad: The only bad thing in this game worthy of mention is the controls, which were unnecessarily changed. While you can easily customize it back to classic configuration, or whatever button scheme you prefer, the fact it was changed at all is ridiculous.

My take: "NCAA Football 06" is very good; the flaws are forgivable and there's a lot of replay value. This game guarantees smooth sailing for EA until "NCAA Football 07" comes out.

Jeremy Castillo is a student at Windward Community College and the editor of the college's newspaper, Ka 'Ohana.

Have a CD or video game you want to review? Reach TGIF editor Debra Yuen at dyuen@honoluluadvertiser.com.