First Encounter: Slam Dunk!
By Mickah Wallace
SEGA® and Visual Concepts clearly understand the appeal of college basketball. ESPN College Hoops 2K5 is better than ever, with improved graphics, better ball control, and a robust Legacy mode that lets you embark on a 40-year virtual coaching career.
Basically, the designers and developers took the best elements of ESPN NBA 2K5(including the graphics engine and online play) and applied them to ESPN College Hoops 2K5 to create their strongest college ball game yet—all for the bargain price of $20!
Faster and better-looking than ever.
Importing the NBA 2K5 graphics engine means ESPN College Hoops 2K5 looks just as amazing as its pro-league cousin. The player models and animations are better than ever, and even the crowds are rendered in full 3-D.
The game's ESPN-style TV show presentation shows off every element in the upgraded venues, from the shine on the hardwood floor to the fur on the mascot's costume. There are even CPU- and user-controlled replays and halftime cheerleading shows to delight the eye.
Your ears are also in for a treat with full Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, including team-specific fight songs, chants, and cheers. Jay Bilas and Mike Patrick are back to do the play-by-play, bringing their years of experience to the Xbox® once again.
Gameplay has been spruced up through the addition of Sega's Isomation control that uses face buttons and triggers to execute some of the sweetest game you've ever seen. Jukes, spins, fadeaways, and stutter-steps will make your opponent look foolish as you sink the rock. (Just watch out for the improved A.I. on defense.)
Your coaching style affects your team's basic strategy, but both your teammates and the other side will make their own individual decisions in real time to get clear or take the key position. In addition, you can take command and tell specific teammates where to go to set up long-distance alley-oops and blistering give-and-go plays on the fly.
The biggest change is the loss of the Free Throw meter. Now, foul shots are a matter of timing and each college star's ability. Gamers need to time the release just right, but they also need to have a feel for each of the players on their team. Each athlete handles and shoots the ball differently and requires a different touch on the controller. It takes some practice, but this new system is both accurate and intuitive.
Lead your team to glory.
The Legacy mode has also been expanded, so you now have complete control over an entire 40-year coaching career. You begin as a low-level coach at a no-name university, but you can quickly catch the league's attention by winning games and reaching your season-specific goals.
As you improve your team's record, you'll attract better talent and be able to hire more experienced scouts and assistant coaches. As you chalk up more wins and prestige, you'll have to devote more time to contract negotiations and other management concerns, while your staff and assistants drill the team and execute your long-term strategy.
If you do the job well, you'll be rewarded with better offers from bigger and richer schools … until you are the king of all college ball! And, if you ever have any doubt about your progress, the game gives you periodic newspaper-style reviews of key games that pull no punches when it comes to criticizing the coach.
ESPN College Hoops 2K5 is also on Xbox Live™, so you can try your skills against the best gamers across the world. Take on opponents in online single games, series, or massive 64-team tournaments that recreate March Madness any time you like!
This A.I. is less "A" and more "I."
ESPN College Hoops 2K5 is a full-featured college basketball game at a bargain price. It looks and plays better than ever, the single-player Legacy mode will swallow you whole, and it's awash with multiplayer madness online. With its sharp ESPN-style presentation and low price tag, this is one basketball game that hits nothing but net.
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