Honestly, I've never played a more complete sports title. Ever.
I'm in year 3 of my Auburn dynasty, one game left in the regular season. I'm 17-9, 10-5 in the SEC. I was on a 10 game win streak, then hit a cold stretch and dropped 3 consecutive conference games. I gathered myself, and have reeled off 2 straight road wins at Arkansas and at Georgia.
I was 23-11 in my first year and won the SEC. I had a Cinderella run through the NCAA tourney and managed to make it to the Final Four before getting drilled by Kansas.
Normally, I would feel "Ah, I've got the hang of this one" and think I was going to go 32-1 in Year 2 and win the NC. But no....I do have a great season with lots of returning talent and go 29-7, but I get bounced in the second round of the NCAA tourney by Syracuse. I was as heartbroken, literally, as any time I've played a sports game. I got my #1 seed. I had a great mix of young talent and senior leadership. It was "my year". But it wasn't to be.
Year 3 has been a rollercoaster. Lots of underclassmen on my squad now, mostly frosh and sophs. I've had my ups. I've had my downs. But the game stays fresh.
I've had blowout wins, blowout losses, last second victory and a heart breaking defeat at the buzzer (to Mississippi State). I never feel like I've got the game in the bag before it starts...every game could be a war, or a 20 point blowout one way or the other.
I'm not landing the #1 recruiting class every year. I'm not even in the top 20 every year. But I get my share of studs and my prestige is improving as I see more "elite" players taking a look at Auburn as a legit Bball power with my recent success.
Name another sports title where you get to see Dave Odom retire at USC and be replaced by a REAL coach from another school. Name another sports title where after Wake Forest fires their head coach, SIX Demon Deacons transfer. That is adding another dimension of immersion to the whole experience for the gamer.
Nothing feels "cheap" in this game. I've tweaked sliders here and there..but again...I've only really had to move things a few clicks here or there...no major flaw holding the game back.
I get so into the game as I sit back and watch the weekly wrap up shows with highlights, bubble team info, etc.
Selection Sunday is still probably the single coolest video game sports addition I've ever seen as far as atmosphere goes ( ARE YOU LISTENING EA DEVELOPERS? ).
I simply cannot express how great it is for a company to CONTINUE to get a franchise "right". College Hoops has been and continues to be THE epitome of sports gaming goodness for me.
I will not be buying March Madness next year. I wil simply be waiting for what I know will be coming...fellow Hoops supporters who will update the rosters and continue to enjoy what I think is the best sports gaming title to date.
This game owns my soul.
I'm in year 3 of my Auburn dynasty, one game left in the regular season. I'm 17-9, 10-5 in the SEC. I was on a 10 game win streak, then hit a cold stretch and dropped 3 consecutive conference games. I gathered myself, and have reeled off 2 straight road wins at Arkansas and at Georgia.
I was 23-11 in my first year and won the SEC. I had a Cinderella run through the NCAA tourney and managed to make it to the Final Four before getting drilled by Kansas.
Normally, I would feel "Ah, I've got the hang of this one" and think I was going to go 32-1 in Year 2 and win the NC. But no....I do have a great season with lots of returning talent and go 29-7, but I get bounced in the second round of the NCAA tourney by Syracuse. I was as heartbroken, literally, as any time I've played a sports game. I got my #1 seed. I had a great mix of young talent and senior leadership. It was "my year". But it wasn't to be.
Year 3 has been a rollercoaster. Lots of underclassmen on my squad now, mostly frosh and sophs. I've had my ups. I've had my downs. But the game stays fresh.
I've had blowout wins, blowout losses, last second victory and a heart breaking defeat at the buzzer (to Mississippi State). I never feel like I've got the game in the bag before it starts...every game could be a war, or a 20 point blowout one way or the other.
I'm not landing the #1 recruiting class every year. I'm not even in the top 20 every year. But I get my share of studs and my prestige is improving as I see more "elite" players taking a look at Auburn as a legit Bball power with my recent success.
Name another sports title where you get to see Dave Odom retire at USC and be replaced by a REAL coach from another school. Name another sports title where after Wake Forest fires their head coach, SIX Demon Deacons transfer. That is adding another dimension of immersion to the whole experience for the gamer.
Nothing feels "cheap" in this game. I've tweaked sliders here and there..but again...I've only really had to move things a few clicks here or there...no major flaw holding the game back.
I get so into the game as I sit back and watch the weekly wrap up shows with highlights, bubble team info, etc.
Selection Sunday is still probably the single coolest video game sports addition I've ever seen as far as atmosphere goes ( ARE YOU LISTENING EA DEVELOPERS? ).
I simply cannot express how great it is for a company to CONTINUE to get a franchise "right". College Hoops has been and continues to be THE epitome of sports gaming goodness for me.
I will not be buying March Madness next year. I wil simply be waiting for what I know will be coming...fellow Hoops supporters who will update the rosters and continue to enjoy what I think is the best sports gaming title to date.
This game owns my soul.
Comment