Fox Sports College Hoops '99

by Fox Interactive

Product Details

• ASIN: B00002STHA
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.9 x 0.7 inches ; 5 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,759 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

GameSpot Review

"Sports games. Fox attitude." That's the slogan slapped on the box of Fox Sports College Hoops '99, the first NCAA basketball game for the Nintendo 64. If that's the case, this game needs an attitude adjustment - no thanks to choppy, sloppy animation and excruciating gameplay slowdown.

On paper, Fox Interactive has the trappings of a winner. Offering more than 120 college teams, a full slate of real-life NCAA tournaments, and a slick presentation style lifted straight from a Fox Sports broadcast, this game has the building blocks necessary to deliver a solid simulation experience. Purists will especially appreciate the inclusion of tournaments above and beyond the Final Four, from conference tourneys to early-season events such as the Windy City Shootout. The only major event missing is the NIT, an understandable omission because your goal is to get to the Final Four anyway.

Unfortunately, building blocks don't mean squat when the base they're on is shoddy, and such is the case with this game. The gameplay is plagued with slowdown problems. The worst example is when a player takes a shot. In many cases, the game speed slows as the ball travels to the basket. Although this "effect" might add dramatic tension to the shot, it's hardly realistic, and worse yet, it creates this jerky stop-and-go tempo that wrecks the game's flow. It's frankly odd, since the rest of the game plays at a respectable speed. As far as AI goes, it seems adequate. The computer is smart enough to understand basic in-game strategies, such as pressing and popping threes when down late in the second half or rotating on defense to cover an open man. However, no matter how hard Fox may try by adding coaching schemes and such, it doesn't play very convincingly as a college hoops sim. Many offensive plays wind up as one-on-one affairs, since many plays don't encourage cuts and off-the-ball screens. There's mostly a lot of standing around, which doesn't provide much incentive to pass. Another minor gripe: On top-of-the-key screens, players are setting them way too high, as if they were using the NBA stripe as a measure. Finally, for some odd reason there's apparently no way - at least in the single-player mode - to view the NCAA Tournament brackets. One of the great joys of following the NCAA Tournament is to see who upsets whom to advance. Plus, a bracket view would help you scout upcoming opponents.

The game's graphics only add to these problems. Although the crowd and stadium graphics are fairly solid, the sluggish animation results in some odd occurrences. There were instances of players dribbling through defenders. There were instances of defenders "warping" from the baseline to block a dunk. There were instances when a dunk animation would kick in, and the game control would seem to slow as the dunker "teleported" from the floor to the basket - and still jam even if he wasn't lined up properly. These unexplained phenomena might make sense for the X-Files basketball video game (with Fox, who knows?), but they have no place in a college hoops sim.

Despite the graphics and gameplay snafus, the control is actually pretty responsive. In addition, the simple controls and easy non-menu, on-the-fly play calling are designed well enough for you to get into the game quickly.

The sound effects are rather sparse. Those spoiled by EA Sports' full treatment will be very disappointed here, since there is no in-game commentary - just a stadium announcer who calls fouls and scores. The game offers some unique sound innovations, such as aural clues when players need help on defense or are running a play on offense. There's also a "trash talk" button that's fine for two-player ribbing, but the unoriginal phrases get tired quickly.

Overall, Fox Sports College Hoops '99 comes off more as an incomplete work in progress than a solid debut title. It has major gameplay and graphics problems to address before it can even consider competing with the big boys in basketball video games. --Nelson Taruc
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc.

Product Description

NBA Live 2002 is the full on-court NBA experience. Hear what the players are talking about and see what's going on from their eyes. Get inside for more lay-ups and dunks along with more control in the low post. Facial animation and lip synching are heavily focused during transition sequences and auto replays. See Allen Iverson with his tattoos and corn rows arguing a referee's call or yelling as he throws down a big time dunk and see his reaction as he celebrates afterwards. See--and play--NBA Live 2002!

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Might be old but COOL!, February 16, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Fox Sports College Hoops '99 (Video Game)

The game play is a little brisk but you can score in places behind the 3-point line. Great! You have 3 levels of play freshman,senior,and all american. So if you have an N64 and you love college hoops this is a MUST for you!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This game is cool, October 15, 2000

By 

Trevor (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fox Sports College Hoops '99 (Video Game)

This game is cool, but it can be tricky sometimes.the game play is good and the graphics are ok.it is really fun but sometimes it gets hard like when people from the other team suround you and you cant move.other than that this game is awsome. YOU HAVE TO GET IT!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok, July 6, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Fox Sports College Hoops '99 (Video Game)

Game play is very slow.Graphics arent very good either.The best thing about this game is the crowds.If you want a good basketball game get NBA Live 2000.