FirstCuts: March Madness ‘08 review (Xbox 360)

By Chris Littmann
Sports don’t start and end with a referee’s whistle. FirstCuts, a blog dedicated to sports culture, will cover everything outside the lines, from the games to the gear. Look for expanded FirstCuts content after the New Year.
So this is how the other half lives. I haven’t played an Electronic Arts basketball game since 2004. Let me explain how that experience went: I played it for about four days and sold it.
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In a previous review, I mentioned I was a big fan of the 2K series, but I went in intrigued by a new feature in this year’s EA offering, so I tried to keep an open mind. Here’s my first impression for the 2008 version, which hits stores today:
GAMEPLAY: Dynamic Post Control is the new feature EA is pushing. I’ve always enjoyed the post offense functionality of games. Two years ago, College Hoops 2K6 did a great job with dropsteps and up-and-under moves. That seemed to fade in the last two editions, but EA seems to be cornering that marketplace with this new feature. I had no problem executing up-and-unders and getting baskets while playing with Tyler Hansbrough ... err North Carolina Forward No. 50. (That was one disappointment. I couldn’t seem to find a feature similar to the 2K Share where I could download the rosters for free.)
I’d say the Dynamic Post Control had more good points than bad -- the post play definitely feels better than 2K8 -- but I was annoyed with the number of offensive fouls I picked up. Also, I couldn’t help but feel like EA was beating me over the head -- through ESPN’s Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler on the microphone -- by telling me to constantly throw it into the post, even if I’d done so for the previous few possessions. I get it; you put in this great new post feature, but give it a rest.
The intensity meter, which is akin to the 6th man effect from the 2K offering, felt equally arbitrary. And really, it didn’t feel like it had any effect on the game other than making things loud or talking some junk to your opponent. The rest of the offensive game didn’t do much to impress me. What is there to say when you’re just shooting with the X and B buttons instead of a shot stick?
Defensively, I like the lockdown stick. I was able to successfully spring double teams on the computer and force turnovers. I had some difficult swatting shots, but I don’t place a lot of blame on EA for that one; there hasn’t been a game to do that well in a few years.
GRAPHICS: Some aspects of this EA offering appear much sharper than College Hoops 2K8 -- I’m talking about the arenas and floors. Just as a measuring stick, both games screwed up the student section at my alma mater, Ohio University, but I thought EA got some of the other parts down better than 2K. I wasn’t overly impressed by the facial similarities of players, but that’s a tough one for designers trying to tread lightly along the NCAA guidelines for active student athletes.
ODDS AND ENDS: The create-a-player feature is slick. You already know from my other FirstCuts entries that I’m big into basketball shoes, so the ability to put a pair of shoes from Dwyane Wade, LeBron James or Michael Jordan on a guy is cool, but the shoes they offer are about two years behind. Good thought, but let’s get current EA! (Even if the LeBron II is one of my five favorite basketball shoes of all time, they’re already up to the LeBron V.)
The Classic Teams are always sort of hit and miss, but growing up in Cincinnati, I’m loving a chance to play with the 1992 Bearcats. Nick Van Exel with the ol’ school fade.
For a user in the 2K review who asked where ESPN went, you found it. Oh goodness, did you ever find it. It’s tough to miss ESPN when you’re playing the game -- from Vitale, Nessler and Erin Andrews to the fact that you can access all sorts of ESPN info throughout the game.
OVERALL: I had such a bad taste in my mouth about previous EA games that this one managed to exceed my expectations thanks to the Dynamic Post Control. With that being said, it felt like EA tried to cover up some of the other gameplay flaws by bombarding us with lots of ESPN features. EA took a step in the right direction. Keep the outstanding post play and give us a smoother outside game next season. Or at least convince the big guys to quit flopping on defense.
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Chris Littmann is an associate editor for Sporting News. He’s looking for fans of BCS bowl schools with Xbox Live to drop him a message for a future online challenge in NCAA Football 08. ↵