NCAA Final Four 2003
- December 11, 2002 00:00 AM PST
NCAA Final Four 2003 is much improved from the last time we saw the series. Is it enough to compete or too little too late?
NCAA Final Four 2003 will turn heads with its high-powered character models and enjoyable Dynasty mode. However, poor A.I., stiff controls, and rough game flow may make you turn back around again.989 definitely deserves some respect for putting together a game that�s completely different from its NBA sibling. The graphics are much better, the commentary is more consistent, and the overall feature selection is fantastic. The visual details on the players tops even EA�s and Sega�s offerings even though the body proportions are off. The stadiums in Final Four are not as nicely rendered as its competition's, but hey, they have plenty of cheerleaders.
Where the game lets the home crowd down is the actual play experience. Teammates and opponents have A.I. problems like not reacting to each other in logical ways. The game also has an unsettling pace that makes it hard to become one with the game. Plays don�t flow into one another and often sputter, even with the best teams.
The controls also have issues starting with the default button configuration. Perhaps an alternate scheme will work better. Oh wait, there are no other alternatives! After going through a half season of play, it just never feels right that the intentional foul button is one of the front shoulder buttons where it can be pressed accidentally several times a game. The 989 basketball games have always used button layouts different from other games for no other reason than to be different. (As sports gamers have no doubt noticed, Sega and EA have pretty similar button options. Why? Because they go with what works for the best play experience.)
NCAA Final Four 2003 is actually much closer to catching the top dogs in this category than in the NBA arena. With improvements in control and gameplay, 989 has a shot at advancing past the Sweet Sixteen next year.
