College Hoops 2K8 review

On the hardwood, the action is fairly similar to last year's edition - which by most accounts is a good thing. The gorgeous visuals, booming collegiate atmosphere, and deliciously rich menu featuring every current Division I school envelop you in an environment oozing with intensity. Of course, this also means the return of the maddeningly inconsistent Shot Stick, which some of us feel was created simply to torment our souls. Missing open jumpers and layups gave us some seriously angry moments, but at least our opponents seemed to be as unfortunate as us, which took away a bit of the sting.

Two additions to the mix give 2K8 some new zest. The 6th Man feature turns the home court into a real advantage by granting the host team's attributes a temporary boost when you string together some solid plays. We also love 2K Share, letting those of us who love authenticity but hate to work for it benefit from the labor of other hoops junkies by letting us download their rosters with names of real players. Even better, announcers and arena PA guys have many of these names pre-programmed - a brilliant move. Some Achievements are easier to get this year too, which always makes us happy.