MM's debut on the PS3 looks good at first, but ends up being a shot off the back-rim.
The reality has finally hit home, March Madness is far behind the College Hoops series.
There are some positives to this game. First, this year's new addition, dynamic low-post controls, works very well. Big men battle inside to gain good position. Once guards feed them the ball, you have an arsenal of moves to choose from both offensively and defensively. This makes low-post play more fun in March Madness than in College Hoops.
Second, EA's lock-down stick requires a little more skill, and is overall much more satisfying than 2K's defensive controls.
Now comes the bad news (keep in mind I have only played the PS3 version), the game looks very bad in motion. Animations are choppy, graphics are jagged and the framrate drops quite a bit (not good considering it's only 30 fps to begin with), AI is suspect, passing is unpredictable and the ball-physics are just a little bit off. Players tend to look more robotic and clothing more stiff than in CH. Jump shooting is very hit-or-miss and you'll be frustrated at your lack of control over whether or not your shots go in. Not to mention the fact that every player shoots the same looking jump-shot. In the end, this is not a big deal, but for those who really watch basketball, you know that each player's shot is unique and personal. This gives MM an arcade look to its players, while CH gives jump-shots that little personal touch that makes its players feel more "real."
The last little aspect that I want to mention is the fact that there are attribute point limitations on players. In years past, if you disagreed with player ratings, you could just go in them as you saw fit. But now, if you're star player was given a 74 OVR, you can't make him any better than a 74. This happened to me, I'm an Oklahoma State fan and our best player, by far, is a true freshman, Jame Anderson (SG #23). I look up O-State's roster and see that Anderson is 74 OVR and the 3rd or 4th best player on the team. Not that I was going to make him 99 OVR, but I was at least going to make him the best player on the team (around 80-82 OVR). But I can't do it. Sure I can change the ratings around, but if I want to make him a good shooter, I have to make him worse at something else. For die hard fans that spend the year tinkering with their favorite team's ratings based on how they're playing during the year, don't get MM. You're stuck with whatever rating EA has given your players. Again, another aspect that isn't a huge problem, but another cause for aggravation.
Unfortunately, it's another disappointing year for MM. There is still hope for the franchise. Low-post play is fun, commentary is good and I've heard the game is much smoother on the 360. I would suggest that you at least rent the game. I'm sure there are a number of people out there who will prefer MM over CH. But as for me, and I'm sure the majority of "die-hard" college basketball fans, College Hoops is the best choice. EA has closed the gap, but still has a ways to go to catch 2K.