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The Madness Continues | | JAMES TUCKER from Fishers, IN says (20/Nov/2003): | EA's attempt at college basketball supremacy has fallen well short in the last few years. With the recent release of March Madness 2004, EA hopes to rejuvenate that attempt at perfecting a stagnant series.
If any of you have played this season's NBA Live 2004, you will notice similar game play in March Madness. In fact, it is basically the same game engine: 10-man Freestyle/pro-hop button. The only differene being that players are surrounded by the college atmosphere and a disenchanting Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler, who provide the commentary. At times, Vitale does not even talk (a spectator's dream come true!); and as a game player, you often wonder why he didn't comment on certain actions of the game. For instance, I stole the ball a few times, and it was Brad Nessler commenting. Vitale says a few memorable things, but I found it rather flat.
The graphics in MM 2004 are good, but not as good as ESPN's. The in-depth Dynasty mode (play up to 30 seasons) offers similar tactics as NCAA Football. The big dissapointment in this mode is not being able to edit other teams or play multiple teams, as you can in NCAA Football. If you want to add names to the players for other teams, you had better do it before you begin your Dynasty season. There are many teams, too, some 300 + schools. You can also, for the first time in MM, draft your players into NBA LIVE 04.
Another feature is "Ask the Coach" scouting report for every team you play. Before you play a game, click on the scouting button and watch the coach video. You get a run down on what to use in terms of defense and offensive sets. This is nice, but I would rather have EA make the slam-dunks less arcade like (I hate that sonic-boom noise) and offer the option of editing other teams players. There is also the "Roundball Classic" game, where it features the top 20 high school players. You can actually play this game, which is fun. It lets you see who the top talent is, and if you want to recruit these players.
Finally, MM 2004 rises above, way above previous versions. The solid game play is better than the competition, too. But MM 2004 lacks in what I have mentioned what might be available in other college basketball sims.
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