NCAA March Madness 2005 - Xbox

I love college basketball, and I was exited to see another March Madness game. This year March Madness seriously takes after it's NBA Live brother, it feels very similar to NBA live with the college atmosphere to boot. Cheerleaders, fight songs, chants... But although I felt like I was playing NBA live to a point, with the announcing of Dick Vitale, some college plays to pick and a little different control setup, it does feel fresh enough to warrant a purchase, especially if you love college basketball. The players faces and likeness are pretty accurate and decent looking overall, not exact mind you, and although because of college rules, you can't use college names, but thankfully you can put them in yourself and the announcers will call their names out when you do which adds to the authenticity. Some nice create a player features are fun and college bookstore lets you buy accessories, including headbands, jerseys, socks, arm and wristbands and tons of Nike Shoes. They added old school teams with classic players --which is really nice, but they still don't have their names, so you don't have a clue who these players are. This game also offers a new mode called "college classics" you can relive classic b'ball games from the past, it's somewhat reminiscent of their NCAA Football game, only this time it's basketball. Can you change history?All in all, I liked this game, if you're familiar with NBA live at all, you should be able to get into this game quite easily. The computer is very challenging especially when you play on a harder difficulty and play a tougher team. Highly recommended. If you want to save money though and you like Sega's game, check out ESPN College Basketball, both games are great but Sega's game is only $19.99.

For the same reason when you buy an NCAA jersey, it doesn't have a name on the back...The NCAA can't directly market a single player. Yes, the networks can, ala ESPN showing a little JJ Reddick picture before a Duke/UNC game. Or CBS showing Marvin Williams taking an alley-oop from Raymond Felton for the Final Four.However, they can't pay these athletes so they can't directly market them. That's one reason why it's damn near impossible to see a college star marketing anything that isn't the NCAA and academics.It's why Andrew Bogut or Reggie Bush can't do Wheaties commercials.It's also the reason anyone on a 2K5 of EA Sports college sporting game-over has either graduated or in the NBA from the next year. (I know NCAA 2K has rights with the Heisman winner. As EA once did. Last year's Naismith winner, Jamar Nelson of St. Joe's, is absent from either of this year's games that feature Okafor (EA) and Childress (2K5) on their respective covers).However, if Emeka Okafor had stayed in school, it's very likely Ben Gordon (or another NBA-player, ala Tony Allen, would've been on the cover.Imagine the same scenario with TJ Ford replacing Carmelo Anthony on 2004.Most know this...but many others don't. So that is your answer. It's not to be lame or lazy, it's simply the fact that NCAA can only use player numbers and their likeness (within reason of course) during their games. I imagine any potential recruits are forgotten as well for same laws/reasons.It seems dumb, but that's the NCAA for you.Making billions for universities, networks, and themselves...and not letting the players have anything at all.

ncaa march madness was a great game, who cares if you dont know who the players are you can pull off upsets in the collage classics mode and win the tornament in the dynasty mode. It is a great basketball game to play with your friends and it is very entertaining by yourself

Right after the tournament this year I was desperate for a college basketball game. I got this one and was not disappointed but wasn't blown away either. The coaching mode leaves much to be desired. How about letting us start off as an assistant for crying out loud!! But the recruiting is okay and the gameplay is pretty good. On the hardest level on a good team's floor you can lose and will always have a hard time for example at Cameron indoor arena.If you want a college basketball game then it's a good buy but if you're just looking for a good game in general then there are certainly better ones out there.

All in all this is a good game, except for the fact that the A.I has no defence skilz, every time u controll the ball u are able to drive, i scored 89 points, 80 of them were by driving.