Electronic Arts NCAA March Madness 2001 PS1 Sports Review

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Price Paid:  $10.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
This is the best basketball simulation I've ever played. Sports games are the only types I play on a console -- I use the PC for other types -- and this is the best console game I've ever played. It is so common to find a computer AI that can either a) be beaten easily every time or b) not be beaten at all -- but this game is the ultimate if you like competition. I usually win, but not always -- some nights my players shoot poorly and the other team is on fire...

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Price Paid:  $17.00 from ebay

Summary:
This is the best college game on the market. No college game can compare to the one ea sports has produced. Granted the sound may comenasty tiring and old after a while but that is the only draw back. The dynasty feature is excellent, with the recruiting option is great. This is best part of the game, provide a tradition and it will carry on while you start another dynasty. This a must buy game and collector.

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Price Paid:  $47.00 from EB

Summary:

Time writing review: 40 mins

As an overall, I will say I have to return this game. I am not a March Madness follower, but a person who knows when a game is fun. For a diehard college basketball enthuastist, this might be a collectors item, but for a person who wants a basketball game that has the whistles and bells to keep your attention, I suggest going elsewhere like Live series.

I just want to say this game was a great disappointment for me in what I have read from other people and sites reviewing this game and what I played. I expected it to be a Live 2k1, but with college teams. Boy was I wrong. Black Ops pales in comparison to the EA home bred Live series . Why? There are three really good reasons I am going to highlight:

1. Graphics: If you have played NBA 2K1, I do not think there is a reason to play this game. Other than the offical college logos, there is not a very good resembelance to the traditional EA gameplay to which I am accustomed. See graphics for more.

2. NO OFFICAL PLAYER LISCENSES. I know this is a college game, but putting a starting roster with NO ONE'S name is gay. I mean, I wanna know WHO i am using - Good luck finding Forte or WIlliams on UNC if you dont have the player numbers memorized. Driving the lane? well get used to hearing " Number 21 with the JAM!" 15 seconds after the play is over and the other team is coming down court.

3. TERRIBLE NAVIGATINAL MENUS. I couldnt navigate my way around in this game. When I am playing with friends and I cannot find the season ( DYNASTY ) menu easy, there is something wrong. When trying to make a sub, I have to hit start, find subs, click on it, find the person I wanna sub, but if I want to scroll their stats, it takes half an hour and the music skips. Changing the optiongs in game is horrible and trying to find the exact option takes me too much time to find. Once you are done, you have to use select ( the most unused button of any game ) which is not natural feeling to back out of all the menus, then start one you get to the main menu to play again. Trust me, it just can get very confusing very fast when you just want to change the view or do a quick sub. A simple 10 sec proceedure turns into a 3 mins excursion. Furthermore, you need 14 BLOCKS of MEMORY just to play a dynasty. GOOD LUCK.

I think the biggest disappointment in my mind though would still have to lie with the fact that there are no player names. I cannot get a feel for a game that does not identify the players that are on the team without their names. #24 driving to the hoop - what a move! No thanks. The announcing makes LIVE 2k1 look like heaven.

Overall: 2 - Please, just take out my contacts, scream in my ear, and hand the controller to me upside down and this is could be the dylexic, blind, deaf cousin of Live 2k1.When i feel like i have to post a review to vindicate my reason to return this game to EB, there is something amiss.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Price Paid:  $40.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
First I would like to say this game is terrific. Other than its lacking in graphics and sound, this is the game to buy. Great Gameplay, options, and create a player. I have never seen something so excellent.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Price Paid:  $39.00 from babbages

Summary:
Well if you like college B ball this is it!I have been playing March madness for three years and this is their best effort yet.The game for the first time never locks up and if you play a top 20 team come ready for a fight.