College Hoops 2K8

The biggest change from 2K7 to 2K8 is 2K Share. Getting rosters should have been this easy ever since all our consoles used the Internet out of the box. For some of us, that one feature will be all we need to hear to commit to another version of College Hoops.

Hoops 2K8 is a technically competent basketball simulation outfitted with years' worth of features and created by a development team with an obvious passion for NCAA ball. If you're looking for an NBA simulation, that's absolutely what you should play, but if you are indeed a college fan, or outright fanatic, and you're after the whole NCAA experience — from my faithful Terriers to the regularly raging champions of Duke and Michigan State — Hoops is surely this year's top pick in basketball video games.

College Hoops 2K8 is the thinking man's basketball game. While the NBA titles try to dazzle you with dunks and showboat style, what you get in College Hoops are well-timed cuts to the basket, team defense, and an intelligent AI that actually works the rock around to find the open shot.

College Hoops 2K8 is the thinking man's basketball game. While the NBA titles try to dazzle you with dunks and showboat style, what you get in College Hoops are well-timed cuts to the basket, team defense, and an intelligent AI that actually works the rock around to find the open shot.

Hoops 2K8 is a technically competent basketball simulation outfitted with years' worth of features and created by a development team with an obvious passion for NCAA ball. If you're looking for an NBA simulation, that's absolutely what you should play, but if you are indeed a college fan, or outright fanatic, and you're after the whole NCAA experience — from my faithful Terriers to the regularly raging champions of Duke and Michigan State — Hoops is surely this year's top pick in basketball video games.

Online, quick matches purr, and the Legacy Mode offers some of the deepest recruiting we've ever toyed with. For our basketball dollars, pound for pound College Hoops 2K8 is the sure-fire way to tip off the '08 season.

I went to college at the University of Oregon, not exactly a basketball powerhouse or household name for college hoops, but a school that's quietly made its way to the Elite Eight and sent several players to the NBA (Luke Ridnour and Freddie Jones among them). Some might call The University of Oregon a small school, and by many accounts those claims would be correct. But the atmosphere and passion of small-school hoops simply can't be topped, particularly at The Pit (MacArthur Court), one of the hardest arenas nationwide for visiting teams to play.

I went to college at the University of Oregon, not exactly a basketball powerhouse or household name for college hoops, but a school that's quietly made its way to the Elite Eight and sent several players to the NBA (Luke Ridnour and Freddie Jones among them). Some might call The University of Oregon a small school, and by many accounts those claims would be correct. But the atmosphere and passion of small-school hoops simply can't be topped, particularly at The Pit (MacArthur Court), one of the hardest arenas nationwide for visiting teams to play.

College Hoops 2K8 is a great college basketball game, both for dedicated fans of the game and for casual b-ball lovers. The new additions to the game, even the flawed ones, are a step in the right direction, bringing the game closer and closer to the definitive college basketball experience. Fans of the NCAA could definitely do worse than to give College Hoops 2K8 that old college try.

College Hoops 2K8 is a game where the pluses vastly outweigh the negatives. The 6th man feature, coaching adjustments, play designer all are welcomed additions to a very good title. Is this the best college basketball game of the year? That question won’t be answered until EA Sports March Madness 08 releases in two weeks, but 2K’s title is a very strong contender and it will take a major effort to unseat it from a run at the national title.

College Hoops 2K8 is a great college basketball game, both for dedicated fans of the game and for casual b-ball lovers. The new additions to the game, even the flawed ones, are a step in the right direction, bringing the game closer and closer to the definitive college basketball experience. Fans of the NCAA could definitely do worse than to give College Hoops 2K8 that old college try.

In the end, this title really delivers the college environment and I would recommend dealing with the shortcomings of the game to anybody that really wants that college hoops experience. There's enough to like about this game that makes up for the issues that come along with it.

Overall, College Hoops 2K8 is your best college basketball option for this year. The game looks good, the gameplay is as sharp as ever, and the feel of college basketball is there. If you're a college basketball fan, then this one is easy to recommend.

Overall, College Hoops 2K8 is your best college basketball option for this year. The game looks good, the gameplay is as sharp as ever, and the feel of college basketball is there. If you're a college basketball fan, then this one is easy to recommend.

College Hoops 2K8 is a grand-scale sports game with immense replay value. I couldn’t choose it over NBA 2K8, but love having it alongside that game, and would definitely take it over any other basketball game available. Don’t think that this is only for fans of college basketball – College Hoops 2K8 was developed for anyone who likes great sports games.

In the end, this title really delivers the college environment and I would recommend dealing with the shortcomings of the game to anybody that really wants that college hoops experience. There's enough to like about this game that makes up for the issues that come along with it.

Packed with atmosphere and lots of engaging features, such as the revamped Legacy mode and tutorials, College Hoops 2K8 is one of those games that really delivers on the college experience. The addition of the play designer feature, as well as the coach adjustment feature, expands of the sense of creating and leading your favorite program to glory. However, a large amount of gameplay issues, primarily older issues that haven't been fixed for years, casts a bit of a shadow on what is otherwise an impressive title.

As I said, I am quite satisfied with the improvements that Visual Concepts made to their college game. Although there are still a few issues that could be smoothed out for next year, College Hoops 2K8 would make a great option for NCAA fans feeling the madness before March. Next year I'd like to see fewer gameplay mishaps and a much better presentation.

Although not the strongest outing for the College Hoops franchise, I would say that it still manages to work at a very high level. If you like College basketball and are looking for a new game to wet your whistle with, then I would highly recommend you checking out College Hoops 2K8 - it's an all around solid game of basketball.

The changes to the College Hoops franchise are subtle, yet that's a great thing. The title's incredible depth and proven control formula set up College Hoops 2K8 for another stellar season.

Still, despite the occasional brick, College Hoops 2K8 still manages to pull out an impressive scoring streak. While the game lacks the fast pace and wild action of its NBA brethren, the game is tailor made for the more technically minded sports fans. Strong gameplay and deep customization helps players to make the total college-sports experience a reflection of their individual tastes. And while gamers still have another month to see exactly what EA has up its sleeve with NCAA March Madness 08, for the time being, it looks like 2K Games will be holding on to the college-basketball trophy for yet another year.

Madden curse? So 1998. Try the 2K curse. Cover boy Greg Oden is out for the entire season with a gimped knee this year. (At least he'll have plenty of time to play the b-ball sim he's starring in.) Like last year, 2K8 tries hard to re-create the thrills/chills of a college basketball game, factoring in the fabled "sixth man." The crowds really get into it this year, chanting insults like, "You need practice! You need practice!" when your opponent misses a few shots. Bravo, 2K! Though the banter between Lundquist and Rafferty repeats more than we do after eating baked beans, and some age-old series woes like players who still whiff on layups still vex the game, 2K8 still makes us want to go back to school.

You’ll hear me complain regularly, but that still doesn’t change the fact that College Hoops 2K8 is a stellar hoops experience that continues to build on a strong foundation of collegiate basketball excellence. It’s a real next-generation experience that offers up a satisfying season, from meaningless non-conference matchups all the way through to the Final Four.

EA's March Madness won't drop for a couple of weeks, but it has a tough challenge ahead of it. College Hoops 2K8's new 6th Man Meter and Maximum Passing features both add a lot to the action on the court and the ability to play as the top blue-chippers adds a lot to the sheer amount of time this thing will spin in your 360. It'll be interesting to see how the battle for campus supremacy plays out.

While there isn't a whole lot of fresh content in College Hoops 2K8, what is new almost universally makes this version of the game better than last year's. It plays better, there's more to do, and even the presentation, which was already great, has been improved. If you're not a diehard hoops fan and you're still happy with last year's game you could probably take a pass on 2K8, but if you love college basketball and you want the latest and greatest, College Hoops 2K8 won't let you down.

College Hoops 2K8 has a little ways to go before it can catch up to its big brother, NBA 2K8. The lay-up issue is in desperate need of a fix and the graphics require more effort. However, when it comes to getting into the spirit of college b-ball, designing masterful plays and coaching tomorrow's hopefuls, 2K Sports still knows how to score.

The changes to the College Hoops franchise are subtle, yet that's a great thing. The title's incredible depth and proven control formula set up College Hoops 2K8 for another stellar season.

Madden curse? So 1998. Try the 2K curse. Cover boy Greg Oden is out for the entire season with a gimped knee this year. (At least he'll have plenty of time to play the b-ball sim he's starring in.) Like last year, 2K8 tries hard to re-create the thrills/chills of a college basketball game, factoring in the fabled "sixth man." The crowds really get into it this year, chanting insults like, "You need practice! You need practice!" when your opponent misses a few shots. Bravo, 2K! Though the banter between Lundquist and Rafferty repeats more than we do after eating baked beans, and some age-old series woes like players who still whiff on layups still vex the game, 2K8 still makes us want to go back to school.

As I said, I am quite satisfied with the improvements that Visual Concepts made to their college game. Although there are still a few issues that could be smoothed out for next year, College Hoops 2K8 would make a great option for NCAA fans feeling the madness before March. Next year I'd like to see fewer gameplay mishaps and a much better presentation.

Packed with atmosphere and lots of engaging features, such as the revamped Legacy mode and tutorials, College Hoops 2K8 is one of those games that really delivers on the college experience. The addition of the play designer, as well as the coach adjustment feature, expands of the sense of creating and leading your favorite program to glory. However, a large amount of gameplay issues, primarily older issues that haven't been fixed for years, casts a bit of a shadow on what is otherwise an impressive title. Plus, the frame issues, model seams and other visual hiccups complicates the PS3 version much more so than the 360.

You will find no better college basketball experience than College Hoops 2k8. The gameplay is grounded in a solid foundation that keeps the pace of a real basketball game. Each match is exciting and different with the AI being competent of posing a challenge and online modes that give this entry legs to run. This is one basketball title that there is little difficulty recommending.

While not perfect, College Hoops 2K8 has really raised the bar on virtual college basketball for the season. The new 6th Man Meter and Maximum Passing features both add depth and strategy and the addition of high-school blue-chippers to the Legacy mode adds, well, a whole lot more basketball to the disc. EA Sports' NBA Live series really made up some ground on 2K Sports this year on the pro side of things. We'll have to wait a few more weeks to see if it can make a similar run at 2K's impressive college release.

College Hoops 2K8 has a little ways to go before it can catch up to its big brother, NBA 2K8. The lay-up issue is in desperate need of a fix and the graphics require more effort. However, when it comes to getting into the spirit of college b-ball, designing masterful plays and coaching tomorrow's hopefuls, 2K Sports still knows how to score.

While there isn't a whole lot of fresh content in College Hoops 2K8, what is new almost universally makes this version of the game better than last year's. It plays better, there's more to do, and even the presentation, which was already great, has been improved. If you're not a diehard hoops fan and you're still happy with last year's game you could probably take a pass on 2K8, but if you love college basketball and you want the latest and greatest, College Hoops 2K8 won't let you down.

It's not quite the thunderous dunk that you would hope it would be, but College Hoops 2K8 manages to lay it up and in.

This is one game that, once it drops in price, would definitely be worth the price of admission if you're looking for a decent basketball simulator. As it stands, it's a solid choice for the die-hard fans.

This may be the only game that college fans need to care about, but College Hoops 2K needs to step up its game next year to avoid leaving the court with a towel over its head instead of a basketball net.

This may be the only game that college fans need to care about, but College Hoops 2K needs to step up its game next year to avoid leaving the court with a towel over its head instead of a basketball net.

We say go ahead and cut down the nets and cue up "One Shining Moment"; this is the season's best college basketball game.

We say go ahead and cut down the nets and cue up "One Shining Moment"; this is the season's best college basketball game.

When the buzzer sounds and the cheerleaders head back to their dorms, College Hoops 2K8 has recreated itself in my eyes. While it’s a fun and enjoyable game that I will be playing well beyond March, I think it took a few steps backwards. For all of the additions and enhancements that this season brought, the core gameplay has too many little issues to call it an improvement over last season. While some are little bugs like AI Point Guards catching the ball and running back over the center court line for no logical reason, things like the lack of on the ball defensive effort really hurt my ability to call the game a sim. I can easily and confidently call it a good game, even great, but it’s not the best we’ve seen this season.

Were this the first time that a College Hoops game were released on the PS2, this would be a fine title with some flaws but a good first step. Unfortunately, this is farther along in the system's lifespan, and the gameplay issues that have constantly been with the series are overshadowing the few features that have been added for this year's title. While it's great that the game has been released for those basketball fans looking for a fix, the true innovation within the College Hoops franchise has graduated to a new league of consoles.

The last couple of years have seen 2K Sports' College Hoops series running just about even with EA Sports' March Madness series. Despite the addition of the 6th Man Mater and some improved passing and shooting aids, this year's version of College Hoops seems tired. EA's collegiate game won't drop for a couple more weeks, but at this point, it's still an open race to see who the big man on campus will be this year.

Although generally polished, College Hoops did lock up on me on one occasion, and the user interface (menu navigation) is absolutely horrible. You wouldn't believe how difficult it was for my friend Steve and I to set up a two-player cooperative tournament. For those who opt for the 360 edition of College Hoops 2K8, you should know that the animation is slightly smoother but the audio has issues. Specifically, it's hard to hear the commentators, and you can't turn down that annoying PA guy. But no matter what system you own, College Hoops 2K8 is probably the best choice for b-ball fans this season.