Metacritic Games

NCAA March Madness 08 (Playstation 3)

NCAA March Madness 08 has created a strategic new gameplay experience called Dynamic Post Play that enables you to take complete control over running your offense through the post, and defending your opponent in the paint. Experience the intensity of a strategic match-up on each possession, outwit your opponent by creating a favorable mismatch, and then make a move that scores the bucket to lift your team and your fans to victory. For the first time, you have complete control over dozens of new offensive post moves, including finesse ones like an up-and-under, drop step, hook spin, jump hook, and pump fake, and the ability to combine moves together. Animations can be interrupted at any time to transition into a new move, enabling you to read and respond to the defense, just like real life. Take command of the post on defense with strategic positioning to dominate down low -- guard your opponent man-to-man, front him to deny the entry pass or read the offense and go for the steal. NCAA March Madness 08 finally makes dream match-ups a reality, enabling you to replay classic games in college basketball history. Featuring more than 70 classic teams, take the court as the 1972 UCLA Bruins against any of the great North Carolina Tar Heels teams of the 1980s, the Duke Blue Devils of the 1990s or the two-time defending national champion University of Florida Gators. In addition, the ultimate teams for dozens of Division I programs have been created enabling you to go head-to-head to determine the best team in the history of college basketball. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts
Basketball, Sports
Players: 4
E (Everyone)
Developer: EA Canada
Released December 11, 2007

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

67 / 100

Critic Reviews

81 PSX Extreme
All in all, NCAA March Madness 08 is not a bad game, it's just yet another bad PS3 port.
79 GameTrailers
There’s enough new in here to warrant a look at the game even if you played the last one to death. It won’t blow your socks off, but it will any aspiring collegiate hours upon hours of enjoyment.
75 Gaming Age
NCAA March Madness 08 has a few flaws such as some transitions of animations, easy fast break opportunities, and a few game play quirks, but nothing will distract any college fan from getting excited about the team they love.
73 Game Informer
Basketball fans who want more arcade-like action than the sim-heavy "College Hoops 2K8" may find some fun in March Madness, but serious hoops fans should stick with 2K.
70 Kombo
This is a classic example of graphics look better but the gameplay isn't as compelling as the competition.
70 The New York Times
The game feels a little off. For example, at one point I was fouled six or seven times in about 30 seconds as I tried to pass a ball in from the sidelines. Even odder are the game’s television announcers, who range from psychic to clueless.
70 Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
For our money, though, we'd go with playability and looks and sacrifice a bit of the depth; hence March Madness 08 comes a close second to "College Hoops 2K8". [Feb 2008, p.79]
70 Game Chronicles
It’s definitely not the best game on the NCAA court, but it is worthy of a second look.
69 IGN
A solid basketball title and is definitely a step above what we saw from Live 08. The improved fluidity is something that only 360 owners will get to enjoy, much to the dismay of Sony Nation.
67 Electronic Gaming Monthly
What a letdown! I had high hopes for March Madness this year, but this one's all sizzle and very little steak. [Jan 2008, p.90]
65 GamerNode
March Madness 08 tries to woo new players with new low-post play and classic rosters, but it doesn't quite work. Maybe next year we'll see a real revamp?
64 Cheat Code Central
Overall, March Madness 08 is a pretty good basketball game. The problem is that it isn't the best basketball game available by far. It can probably easily claim second best, but College Hoops is a much better basketball experience.
60 1UP
This one has a long way to go to feel like real college basketball on the court, and not just off of it. Even with all its glitter, it's dim when compared to the shiny "College Hoops 2K8."
60 GameSpot
March Madness 08 has some new moves, but it's still not ready for the big dance.
50 GameTap
It's almost like congratulating Adonal Foyle for working on a new move in the offseason while completely ignoring the fact that the rest of his game is downright awkward.

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