pavona21's Full Review: NCAA Football 2002 for PlayStation 2
Background With A Ranting Touch
Tonight I set out to write another review on Epinions. As usual, I had everything ready. Some notes I jotted down, the instruction booklet, the cd case, and a Mountain Dew. These things basically add up to everything you need to write a review on Ncaa Football 2002 and more. I click the mouse onto the search menu, type in Ncaa 2002 quickly, spin right around the other words on the page, and click "write a review" before the buzzer sounds. Yes, Touchdown! (Starting a little too early) But, much to my dismay, the play was called back. “Four-letter word, Epinions is down for updating, four-letter word, four-letter word.” I could hardly believe this was happening. For the first time in days, (Well hours) I was ready to write again. How dare they put the site down at the moment that I want to write. I get myself all ready, and they shut the operation down, this is an outrage! (Whine, complain, cry) Now even if they did, for some reason, want to "renovate" the site at 9et, that is their business. While writing about it now, I'm sitting in the computer chair laughing at myself, and it might not stop until well after I'm done here. I think it’s good-natured to laugh at your self after over reacting. I laugh at everyone else when they do it, why not do the same for myself? In any event, the site is back in gear, and I'm still ready to write. So while it may be slightly belated, sit back, get refreshments, and enjoy the read to the best of your ability.
Game Modes: A Big Part Of Gameplay
I will warn you ahead of time. When writing about sports games, I tend to spend A LOT of time focusing on the franchise, dynasty, and career type modes. Just to humor all of you, I will mention the others, but if you love franchise, then don't click your back button soon, because you are in the right place. For starters, Ncaa 2002 is running off of the Madden 2001 engine. (Or very similar) So, in this game, you have a lot of the same game modes that you would expect, and have seen, in Madden. You have the basics like exhibition and season modes. Along with those there is also a handy "Practice" mode just to get you familiar with the game. But of course, what makes this game great, fun, and very deep is the "Dynasty" mode. And I will spend the entire next section discussing it.
Dynasty: What Makes A Sports Game A Good Game
Dynasty, Franchise, or Career, whichever you prefer, is really what makes a sports game a decent game. This day and age, you need one of these modes to be successful in the sports game industry. This game has one of these modes, and a very good one at that. As the player, you, set out to find a job. After weighing several positions you choose to take the head coaching position at Duke. Now, remember this is football, and we're talking about Duke here. Duke, the team that hasn't won in over 2 years, that is the Duke that I am talking about. This is the great thing about this mode. You can take a pathetic, embarrassing, terrible, and outright hopeless program like duke and try to make them the next great dynasty of college football. (I didn't mean to offend any duke fans out there, you guys have basketball, right?) After taking the position, you decide to simulate game after game in the first year. Loss, loss, loss, loss, win; Wait that was Miami, that's another loss. After another winless season at Duke, where is your program to turn? Well, to the off season of course.
Off Season: Booya Grandma, Booya!
After watching your seniors graduate, and crying at all the open houses, you get to look at your official graduating list. Most of which are seniors, although sometimes a greedy sophomore or junior will decide to test their luck in the Nfl draft. But remember you're duke, you don't have primetime players like that..YET! Now it's time for recruiting. Sadly, where Duke is a recruiting machine, that always works properly, and gets the job done in basketball, you might call Duke the Epinions of football. (Bad joke, I know, but I'm loving it!) In this game you get a certain amount of recruiting points based on your season performance. If you're a national powerhouse like Florida, you will get a lot of recruiting points, which, in turn, give you many head coach and assistant coach visits. But when you're duke, you don't get so many points, or so many visits, so you use them wisely. At any break in the 5-week mega-recruiting period, you have a bunch of things that will help you to better navigate your experience. You can check on all kinds of stats while recruiting. The national top 100, your states top prospects, and even the prospects that are currently interested in your team. (Spider webs on the screen, you are Duke) When picking recruits, things get even better. Check on any player’s height, weight, 40 time, bench press, caliber, and interest level in your school. I basically spent all my visits on a blue chip quarterback out of N. Carolina. He was a big quarterback, and fast. He was a blue chipper, and showed mild interest in the school. But best of all, he signed! Rejoice, Duke's savior Cometh. Recruiting big time players means big time wins.
Another Season At Duke
With our big time QB at Duke now, the team could finally get it going. Between the support of him, a couple other recruits, and some walkons, Duke did eventually win a game. That next season, we went 2-9, it was amazing. After a decent recruiting spell that off-season, we came back the next year roaring like blue devils do. We went 5-6! Progression, woooooowhoooooooo! But it all ended on a somber note. After that season, I was fired as head coach of duke. No, I didn't lie on my resume, or abuse my players, but I just couldn't win enough. The Athletic director expected 2 of 3 winning seasons and a bowl game victory in 3 years. Are you nuts? This is duke, were the floor mats of college football! I take my 3 years, and progress the program right along to mediocrity, and then get fired. That's the problem with this dynasty mode, and the only one I can think of. The expectations are not always realistic. If I was the Florida coach, than all that would be easy, but not at Duke. Surprisingly enough, this is all based a true story. I was the Duke head coach for three years. I was fired, and I did go 0-10, 2-9, and 5-6. After saying good riddance to Duke, I went over to Michigan, where I am still flourishing, what an inspirational story huh?
Controls: Madden 2001 All Over Again
The control set up in this game is very similar to Madden 2001, almost too similar. It's all essentially the same here. You Have your X button to snap the ball and bring up the passing screens, your triangle, square, and circle buttons for the receivers. You have your R and L buttons for juking and pitching, and your X button again for speed burst. No different than Madden 2001, at all. I personally enjoyed the controls of Madden 2001. They were quick, sensitive, and respondent. They also felt pretty darn good. As for play calling, expect more Madden. The plays that you know and love in Madden are back in the college ranks. Of course, you'll get more option plays here, but in in the end, the plays that are good in madden, are good here as well. Again, the analog works here, and the rumble feature always feels the best in football. If you like the Madden controls, you'll like these just as well. If you didn't like the Madden controls, than what football games do you like?
Graphics: All Right, Upgrades
Overall, expect the same graphics in this game as in Madden 2001. Madden, Madden, Madden. All I ever talk about is Madden. I'm tired of it, so I'll go into some detail here. The graphics in this game are phenomenal. First off, the stadiums are pretty amazing. Seeing Spartan stadium, which I have been in, and comparing it to real life, I noticed that they were very similar. Kudos to EA for going around the nation, and looking at all of the stadiums. The players themselves are very well detailed as well. Unlike in other college games, (Cough: Gamebreaker) the players don't look like Cattle. They have all used slim fast, and bulked themselves down a bit, making them look like people rather than animals. The players do still have the muscle mass that we all wish we had though, and it is visible. As for face animations, they players look a lot more human. Like in Madden, (here we go again) all the players look mean, and so serious. Their faces never seem to change, and their demeanor is just stagnant. That is not the case here. The game has many new added face animations ranging from slimes, to grins, to frowns. I was pleasantly surprised that players actually looked like people this time around. The in game animations are great as well. The players actually catch the ball with 2 hands this time, instead of always making amazing one-handed grabs. As for the tackling, all you can say is Ouch! Combine all these things with great looking uniforms, and detailed stadium, and you have a well polished set of visuals. Graphically, this game is nicest looking football game on the market; your eyes will enjoy this one. Just in case anyone cares, I have just stopped chuckling at my breakdown earlier tonight.
Sound: I Don't Like It
When can a football game learn to get this part right. The commentary in the game is very dull. Even though it features some of my favorite ESPN personalities, (Nessler, Corso, Herbstreit) it still finds a way to suck. None of the commentators show a lot of excitement in the game. While they do beat Madden big time, they still don't make my ears feel good. Also it's amazing how some of the smartest minds in college football can say some of the dumbest things ever. While passing for over 400 yards with my famed blue chip recruit at duke, Corso will say that he should be considered for the Heisman. When my backup QB comes in the game, and completes a 25-yard pass, Corso uses the same remark. But it's not all bad. The sound effects are brilliant. I always enjoy the booms and bang of football hitting on video games. The crowd sounds pretty right for the most part as well. They get up when the home team scores a touchdown, and get down when the home team throws an interception. Overall, I have yet to find a sports game with good cementation. I will continue to strive to find one though in the future.
Any Last Words?
Just to quickly mention something that I didn't before, the AI in this game is a step up. The computer actually reacts to your play calling. If you run all the time, the computer's defense will shift. If you run the same play, you will be stopped. This actually puts you into the chess match that is play calling, and it's a fun place to be. Also, I really didn't mean to bash the blue devils as much I did. While I had a lot of fun doing so, I may have crossed the line. (More than once) Even though Dukes football team is poor, they do have a second to none basketball program, so it all evens out. Overall, with the Dynasty mode this game is a huge thriller. If you only get 100 hours out of it, then your getting the low end of it's potential playing time. This is my favorite college football game to date, (Where's the competition) and I know that any avid sports fan would enjoy it.
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