On this edition of "X-Play," we hit the gridiron with Sega's "ESPN NFL Football." In the five years since "NFL 2K" debuted on the Dreamcast, the series has amassed a loyal following with its streamlined approach. The franchise has consistently gotten stellar reviews, but the sales haven't come close to EA Sports' blockbuster numbers. Before you can scream "makeover," it has been given a new name, cosmetic enhancements, and yes, even a few features to boost its sex appeal. And like a leg wax, some might find the process difficult to bear, while others find the end result more attractive.
What's in a name?
"NFL 2K3" saw the introduction of the ESPN license late in the game's development process. Because of this, last year's game only included some of the ESPN look and feel. "ESPN NFL Football" is much bolder. The menus, pre-game coverage, and much of the interface are now nearly identical to an ESPN football broadcast.
The immediate sight of Chris Berman's comb-over may cause fear and trepidation in hard-core gamers, but it's only one more thing to skip past before getting into the game.
2K4
Thankfully, Sega did not mess with the game's core. Much of the gameplay retains the well-tuned machinery of the "NFL 2K" series. For those who are overwhelmed by change, Sega includes a short video overview of this year's highlights in the "About The Game" section that is worth viewing for the voice talent's restrained excitement alone.
There are some noticeable tweaks to the interface and AI. There are also a few revisions, like the ability to challenge a ref's call and a different turbo boost system. The play-calling system has seen an overhaul, giving you more options in configuring your plays. Improvement in the franchise mode includes specific goals for you as the coach. There's also a new multiplayer component that allows you and your friends to manage different teams within the same league. But most importantly, the basic controls still deliver incredibly tight control, and the on-field action remains solid.
The most impressive of the new features is the first-person football mode, which allows you to play through a game entirely from a player's perspective. The different camera angles and in-depth controls offer a fair amount of challenge at first (keeping abreast of the other players while moving and looking via the analog sticks), and it's a nice option if you want a change of pace.
Also new is The Crib, which handles all of the game's bonuses and unlockable content, letting you manage additional players, teams, and jerseys earned through in-game challenges, as well as giving you a chance to test your trivia knowledge. The idea is similar to EA's Madden Challenge system, but the separate interface adds more to the game's replay value and makes it easier to access your rewards.
For online gamers, the excellent news is Sega has addressed the issue with cheaters (who would pause a game to force you out and avoid a loss). A new countdown timer on the pause screen fixes it nicely. There is also now the option to set up an online league, as well.
Sounds and pictures
ESPN is incorporated seamlessly into the game, and it mostly works well, with solid pre-game coverage, a clean interface, and some slick graphic overlays in between gameplay.
Dan Stevens and Peter O'Keefe provide the commentary on the field, and Chris Berman handles the pre-game coverage. Although repetition still sets in during a season, it's more varied and entertaining this time around. There is a fair amount of licensed music in the game, but it takes a back seat to the ESPN theme (a bit annoying after your eighth or ninth game).
On the field, the game improves on last year's stunning visuals. The player models remain largely intact, but the facial maps are new, giving the players a much more human look -- especially with their helmets off. The crowd, cheerleaders, and coaches help make the stadium come alive. Even if you're the type to usually skip replays, the level of detail here is astounding.
Game ready
"ESPN NFL Football" is a worthy installment in the "NFL 2K" series, and a definite step forward for the franchise. Fans of the series will adapt to the more drastic changes, and the overall level of polish may well attract an entirely new audience as well. The game faces a steep challenge this year from "Madden NFL 2004," but considering "Madden" is a PlayStation2 online exclusive, the online play is a serious edge for Xbox owners. It's a close call as to which is a better game, but as with previous years, serious fans will likely end up buying both.
"ESPN NFL Football" (Xbox)
Also available on the PlayStation 2.
