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How Metascores Are Calculated
43
America's Army: True Soldiers
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
NCAA March Madness 08 has created a strategic new gameplay experience called Dynamic Post Play that enables you to take complete control over running your offense through the post, and defending your opponent in the paint. Experience the intensity of a strategic match-up on each possession, outwit your opponent by creating a favorable mismatch, and then make a move that scores the bucket to lift your team and your fans to victory. For the first time, you have complete control over dozens of new offensive post moves, including finesse ones like an up-and-under, drop step, hook spin, jump hook, and pump fake, and the ability to combine moves together. Animations can be interrupted at any time to transition into a new move, enabling you to read and respond to the defense, just like real life. Take command of the post on defense with strategic positioning to dominate down low -- guard your opponent man-to-man, front him to deny the entry pass or read the offense and go for the steal. NCAA March Madness 08 finally makes dream match-ups a reality, enabling you to replay classic games in college basketball history. Featuring more than 70 classic teams, take the court as the 1972 UCLA Bruins against any of the great North Carolina Tar Heels teams of the 1980s, the Duke Blue Devils of the 1990s or the two-time defending national champion University of Florida Gators. In addition, the ultimate teams for dozens of Division I programs have been created enabling you to go head-to-head to determine the best team in the history of college basketball. [Electronic Arts]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 79
Team Xbox
In NCAA 08 March Madness’s case, an intricate post-play mechanism, online leagues and the best classic collegiate hoop teams of all time make it twisty enough for us to recommend it as a worthy upgrade to last year’s offering.
 79
GameTrailers
There’s enough new in here to warrant a look at the game even if you played the last one to death. It won’t blow your socks off, but it will any aspiring collegiate hours upon hours of enjoyment.
78
Planet Xbox 360
A run of the mill sports title.
75
Armchair Empire
NCAA March Madness 08 definitely gives it the old college try and is still a solid college basketball game overall, but just the act of trying to be great isn’t good enough, particularly when there’s not much of an upgrade from its predecessor in the franchise.
75
Gaming Age
NCAA March Madness 08 has a few flaws such as some transitions of animations, easy fast break opportunities, and a few game play quirks, but nothing will distract any college fan from getting excited about the team they love.
75
GameZone
What was once a very good franchise is starting to become a generic rehash with a few tweaks thrown in each year to sate the need to say something new was added. Yes, it is still entertaining, but it’s not the game one would have hoped it would be.
74
Kombo
This is a classic example of graphics look better but the gameplay isn't as compelling as the competition.
74
IGN
A solid basketball title and is definitely a step above what we saw from Live 08. The fluidity of the game has been ironed out a bit and even though the basketball itself doesn’t behave as well as we’d like, the March Madness franchise is definitely making strides (albeit short strides) in the right direction.
73
Game Informer
Basketball fans who want more arcade-like action than the sim-heavy "College Hoops 2K8" may find some fun in March Madness, but serious hoops fans should stick with 2K.
73
Game Over Online
Maybe the only real progress that EA Canada has made this year is the college basketball atmosphere. However it doesn’t make up for the other overlooks.
70
GameDaily
The ball physics are sometimes off (especially during rebounding), the animations are repetitive and there's not enough new content. Leave this one on the bench.
70
The New York Times
The game feels a little off. For example, at one point I was fouled six or seven times in about 30 seconds as I tried to pass a ball in from the sidelines. Even odder are the game’s television announcers, who range from psychic to clueless.
70
Official Xbox Magazine
The online quickplay is pretty slick and there's even(gulp)online leagues, which will give this baller more legs than the normal yearly update that NCAA hoops games often are. [Jan 2008, p.67]
70
DarkStation
I would love to say that I recommend everyone to pick up this game, but if you already own NCAA March Madness 2007 the need for an upgrade probably isn't necessary for this game.
67
Electronic Gaming Monthly
What a letdown! I had high hopes for March Madness this year, but this one's all sizzle and very little steak. [Jan 2008, p.90]
65
GamerNode
March Madness 08 tries to woo new players with new low-post play and classic rosters, but it doesn't quite work. Maybe next year we'll see a real revamp?
65
GameSpot
March Madness 08 has some new moves, but it's still not ready for the big dance.
64
Cheat Code Central
Overall, March Madness 08 is a pretty good basketball game. The problem is that it isn't the best basketball game available by far. It can probably easily claim second best, but College Hoops is a much better basketball experience.
60
1UP
March Madness is decent, no question, but it dashes our high hopes. This one has a long way to go to feel like real college basketball on the court, and not just off of it. Even with all its glitter, it's dim when compared to the shiny "College Hoops 2K8."
50
Games Radar
March Madness 08 is the kind of game you like less the more you play it - and we didn't like it all that much from the beginning. It's not even in the same league as College Hoops 2K8, even though that title isn't perfect. Instead of stepping up like its professional counterpart did this season, March Madness took a giant step backwards.
50
GameTap
It's almost like congratulating Adonal Foyle for working on a new move in the offseason while completely ignoring the fact that the rest of his game is downright awkward.
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