- Publisher: EA Sports
- Release Date: Nov 17, 2004
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GameProMaybe the option that tips the scales for you is Madness's all-mascot teams. [Jan 2005, p.106]
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And the gameplay is improved a good deal from last year, giving you more of a realistic feel while maintaining a fast-paced arcadey kind of feel.
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It definitely feels more like a standalone college game now with more of the atmosphere, gameplay and extras that make NCAA hoops so endearing. The sticky dynasty mode is well on its way to becoming one of my favorite features too.
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PSM MagazineThe inexplicable decision to replace last year's classic Dynasty Mode with a less intuitive, less enjoyable version left us heartbroken. [Holiday 2004, p.88]
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Has solid features but graphically falls a little short of the championship.
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Game InformerOff the court, March Madness' Dynasty mode is shallow and doesn't stack up well against "ESPN's" robust Legacy mode. In the end, March Madness performs admirably on the court, but ESPN is the complete package. [Dec 2004, p.168]
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Electronic Gaming MonthlyLives up to the name with its spot-on portrayal - from gameplay to atmosphere - of the intercollegiate hardwood. [Jan 2005, p.128]
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The Dynasty Mode is one of the best you'll see in an EA game, mostly because of the addition of the discipline system, which forces you to walk a fine line between getting the best players and running a clean program.
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We're especially fond of the Homecourt Advantage meter, which fills up during games; the closer the score, the louder the fans get and the harder your controller shakes, making it tougher for the visiting team to hit jumpers and free throws.
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GMR MagazineWith great presentation and a fantastic dynasty mode, this is the premier college hoops game this season. [Jan 2005, p.118]
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2005 is taking its first step to becoming one of the top games on the market by adding all the new features.
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The recruiting systems are addicting and there is enough glitz and glamour to establish a college environment. The gameplay, in both of EA's college games, needs some more work, especially with A.I.
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Even in the wake of ESPN’s fierce competition and 20-dollar price tag, like Madden, March Madness is just a hint better than Sega’s College Hoops title.
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Play MagazineAlthough EA's game lacks the spark and depth that Sega's "College Hoops 2K5" provides, it's still a great game that deserves props for some pretty cool and innovative gameplay additions. [Jan 2005, p.81]
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While it borrows some new features from "NCAA Football 2005" and includes a revamped play-calling system that is actually fun to use, a broken dynasty mode and choppy online play mar an otherwise good basketball game.
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It shares too many of "NBA Live's" problems, but still has great depth and plays a decent game of basketball. One of these years, EA is going to properly fix Live, thus killing two birds with one stone.
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Official U.S. Playstation MagazineOffers classic teams, clothing, and a new college classic mode where you can relive some of college basketball's most famous moments - it's just too bad that there are so few moments like that in the game. [Jan 2005, p.100]
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Small tweaks like the Floor General and Freestyle Air make it a smoother all-around product than March Madness 2004, but the margin is so slight that owners of last year’s game shouldn’t feel compelled to buy this one, too. The bubble is starting to break.
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Cheat Code CentralThere may not be many games that can deliver the college experience like NCAA March Madness but there are plenty of better basketball games out there that deliver a better game.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 11 out of 13
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Mixed: 0 out of 13
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Negative: 2 out of 13
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WinfordL.Mar 1, 2005A fun game, if not completely crappy.
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RyanT.Jan 25, 2005Good game. Love the dynasty mode.
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EricJ.Jan 7, 2005Game is good, but I like NBA live better.