NCAA Football 2003

"College football never played better."

EA Sports unleashes a new season of college football for PS2 fans with NCAA Football 2003. Players will have the chance to lead their alma mater to the football glory they know it rightly deserves. The game features all 117 Division I-A schools, a selection of I-AA schools, and a create-a-school feature that allows you to create any college you wish.

NCAA 2002 was a big hit. EA Sports has a reputation to make a good thing even better. So, besides the obvious updates to visuals and gameplay (discussed later) that any sequel has, here are some of the new features in the game:

* Create-a-school is now a feature. This allows you to create any school (real or fictional)

* More atmosphere. 200 fight songs. Cheerleaders. Better crowds.

* Rivalry games. Now you can compete in some of the biggest (and smallest) rivalries in college football.

* Trophy room. Your wall of fame. You can see the trophies you and your team has earned during your dynasty. You can also display the rivalry trophies you've won, like The Ireland Trophy for the winner of the Notre Dame - Boston College game.

* Dynasty mode has been extended to 60 years.

* 50 mascot teams.

While the mini games of Madden are missing, there are enough things to do to keep this game spinning in your drive for months to come.

Graphics (9/10)

The sheer volume of teams and stadiums alone would justify giving this game a high rating in graphics. Based on the Madden engine, the graphics of NCAA are first rate. The players come in all shapes and sizes. The helmets are not the shinny domes we saw last year. And, don't forget, Boise State's blue turf. There are some ''jaggies'' that appear, as with most PS2 games. But, this is a game, not a live TV broadcast.

The dynamic stadium crowd looks good. If you are playing with a weak team, your stadium will not be full and you'll see lots of empty sections. If the home team is getting blown out, people start to leave early.

If you have a real problem with the graphics, find a copy of the original John Madden and see how far game graphics have improved. If you're old like me, you may even remember Atari 2600 Football. If you've played that game, you'll never complain about graphics.

Sound (9/10)

There's been some work done in this department and it hasn't gone unnoticed. The three man broadcast team is the same as last year: Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, and Brad Nessler. Of course, with the vast amount of college games each week, they don't have time to announce every one. So, if you are playing a game that features less than stellar teams, you will listen to announcing from the stadium PA announcer.

The commentary has been worked on and relevant talk about events during the game and season has been added. Like any sports game, after a few dozen games, the commentary gets repetitious. But, until they develop a disk that can hold a few terabytes of commentary, it's something that you will have to accept. In a single game, the repetition is small.

Because this is a college game, there are no player names used. However, you can edit the players to give them their correct names. As such, many names have been recorded and they will be announced during the game. There is also a plethora of generic names that will be used if a player with that name appears.

The band has been given a boost with most teams having their fight songs added. Only alumni will know if there are any inaccuracies. The crowd is more responsive and vocal. They respond to requests for more or less noise from the players (they didn't in 2002).

The whams, bams, and crunches of football sound good. They match up fairly well to the game animations.

Game play (10/10)

Like last year, NCAA is released one month before the new version of Madden. Also like last year, there are improvements in the upcoming NFL game that do not make it to the college ranks. But, just because something newer is on the horizon, it doesn't mean what we have now is out dated and inferior.

NCAA plays well, like you would expect from any football game based on the Madden engine. From last year's game to this one, there are a few changes that are noticeable right away.

On the offensive side of the ball, the choices are huge. Each team has their own playbook and there are several generic ones you can also choose from. There are many formations and plays to choose from. The double wing formation, which is not used in the pros, is in the playbook of some teams. Also available are the option plays that are the heart of some teams' offensive strategy.

The controller setup is done well and is the same as last year. It will take a while for new players to learn, but the learning curve is short. Learning how to juke and spin will be beneficial because in this game, they do help you avoid tackles more than last year. Be prepared for the computer to try and side step you as well.

I've always enjoyed the passing mode in EA games and there were no changes made to it in this game. If you find yourself having problems, you can switch to quick passing mode, which only requires one button press.

Football video games have always been plagued with ''money'' plays. These are offensive plays that are guaranteed to work every time. NCAA 2002 had the out route and QB sneaks. There was also the guarantee of a sack anytime you tried to run a play action. This year’s game has fixed those problems. The play action looks nice and can fool a defense if you've been running the ball consistently and well during the game (which is what it is designed to do). The out route is no guarantee. There may be a money play in there, but it hasn't surfaced so far.

The offensive AI has been improved and they do not abandon the run as easily as last year. It was not unusual in 2002 to have the number one run defense and the worst pass defense. It happened because the computer would throw 90 percent or more during a game.

The defense has gone to class and gotten smarter. This is especially true of the pass defense. With the ability to swat and strafe now available, you have a better chance of defending the pass instead of running the risk of a long gain by jumping for the ball and trying to knock it down that way.

Last year's defensive line had a hard time putting pressure on the QB. While it is easier this year, it will require a good defensive player and skill with the controller to get the sack.

The defense also does not sit still anymore. In past games, you had the ability to audible defensive plays. This allowed you, for the most part, to change to a pass or run defense formation. Now, you have the ability to make changes individually for the line, linebackers, and secondary. It takes some time to get use to and use effectively. You will notice, though, that the AI uses it frequently and the players move around quite a bit. Sometimes, they shift right into the perfect defensive spot to stop you and other times they clear the lane.

The choices for defensive formations are limited and the same for all teams. You have the 3-4, 4-3, Nickel, Dime, 4-4 and 5-2 (college exclusives), Goaline, and special teams. There is one small change that can help. If you wait for the offense to select a play, you will see a window showing how many running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers are on the field. This helps give you an idea of what type of play your opponent may be running. Of course, now you only have a few seconds to select a play. So, be quick.

The kicking game is about the same as last years. The only minor nitpick is that, on the punt return, if you select block (which forces the punting team to keep everybody close), drop a lineman back to block for the returner; you can usually net a big return.

The only thing missing, and seemingly forgotten, is the mass substitution option. Somewhere in the past, there was a game that allowed you to substitute your second string with the press of one button. Mass sub is a nice feature to have late in a game that has become a blowout to help avoid injuries to your starters. However, if you want to do this, you'll have to do it player by player.

Game modes (8/10)

Play football. How much more can there be? Well, there are no mini games like the two-minute drill in Madden 2002. But, there are a couple of ways to play.

There's a practice mode where you can hone your skills (with or without opposition). Exhibition mode where two teams can play in any stadium under any weather conditions. Season mode allows you to control a team through the 2002 season. However, most people pass on this to play the Dynasty mode. I'll get to that in a minute.

There is also a rivalry mode. NCAA 2003 has a list of most (we'll assume there is something forgotten) of the rivalries in football. Famous rivalries like Army-Navy, Texas-OU, and Florida-Florida State. Also, not so famous ones like the ''Battle of I-10'' between New Mexico and UTEP. There are also the traveling trophies that some of these rivalries have like Paul Bunyon's Axe and the Keg 'O
Nails. Now, you could play these rivalries in last year's game by selecting the two teams. But, the rivalry mode adds a little more. The opening commentary talks about the rivalry. And, if there is a trophy, you can win it and display it in your trophy case. By adding these trophies, it gives the player an incentive for playing these games with teams they would otherwise never use.

Dynasty mode (10/10)

This is what it's all about. Leading a team to a national championship whether it takes one or ten seasons to do it. Dynasty mode allows you to coach in the NCAA for 60 years. You start with any team you want, including the I-AA and created teams (you have to add them at the start of the dynasty by replacing another team).

The advantage of dynasty mode over just single season is that you can take a lesser team and build them up. In one season, you may be able to have an unbeaten season with the University of Houston, but you will not be competing for the national title because your team is not prestigious enough to have earned a top two ranking and a bid for the championship bowl game. But, two or three winning seasons and you can watch your team's prestige rise and see them become a ranked contender leading to more prestigious bowl games.

When you select your team, you can see what your expectations are. The expectations are still fairly generic and a bit weak. If you pick a powerhouse, you are expected to maintain a high ranking in the polls and put some trophies in your room. A weaker team may only want a bowl bid. These requirements can change as you sign new contracts (each one is for three years) and you can be fired if you fail to meet expectations. You can also leave a team or not renew your contract. But, don't think you can coach Indiana for 3 years, have a .500 record, and then quit and take over for Florida State. Your coach's prestige is tied to your record and school prestige. Once you have entered dynasty mode, the teams available to move to will be related to the amount of prestige you have earned.

A new feature this time is the ability to customize your non-conference schedule (also traditional non conference games, like Notre Dame-Boston College cannot be changed). For some teams, this is only 2 or three games. For some of the independents, it could be several. So, you can stack your schedules with powder puffs to get some easy wins, or take on the top teams and try to get your school some recognition after the big upset.

In a short summary, the season layout and progress is typical of a football game. You can move players on the roster (no trades, of course), look at schedules, players of the week, standings, rankings, leader boards, etc. You can play or simulate each of your season games. If you have a successful season, you can be invited to a bowl game. All 28 bowl games are featured.

After the season, you enter the fun off-season. This is where you get to recruit players for next year. One of the improvements in this year’s game is that it takes more points (you get an allotment of recruit points based on your season's performance) to recruit out of state players. This helps add a little more realism as most teams get the bulk of their players from in state. Once you complete the off-season, it's time to start the new season and see if you've improved.

Extras (10/10)

The required create-a-player mode is here and has a good bit of depth to create any type of player you would like. The create-a-school option gives you a chance to put in any school you wish. There is quite a bit of customization that is allowed, so you will be able to make a fairly accurate representation of your favorite school. Pride stickers are still in the game and are a part of those
teams that use them. They are also an option for your created schools.

Campus pennants are what you earn during games by completing campus challenges. Like Madden, you get various points for completing specific tasks. Some are game related. Some are season. You can repeat these tasks to earn more points (unlike EA NHL 2002 where you could only complete each task once. Yech!). Once you have accumulated 50 points, you can buy a pennant. Each pennant has a different effect. There are team boosts that improve a team’s performance during a game. Game cheats (like narrow field goal posts), hidden teams, mascot teams, and stadiums.

Replay (10/10)

The addition of rivalry mode will encourage you to play with teams you would probably never choose. The long dynasty mode allows you to build a weak program into a national powerhouse. And if you get tired of that, you can switch teams and start over. If you have friends over and with tens of thousands of possible match ups, the replay is limitless.

Buy or rent?

Looking for some fun with a group of friends on the weekend. Give it a rent. But, if you want to get the most out of this game, you'll have to buy it. You can't get far enough through dynasty mode in one rental. Also, if you are looking to get Madden 2003, NCAA 2003 allows the year-end draft class to be exported and used in Madden. So, you can take watch your All-American QB grow into a Heisman winner and then draft him to your NFL team and have him lead you to the Super Bowl.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/25/02, Updated 07/25/02