ESPN NFL Football

"Sega and ESPN, like milk and cookies"

Well if you've ever played any sega sports games you know that they go the distance with every game, and ESPN NFL Football is no exception. We've all heard the rave about the First person football, but you really can't experience it until you've actually played it. Unlike Madden who took 2003 gave it updated rosters, slightly tweeked it and gave it a little extra like owner's mode and made 2004 and still charged us $50 bucks! ESPN NFL Football really did it over. The presentation is truly ESPN driven, the play calling is better, more open and visable. Also, to counter madden's ''all new and innovative'' playmaker, ESPN's hot routes is in depth enough to take 1 pass play and turn it into a completely different play. You not only can run fly routes, but also slants, out and in routes, and pass block, just incase your Mike Vick decides to run for 40 yrds :) Here's my broken down reviews.

Graphics: 10/10
First person mode is awesome!!! For those who like to keep it grounded this mode makes it sooo much fun to run, but it also feels realistic in every sense, better follow those blockers! For those who prefer air attack, you'll finally find out what an NFL QB feels like from watching his line pick up the blitz to getting blind sided while you throw the bomb with seconds left to rally your team with a come from ''near impossible'' to a ''W'' on the board. Even outside of first person Sega's improved on their already good graphics and animations to nothing shy of excellent.

Sound: 10/10
In first person you get the whole effect of being on the field, litterally. During play calling there's no announcers just you and your team. Before the snap you can hear the D line hurl insults and try to intimdate you. You can hear all the bone crushing tackles just as they were ment to be hear, loud! Commentary is better, Peter O'keef, and Dan Stevens calling the action once again. Watching ESPN NFL Primetime is seemless, Chris Berhman covers the game for that week.

Gameplay: 10/10
Two words: FULL CONTROL. Over everything from the basic/customized audibles to the indepth on the fly hot route calls to the on the fly substitutions. The charge meter, like in 2k3, is still nice, helping you breaks tackles or ankles, which ever you prefer.

Extras: 20/20
Half of the Football games today claim so many extras this area has become critical for the big dogs. Madden tacked on a few to 2003 and called it 2004. ESPN revamped everything. The all new crib is nice, for some football fans they won't care much about their crib, but will cherish they trophy case inside of the crib. The trophy case (which some of us will wish it was more of a trophy ROOM) was a nice addition b/c unlike madden where you could get points from accomplishing great feats, you actually get trophies in ESPN. The trophies look different all depending on how well you've done something (ie: 10 tackles in a game = a nice little gold trophy, 20 tkls = a bigger crystal trophy, and on and on). Franchise mode has been taken more seriously and is now more in depth not only asking that you, obviously, get to the super bowl, but that you really change the team for the better in some shape or form. Plus an all new Power Rating shows just how well your teams sizes up the big dogs in the league. Unlockable crib cheats and unlockable all time great players in the free agency. There is more, but i'll let you find out on your own.

So whether you love first person football or hate it, ESPN NFL Football is MUCH more than that. It's got in depth play modes an incredible ESPN look and feel to it. More game modes, crib cheats, secret all time greats, create-a-team/player, awesome control for gameplay, and the list goes on and on. I always suggest to rent before buying but if you're an ESPN or a Sega Sports fan go ahead and buy it cuz you will love it. For everyone else rent first see what YOU think, then decide to buy or not. Everyone, enjoy!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/09/03