Buing advice needed--College Hoops or Links?

Andy76 · Post by **Andy76** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:53 am

Need some buying advice here. I’m going to unload March Madness and TW 2004 (xbox versions). I want to pick up either Links or ESPN College Hoops to tide me over until baseball season starts. I really want a sports game for Xbox live. I know ID 2004 is a good game, but I’ve got no virtually no interest in the NBA. Opinions? Thanks for your help.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 12:19 pm

Andy:
 
 I haven´t played College Hoops, so no comment there.
 
 But I own Links, and it slowly but surely has become my favorite non-racing sports game of 2003-early 2004. Strong gameplay, a lot of variety in gameplay modes, fun Xbox Live play, XSN tournaments (although they´re screwed up now) and lovely graphics add up to one package that has a lot of legs. I can´t see myself tiring of Links any time soon.
 
 And I don´t golf in real life, either.
 
 Good luck with your choice.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 13-02-2004 08:19 ]

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:27 pm

For whatever reason, initially there didn´t seem to be a lot of people online playing College Hoops. I currently don´t have XBl anymore, but I remember having to wait a long time for someone to come online to play. That said, it was absolutely the most exciting and tense moments of my brief XBL life.
 
 The only way to rationalize why there aren´t as many people playing CH online is because of the immense depth the single player experience entails. It´s by far my best sports gaming experience in several years. The shear depth of legacy is unreal. And while there are a couple minor gameplay issues, it´s still has me excited to play a game each evening. I too am not a fan of the NBA at all....I could care less if ID plays a better game....it´s boring boring boring. CH has big time atmosphere and it´s a team oriented game.
 
 Whichever choice you make, they´re both solid games.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:34 pm

If you buy Links make sure you buy from a store with a price match guarantee as there are rumors XSN games are going to be reduced to $29.99 in March. Also, if you buy College Hoops make sure not to pay more than $29.99 as the price has been reduced at EB and GS.
 
 I bought CH when it first came out and was initially impressed and then after a few weeks it got boring so I sold it. However, I picked up the PS2 version of CH recently after the price cuts and have really enjoyed the game using Jistic´s sliders posted at OS.
 
 Links is excellent on XBL. I´ve had great fun with some "foursomes" and team play. It´s a fun XBL to just relax and bs.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:40 pm

Leebo,
 
 Check out El Prez´s sliders if you get a chance. I started using Jistic´s for my first handful of games but I recently switched and I get a much better game from the AI. Not only is it a lot more challenging, but the AI shoots the 3 ball more frequently than they did with Jistic´s sliders. My FG % has gone down which is good too....a lot more realistic. If I remember correctly, you can find El Prez´s sliders on page 25 of the "Sliders" on OS.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 3:49 pm

I´m no fan of EA lately, but if you´ve already played March Madness, then you´ve already played the best College B-Ball game this year. You´ll find ESPN to be stiff, lifeless, and ultimately boring in comparison. I bought CH, played it for a few weeks, and then traded it in for MM, and I´m happy I did.
 
 That being said, Links is a SUPERB game and highly recommended as the better of the games you mention. It´s addictive offline, and great fun online. Get it.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 4:16 pm

I have them both. College Hoops didn´t reach out and grab me right away, but I´ve slowly come around to liking it a good bit. I play it exclusively offline, and I´ve never been able to find a player in my class (low skill) online to play against. I don´t miss it though... I´m enjoying my season mode immensely! I don´t play dynasty (yet), but I may grow into it. Problem is my basketball jones ends when the Final Four is done.
 
 Sport73 has a point on CH´s graphics, they are pretty lacking XBox wise, but they´re passable, IMO. I haven´t played MM 2004 so he may be right, it may surpass CH in that vein. I think the commentary and color in CH is pretty doggone good and at times, surprisingly deep, which helps make up for the lacking graphics.
 
 Links 2004 is a long term game. I play it regularly, mostly in career mode (which I find pretty compelling, although I know others don´t). I occasionally stumble into an online game that I really get into. The fast play mode was interesting at first, but now I find it mostly so impersonal that it almost feels like I´m playing against a score rather than a player.
 
 I couldn´t pick one right now that I could do without. I bought College Hoop used at EB for $26.99, and it´s new for $29.95. I´d say buy College Hoops now and finish out the season. There´s a strong rumor that by the end of February, Links 2004 is going to be reduced to $29.95 (along with all the other XSN games). I´m holding off on buying ID 2004 for that reason until then. I´ve already played the demo to death and know that I like it. I would have bought it by now had it not been for College Hoops, and my strong preference for college over pro basketball.
 [ This message was edited by: J_Cauthen on 13-02-2004 12:22 ]

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 5:20 pm

i have a copy of links if your interested

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 7:15 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2004-02-13 11:49, Sport73 wrote:
 I´m no fan of EA lately, but if you´ve already played March Madness, then you´ve already played the best College B-Ball game this year. You´ll find ESPN to be stiff, lifeless, and ultimately boring in comparison. I bought CH, played it for a few weeks, and then traded it in for MM, and I´m happy I did.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 A few weeks ago I would have totally agreed with this statement, however, since I gave it another shot with Jistic´s sliders I´ve enjoyed the game a ton more. I´m seeing a lot more errant passes, loose balls, fouls and free throw attempts, more three point attempts, etc. I cringe when the CPU uses 4 time outs in a row during the first 5 minutes of the second half, but I am generally enjoying the game now.
 
 That said, if I could only pick one game b/w the two I would buy Links 2004.
 
 Thanks for the sliders tip Sportdan. I will try them this weekend.

Andy76 · Post by **Andy76** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 7:37 pm

Thanks for all your input. I decided to go with Links for the Live play. Sorry, Cincy, I picked up a copy after work.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 9:41 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2004-02-13 15:15, Leebo33 wrote:
 A few weeks ago I would have totally agreed with this statement, however, since I gave it another shot with Jistic´s sliders I´ve enjoyed the game a ton more.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Leebo,
 
 I gotta try College Hoops with some slider action. I´m still playing pretty much stock. Where does one find Jistic´s sliders?
 
 Thanks!

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:42 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2004-02-13 17:41, J_Cauthen wrote:

On 2004-02-13 15:15, Leebo33 wrote:
 A few weeks ago I would have totally agreed with this statement, however, since I gave it another shot with Jistic´s sliders I´ve enjoyed the game a ton more.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Leebo,
 
 I gotta try College Hoops with some slider action. I´m still playing pretty much stock. Where does one find Jistic´s sliders?
 
 Thanks!

John:
 
 I´m not a big fan of sliders, but I think they really help in CH. I don´t know about you, but on the default settings I hardly get any foul shots and the CPU really doesn´t take any three pointers. These sliders help me at least.
 
 There is a slider thread in the OS forum for College Hoops. I would try "El Prez´s" sliders based on Dan´s recommendation above, but if they don´t work try Jistic´s.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:23 am

Thanks Leebo, I´ll give El Prez´s sliders a try once my son gets his fill of Spongebob and The Fight for Bikini Bottom, or whatever the heck the name of that game is called!