College Hoops 2K7 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox)

2K Sports delivers another season of mascots, chants, and champions with COLLEGE HOOPS 2K7, a spirited but demanding take on the complex world of college basketball. Gameplay is almost completely copied from earlier 2K basketball franchises.

Players use "iso-motion" controls -- a combination of well-timed button pressing and stick moves -- to spin, juke, cross over, and hop-step past defenders to the hoop. They direct where the ball will be passed, and, by using the "shot stick" right analog control, can change a shot in midair. The only real gameplay difference here reflects the college game -- there are more missed shots, a faster pace up and down the floor, and wilder athletic moves around the hoop.

Atmosphere is what distinguishes a college basketball video game from an NBA simulation, and College Hoops 2K7 has plenty. If you've ever attended a college game, you'll recognize the excitement and energy that 2K has captured. The graphics are nothing to write home about, but the soft-focus quality of the instant replays looks really, really good.

That said, gamers who just want quick trips up and down the hardwood might want to think twice before buying College Hoops 2K7. Gameplay is solid, and a quick game between division rivals is always fun. But the stand-out part of this game is the Legacy mode, in which players build a small program over multiple seasons, investing money in recruitment, developing underclassmen's skills, fostering team unity, and chasing after a Final Four Championship. The level of detail is mind-boggling.