Too often college-based sports videogames are watered-down versions of their professional counterparts, using last year's engine, diluted controls, or shallow gameplay modes in an attempt to quickly satisfy less-demanding fans. These games play like afterthoughts. Fortunately, "ESPN College Hoops" manages to create an identity all its own despite its similarities to "ESPN NBA Basketball."
An 'A' for atmosphere
The biggest addition to the series is its embellished visuals, which put the ESPN license to near perfect use. Players will see cut scenes of screaming fans, swaying pep bands, and energetic cheerleaders whose pom-poms jiggle in all the right places.
Adding to the fun are 3-D mascots roaming around the sidelines, camera flashes from the stands, and slick television-style replays. None of these flourishes affect gameplay, but they make you feel like you're competing at a college venue.
Pump it up
The sound also helps draw players into the action. The commentary is excellent, with ESPN's Mike Patrick and Jay Bilas not only updating players on the action but also keeping track of trends, streaks, and milestones. Examples include "another miss for the sophomore, and it's obvious the game plan isn't working" or "with the rebound he's increased his total to eight."
Players will also hear coaches on the sideline yelling, "double up, double up," an enthusiastic PA announcer, and even cheerleader routines near the basket. The crowd could be a bit more frenzied, and the fight songs sound as if they were recorded outdoors, but overall we were impressed.
Not-so-sweet 16
Though the presentation has made strides, the gameplay still needs work. Controls need to be tighter, animation more fluid, and pacing smoother. Borrowing an idea from its NBA counterpart, "College Hoops" features IsoMotion control, which lets players perform pivots, jab steps, crossovers, and so forth using the right analog stick.
Unfortunately, gameplay is neither as responsive nor as realistic as it should be, with moves such as the crossover dribble highly exaggerated. The crossover, in particular, is slow and awkward, with players losing control as the animation takes over. The end-result is the athlete gliding across the court like Barishnikov, almost to the point of going out of bounds. The passing game, an integral aspect of college basketball, is sloppy, and the default AI seems to unfairly handicap the player's shooting percentage.
Making the adjustment
The computer otherwise plays a strong game, especially in blocking shots, intercepting passes, and snagging rebounds. Substitutions aren't well-handled, and time-outs are often called at strange times, but games are still competitive. Using post-up moves on offense is essential, but players who find the computer a bit too challenging can tweak a number of gameplay sliders to help customize the action. There are 22 categories in all, ranging from layup or dunk percentages to three-point shot tendencies, defensive awareness, injury frequency, and types of fouls committed.
A legacy in the making
Although the gameplay could use another semester of work, the modes have graduated with honors. The legacy mode oozes depth, and players can finally engage themselves in the recruiting process throughout the season instead of at year's end.
As in previous Sega sports games, players can communicate with personnel through email or even attend high school games to woo potential recruits. After selecting a team, players can adjust their coaching style, hire assistant coaches, and begin the process of completing the required goal, such as finishing a season by winning half of the games.
More madness
In addition to the legacy mode, up to four players can compete in conference tournaments or go straight to the field of 64. Players can also participate in a single season, challenge a school's top rival, play a pick-up game, or practice their shooting. New to the series is the slam-dunk challenge, five events that are mostly just a fun diversion.
The challenge mode makes its return from other ESPN games. In this mode players try to complete certain milestones (a 15-game winning streak, for instance) to gain points. These points can be traded in for goodies such as fantasy courts, classic teams, mascot teams, alternate uniforms, and even professional stadiums.
Not everyone's an all-American
"ESPN College Hoops" isn't the perfect college hoops game, but it's fun to play and it offers several addictive features, with the legacy mode at the top of the list. The atmosphere helps make up for some of the deficiencies in the controls and overall stiffness of the game, but additional polish is needed if "College Hoops" hopes to be an all-American.
"ESPN College Hoops" (Xbox)
