The realm of college basketball is one that has largely been avoided by the gaming industry at large, despite the major public interest in the sport.  Indeed, with the release of NCAA March Madness 2002, EA Sports has but a single rival to overcome on the PS2 platform, which happens to be the also recently released NCAA Final Four 2002 by 989 Sports.  The question therefore becomes, who will dominate the court when it comes to college 'ball on the Playstation 2 console?

Although EA Sports' NCAA March Madness series has been around since 1998, the 2002 edition marks the first that EA has brought to the PS2 console.  Definitely noticeable as a result of this is the lack of game modes and overall features found within the game.  That is not to say it doesn't have what is necessary to make it a solid and enjoyable title.  It just means that some of the cool stuff we've come to expect from EA Sports isn't found in this one.  While new teams can be created and customized quite extensively, there are no season, franchise, or dynasty modes available for long-term playability.  Additionally, features such as the ability to use classic/legendary players and existence of player cards (now found in a few EA titles) are also nonexistent in March Madness 2002.

What March Madness 2002 does have to offer is great gameplay, rivaling that of the most current NBA releases.  This is a result of the game's engine, which was most likely borrowed from EA Sports' NBA Live series.  Whether playing in exhibition or tournament mode, gamers can choose to use one of more than 130 NCAA teams or a new school can be created from scratch, if desired.  To accurately set the mood, EA Sports has also included fight songs for many of the schools, which definitely adds to the excitement of the game.

Although the players don't actually resemble themselves and neither do most of the coaches, the character models are still very impressive looking, mostly a result of the new animations.  You'll find players diving on the ground for the ball and they can now even pass the ball while they're still down!  Similarly, the dunks and other subtle player movements are flawless.  The different environments that games are played in aren't replicas of the actual courts, but they still look pretty darn good as well.  This is primarily due to the accurate lighting and reflection characteristics found within the game.

The crowd both looks good and comes to life at precisely the right times during gameplay.  If you're the home team, they'll cheer you on at just about every moment and you can expect them to do whatever possible to stop your opponent from sinking a free throw, whether it be moving around or getting obnoxiously loud.  They also react to the momentum meter, which has appropriately (especially for college 'ball) now been incorporated into the game.  Making big plays really pays off, as momentum control is key to winning games.

The controls in March Madness 2002 are effective, but not aren't quite perfect in all respects.  All the buttons do work out great, as even advanced moves such as the alley-oop can be pulled off without much effort, but the d-pad / analog stick characteristics aren't at all satisfying.  This is because even after you let off a certain direction you'll find yourself still moving, almost as if you're sliding on the court.  As a result, players can be controlled as accurately as we'd like them to be.

Sound wise, the game could use some refinement.  The announcer's comments are accurate, but he sounds a little bored, which is possibly due to the lack of a partner filling in the empty spaces with color commentary.  Also, there only a limited number of different phrases he says, so repetition is very common.  As previously stated, the fight songs are great and the crowd noises are equally satisfying.

Overall, NCAA March Madness 2002 may leave gamers feeling a bit unfulfilled because of the lack of features and game modes.  Possibly asking the question, "is that all there is to it?"  Admittedly, the game is fun to play, especially in multiplayer mode, but is strong gameplay enough to pull the rest of the game along?  Probably not, which is why I am forced to call a draw between this game and 989 Sports' NCAA Final Four 2002.  If you're looking for a fun game to play primarily with friends, then this is it.  On the other hand, if you want something that will hold its own in the single-player arena, but doesn't have very impressive gameplay characteristics, you may want to check out Final Four 2002.  A tough call, I must admit...

This game is rated "E" for everyone and it takes up 2MB (ouch!) on your PS2 memory card.
 

Gameplay: 8.5
The best part of NCAA March Madness 2002 is undoubtedly the gameplay itself.  Players behave very realistically and therefore the games are seemingly close to the real thing.

Graphics: 8
As a result of the striking player models, the accurate looking crowd and the well done environmental effects, this one looks great!  Frame-rate is smooth and there are no noticeable slowdowns.

Sound: 6.5
Includes great music, including various schools' fight songs, but the play-by-play could use some work and the absence of a color commentator results in many boring pauses. 

Difficulty: 7
There are four levels of difficulty to choose from and each is, for the most part, appropriately challenging.  Both beginners and experts can enjoy the game.

Concept: 3
The lack of season, franchise, and dynasty modes is the most disappointing aspect of NCAA March Madness 2002 and as a result the single-player aspect of the game is extremely weak.

Multiplayer: 8
The multiplayer mode can be enjoyed by up to eight players using two multi-taps, but even with only two-players this one is a blast to play.

Overall: 6.8