Buy NCAA Football 2001

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ok, here's the deal: ncaa 2001 is great. but then again, so was ncaa 2000, and that is essentially the game you are getting when you pop that beautiful CD into your overused Playstation.

there are some added features that definately add to the hours upon hours of enjoyment, but all in all, if you're happy with ncaa 2000, ncaa 2001 may be a purchase you might want to skip. could i skip it? no way! EA Sports is a company that always brings forth perfection to the gamer's table. the hard thing for EA Sports to look at while creating ncaa 2001 was that ncaa 2000 was pretty much the most amazing football sim (pro or college) ever made. why try and fix something that ain't broke? i agree with the direction EA Sports took with 2001...they added some cool new features (expanded create a school, expanded recruiting system, expanded the ranking system, improved the running game, and strengthened the AI) but they kept the basic core of what made ncaa 2000 so freakin' great.

One thing that was added that i hate is the momentum meter. there's no need for it...the crowd is your momentum meter. the meter apparently is supposed to give more "power and finesse" to what ever team has the meter in their favor. nah...doesn't really work out that way. i just turn mine off. i let my playcalling make or break my momentum, then i feed off the crowd's enthusiasm or rage. whichever their offering at the time.

the running game was improved and given a curve in favor of the gamer. unfortunately, running can sometimes be too easy. gaining a 50 to 60 yard run off a HB-TOSS is not out of the ordinary. and that's on skill level All-American. don't get me wrong, i love the running attack, but sometimes it can get ridiculous. oh, and by the way, the turbo button really kicks in this year. those HB-Toss plays really come through with that turbo button bein' tapped like there's no tomorrow.

the passing game is still great, but man, getting picked off happens way too much. one of the main reasons it happens so much is that when your QB tosses a pass to a receiver, about 4 or 5 defenders just swarm all over your intended target. now i'm all for defense, but let's cut down on the univited guests, shall we?

all in all, i do love this game. but i think i love 2000 just a smidge more. 2001, for all of its new additions and elements is sure to please any college football fan for hours and hours...whether it's in your dorm room, or your living room after the two year old and the wife have finally fallen asleep.

that's all i have to say. EA Sports has come through with another winner. besides, i don't think EA is putting out ncaa 2002 for the PS2. this may be your last offering for a while.

see ya on the gridiron.

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It has been my experience that EA Sports has always had a "cult" following with their NCAA titles. Many people who do not like the real sport of college football, hate EA sports version of NCAA football. If this is you, do not buy the game. However, if you like strategy, commanding a team through a "dynasty", and real game play this title is for you. Each year the title adds new things and improves others, while keeping the game basically the same. I will not repeat all of those changes, since they are covered in the other reviews quite extensively. I will tell you that EA Sports has once again out done themselves. Few video games capture sports as well as their titles. Some basic suggestions:

1. If you want a good feel for the entire game, do not always play as a perennially ranked team. Control some lesser known teams and get the full experience of the stadiums, fan chants, fight songs, and other bowl games.

2. Try not to run the same plays on offense all the time. After 6 or 7 seasons of HB toss, you will master it. Part of the fun is trying to master the other plays.

3. Although Dynasty mode is the reason to buy the game, the other modes are fun to play against other people.

So, if you want a real type game experience buy NCAA 2001 by EA Sports. Every year I say I will not buy the new year title, too much like the old version. But, every year the little changes make the game better, without changing the game too much. The one problem I have with the game, and I'm sure I am the only one who feels this way, is that the celebrations are not needed. College football unlike pro, doesn't need 'pro wrestling' type celebrations to bring in fans. Buy NCAA 2001 if you have been debating it (the recruiting alone makes this title worth the money).

Best Deals for NCAA Football 2001

Let me say this first: I am a DIEHARD follower of Madden football. I wasn't a couple of years ago (liked GameDay more), but Madden's (or should I say in general, EA's) more realistic gameplay and incredible graphics hooked me like no other. Some will always like Madden; some Gameday. But this review is about neither, right?

The first thing that you look at in NCAA 2001 are it's graphics. Sure, they are the same as last years(other than looking a bit smoother), but once you start playing it, you overlook that detail. Player animations are abundant: some players help other off the ground after a play, some signal first downs, and the touchdown celebrations are pretty nice. The way the losing team acts on the field after a loss almost makes you feel sorry that you whooped them. ALMOST. And with the addition of the new momentum meter, it makes you feel the bottom drop out of the opposing team's crowd, especially after you complete a heart-wrenching big money play.

Speaking of crowds, there's the sound. Simply put, the sound in this game rocks. You should play this game with surround sound on. the hits, fight songs, calls, and crowd chants are like no other. It's almost as if you were at the game yourself. EA did a marvelous job with the sound, making it seem as authentic as possible (with the expection of some teams' missing fight songs). It makes you want to play the game with a different team every time, just to hear the crowd's uplifting (and sometimes CORNY) chants.

The gameplay is EXTREMELY addicting for those familiar with EA's sports titles (Madden in particular), and is the deepest that you will find in ANY football game. The gameplay is pretty much the same as last year's. There are soooooo many moves you can do, compared to other football titles. Just like last years, do you wanna rush the line? You can use a spin move(!), swim move, and new power move. Wanna live out that fantasy of being an offensive lineman? You can block, using the game's special feature to play as one particular player, so now you can feel what it's like crushing a linebacker on a HB Draw. The running game here is improved from 2000's. You can call coverage audibles on D, regular audibles, shift lines, there's so much you can do. On offense, how heart-breaking would it be if you could pull up your receiver symbols, DEACTIVATE THEM and use a spin move to avoid an onrushing lineman who wants to flatten you and use you for a welcome mat, pull your symbols back up, and hit a receiver in stride for a TD? You can do that here! Just make sure you're not doing that against a human opponent, or be prepared to get punched in the face. This is a GREAT feature, however, and it's a necessity, especially if you're using running QBs.

The other modes are still there as well from NCAA 2000, such as Dynasty which uses 15(! ) blocks of memory card space, Situation, Great Games (recreate The Magic Flutie's act), and Create-A-School, which is great for those of us who didn't go to a college with a NCAA level football team (like me, *sniff*). You can create players, and watch your created player get drafted into Madden 2001, just like last year's.

All in all, even if the basic format is like NCAA 2000, this game is worthy of a purchase, because of the little tweaks here and there that EA has made. If you've never played any of the NCAA titles and are a fan of the SPORT of football, pick it up (while you're here, you might as well). It's deeper than Madden, and it beats out Sony's NCAA Gamebreaker. If you have last year's, rent it first, but be forewarned: You might not give it back.

Honest reviews on NCAA Football 2001

EA Sports is the "Grand Master" of all sports' games. NCAA Football 2001 is nothing short of sensational. It truly has almost anything that you can think of.

The graphics are top notch, even down to the detail in the grass and painted logos. The players look quite realistic, and the stadiums are true-to-life. There are many different playing levels, each as entertaining as the next.

The best part of the game, by far, is the sound. The school songs have never been clearer, not to mention the wonderful fan chants and fight songs. This truly adds to the college football game atmosphere, making a fairly complete experience. The only downfall of the game is the lack of an announcer (otherwise, it's 5-star game).

Overall, the game is one entertaining experience. It represents the college gameday feel better than any other Playstation game on the market. This game is a touchdown!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for NCAA Football 2001

Deep Dynasty mode, greatest teams of all time, and just all out college football fun. better then last years by about 50 yards, and i have had more and more fun every time i play it. All the top teams, top awards, and all the bowl games you can shake a stick at. If your a college football fan then you must have this game, don't be fooled by the pretenders, theres only one contender.