With college basketball hitting its peak with tonight's NCAAfinals, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite hoops titles.Unfortunately, not every one is a slam dunk.
NBA 2K3
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
From: Sega
Reviewed for: Xbox
Rated: E for Everyone
If I was an executive at EA Sports, I'd be nervous.
EA Sports' basketball titles used to be the definitive champions.Like the Bulls, they were unstoppable in their time. But I found EA'stitles this year to be lackluster.
Sega, meanwhile, seems to be taking its cues from the DetroitPistons. Much like the team from the Motor City, Sega's game hasimproved leaps and bounds over last year. The ESPN branding lends anauthenticity to game play. Players are incredibly detailed, rightdown to the tattoos on their forearms, and the arenas are more orless faithfully rendered as well.
If there is anything to criticize, it's the game's artificialintelligence. CPU-controlled players have a tendency to push you outof bounds. They also have a tendency to take half-court 'Hail Mary'shots and actually make them more often than not.
Despite this, the game is nothing but net.
Misha Davenport
NCAA 2K3 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
From: Sega
Reviewed for: Xbox
Rated: E for everyone
If you're wondering what Sega has done with the ESPN license sinceit wrestled it away from Konami last year, look no further than 'NCAA2K3.' I played this game in between watching the Big Ten playoffs onESPN, and it was sometimes hard to tell where the live coverage endedand the game began.
Granted, the rather blandly rendered players could be morerealistic. NCAA rules prohibit players' names and likenesses frombeing used in a licensed game, though. Sega makes up for it throughdetailed arenas, crowds and the lifelike movements of the players.
Misha Davenport
NBA LIVE 2003
RECOMMENDED
From: EA Sports
Reviewed for: GameCube
Rated: E for everyone
After Sega's superb basketball titles, EA's 'NBA Live 2003' comesoff as a runner-up. Think of it as an attractive bridesmaid, ratherthan the bride.
There's nothing inherently wrong with this game. The action issurprisingly seamless and moves at a brisk pace. But there's alsonothing new that will excite fans who own the predecessors to thisgame. As before, the computer will beat you down if your guys aren'tup to speed with its players.
The crowd noise is enthusiastic throughout the game and makes upfor the cloying commentary. And there are some good rap songs on thesoundtrack by the likes of Snoop Dogg.
The players have a realistic look to them, but their features areoff a tad. A little graphical tweaking would've perfected theircharacteristics and given their arms and legs a less sluggish,cartoonish feel. As for the stadiums, the United Center looks prettymuch the same as any other, and you never know where you are.
Jae-Ha Kim
NBA INSIDE DRIVE 2003
RECOMMENDED
From: Microsoft
Reviewed for: XBox
Rated: E for everyone
In the crowded field of basketball video games, something has toset a title apart from the crowd. For Microsoft, it's all aboutgetting you in the game.
What sets 'NBA Inside Drive 2003' apart from all the other titlesis the RPG element of the 'Create a Player' mode. You controlappearance, background and skills. I was able to create a player whoclosely resembled me--of course he had a better jump shot, though. Asyou play through several games, you pick up additional skills thattake you from bench-warmer to superstar in no time. It makes for ahighly addictive game.
The game's one drawback is the absence of online play. For all theresources Microsoft has put into its XBox Live, it's odd that its ownbasketball title wouldn't support it. Oh, well, there's always nextyear.
Misha Davenport
NBA SHOOTOUT 2003
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED
From: 989 Sports
Reviewed for: PS2
Rated: E for everyone
Much has been made of the graphical limitations of PlayStation.However, games such as the 'Grand Theft Auto' series show that, doneright, the visuals can be just as vivid as the gameplay.Unfortunately, that doesn't translate to 'NBA Shootout 2003,' wherethe players are mostly unrecognizable and almost blocklike. In reallife, basketball is a deceptively fluid and graceful game. But here,the moves are choppy.
The player is given the option of playing in exhibition, regularseason and playoff modes. Go for the exhibition setting, which is themost fun for players who want to have a little more control of theirb-ball. Creating a player to challenge the foe of your choice is akick. I particularly enjoyed pitting my 5-foot-7, 100-pound scrapperagainst the likes of Shaq and watching him outdunk the pros.
The commentary flows at a nice pace and is helpful in ID'ing theplayers. Trust me, you need this function, because unless yourecognize their numbers, you won't be able to tell apart theirpixilated faces.
Jae-Ha Kim
DISNEY SPORTS BASKETBALL
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED
From: Konami
Reviewed for: GameCube
Rated: E for everyone
Software giant Konami has taken it upon itself to answer the onequestion that has been plaguing mankind since 1927: Sure, the mouseis cute, but has Mickey got game?
'DSB' is a kids' game that features Mickey, Donald and others inexhibition, regular season, playoff and all-star game modes, justlike the grownup titles. The two-player game was fun, especially whenI played as Minnie and smacked the ball out of a certain sputteringduck's hands, took a Hail Mary shot from midcourt and actually madethe basket.
The single-player games were a lot more difficult. Passing is theworst, because the player you are passing to is usually offscreen.Most of the time, the computer-controlled team ended up stealing theball before I realized that my player was in position. It makes thegame ideal for family fun (up to four can play against each other),but most kids are going to find the computer in the one-on-one modetoo difficult.
Now that that's settled, we can move onto more pressing matters.Such as whether white ducks can jump.
Misha Davenport
NCAA FINAL FOUR 2003
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED
From: 989 Sports
Reviewed for: PS2
Rated: E for everyone
I've generally found that playing college sports games is more funthan selecting pro teams with known players. Because colleges don'tlicense game publishers to use their players' likenesses, there is noChris Thomas playing for Notre Dame. You're more in control when youplay as your favorite team.
This game's strength is in the variety of modes. Besides basicseason and tournament, there are two different dynasty modes thatallow you to have more control of your team in terms of coaching andeven practice. Unfortunately, actual play is hindered by clumsyfunctions, such as not allowing enough time to hit the pass button.Honestly, I doubt even Thomas could pass the ball in less time thanthis game allows you to hit certain buttons.
One thing that might pep up this franchise is the inclusion ofcheerleaders during the game. I'm not talking about dancers prancingaround at halftime, but rather acrobatic young women (and men) whomake up the squads for elite cheerleading squads like Notre Dame andUCLA.
Jae-Ha Kim
NBA STARTING FIVE
NOT RECOMMENDED
From: Konami
Reviewed for: PS2
Rated: E for everyone
I've always been able to excel in sports--via a video game, Imean. I can't skateboard for the life of me, but give me a Tony Hawkgame and I can execute tricks worthy of a gold medal. Skiing in reallife? I don't think so. But I'm a virtual whiz if you give me acouple hours to 'work out.'
So it was with some concern that I discovered I am a betterbasketball player on a real court than I am when playing 'NBAStarting Five.' I realized this was one of those rare cases where itreally isn't me--it's them.
The rebound function is so screwed up on this game, it defieslogic. A ball goes up and lands a couple of feet away from theplayer. What does he do? He walks at almost a turtle's pace to getit. Instead of getting cut from the team, this same player then goeson inexplicably to miss shots that a kid would be able to make duringa game of H.O.R.S.E.
These kinks are easy to overlook during the first half hour or soof gameplay. But after that, why bother? None of the other featuresis compelling enough to make you want to deal with the mess.
