ESPN College Hoops Impressions....

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 5:24 pm

Leebo33 wrote:Do the passing icons stay on for more than 2 seconds?

Nope-in fact it is 2 seconds exactly(one one thousand two one thousand).

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 5:29 pm

skinsfan wrote:
Leebo33 wrote:Do the passing icons stay on for more than 2 seconds?
Nope-in fact it is 2 seconds exactly(one one thousand two one thousand).

Not that big of a deal, but I don't see why Sega decided to "fix" something that wasn't broken from last year.

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 5:48 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
skinsfan wrote:
Leebo33 wrote:Do the passing icons stay on for more than 2 seconds?
Nope-in fact it is 2 seconds exactly(one one thousand two one thousand).
Not that big of a deal, but I don't see why Sega decided to "fix" something that wasn't broken from last year.

I wish the icons stayed up all the time,offense and defense.I'm getting pretty good at hitting the button constantly,and I use the directional passing some,too.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:34 pm

When I picked up ESPN I attempted to play March Madness as long as my motor skills could handle it. One control scheme with the two buttons for layup/dunk and shoot. Can't be changed. Front end screen was up there in the most annoying menu screens ever. Those who see it will understand.

The game does some things right. I loved the post up play and ball physics around the rim on the rare occasion I hit the right button to shoot. Varried bounces and rolls of the rim, a few times the shot hit underneath the rim. Great animations and there was a fair amount of fouls on the CPU. Heck I even pulled down a few offensive rebounds but using OU that is expected from Bookout. Did not get a chance to mess with the floor general due to limited time on the kiosk. They wanted to get Halo 2 back in to amuse the school kids.

Unfortuantely for the things it does right the game is hard to look at in comparison to ESPN NBA (have yet to ply ESPN CB 2K5 yet). There is a freakish white glow around each player that I can only assume was there to show the light from the gymnasium, if so they failed miserably. Though it did bring back fond memories of the ghosts in the Scooby Doo cartoons. The crowd was up there in MVP esque quality (meaning painful on the eyes and of carboard cutout variety). Both glow and crowd look even worse on the Center Court camera angle with things close up. In the gameplay area it is way to easy to block shots. I had 10+ and the CPU even more in the limited time I had with the game. Looked like Live, played like Live and had that same claustraphobic court to player ratio like Live.

Oh and no slowdown at all. Congrats EA, I guess.

To anyone who can play MM and CB 2K5 at the same time I salute you. My brain is embedded in the fact that "x" is to shoot. Will stick to ESPN and hope one day EA can live up to the "it's in the game" by giving the user that ability to change a controller setting because that sure as h*** is not in the game.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:23 pm

I don't think we'll ever see either one of the publishers allow for changing from a one button, to a two button shoot setup. It's gotta be in the engine somewhere and I can imagine that it would be fairly difficult to modify for either company.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:47 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I don't think we'll ever see either one of the publishers allow for changing from a one button, to a two button shoot setup. It's gotta be in the engine somewhere and I can imagine that it would be fairly difficult to modify for either company.

Actually NBA Live 2004 had the ability to use both setups. Default was 2 button setup and the alternate was one button controls both. They removed it in this years version of Live. It is almost like EA is saying you will play it our way or the highway. Just look at Maddens controls w/o the ability to switch it. I can't stand switching players with "a" yet in Madden 2004 you could and even in NCAA 2005. Crap it would just be nice if EA could be consistent between it's own titles.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:40 pm

Wow. I am very impressed with it so far. It's much better than NBA2K5 IMO.

icvu42 · Post by **icvu42** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:01 pm

Only played a half but was very impressed. I really liked last year's game and this looks to have improved upon it. The CPU moves the ball around really well. It was a good mix of inside shots and outside shots. The new free throw system is very nice too. The only thing that really annoys me about this game is that you can't make substitutions at halftime.

Rick

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:06 pm

Leebo33 wrote:Wow. I am very impressed with it so far. It's much better than NBA2K5 IMO.

Yes Sir.....

I just played a couple of warm ups with My UIC Flames and they were fun.

I believe this is the initial " I love the game"/ honeymoon phase from your earlier post.

10 minute halves are not long enough for me to put up any kind of points...ofcourse I was using illinois -Chicago and the CPU passes the ball around milking clock...

icvu42 · Post by **icvu42** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:20 pm

Leebo33 wrote:10 minute halves are not long enough for me to put up any kind of points...ofcourse I was using illinois -Chicago and the CPU passes the ball around milking clock...

I played 15 minute halves and was down 30-17 at the half .

Out of the box, the game plays really well. Doesn't look like many slider tweaks will be needed.

I couldn't figure out how to set up a press. They can't be set as one of your defensive pre-sets. I did it accidentally on the fly, but can't figure out how I did it.

Rick

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:28 pm

4 words. I love this game! NBA 2K5 does not compare in any shape or form. The AI drills threes, fouls are a plenty when you turn them up, there seems to be more ball movement, and I love the presentation! Impressions to follow tomorrow. Until then, I'm going edit a few teams so I can hear their names being called.

Sweet!!!!

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:42 pm

Minor complaint, but the create-a-school logos suck. You'd think for a college game, they'd have some simple collegiate letters to choose from? Why do I have to be a woodpecker or a blue robot?

The fact that the gameplay seems pretty stellar softens the blow a bit.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:47 pm

sportdan30 wrote:4 words. I love this game! NBA 2K5 does not compare in any shape or form.

It's the same game with some fouls...I'd consider that comparing quite well.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:00 pm

Controls do seem a little tighter in this, compared to NBA, with momentum handled a bit better. I also can't abuse opposing power forwards with backdowns and spin moves like I can in NBA, but that may have to do with the relatively weak teams I've been selecting.

I'm really glad to have both. I feel like I got one great, universal, all-encompassing hoops game for $40.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:24 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:4 words. I love this game! NBA 2K5 does not compare in any shape or form.
It's the same game with some fouls...I'd consider that comparing quite well.

Here's what I think they've improved or is different than NBA:

- more fouls of all types. I ticked the sliders up 10 and that may be too many.

- much more variety in missed shots and rebound variety. I have seen some incredibly poor shots. I like it!

- much better CPU offense IMO. They will step back and take the 3 and they seem to fool me much more than the CPU ever did in NBA.

- lots of loose balls. The press actually works and creates not just steals but also errant passes.

- the free throw system is MUCH better.

Two minor issues so far:
- My only real problem is the same as last year. How do I avoid the turnaround hookshot animation when I am 2 feet from the basket?
- CPU seems to pass up some easy baskets after getting offensive rebounds

Questions:
- How do I stop my team from pressing?
- Does online play seem slow to you guys? Not choppy...but about 25% slower than offline.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:33 pm

'

Just to show an example of the freekish white glow. Maybe it is just me but it's like someone in the art department forgot to cut the cellophane off the players skin.

Sadly the crowd in the background is as good as it gets. Well there are instances where they make the cardboard cutouts bounce up and down.

Now finally I get a chance to play some ESPN.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:36 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:4 words. I love this game! NBA 2K5 does not compare in any shape or form.
It's the same game with some fouls...I'd consider that comparing quite well.

He's a known NBA hater, so I think it's in his union that he has to hate NBA licensed games as well...

A friend of mine picked it up after he got out of work so I played about 45 minutes of it at his house before I had to roll. So far, my feeling is that it is subtly different but not different enough to own both. Same old NBA2X game underneath it all. Well they're $20 so that makes it different.. if they were both $50 I would definitely say they are too similar to own both. Now comparisons aside, it is a pretty solid game of hoops. Also had the problem with the jump hooks in the lane again, though... wtf?

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:41 pm

Well I am getting ready to play it so the question is probably moot but did they tone down the fadaways and leaners? That was my biggest gripe from last year.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 12:03 am

Kazuya wrote:So far, my feeling is that it is subtly different but not different enough to own both. Same old NBA2X game underneath it all. Well they're $20 so that makes it different.. if they were both $50 I would definitely say they are too similar to own both.

Yup, exactly. I wouldn't keep both, I'd stick with NBA, but since they are only 20 bones...I'll keep both, just for the variety of teams and courts you can play on. My only gripe thus far is that SLOW is too SLOW and NORMAL is too FAST. Normal in the NBA game is just right...

I'm sure I'll get used to it though.

bayousooner · Post by **bayousooner** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 12:15 am

I just had the strangest bug happen during an exhibition game. I had subs on auto and it seems to have the same position take all throw ins. When that player had to be substituted, he came in to the play but not at the throw in space and with the ball. I tried to have the player go to the ball and he would not pick it up. All the other players stayed in the same position and I could not change players to have the AI control the player to take the ball. I had to quit the game and restart. I just hope this does not happen on a regular basis.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 12:32 am

They're in full gush mode at OS right now. The overall reaction seems to be overhwhelmingly positive. I have mine sitting here in shrink wrap and will play some tomorrow.

I'm just hoping for fouls..please let a player foul out once in a while.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 12:43 am

Bill_Abner wrote:They're in full gush mode at OS right now. The overall reaction seems to be overhwhelmingly positive. I have mine sitting here in shrink wrap and will play some tomorrow.

I'm just hoping for fouls..please let a player foul out once in a while.

Bill,
I had three players foul out in one game.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 12:48 am

I just played Hipstersudz on Live and we had 27 foul shots between us (10 min halves). One of his players fouled out. I really didn't experience any lag in that game and it was a lot of fun. The game seems pretty balanced.

FloridaGators · Post by **FloridaGators** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:02 am

I am happy and all that people are happy but don't animations like fade away threes and the 2 foot lean back hook shot ruin the game for you?

I'm hesitant to pick it up because I know that will piss me off to no end.

Live's animations are so smooth.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 3:00 am

FloridaGators wrote:Live's animations are so smooth.

You're kidding right? The first time EA makes a game smooth will be the first...especially on the Xbox.

What animations are you talking about anyway. You shoot fadaways when you want to...you shoot hooks when you want to. Learn to play.