NCAA March Madness 07 First Look
We pump up the intensity and regain our composure in our look at the next-gen debut of EA Sports' college hoops series.
When it comes to basketball, what's the difference between a school like Duke and a school like Campbell University (apart from the three national titles since 1985 and five straight conference titles between 1999 and 2003, of course)? We don't mean to pick on the Fighting Camels here, but the main difference between the two schools--at least on the basketball court--is tradition. The two schools might be located in the same state of North Carolina, but when it comes to storied basketball histories, they might as well be on different planets. Tradition and school pride are two of the most dynamic aspects of college basketball, and they're also central tenants in EA Sports' upcoming March Madness 07, which is making its next-gen debut on the Xbox 360.
Start a game between traditional powerhouses Duke and the University of Kentucky, and the atmosphere in the Xbox 360 version of the game is electric. The Kentucky crowd, decked out in their blue and white, rock the Rupp Arena like it's the end of the world, while the Wildcat mascot is dancing up a storm. You almost expect to see Ashley Judd in the crowd cheering on her favorite team. Take a closer look, and you'll see the crowd will actually be in sync with the cheers on the soundtrack, clapping and stomping along with whatever cheer is playing. This dynamic atmosphere is in stark contrast to the small-time programs found in the game. Start a game with the Hartford Hawks, for example, and the atmosphere at Chase Arena will be a decidedly more low-key affair, with only a few fans dotting the stands, no band to speak of, no audio commentary by the March Madness duo of Brad Nessler and Dick Vitale, and barely any energy to speak of.
That said, just because your favorite program starts off in the dumps doesn't mean it has to stay that way. In dynasty mode, you'll be able to improve your school's facilities and school-pride rating as you complete challenges throughout the season. Completing challenges such as winning your home opener or signing high-profile recruits lets you upgrade the facilities of your program. Four main facilities can be built and upgraded: a practice gym, a weight room, a study hall, and an injury clinic. The higher rated a particular facility is, the more of a bonus it will give the players on your team. In addition, a school with better facilities will be better suited for attracting high-profile talent when recruiting.
An offshoot of your program's success will be an increasing level of fan and student support as you go. Start winning games and you'll unlock a pep band, a students' section, and a cheerleading squad to help motivate your players on the floor. It should be noted that the team behind MM 07 has worked to make sure that the location of bands and student sections are as authentic as possible, though with 325 schools included in the game, they can't claim 100 percent accuracy.
Better facilities and a more rabid fan base bring us to the third aspect of the atmosphere in MM 07: intensity and composure. Both teams on the floor have an intensity meter that they can fill up by performing successfully on the floor, or deplete by screwing up. In fact, there's a fun way to earn an intensity boost at the beginning of a game, but we'll get to that in a bit. Intensity will let you access specific interactions that can provide your team with a boost. By pressing the left button on the Xbox 360 controller, you bring up a quick access menu that will let you "interact" with one of four groups: yourself, your teammates, your opponent, or the crowd. You choose one of these four by pressing the directional pad in one of four directions, and you'll then interact with each group accordingly, be it encouraging your teammates, pumping up the crowd, or "interacting with your opponent," which is really just an NCAA-approved way of saying taunting them. Fill your intensity meter all the way up, and you'll be treated to so-called impact moments, which will let you run around the floor, interact with the cheerleaders or the pep band, and even dance around with the mascot. That part might be silly, but the positive impact on your teammates (and the negative effect on your foe) is no laughing matter.
NCAA March Madness 07 Quick Links
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- GameSpot Score6.7fair
Check Prices: $4.97 – 24.99
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Images
- EA Sports
- EA Canada
- Basketball Sim
- Release: Jan 17, 2007
- ESRB: Everyone
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