NCAA 07 March Madness on the Xbox 360 faced an uphill battle heading into its release. After the resoundingly negative reaction to EA Sports’ NBA Live 07 it seemed to be a difficult task to sway positive opinion back onto their side so soon. However March Madness has exceeded those (albeit lowered) expectations to deliver a fun experience that is solid in all aspects.
The March Madness team had the advantage of working on an existing engine instead of building a brand new one as Live did. Because of that, the time spent on gameplay was used to improve and refine the most important area of the game. The physicality is really felt now, as low post play and blocking/charging fouls seem much more true. While playing defense, you can’t just jump around and try to block every shot, or draw charges. The “Lockdown Stick” gives you the opportunity to force the issue on defense, and put more pressure on opposing players. However like everything else it is a risk/reward proposition. On offense, if you want to be successful on the higher difficulty levels you’ll need to run plays. This is helped by the floor calling system, which allows you to pull up and choose from 6 plays (customizable) on the fly. By clicking down on the right analog stick, a diagram will appear on the floor so you can see how to activate the play.
Ultimately the gameplay has a more polished and complete feel. While there are still improvements to be made, the game plays a realistic, flowing, unpredictable college style. In a way that unpredictability factor is exactly what makes this game so enjoyable.
The visuals in the game are excellent. From the courts, to the crowd, to the players EA has put out one of the best looking sports games to hit the 360. In the past where the players in the college games seemed sub-par and largely generic, these have a great amount of detail and come across as unique. The player movements can still seem a bit awkward (especially away from the ball) however it only seems noticeable if you’re staring at them. While playing the game something like that goes by without concern.
One of the newest additions is “Intensity Control”. As positive or negative events occur, a meter in the lower corner of the screen will fill. Strategically you can use what you’ve gained to give your team a ratings boost or hurt the opposing team’s. You’re able to choose from pumping up the crowd, yourself, teammates, or you can taunt your opponent. If you decide to use it before the meter is filled you receive a smaller reward. However if you wait for it to fill up completely you can trigger an “Impact Moment” which offers a more significant ratings and confidence bonus. The actual Impact Moment is a little overdone as you walk around the court and decide who or what to interact with. However overall the Intensity Control is a very welcome feature as it truly displays much of the emotion that goes into college basketball. Not only how the environment affects the play, but also how the events on the court can shift the course of a game.
Something that is really useful is the visual representation of how the players are reacting to everything that is happening. A “Sims” style + or - symbol will appear over the head of players as they gain or lose confidence in themselves. Never before have you been able to visually recognize how each player is affected when they make a big play or make a mistake. Because of this you can react to play to strengths or go away from those who are struggling.
Dynasty mode offers the ability to start at a small school and build your way up the ranks to becoming a powerhouse. As you progress, options to start adding in a student section, cheerleaders, and band are examples of how your program is growing. You can go from having a handful of fans to a premiere home court experience. A more focused and goal oriented recruiting system is a big improvement to that area as well.
The most significant area to address for March Madness is the atmosphere. The game presents one of the most electric experiences ever presented by a sports game. It truly represents what college basketball is all about. While the commentary may feel a little stale, the combination of Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler makes for one of the more entertaining duos out there. The crowd gets into the game like never before. They’ll even get on an opposing player who has upset them by booing him every time he touches the ball. The players react to everything that is happening in the course of the game. In some respects maybe too much, as it seems they’ll celebrate every single basket that is made. It would be nice if it was seen a little more sparingly. Its all about the interaction, emotion, and how it ties into the on-court action. It adds to the game’s value and enjoyment level immensely.
Online play basically will give you the same options that you’ve come to expect from EA titles. However the one thing that was included this time around is the “EA Locker”. Roster files can be transferred to anyone on a Friend’s List simply by accessing the file in another’s locker. It was quite surprising to hear this would be in for an NCAA Licensed game, but its already become a big success as people name the rosters and pass them around. Also of note is that the names do appear for online games as well as in the other modes such as Dynasty and Play Now. So while the online area still is still lackluster in modes, at least one new positive aspect made its way in this year.
NCAA 07 March Madness is not a perfect game, but EA has delivered a title that is solid all around. The gameplay is good enough that when combined in with the outside factors such as the Intensity Control and the overall atmosphere, it offers a very fun and fresh experience.
Final Score:
8.4/10
