NCAA Basetball 09 Demo Available, Impressions Here

[ehh]

And yeah, as mentioned above the classic teams are still a disaster. No Jimmy Black, Sam Perkins or Greg Kelser. Brutal.

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by ehh

Different strokes for different folks. You didn't make one comment on the gameplay in your post - good, bad or indifferent. Visually the game isn't going to be pleasing to some but I think the gameplay is going to pretty darn good. Unfortunately most people probably will A) not have a positive first impression in terms of visuals and won't give the gameplay a chance or B) won't take the time to learn the controls and get used to a new basketball game. Oh well, it'll be their loss.

agreed. Look, I admit its not the best looking game as far as player models out there, but it does a lot of good on the court.

Great graphics don't equal outstanding gameplay - see Madden/NCAA

Great gameplay doesn't equal outstanding visuals - see All Pro Football

[Eski33]

Quote: Originally Posted by intellisect

The bad news: The NBA Live 08 engine is still unusable garbage. Controls are squishy and sluggish. Animations are wild, lengthy, and weird. Player models are just not right. The good news: NCAA Basketball 10 will probably be good because the NBA Live 09 engine is actually a passable basketball platform. Oh well...

The Live 09 engine is in this game, not Live 08

[dave374]

Quote: Originally Posted by koshi

Man, reading some of the impressions here makes me wonder if I even played the same demo. The game's animations are severely lacking. It looks to be about 30-40% complete, resulting in some very awkward looking plays just about every time down the court. No game it seems will ever look totally complete, because the sheer number of animations required... But man, that was just about the worst I've seen in a sports game in recent memory. If you combine that with the freakish looking player models... Yikes! The PS3 and 360 should not have to be subjected to this. Seems like most people interested in this game are just more interested in getting a new game. And the fatty consumer rides on, much to the chagrin of the horse he rides.

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean others shouldn't.

I'm not fond of fat chicks, but if someone likes a little more lovin', all the power to him.

[PVarck31]

Quote: Originally Posted by ehh

Different strokes for different folks. You didn't make one comment on the gameplay in your post - good, bad or indifferent. Visually the game isn't going to be pleasing to some but I think the gameplay is going to pretty darn good. Unfortunately most people probably will A) not have a positive first impression in terms of visuals and won't give the gameplay a chance or B) won't take the time to learn the controls and get used to a new basketball game. Oh well, it'll be their loss.

I really think it comes down to the fact that some prefer EA's style of basketball and other prefer 2K's.

I also think that for the guys who loved choops like it was their child, will never love or even like an EA basketball game.

For me, its a day one purchase.

[ehh]

Quote: Originally Posted by pjv31

I also think that for the guys who loved choops like it was their child, will never love or even like an EA basketball game. For me, its a day one purchase.

True. Blind fanboyism is sad. I loved 2K8 has much as anyone but I'm not dumb enough to believe it didn't have it's share of flaws and weak points.

If you told me last January when we found out CHoops was dead that March Madness 08's sequel would be as good as this demo is I wouldn't have believed you in a hundred years. I will definitely be reserving this next week.

[Pared]

Quote: Originally Posted by koshi

Man, reading some of the impressions here makes me wonder if I even played the same demo. The game's animations are severely lacking. It looks to be about 30-40% complete, resulting in some very awkward looking plays just about every time down the court. No game it seems will ever look totally complete, because the sheer number of animations required... But man, that was just about the worst I've seen in a sports game in recent memory. If you combine that with the freakish looking player models... Yikes! The PS3 and 360 should not have to be subjected to this. Seems like most people interested in this game are just more interested in getting a new game. And the fatty consumer rides on, much to the chagrin of the horse he rides.

That's a bit much but I know what you are saying. Given that... can you not be impressed by the resolution of the courts and how well they look?

EA has always had an issue with the games in motion but they are much better than they used to be.

It still annoys me how far FIFA has come and then you see this. But I will agree that people's "itch for something new" outweighs their ability to look at the game objectively. I wouldn't think you're bias from what I've read on your take of PYS but in that same vain, you can't judge this game from how it looks and animates alone. There are some good gameplay aspects that have improved immensely from previous games.

There are +'s in some areas and -'s in others. Most will ignore the -'s because the game engine feels new to them, much like Inside Drive, 2k6, and so forth.

Overall though, the game is far from trash as some will make it out to be. But it's frustrating that it's not there yet.

[PaulZweber]

I for one was not the least bit impressed with anything other than the Tempo Feature. The game played slow, it looked dark, the players moved mechanically, the shot mechanics look unrealistic, players can stop on a dime to pull up(no momentum), players get forced into an animation that makes no sense in relation to the game being played, the coach in the corner was not helpful...This game reminds me of a late PS/ early PS2 game. I could see myself enjoying this IF the dynasty mode was deeper or we had better online options. The main gripe I have is with human passing vs cpu passing. When I make a pass, it might be going anywhere, it might be going nowhere. The button response just wasn't where it needs to be to make tight touch passes. My passes resulted in too many steals by the defense. When I am on defense, it is the opposite, I can be in the passing lane and have the ball go right through me, and not get a hand on it. The passing/stealing just didn't seem balanced correctly.

That being said, the Tempo was cool and something that can be built on. The game is not worthless, broken, or unplayable. The player spacing was something I liked, but it seemed like the players were actually smaller. I might be just imagining that. The fast breaks worked better than average, but passing made this more difficult than it needs to be.

This game will be worth a rental for me, I don't see a purchase of this game happening.

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

That's a bit much but I know what you are saying. Given that... can you not be impressed by the resolution of the courts and how well they look? EA has always had an issue with the games in motion but they are much better than they used to be. It still annoys me how far FIFA has come and then you see this. But I will agree that people's "itch for something new" outweighs their ability to look at the game objectively. I wouldn't think you're bias from what I've read on your take of PYS but in that same vain, you can't judge this game from how it looks and animates alone. There are some good gameplay aspects that have improved immensely from previous games. There are +'s in some areas and -'s in others. Most will ignore the -'s because the game engine feels new to them, much like Inside Drive, 2k6, and so forth. Overall though, the game is far from trash as some will make it out to be. But it's frustrating that it's not there yet.