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NCAA Final Four, Sega Bass Fishing By Chip and Jonathan Carter Tribune Media Services NCAA FINAL FOUR 2000, FOR PLAYSTATION � Sure March is a long way off, but once you get your mitts on this game, you'll be glad it got here in time for the entire college hoops season. This one's a definite keeper, as good a college hoops game as we've ever seen, and not afraid to add in a few risky features that pay off. You can play exhibition, regular season or tournament modes, or you can shoot it out in an arcade style pointfest. There are hundreds of Division I teams, ranging from Sweet 64 shoe-ins like Connecticut to long shots like High Point (who?). In fact, in all there are a staggering 300-plus teams from 31 conferences. But the best thing about this one is a new feature, a shot meter that puts you more in control than you've ever been in a video basketball game. When you press the X button, you start your shot, and a small meter pops up next to your player. A red bar quickly rises, and you have to press X again when it gets to the optimum point. Too soon or late and you're likely to shank the shot or bounce it off the rim. The closer you get to ground zero, the better your chances. All this unfolds very quickly � in about the time it takes to get off a jump shot. It's a fabulous skill challenge that eliminates random scoring and puts your team's success squarely in your hands. The graphics are great � we could have done with a little more player definition, but touches like the shine on a freshly waxed court make up for that. The sound is the only drawback here. The crowd sounds more like a game show audience than a pumped-up college b-ball crew (typical of sound in games from 989 these days � hey gang, might be time to re-evaluate the personnel in the sound studios, or at least give them a wake up call). And the play-by-play from ex-NBA star Quinn Buckner is simply embarrassing. There's no color man to take away from the debacle either � just poor Quinn, sounding like a moron over and over and over and over again, all by his lonesome. JONATHAN SAYS : I've seen better b-ball games. The shot meter takes something away for me � it's hard to keep one eye on the court action and the another on the meter. B. CHIP SAYS : I love the shot meter. It adds an element of video gaming skill to a genre that's never really had any. Most video b-ball games have always been about running down the court full tilt 'til one man's open, then simply pressing a single button and hoping for the best. The shot meter adds a true skill element and eliminates that random stuff that's driven me crazy for 10 years. If I miss a shot in Final Four, it's because I literally missed the shot. Which of course means I can take all the glory when I make it. A. OVERALL RATING: A- � BUY IT FOR ALL AGES. SEGA BASS FISHING, FOR DREAMCAST � If you've never understood the allure of fishing, here's a game that might change your perspective. We've been playing it for days. In fact, you might say it has us, um ... hooked. Of course, if you said that, we'd have to kill you, because a pun like that is way too easy. Nonetheless, this is a tremendous game, especially if you have the add-on Sega Bass Fishing controller (It's another $35 � almost doubling the price of the game � but it's a must if you're really going to get everything this one has to offer). You select your gear, choosing from 14 lures designed for varying situations, then head for one of six fishing locations to take part in morning, afternoon, and evening tournaments (don't worry � there's a practice mode that'll let you get your chops up before you head out to fish against the big boys). There's also an arcade mode that requires you to simply clear each area before moving on, rather than compete against other anglers. The point-of-view starts above the water. You select a spot, cast, and then watch as the view shifts to underwater. As fish of varying stripe and size swim around, you work the lure to try and draw their attention. Once you get a strike, the battle's on � especially if you're using the optional controller. And that controller is a work of art. Sure we've seen plenty of vibrating controllers, but this is the first one to bring actual force feedback technology to a console system. The design is similar to a real fishing reel, right down to the crank on the right-hand side. You cast in an over-the-shoulder motion, just like the real deal. When a fish nibbles, you feel a mild buzz. A real strike jerks the controller and lets you know it's time to try to yank back, set the hook, and settle in for a fight. JONATHAN SAYS : I am totally and wholly addicted to this game. Great stuff. A+. CHIP SAYS : I'd have liked to have seen this one packaged with the controller, instead of it being optional, because there's no other way to truly experience the game. And yes, it seems exorbitant to have a special controller for just one game, but if you're a fishing fan, the investment is justified. A. OVERALL RATING: A � BUY IT FOR FISHING FANS. TIPS AND TRICKS KNOCKOUT KINGS 2000 � To find these hidden boxers, go to the career mode and enter these names: ED MAHONE; MARC ECKO; GARGOYLE; SHMACKO (clown); ROSWELL (alien); O (rapper); Q TIP (rapper); JERMAINE DUPRI; TIM DUNCAN; MARLON WAYANS For PlayStation, for a super punch, hold R1 and R2 while your opponent is dazed, then release when he comes to. NASCAR 2000, FOR PLAYSTATION � Here's the easy way to unlock the hidden drivers and a secret track. At the select car option, quickly enter these codes: Alan Kulwicki � L1, R1, L2, R2, Square, R1, L1, R2, L2, O Benny Parsons � L1, R2, R1, L2, Square, R2, L1, R1, L2, O Bobby Allison � L1, R1, L1, R1, Square, L2, R2, L2, R2, O Cale Yarbrough � L1, L2, R1, R2, Square, R1, R2, L1, L2, O Davey Allison � R1, L1, R1, L1, Square, R2, L2, R2, L2, O David Pearson � L1, R1, R2, L2, Square, R1, L1, L2, R2, O Kalispel Raceway Park (Montana) � L1, L1, R1, R1, Square, L2, L2, R2, R2, O Chip & Jonathan Carter are a father/son gaming team who've been twiddling their thumbs professionally since 1990. For more tips, tricks, reviews and news, check us out on-line at http://vgames.webpoint.com/vid/ecol/mainpage . Or e-mail us at [email protected] . Got a question? An inside tip you'd like to share? Write to Chip and Jonathan Carter in care of this newspaper. While they cannot respond individually, they will answer questions of general interest in their column. (C) 1999 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. Techno file index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA