If you're looking for a football game with smooth flow and realistic action, Sega Sports' NCAA College Football 2K3 will certainly fit the bill. The action here is evenly paced and straightforward--no flashy 10-foot leaps, no stiff arms that knock the defender into the rotunda--and the talent level is definitely collegiate. A working knowledge of college playbooks can be very helpful as the sets here are often highly complex. The producers have added a slew of subtle but significant features to simulate the game's nuances as well: a quarterback's accuracy greatly improves when his feet are set; you can totally hide your play-calling by holding down the X button and scrolling through decoy plays; you can anticipate using a spin move on offense by hitting the O button before contact; and you can use the analog sticks (as opposed to the directional buttons) to run with the ball (and in maximum passing mode, you can add zip or a lob touch while also adjusting throws in the air). The graphics--including players, stadiums, the ESPN-style presentation, and game intro--are all top-notch. With 117 Division I-A teams at your disposal, devoted players can play full seasons (complete with rankings and bowl selections) or, in legacy mode, multiple seasons, going so far as recruiting high schoolers and running spring drills. The major drawback here is the no-name announcing team, a flat-out terrible crew offering an endless stream of stupid jokes and poor analysis. But you'll have the sound off and the stereo spinning anyway. --Marc Greilsamer Pros: - Smooth, realistic game flow
- Top-notch graphics and visual presentation
- Attention to game action's nuances
Cons: - Game announcers are silly and ill-informed
- Injury information is erratic
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19 of 22 found the following review helpful:
 DONT BUY NCAA 2K3Oct 20, 2002
I bought NCAA 2k3 thinking it was better then EA Sports 2003, man was i way OFF! I've played both games, and let me just ask, who in the world is designing the 2k3 games... for lack of a better word this game ... . The create school well lets just say the only thing you create is a name, and where your team is from, as compared to EA sports NCAA 2003, you create the name, logo, color and type of equipment, type of football program, style of defense and offense, type of staduim and the list goes on. I've been playing 2k3 for the past two weeks, so ill go over the faults with you so you dont waste your money on it, first - there is no dynasty mode so u cant coach a team longer then a year, also when i completed a season, there are limited bowl games, there are no orange, fiesta, or rose bowl. Second the players especially the running backs move like stick figuers there's no agility in the movements they make.... unlike EA sports NCAA. Thirdly - when you call a flat screen pass.. u have to roll out in order to actually see your reciever...otherwise you have no idea whats going on. Fourth - when the clock is running out and your trying to run a 2 minute offense, a screen 3inches by 4 inches appears, for some strange reason, in the upper left hand corner of your T.V., which in turn covers the receiver who may be running a pattern on the left hand side ( U CANT SEE HIM). Fifth - No awards, like heisman trophy, defensive player award etc. I mean do the people making this game at sega have any understanding of football, have any understanding of their competition, do they think the people buying their games are ignorant fools who just assume this is how football really is. Listen point blank, if anyone reads this take it into advice about buying any football games from sega sports, DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY, I promise you'll be disappointed if you do, I've rented EA sports NCAA football proir to buying 2k3, and im kicking myself in the rear for not buying EA NCAA... EA sports is simply much more detailed, and involved...2k3 is for 5 years olds who dont know anything about football yet.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Has its good points, tooFeb 13, 2003
A lot of people are saying they like the EA version of college football better. I am left wondering what it is they like about having absolutely ZERO control of what happens on defense and having the AI ALWAYS complete it's pass on third-and-thirty, QB rolling out one way, backwards, turning and hurling (without looking) and completing a pass to a man 30 yards away who is triple-covered. That repetetive scenario has cost me quite a few controllers as I smash them into little pieces every time that happens.
This game at least lets you PLAY defense. Choose a linebacker, blitz around the OT, and score a sack with far more likelihood than with EA. EA: can you ever GET sack when controlling a defender? Maybe once a season?
EA's offense is better, graphics are better, but gameplay is much better here with 2k3.
People critical of the Dynasty mode ("Legacy mode" here) are right to be critical. The "legacy" mode is average, but you can't change schools: you are stuck with the one you chose to start with. This is disappointing.
Recruiting is pretty cool, though not of the same depth as EA. Still, if you WIN, you stand a better chance of securing good recruits. Players you go after will be swayed by your good W/L record. I'd really like to see Sega go into depth here, as I think recruiting is one of the best parts of sim sports games.
Would like to see more of a "box score"-type post-game stats presentation.
Also, would like to be able to call more running plays. The choices are fairly limited, and no chance to hand off the ball to a handful of different players throughout any one game.
One final complaint: My team up by plenty with a minute or so left on the game clock. The opposition is on the 3-yard line, heading in to score, and, on fourth down, PUNTS! Doesn't go for a field goal or touchdown, but PUNTS!! What the heck is THAT?? Ha! That has GOT to be ironed out by 2k4.
I know I've pointed out the flaws here and given it a 4-star rating, but I think the game is a better game than EA. 989 Sports doesn't even factor into the equation. I'm like everybody who isn't just posting to be "loyal" (which really means "stubbornly stupid") I would like to see the best of what BOTH EA and Sega have rolled into one game. Until that happens, I'll stick with Sega, for it's far better gameplay. Great graphics are nice (EA) but if the gameplay is overly (and unnecessarily) frustrating, it's just not fun to play. Gameplay alone gives this one the nod over its competitors. They just had better improve certain aspects of this version for next year's 2K4.
11 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 Back to the Drawing BoardAug 27, 2002
By Nate Pohlman
I guess the worst thing I could have done was play NCAA Football 2003 by EA before playing this game. This game was very poorly planned and just not even close to the quality of the EA game. After playing the NFL series by Sega I expected more from this game, as that series is very close if not already better than the Madden series. I will start with the negatives considering the positives are very few.
Negatives:
1) The whole ESPN television thing was a nice try, but the replays after almost every play get old, and the ficticious announcers are flat out annoying. The players names cannot be entered in, so all you see is their numbers. I also noticed that Sega did a very poor job of finding out the incoming freshman's actual numbers, Ohio State for example has 2 highly acknowledged freshman who both have the wrong numbers on the game. In this day of age of freshman playing early and often Sega needed to do a better job.
2) The gameplay is similar to NFL2k3 but the whole emphasis on giving the game a "tv" like feel just didn't work for Sega. The players have a more "boxy" look and are less defined than in NCAA 2003, and the play calling was nearly impossible to figure out. Anyone who likes to call a diverse offense, will have fun trying to get plays off without getting a delay of game. I also noticed that once I got to the line I couldn't pull up the routes of my receivers, which is a nice feature in NCAA 2003, so make sure you memorize the routes before you leave the play calling screen. This game is very hard to play offense on, as it is almost impossible to run or pass the ball effectively. Defense is a little easier to figure out as it also was in the NFL2k series.
Positives:
1) The stadiums are pretty realistic, though not completely as detailed as the EA game with band and visiting crowd placement. The crowd is more defined though and not just colors and blobs.
2) The dynasty mode is a lot less complete than EA, but does have recruiting and the complete assortment of awards and the Bowl Series. Overall, I would like to clear up that I don't work for EA, I am just a normal guy who tends to buy every sports game that comes out especially the football games, and after playing this game I wished I would have rented it first and saved the 50 bucks. I am sure NFL2k3 will be of higher quality and if Sega wanted to make a college game they should have put a similar effort into this game, as it is easy to see that they didn't cover the details that makes the EA college football games so good.
6 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Just Terrible!Aug 10, 2002
By Big Gamer
I bought NCAA 2003 by EA for th XBOX a few weeks ago and thought it was a great game, but I was really looking forward to 2K3. I shelled out [money]for this terrible game. The players are not scaled to size as advertised. The AI is terrible. The computer will pass when protecting the lead rather than running out the clock. The running aspect is terrible. Breaking a tackle requires a miracle. The option works too well while inside running is non existent. Forget about playaction passes. As soon as you fake the handoff, the D-Line is all over you. And the receiviers usually don't run anywhere near where their routes should take them. Defense is just as bad. It feels like the defensive players are playing on ice and if you try to play with a D-lineman, you get blown off the ball every time. I cannot think of one positive thing to say about this game. I played 3 games and I am ready to trade it in. I am back to playing NCAA 2003 by EA until Madden comes out. I was actually excited to get NFL 2K3, but I think I will pass since that and NCAA 2K3 basically run off the same engine. Do yourself a favor and pass on this game.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 2K3 isn't Bad at allJan 18, 2003
By Wes
I am just posting, because I disagree with most peoples comments. There isn't a "dynasty", but the is a "Legacy" mode, which is the same. I Love EA Sports, but this is a better game. I am in year 2009 as we speak. Secondly Creating a school is Great. I made a Red Neck Team called the Birmingham Buckhunters w/ Camo Uniforms, Hunter Orange Helmets with Deer Logos and a Tree Mascot playing there games in the middle of nowhere. I also Made North Central Louisiana Nutra Rats playing there home games in Calhoun, LA @ Super Bee Speedway. The only landmark there. Just poking fun of the Red Neck Sub culture. Most of the Reviews are inaccurate. I have played both. 2K3 doesn't have the Same play calling format as EA which might make a little challeging. In Fact as Bowls go, I have one the Fiesta, Rose & Sugar Bowl the last three seasons. The even have the lesser know bowls Like Humanitarian, Independence & Silicon Valley. If you have any complaints, complain the don't have the Bayou Classic. Louisiana Tech 2002 - 2009 2K3 National Champs @ my house. Just my 2 cents
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based on 16 reviews
