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The Plot:
More and more, developers appear to be searching how to add even more depth to sports games. Players can now trade, personalize players, build teams and more. NCAA Football 2003, however, gives the viewer all of these staples and more - players can even play as the mascots of one of many teams for an entire game.
Upon loading the game's main menu, the player is faced with several options: "Play Now" (Exhibition), "Game Modes", "Options", "My NCAA" and "Inside EA Sports". Game modes include: Season, Dynasty, Rivalry (play out some of the more famed rivalries in College Football), Mascot Game or Practice. Options include "Create-A-School", "Create-A-Player" and rosters, settings and a load/save option. "My NCAA" includes a "trophy room" for your team, stats/records, playbooks and setting options. "Inside EA Sports" includes promos for a couple of other EA titles (including Madden 2003, which looks amazing) as well as a small "behind-the-scenes" feature for this very game.
As for gameplay, NCAA really offers some of the most realistic gameplay that I've yet encountered on a football feature. Although the game varies with the difficulty levels, the passes didn't quite hang as long and passing to a player with defenders close by resulted in a realistic amount of interceptions. Defense is equally entertaining, although it proved remarkably difficult to get through the line towards the quarterback to try and sack.
The "Create-A-School" option is really one of the most noteworthy aspects of the game. Not only do you pick the school's logo, colors, fight song, school name and fully customize the stadium (where you want the press box, scoreboard and other things to go), but you can also pick the team's strength and choose their playbook from all of the different playbooks available for the different schools. Players are even able to recruit new team members in the off-season.
Overall, "NCAA Football 2003" should be considered as an addition to any sports fan's gaming library. It scores big with realistic, well-presented gameplay and hits the extra point with enough depth to the game to have fans consistently coming back for more.
Rating: 9.8/10
The DVD
Graphics: NCAA Football 2003 offers excellent graphics that should please XBOX owners. All of the main elements of the game - from the stadiums to the players to the cheerleaders - are crisply rendered and finely detailed. Even the crowds, which never appear very defined, are at least a bit more distinct here than how most games present them. Player animations are terrific, as tackles, passes and catches had the players moving smoothly and convincingly. The between-plays clips (replays, etc.) looked even better, as the players were presented with exceptional detail and clarity. Lighting was also quite well-done on this XBOX edition of the game and colors looked warm and well-saturated, too. The only problem that I noticed was a little bit of slowdown during some of the most crowded plays, but I didn't feel the gameplay suffered much as a result.
Rating: 8.8/10
Sound: NCAA Football 2003, according to the behind-the-scenes program, includes over 8,000 lines of commentary (from the team of Kirk Herbstreit, Brad Nessler and Lee Corso). This amazing statistic ensures that, while you may hear some of the same lines over again, it's probably going to be rare that any of them will start to become repetitive. Sound effects, such as tackles, crowd noise and other touches, are clearly presented. The game even throws in the added bonus of having the fight songs for all the teams. Soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1
Rating: 8.9/10
Gameplay: The game's controls are excellent, as passing, shooting and other skills are smartly laid out and easy to control. Gameplay also seemed largely realistic, as well. Given the amount of options available, the game boasts an almost ridiculous amount of replay value for college football (or simply football in general) fans.
Rating: 9.8/10
Rating Issues: The game is rated "E" (Everyone), which is an appropriate rating for this sports game.
Final Thoughts: "NCAA Football 2003" is a remarkable effort from EA sports, with a dizzying amount of depth to the game, not to mention very nice graphics and realistic gameplay. A definite recommendation for football fans and a game that even casual football fans should certainly check out.
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