NFL Street

"Step aside NFL Blitz...there's a new rough-em-up football game in town!"

I have played NFL Street for a few months continuously now and I feel I am obliged to say that this is one of those games where you can have one hell of a time alone and an even better time with your friends.

Gameplay:10/10
This game is rich with possibilities. You can select a team of no-names from the beginning and take to the top defeating NFL teams along the way. You can choose a pre-made team custom fit to your gameplay, or you can start with a clean slate and build your team to your every desire. You are given Development Points, but not too many, when you begin. These points are used to increase your player's stats. Feel your RB is too weak, buff him up with Run Power. Does your O-line part like the Red Sea on every snap, then fill those gaps with Blocking ability. You can do what you wish, until a certain extent. You can earn new Dev. Points by winning Challenges, which are certain scenarios that you must accomplish. These challenges cost tokens which you can earn by winning an NFL Ladder, which consists of 4 teams from a division and an All-star team from that division. The games are played to 36 points. You earn 6 points for a TD, 1 point for a running conversion, 2 points for a passing conversion, 2 points for a safety, and 4 points for a stopped conversion taken back for TD on the same play. After you beat one, you can select another to move on to where there are more challenges and more development points waiting for you. Some of the challenges will let you acquire NFL stars by beating their respective team in a game to 24.

Sound: 7/10
Unfortunately, NFL Street is lacking in the in-game music department. If you enjoy the music you hear on the menu, then you might as well stay there because thats the only place you'll hear it. Hits like ''Last Train Home'' by the Lostprophets and many more can be found on the games menu, however, while you are playing the game, you are met with repetitive sounds brought to you by the masters of the turntables, the X-ecutioners. The music they play in the game is a disgrace to the musicians but you can always turn the sound off and listen to your own music. But i suggest you don't for the first couple days because you will want to hear all the taunting that goes on. Players will talk trash, congratulate, and say all kinds of messed-up things on the field. All the voices are provided by one man, so if you see Brett Favre come up to the screen and start talking like a gangsta, don't be alarmed.

Graphics:9/10
The fields you play on are very well drawn out. They have beautiful scenery and the players themselves are very similar to their real-life counterparts. Every portrait in the game is like a polaroid picture taken of the players themselves and pasted on the game itself. The character models resemble the players and sooner or later, you'll forget you're playing a game. Fields can range from a wide open, college campus-like grass field to a 12 foot wide courtyard with watermelons and fruit baskets lying on the field just waiting to be tripped over. You must play to your surroundings. Things like high beams can knock down your last minute desperation Hail Mary pass or things like the sandy beach can slow down your RB to a snail's pace. You must outfit your game to suit these environments.

Replayability:10/10
After completing NFL Challenge, you are rewarded greatly for your achievements. These rewards open up many new multi-player possibilities. But you can always go back and play NFL Challenge again with a brand-new team so you can try a different strategy or fix the mistakes you made last time to make your team even stronger than the last. I myself have beaten the game 4 times with a different strategy each time and each time i found it more exciting than the last.

Controls:9/10
The controls are easy to learn but somewhat difficult to perform early on. While you are still in the midst of getting used to the game, you may make a few mistakes while playing but it all takes some getting used to. Things like performing style moves. You need to press the Z button and move the C-stick in any direction while pressing the A button as a turbo boost. It may sound confusing but after you play 2 or 3 games, you could do it with your eyes closed(but i suggest you don't because you'll fumble it every time.)

All in all, if you're looking for a fun game to shut down your friends or an AI, this is it. If you feel Madden doesn't celebrate enough then this game is for you. Showboating is the name of the game and it happens on every play. Say your friend comes to try and tackle you from the side while youre running for a TD, all you gotta do is say, ''NOPE'' and press A and his hopes have been crushed. OR you could take the ballet approach and spin your way out of it. With customizable taunts, you can put yourself in the game. Football fans rejoice, our savior is here.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/22/04