NCAA March Madness 99

"College Hoops Rule the Console"

Once in a while a game comes along that revolutionizes it's genre.

This is NOT one of those games. However, games occasionally scratch the surface on new ideas for this genre, and these things make the game all the more worth while. March Madness '99 IS one of those games. Developed by those geniuses at EA Sports, MM '99 makes it's competition look sick. I rented this from the video store by chance, just for kicks, and only one word describes it.

Wow. As a big fan of the NBA Live Series, and EA's games in general, I expected this to set new standards in college hoops, but even I didn't expect anything like this. MM '99 includes 64 mens' college teams, and as an added bonus, the top 16 womens' teams in the nation(can you say Chamique Holdsclaw?). The modes are somewhat altered from the classics in the original NBA Live games. There's everyone's favorite, the original Exhibition/Season/Tournament modes, but this adds new dimentions to it, as well. There's the 3-Point Shootout, added in NBA Live 98 and carried over to this game, there's the Women's Sweet Sixteen, the 16 team womens' tourney, and my new personal favorite, Dynasty Mode.

In Dynasty Mode, you assume the role of not only player and coach, but also the scout. As seniors graduate, high school players go to college, and as a coach/scout, it's your job to bring them to your school. The seasons can be played back-to-back as many times as you like. For instance; in 2067, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will win the NCAA tournament.

Coaching menus are EXCELLENT. You can run the motion offensive plays like Bob Knight, and then become Jimmy Boeheim with the 2-3 zone on defense. There's assorted presses and zones, and classic man-to-man.

Options are the same as ever, fouls can be turned on and off, as can travelling, and all the rest of them.

However, every good game has some downsides. For example: the UConn Huskies lead Duke by a score of 72-55. The clock drops 1 tenth of a second below a minute remaining, and Duke becomes a fouling machine. The ball is inbounded to Khalid El-Amin, and Rip Hamilton is fouled. In bounds again to El-Amin, Jake Voskhul is fouled. El-Amin immediately shoots a 3 from beyond half court off the inbounds, and HE is fouled. You will draw fouls on this game in the closing minute.

Another downside: no player names. Yeah, you have a 5'10" point guard wearing number 42, but he's not called Khalid El-Amin. No player names. Boo.

But in all, March Madness '99 is an outstanding game, and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99