Critic Reviews
| 100 |
Play Magazine
The best overall college basketball game on the market. [Jan 2004, p.80]
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| 91 |
Gaming Age
The best basketball game on the market today. The depth of the Legacy mode will keep you busy for months, and it provides the gameplay to match.
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| 89 |
Next Level Gaming
Computer AI is the big problem, it's sometimes frustratingly hard, and unrealistic. But that's it. Everything else about ESPN College Hoops is gravy.
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| 89 |
Operation Sports
The best college basketball game this year on any system.
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| 88 |
Official Xbox Magazine
A near-total package, but when compared head-to-head with "March Madness 2004," it doesn't feel as exciting or addictive. [Dec 2003, p.94]
|
| 88 |
Team Xbox
Hoops stronger in presentation, graphics, and management but "Madness" being better in gameplay.
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| 87 |
IGN
Sure, the game has its flaws, but Legacy mode and Slam Session provide so many thrills and so many hours of good times demanding a wave of everyone in the room, that it's definitely worth the time and money invested.
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| 84 |
GameSpot
With solid gameplay feel, exceptional customizability, and a deep legacy mode, ESPN College Hoops is easily recommendable to any college basketball fan.
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| 80 |
GameZone
From the opening sequence, I could tell this was special.
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| 80 |
GamePro
There are some great innovations, like the lead pass from this year’s ESPN NBA game, that are sorely missed in the College version. This becomes a crucial factor considering rival March Madness bases its game engine on basically the same one as its newest NBA Live installment.
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| 75 |
Game Revolution
It isn’t a perfect game by any stretch due to some glaring issues with the rebounding and control, but ESPN College Hoops is still the best NCAA game out there right now. It looks better than "March Madness" and the great Legacy mode is unrivaled.
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| 68 |
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Although the title looks amazing, the gameplay feels a little stiff. In attempting to create the most realistic college experience, Sega took some of the fun out of the game. [Jan 2004, p.116]
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| 60 |
Xbox Nation Magazine
It's not the tightest coding ever seen in a videogame. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.85]
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| 60 |
G4 TV
The atmosphere helps make up for some of the deficiencies in the controls and overall stiffness of the game, but additional polish is needed if College Hoops hopes to be an all-American.
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| 50 |
GameNow
Compared with the graphics in "March Madness," ESPN College Hoops' visuals look a few years old. [Jan 2004, p.63]
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