"Total College Basketball" Review

Take on the career of a college basketball coach in "Total College Basketball." You'll be responsible for choosing which high school students to recruit, offensive and defensive strategies, and managing the team on the court. The depth of play in "Total College Basketball" sets a new mark for text management simulations to meet.

Pros

Cons

If you haven't played a sports management game and you like basketball, "Total College Basketball" is a simulation you should try. If you can't appreciate the depth and are bored by this game, you will know that text sports management games are not for you.

The concept behind "Total College Basketball" is simple. You take on the career of college basketball coach, and determine the goals and attributes of the coach. Not just the physical attributes, but the coach's overall attitudes as well. After the coach is created, colleges around the United States will offer you a contact. Each college has different goals and offers a different number of years and pay.

Once you are at the school, your job will focus on recruiting (choosing which players to recruit and how), setting up the team’s overall strategy, how the team spends their time practicing, and if you choose, managing each game. Recruiting players is my favorite part of the game. The thrill of the chase kept me checking on the recruits regularly. Some recruits won't come to your school no matter what you do, as they desire a quality your college does not have.

Text management games do not have a lot of action in them. Because you can’t see your players in action it can be difficult to get attached and start to like any of them. Managing each game helps with this. "Total College Basketball" is not for everyone, a small group of gamers who love statistics and basketball.