Dick Vitale's 'Awesome, Baby!' College Hoops (USA)
Dick Vitale's 'Awesome, Baby!' College Hoops (USA) Overview
If you grew up with the Sega Genesis in the mid-90s, you probably remember the flood of sports games trying to capture the arcade basketball crowd. Dick Vitale's 'Awesome, Baby!' College Hoops came out in 1994, developed and published by Time Warner Interactive. It's a college basketball title that leans heavily on the personality of its namesake sportscaster, Dick Vitale, complete with his actual voice and catchphrases. The game was directed by Richard Seaborne and released exclusively in the USA for the Genesis, aiming to carve out a niche between more simulation-heavy hoops games and the over-the-top arcade style.
On the court, you pick from a roster of college teams and play a standard game of basketball. The biggest hook is the camera: the 3D court automatically rotates to keep the action oriented toward your current position, which was touted as a major feature back then. You control one player at a time, passing, shooting, and defending with typical Genesis button inputs. Dick Vitale's commentary pops up at key moments, adding some personality to the fast-paced gameplay. The mechanics are fairly straightforward for a mid-90s sports title, so picking up and playing is easy enough.
Today, it's mostly a curiosity for fans of retro sports games or Dick Vitale himself. The rotating camera gimmick is novel but can be disorienting, and the gameplay doesn't reach the heights of series like NBA Jam or even EA's college basketball efforts. Still, if you want a slice of early 90s sports gaming personality, this one has character. It's not a hidden gem, but it's a fun historical piece for Genesis collectors who enjoy the era's licensed sports games.
How to Play Dick Vitale's 'Awesome, Baby!' College Hoops (USA) Online
To get started, choose your team from the selection screen using the D-Pad and confirm with the A button (X key). The game then drops you into a standard basketball match against the CPU or a second player. The core loop is straightforward: inbound the ball, move up the court with the D-Pad, pass (S key) to find an open man, and shoot (A key) when you have a good look. On defense, use the D-Pad to guard your man, press S to try for a steal, and press E to switch to the nearest defender.
The unique feature is the auto-rotating 3D court. As you move, the camera swings around to keep your player's perspective forward. It takes a few possessions to get used to, but you can anticipate the rotation by watching the player's shadow and the court lines. There are no deep strategy options or season modes - just a quick exhibition game. If you want to hear Dick Vitale's catchphrases, make sure your volume is up; they trigger during timeouts, big plays, and at the end of the game.
Dick Vitale's 'Awesome, Baby!' College Hoops (USA) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button
- S: B button
- Z: C button
- A: X button (6-button pad)
- Q: Y button (6-button pad)
- E: Z button (6-button pad)
- Enter: Start / Mode
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