I know what you are saying, this is the classic David and Goliath match-up but “we know who one that one, baby!” states Dick Vitale.

When you say the name of Vitale, that can mean only one thing – it’s NCAA basketball. And that means EA Sports NCAA March Madness 2005 for the PlayStation 2 console system. This is a solid game, but while very good, just seems a little flat compared to previous editions. Why? The game just seems a little flat when it comes to player graphics. The rest of the game is smooth and the action flows well, but the players don’t pop off the sterling environmental elements.

Of course, if you are talking EA Sports, you are talking a solid options package. This game has several terrific elements including the new Floor General feature.

The Floor General play-calling system is unique to this title. The point guard is the play-caller or floor general, on both the defensive and offensive ends of the game. There are three plays to choose from, with each customizable in the front-end of the game. You call and start the play, and players rotate into position to make the play happen. This does take timing and you need to work to get it to fall right.

There is a bit of a learning curve with this system, but once you get it down, the game pace really brightens up, and even a team with a C/C- report card, like Idaho, has a chance to play against a powerhouse like Kentucky.

Game modes include playing online, dynasty mode, season, tournament modes, Pontiac College Classics (which features 10 classic games dating back to the 1970s), rivalry game, mascot game and practice. New time-out option allows for substitutions and calling a play.

In the My NCAA, you can look at the Hall of Fame, Lounge and Book Store. The bookstore has items you can use to customize your look, the lounge is where you can input codes or view unlockables, and the Hall of Fame is for trophies and rewards.

Under School Management, you can create a player, rework offensive and defensive play sets, reorder rosters, call up historic rosters and reset rosters. Missing is the create-a-school feature that previous incarnations had.

You can set the timer for each half from 2 to 20 minutes, and there are five camera angles to choose from. The game also features a PDA, through which you can receive news and e-mail from your athletic director and the NCAA.

Shooting free throws is handled a little differently. You see the backboard from behind the player and then have to time and hit the X button on a horizontal sweep across the backboard and then a vertical one.

Brent Musberger and Vitale do the play-by-play and commentary. Vitale offers keys to the game, baby. This is a delightful and excellent aspect of the title. The crowd sounds, court sounds are standard, and the musical score is provided by school bands playing a selection of contemporary songs.

The game’s graphics are a little up and down. The players almost look two-dimensional in this setting, but the environments are amazing. Shiny floors with reflections, and the camera angles give the feel of the real game.

The game does take a while to get really comfortable with, control-wise, but not too much has really changed from previous NCAA EA Sports incarnations.

NCAA March Madness 2005 is a bit of a disappointment when it comes to the player graphics, but the rest of the title is very well done. The playbook functions will let gamers get into a roster and really set it and the plays up to capitalize on the floor talent.

Gameplay: 8.5

The game moves smoothly from opening tip to final whistle, which few interruptions and the instant replays are kept to a minimum. The game does allow you to switch teams at any time in the single-player quick game, and you can really get a feel for teams based on the playbook and report card.

Graphics: 8.3

Something just does not look quite right on this title. It may be that the shadows and lighting don’t reflect the court, or that the players look a little flat. The animation is solid and the environments are well rendered.

Sound: 8
There is something quite wrong about hearing a courtside band play “Hey Mama” by the Black Eyed Peas. Sure, it keeps in the flow of the experience, but it just sounds wrong. The commentary is sterling.

Difficulty: Medium

There are four difficulty settings – junior varsity, varsity, all conference and all American. There is certainly something here to challenge any gamer.

Concept: 8.3

The Floor General is a solid element, and the game set-up is very good. The create-a-player is not as much fun as when it was coupled with the create-a-school feature.

Multiplayer: 8.5

Head-to-head with another human is much more fun that playing the AI in this game.

Overall: 8.4

The graphics are not quite what one would expect from an EA title, with the players looking a little flat, but get past that and you find a game that is challenging and sports excellent game mechanics. The options, the commentary and floor general combine for that sweet drive to the hoop.