2K Sports ended its College Hoops franchise some time ago, paving the way for EA Sports to come through with its own power player, NCAA Basketball. Last year, it did well enough, although a few players were hoping for something a little bit different. They'll get it this time around with NCAA Basketball 10, a game that implements a couple of cosmetic changes, while still bringing the rim-rattling basketball thunder we've grown to love.

So much for staying open. Click to see more images from the game...

Most of the gameplay remains unchanged, but that's not entirely a bad thing. Some folks who played NBA Live 10 will notice a few similarities with fast breaks and setting up defensive plays. However, there are a few tweaks made specifically for this college hoopster. For instance, you can effectively call for a screen, setting up someone to run in for an alley-oop or getting into position for a three-pointer using quick time events (pressing a few buttons to initiate plays). At first, we wanted nothing to do with QTEs, but in this case, they actually make the game more enjoyable.

It's a fast, smooth-playing game, but there are a couple of hiccups. For instance, your computer players are sometimes asleep. They react well most of the time, standing in the post or lying in wait for a missed shot to come off the backboard for a rebound. However, when a player comes charging in for a dunk, they do little to stop it. Furthermore, we've had a few balls roll across the floor, and rather than realistically dive for them, they just stood there and let us do all the work. These small errors aside, we have no qualms with how the game handles.

In addition to quick pick-up games, you can also log in to Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network and play against friends, try to earn a championship through the game's Dynasty Mode or jump into a big tournament. There is an option to create your own player and use him in-game, but we're a little surprised that there's no career mode to speak of. How cool would it have been to fashion your player into a basketball god, and then convert them to NBA Live 10? EA Sports should give this consideration in future NCAA games. It's a major feature that fans would take advantage of.

Back to the good stuff. The presentation is a slam-dunk. The game moves fast and fluidly, like a real basketball game should, and watching the crowd go bonkers after you nail a shot is great. It gets so intense that the screen actually shakes, just like a real arena would. Some of the player models don't look that hot, but considering that EA couldn't use real NCAA stars for the game, they're acceptable.

Fans will appreciate the inclusion of not one but two distinct broadcast styles. Both ESPN and CBS Sports are present in this year's game, complete with their own visual overlays and commentary teams. Dick Vitale, one of the sport's legends, provides his feedback along with Brad Nessler and the ever-so-hot Erin Andrews for ESPN, while Gus Johnson and Bill Rafferty dish out their own two cents for CBS. Surprisingly, both commentary teams have a superb balance, with Dickie V. whoopin' and hollerin' for his favorite teams and Johnson bellowing with a high amount of energy. The commentary does tend to repeat, but overall, it's excellent. The rest of the sound is superb as well, with home team chants and cheers fully intact. You'll really feel like you're in the middle of everything, especially with the proper sound system.

While more modes would've been appreciated and we could've done without the sleepy A.I. teammates, NCAA Basketball 10 is a solid game of hoops. The broadcast styles are unparalleled, the gameplay is good fun and the modes that made the cut are more than enough to keep fans happy. Now the only thing that's left to decide is whether we want to listen to Dickie V. or Gus Johnson comment on our plays. Time for a coin flip.

Final Score: 8 (out of 10)

Review courtesy of GamePlayBook