NCAA March Madness 2002 (PlayStation 2)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Shahed Ahmed
• Reviewed on: 01/08/2002
• Updated on: 01/09/2002
• Released on: 01/07/2002
• Originally published on GameSpot: NCAA March Madness 2002 (PlayStation 2) Review

Throughout the PlayStation era, EA Sports' NCAA March Madness series dominated its respective genre with tight controls, intelligent AI, cool college-specific trimmings, and ample modes of play. In its first PlayStation 2 outing, the gameplay system, although not without its flaws, and much of the college-specific presentation made it over unscathed. However, without the season and franchise modes, which are conspicuously missing from this year's version, NCAA March Madness 2002 on the PS2 loses much of its value in terms of the single-player experience.

The game features two primary modes of play: tournament and exhibition. The tournament mode is fully customizable, so you'll be able to create your own tournament matchups from a pool of more than 150 division I-A squads available in the game. Creating custom tournaments is certainly amusing, but in previous college hoops games, the tournament mode has served simply as an ancillary option to a full-featured season or dynasty mode. The lack of a season mode really hurts the single-player experience in March Madness 2002. Single exhibition games are relatively fun with friends, but you will definitely miss the ability to fight for a tournament spot in the regular season and playing in league games--especially if you're a veteran of the March Madness series.

On the court, March Madness 2002 shares much of its control scheme and gameplay style with its NBA counterpart on the PlayStation 2. Like the PS2 version of NBA Live 2002, the analog controls are a little slippery--the players almost slide around as if they were playing on ice, and in the paint, they unrealistically bounce off one another like bunched-up little electric football players scampering aimlessly. However, having said that, there are some subtle improvements--like new animation routines--that make the gameplay in March Madness 2002 a bit more intuitive and subsequently more entertaining than its NBA counterpart.

For starters, EA Sports has exaggerated the rebounding, jumping, and passing animations. The players jump higher for rebounds, which leads to a much more balanced rebounding system than the hopelessly ineffective one found in NBA Live. Additionally, March Madness 2002 includes sleek wraparound passes, and players will frequently dive on the floor for loose balls. All of these new animation routines combine for a faster pace and will give you greater control over the game when compared with the NBA Live series on the PS2.

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