NCAA Football 2003

"A Great College Experience"

While I am a big fan of watching college football, this is the first game I have ever played. It seems I was missing out on quite a bit. While the gameplay is nearly identical to EA's Madden series, the feel of the game is completely different. The rivalries, fight songs and mascots are out in full force. If you are a college football fan, you owe it to yourself to buy this game.

First of all, the gameplay is sweet. The control is dead on, as fans of the series have come to expect. They are basically just like the Madden controls, with one exception. The option button is a nifty little feature that is extremely fun to use. Just hit that button, and your quarterback with lateral the ball to the halfback behind him. It's the perfect play for picking up big yards and confusing the defense. The A.I. is very smart, and you would be wise to not call the same play over and over. If they see you calling the same defensive scheme for every down, eventually they will start calling plays that exploit its weaknesses.

Of course, the graphics are top of the line as always. They are only slightly better than previous versions, but that still makes them very good. There are a few more player animations, including my favorite, which has a player tackling the ball carrier from the ground. The weather effects are realistic, and players get dirty as the game wears on. One of the biggest additions to the game would be 3D cheerleaders and mascots. Whenever your team breaks a big play, the camera will focus on the cheerleader squad going through a routine, or the mascot dancing for the crowd. It really adds to the college feel.

The audio in this game is very good as well. The game features tons of fight songs, which can get you really pumped up after you score a touchdown. The crowd will yell chants for specific teams, like ''Go Blue'' for Michigan. Also the commentary is excellent. If you keep calling bad plays, they will jump all over you. They even make predictions before the game, and review them when it is all over.

The number of modes is where this game shines. You can create a dynasty, and manage your team in the off season, recruiting players from all over North America. Mascot games are a blast, in which you can play as a team of your favorite mascots. Rivalry mode is a brilliant edition, where you can play a certain rival and earn a special trophy. You can display these in a section called My NCAA. Here you can also buy pennants with tokens earned by completing special tasks during gameplay. These pennants unlock special teams, stadiums, and cheats.

Anybody with a PS2 should buy this game, and that goes double to football fans. The replay value is through the roof, it should keep the average gamer busy for quite some time. This is college football at its best, I'm amazed at how much different this is compared to Madden. This game is a must buy, forget renting it.

OVERALL: 10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/02, Updated 07/24/02