NCAA Basketball 09: A Lone Wolf on the Hardwood
College basketball season is a time of excitement and anticipation, and with it came NCAA Basketball 09, EA's offering in the college hoops genre. With 2K Sports' exit from the collegiate basketball arena, NCAA Basketball 09 stood alone as the only choice for fans of the sport.
General Impression
NCAA Basketball 09 is a competent but underwhelming effort. It avoids many of the annoying faults of previous EA hoops games but lacks the pizzazz that makes college hoops special. The arenas feel dark, and the crowds are lifeless, missing the electricity that sets college hoops apart from the pros. While the game shares the same engine as NBA Live, it offers more forgiving default settings for casual players.
Gameplay and Features
User-Friendly Controls
Hitting open shots, executing a simple pick-and-roll, and scoring in the low post doesn't require extensive study of the manual. It may be unrealistic for a smaller team to compete with a powerhouse, but it's less stressful and more enjoyable.
Tempo Meter
The tempo meter is a new feature that adds a layer of strategy. If your team's style doesn't match your preferred tempo, you may need to adjust your strategy. Ignoring the right style of play can lead to poor performance and a scolding from the coach.
Online Roster Downloads
Online roster downloads are a nice feature, allowing fans to create and trade lineups without EA worrying about license agreement violations with the NCAA. The audio team has pre-recorded names that match real-life players. However, the inability to update historical rosters with these names detracts from the Legends Tournament.
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Dynasty Mode
Dynasty Mode allows the player to choose a school to control, name and modify the coach's appearance. Gameplay is similar to previous installments, with players managing recruiting, alumni relations, and dealing with the Athletic Director between games. Facilities can be upgraded to improve players' performance. While the system is good, it lacks improvements or additions. The dynasty mode is offline only.
Difficulty Settings
Difficulty settings are largely in control of the player, with adjustable variables like foul frequency and shot difficulty. This allows players to tailor the game experience to their preferences.
Problems and Frustrations
Passing Controls
Passing controls are a source of frustration. Despite modern technology, the game makes idiotic passes when the player simply hits the pass button without calling up the icons. This can lead to backcourt violations and other non-intelligent A.I. plays.
Camera Issues
Occasional glitches can cause the camera to cease following the action, such as getting stuck on the sideline table during the final play of a game.
Manual
The manual is lacking in information, offering only basic descriptions of the game's features.
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Shooting Mechanism
The shooting mechanism feels random, with no apparent skill necessary in pressing and releasing the shot button.
Boundary Issues
Players step out of bounds, receive passes while out of bounds, or commit backcourt violations without being penalized. The three-point line is also subjective.
Conflicting Advice
Coaches offer advice that contradicts normal convention, especially towards the end of games.
Game-Changing Moments
Plays shown in slow-motion as Pontiac "Game Changing Moment" nominees often don't seem to have any real impact. The winning play announced at the end of a game sometimes features the losing team scoring a bucket.
Offensive Difficulties
On offense, quick-hit moves don't work well when pressured. Post moves are not as good as in previous years, with defenders often flopping and getting the charge call. Slow shooting response makes it difficult to catch and shoot a well-timed shot.
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Defensive Frustrations
On defense, interceptions are difficult to achieve, with passes often going straight through the defender's hand. Stealing the ball is too easy when guarding the ball.
Improvements and Positives
Gameplay Tempo
The game tempo has been sped up significantly compared to previous versions. The controls feel tighter on both offense and defense, and there are fewer moments of players inexplicably stopping on a fast break or running the wrong direction.
Emphasis on Tempo and Styles of Play
The game emphasizes tempo and styles of play. Players can select whether their team will have a "fast pace," "balanced," or "half court" tempo. Playing to your strengths results in better team performance.
College Atmosphere
The game captures the college atmosphere, with detailed arenas and crowd interactions. Rivalry games feel electric.
User-Friendly Controls
The controls are user-friendly, making the game easy to pick up and play.
Recruiting System
Dynasty mode features a drastically improved recruiting system.
On-Court Presentation
The on-court presentation has improved. Brad Nessler does a great job of play-by-play, and the game makes better use of stat boxes to update you on fouls and player performances.
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