AMN's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.

What the Game's About
NCAA College Hoops 2k8 brings March Madness sooner than expected. Pick one of your favorite college teams and climb your way to the top. There are a slew of new modes this year that give this game a different flavor than some of the other basketball titles you may have played this year.

What's Hot
It is hard to capture the feeling of a booze fueled college crowd but 2k8 comes really close. The inclusion of the 6th man advantage is a unique way of having outside forces effect the way your twenty-something team performs. It sounds bigger than it truly is but can sway the favor for quick The modes from last year return again with more refinements and tweaks to even out the gameplay.

What really makes 2k8 a worth basketball title is the pace it keeps. Every game feels fresh and new as you run up and down the court trying to please the fans. While these aren't pro players by any means, the on-court action gives off excitement. That is thanks to a sturdy foundation that the gameplay is built on. The gameplay is tight and responsive -- exactly what a basketball game needs to succeed.

All the rage in sports games, this generation, are all the online features you can throw at gamers. 2K Sports included what they call 2K Share, which allows you to exchange custom settings with other gamers. This infant mode has potential to really hit it big online as it allows players to share more than just a few choice words.

What's Not
The one thing that 2k8 needs to ditch is the menu system it has. It is a jumbled mess of options that will make navigating the game the real challenge. Creating a player would be a better experience if the menu system didn't work like it did.

The player models could look better. It would be impossible to do the mocap like the NBA stars get treated to because of the constantly changing rosters but some better faces is in order. While it may sound hyperbolic, looking at the faces of the basketball players, you are reminded of a FPS game with aliens attacking you. Let's just say they aren't worthy of pausing to gaze at the finely detailed work. It is a shame because the basketball jerseys and wood floors are impressive and look realistic.

With all the new modes added this year, some just don't feel all fleshed out. The 6th Man advantage is an example. While it was a highlight of the game, it is underutilized and doesn't turn against the home team. It is hard to distinguish the benefits of having it versus not. With yearly installments expected each year, it might have been wiser to pick one horse and polish the heck out of it.

Final Word
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.