By Jae-Ha Kim and Misha Davenport
Chicago Sun-Times
September 5, 2003
NCAA FOOTBALL 2004 (EA Sports, E for Everyone, PlayStation 2)
Between Madden and EA Sports’ football game franchises, is there really a need for competitors to even bother? This game rocks. The game controls are the same as before, but the game play is stronger, faster and better. Before, you could bump a player and that counted as a tackle. Now you have to legitimately tackle your opponent for it to count. The pass defense is much better as well and even the fumbles are more realistic. There’s some added fluff that’s not crucial to the game but is nonetheless fun. As players run out of Notre Dame’s locker room, you see a poster that says, “Play like a champion today.” Now maybe they will. –Jae-Ha Kim
TRON 2.0 (Buena Vista Interactive, T for Teen, PC)
“Tron 2.0”–a sequel to the cult 1982 Disney film “Tron”–is simply so gorgeous to look at, you’re afraid to touch the keyboard –less you disturb the art. Once you get past the jaw-dropping, sumptuous visuals, you’re also treated to great gameplay and a storyline that builds and expands on the mythology created in the film. You play as Jet Bradley –the son of Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner, reprising his role from the film). Dear old dad has disappeared –possibly into the computer– and one of his programs digitizes you to save both the cyber and real worlds. Game play is a mix of first-person shooter, puzzle-solving and –recreating the best part of the original film– light cycle racing. “Tron 2.0” is a textbook case on everything that can be done right with a game based on a movie. –Misha Davenport
