College Hoops 2K8

"After awhile, the game just isn't that fun."

I'll just be reviewing gameplay, because most sports games are standard nowadays with some form of Dynasty/Legacy mode (taking a team for many years) and some sort of training exercise (All-American Challenge).

When I got this game, it was a frustrating learning curve (controls were different from 2K8, especially in the low post), but once I got it, it was decent fun. However, when you get higher in difficulty, the game goes from being a fun simulation to a game filled with frustration making you scratch your head and yell curses out loud. I try to play a very realistic simulation, so I run plays every time down the court, and I use the full-court trap as a way of putting pressure on the in-bounder, which means that I do get my fair share of steals. However, to compensate for having maybe 4 more steals than my opponent, the CPU will in turn shoot ridiculous percentages from everywhere on the court, and they'll make every shot even with hands in faces. In turn, your players will just brick everything. Usually, I see the other team shoot 75-85% even though I have taller, stronger players putting a hand in their faces while they shoot (I once saw my 7'2 center's hand swat right through the ball, and it swished through the basket. ???). Their players with 60 3 pointers will make 10 in a row, while your centers and power forwards with 95 close range will just brick shots, and because of that, your entire team confidence gets shot.

The close shot misses are absolutely unforgiving. When you have a shorter player guarding you and you have a wide open layup, chances are you'll miss at least 2 out of 5 times. It just isn't fun because you need all the points you can, especially when your opponent shoots 75% for the game, when they realistically should be shooting more like 40%.

I have a 7'2 center, and the low post moves are bogus. At least in 2K8, if you have a mis-match, you can power step your way past the smaller player. Here, you can't.

I mean, for what it's worth, the game can be fun. But in my time owning the game, I'm more pissed off about it rather than enjoying it. I guess to those who wouldn't mind playing on an easier difficulty, it could be alright. But for those who enjoy a simulation type game, I'd either go for NBA 2K8 or wait next year for NBA 2K9.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 07/07/08

Game Release: College Hoops 2K8 (US, 11/19/07)