Does this game deserve to cut down the nets?

Gameplay

It is hard to argue with the game’s uncanny ability to recreate, almost flawlessly, how a player moves, cuts, commits fouls, and even shoots. However, it takes some time to adjust to shooting, especially 3s and long-2s, because shooting is all about timing. Each player is different, which can be very frustrating. Rhythm is the most important part of shooting, and each player is different based on their rating and shot motion. Some players shoot exactly at the apex of their jump, while other have a hitch and may hold the ball longer before releasing it. The more frequently you play with the same teams, or at least types of teams, will help you develop better timing for your shots. Rhythm and timing also imply to shooting free throws. Regardless of the level of difficulty, if the user is good enough at them, the shooter’s free throw rating has almost no effect. This becomes frustrating if your opponent is very good at free throws.

Like playing FIFA, mastery of both control sticks can make a huge difference. This is one of my flaws, and it allows my opponents to steal the ball from me more than a few times per game. This is a common problem amongst the gamers I interviewed, all of whom voiced frustration that in the game oftentimes when a player will drive toward the bucket, the defender will magically strip the ball and force a turnover. Understanding when to spin and how to control the dribbler is crucial for enhanced gameplay. It allows you to not just score and have more possessions, but creates some exciting moments in the game. Know that it will take time to master the control sticks and correctly timing both shots and dribble moves. The payoff is not just winning games, but winning in style.

Crowd

I had hoped that the impact of the crowd would be huge in close games because every sports gamer dreams of a game where there will actually be a good way to replicate home field advantage. Unfortunately, the crowd impact is a miss. The crowd will be loud and shake the camera if the game is close and late, but overall, it has little effect on the outcome, leaving me sorely disappointed. A momentum meter, like the ones featured in previous versions of the game, would have been a welcome addition. It is always fun to see how one’s performance in the game would realistically affect the crowd and momentum for each team.

The CBS presentation features the familiar overlay and theme song.

Announcers

As with all sports games, be prepared to grow quickly tired of the same phrases from the same voices. The good thing is that both ESPN and CBS worked on this game so there are 5 different announcers rather than 3. It is nice to have Dick Vitale and Gus Johnson in the same game, because it allows the player to choose who they want to broadcast each game. They compensate from having constant color commentary with cut-ins of the crowd and people like Erin Andrews. Announcing never adds much value, but it can ruin a game. EA gets a passing grade for having both ESPN and CBS, although a few more colorful and situational lines would make the game experience significantly better. Presentation is very important and overall the game does a very good job of it.

User game experience makes all the difference when playing, especially against friends. This game is worth the investment if you have a good friend with whom you can play. My advice is rent the game before you buy it if you are not a huge NCAA Basketball fan.  I give the game a four because it is a lot of fun to play, but it certainly clangs off the rim, and fails to be a slam-dunk.

Ted hasn’t had a lot of success, but he immediately becomes smitten with reporter Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders). On their first date, Ted impresses her but then makes the faux-pas of using the L- word. Reversing traditional gender roles, Robin is the one who doesn’t want to commit to a relationship but chooses to focus on her career. Begrudgingly, Ted accepts that they can just be friends and introduces her to his circle of friends and immediately click.

Opposite Ted is his best friend Marshall who has been in a nine year relationship with Lily and they are completely in love. Ted wants what they have while Barney attempts to do everything in his power to keep him single. Barney doesn’t believe in relationships or in marriage and wants his “best friend” (Ted always says Marshall is his best friend) to understand the “awesomeness” of being single in New York.

Despite Barney’s efforts, the first season of How I Met Your Mother tells a number of stories about Ted and Robin searching for love but consistently coming back to each other. Ted begins to look for love in other places and stops actively pursuing Robin but his belief that Robin is the one never subside. All indications lead the group of friends to believe that Robin is simply not interested in dating Ted, but it begins to change when Ted stops pursuing her.

Marshall would love to help his best friend find a girl but his life is quickly evolving into adulthood. After he proposes to Lily, the two attempt to become more sophisticated with disastrous results. Both realize that wine and cheese parties are nothing compared to the good company of their friends at the local bar, MacFaddens. Barney becomes Ted’s wing-man, introducing him to attractive women by simply saying “Have you met, Ted?” and walking away. While Barney is happy with the constant stream of women, Ted is still intent on meeting the girl of his dreams.

Ted begins to date Victoria (Ashley Williams) and feels like she is the one. Robin becomes jealous and realizes that she has romantic inclinations towards Ted, sentiments she carefully shares with Lily. Victoria’s relationship with Ted weakens when she moves to Germany after being accepted into a culinary school. Robin is secretly happy and decides to invite Ted over late one night. “Nothing good every happens after 2am” future Ted warns his children, but young Ted decides to go to her apartment.

After some more drama, the season ends with Robin and Ted finally becoming a couple. However, their fortune is contrasted with Lily’s decision to move to San Francisco to attend art school–effectively breaking up with Marshall.

The strength of How I Met Your Mother is the writing and the characters. Even the most successful have particular characters that are weakly played or tangentially attached to the story arch, but this is simply not the case in HIMYM. All characters are played with energy and realism, absurd as they may sometimes be. Particularly noteworthy is Neal Patrick Harris as Barney. Most people know Harris as Dougie Howser M.D., but he successfully breaks the fetters of his childhood role and creates an enormously funny character. The oversexed, cool guy Barney is always asking his friends to “suit up” (get dressed up in suits and go out) and frequently describes things as “legen- I hope your not allergic to – dary”. While the character prototype is nothing new, Harris, a gay man, portrays a misogynistic straight man enormously well.

Harris is surrounded by a cast of vibrant, quick and very believable actors. Josh Radnor, Jason Segal, Alison Hannigan and Cobie Smulders all play drastically different people but those with convincing and entertaining interactions. The nicest thing about watching the ensemble is seeing all the smiles. I constantly saw characters smiling ear-to-ear at the edges of the screen showing that the actors have a great time and make the show all the more believable.

Without a doubt, How I Met Your Mother is a winner.

Although she doesn’t normally do one-night-stands, she ends up staying the night—and surprise, she gets pregnant. After telling Zack they travel to the doctors to get an ultra-sound and decide to keep the baby and enter a relationship. Does this sound a bit familiar? It should because it was like watching an alternate Knocked Up except it wasn’t funny.

And then the conflict occurs. Remember that handsome ex? He is also her boss and work who just happens to have had an epiphany and wants to take things more seriously. Billie wants to get out of her current predicament and back with James, but goes weak at the knees after Zach paints the nursery then. She decides to give it another shot.

What Accidentally on Purpose basically boiled down to was a bunch of sex, drugs, and pop culture jokes. Unfortunately, hardly anything was funny. I certainly never laughed out loud and cannot remember a scene that I found particularly enjoyable. Yes, this was only the pilot of the series, but when the very premise of the show didn’t really hold my interest and jokes are missing left and right, I can’t suggest that people watch it during the competitive time slot.