NCAA March Madness 08: A Review
NCAA March Madness 08 aimed to capture the excitement of college basketball, but its execution on the Xbox 360 and other platforms left something to be desired. While the game introduced some interesting new features, a number of issues held it back from reaching its full potential.
Gameplay: A Mixed Bag
One of the most significant changes in NCAA March Madness 08 was the revamped low-post play. By utilizing the right analog stick in conjunction with the left analog stick, players gained access to a wide array of offensive and defensive moves in the paint. These controls were easy to learn and genuinely useful, encouraging players to work the ball down low and exploit mismatches. The defensive controls in the post were equally satisfying, creating a sense of one-on-one battles with the ball handler.
However, the improvements to post play were not mirrored in other aspects of the gameplay. Performing spins and crossovers with the right analog stick still felt good, but the rest of the controls often felt sluggish and unresponsive. Actions like pump fakes would leave players unable to move for a short period. The overall pace of play was slowed down, supposedly to encourage the use of the new post moves, but it often felt like playing underwater.
The game's physics also presented problems. Passes sometimes went to unintended targets, or traveled at unrealistic speeds. Occasionally, the ball would defy gravity and fly towards the ceiling. While there were options and gameplay sliders, they didn't seem to have much effect on these issues. Even with user blocks turned up, getting more than a few blocks in a full game was difficult. Steals were frustrating, often resulting in the player poking the ball out of bounds or failing to pick it up. The limited number of plays available on the fly and the lack of player names or numbers below the players further detracted from the experience.
Dynasty Mode: Potential Hampered by Flaws
The dynasty mode, where players controlled a basketball program, received mostly cosmetic changes. The overall look and feel was similar to NCAA Football 08, with more attractive and easier-to-navigate menus. The main screen provided access to news on team rankings, scores, player awards, and more. Recruiting was streamlined, allowing players to search for prospects by various criteria.
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Despite these improvements, the dynasty mode suffered from major issues. Teams didn't have their real schedules, and while customization was possible, achieving complete accuracy was not. The inability to change the length of simulated games also hurt the mode's realism, making it difficult to achieve realistic statistics or earn player accolades.
Presentation: Visuals and Audio
NCAA March Madness 08's presentation was largely unchanged from previous years. The player models were well-done, and there were many impressive animations. However, the transitions between animations were often poor. The visuals conveyed personality through rowdy fans, cheerleaders, and mascots.
Unfortunately, the PlayStation 3 version suffered from significant visual issues. There was more aliasing, and the frame rate was consistently low, detracting from the overall experience.
The audio was mostly unchanged, with the addition of Erin Andrews as a sideline reporter. Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler provided commentary, recreating the atmosphere of a college basketball game. However, there were occasional moments of silence or irrelevant commentary.
A Look at the PS2 Version
The review also noted that the PS2 version of March Madness 08 felt like an afterthought. It closely resembled its predecessors, with familiar gameplay, camera angles, and even recycled commentary from Dick Vitale.
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tags: #ncaa #march #madness #08 #xbox #360
