ESPN NFL Football

"Football: Redefined"

As an avid fan of the NFL2K series, ever since the first game on Dreamcast. I've followed and owned every incarnation of the game (except for XBOX, since I don't have one). So, after playing one of the most entertaining football games of the past year in NFL2K3, I was more than ready for 2K4. I can't say I was too surprised that, after aquiring the ESPN license in the 2002-03 season that Sega would take the next biggest step and rename the entire series. So, ESPN NFL Football is here, Sega's 2K4 for 2003. And, simply put, I've never had more fun playing a football game.

From the gameplay to the graphics to the presentation, ESPN NFL Football does it right. While it's not the best football simulator on the market, it's fun. It's perhaps the MOST fun football game, period, and that's an accomplishment that ESPN can hopefully take to the bank.

FIVE POINT SCORING:
GRAPHICS
GAMEPLAY
SOUND
PRESENTATION
VALUE

GRAPHICS: 9/10

The 2K series, in my eyes, has always delivered some of the best graphics in NFL football games, even on the Dreamcast. The player models have been some of the best, even compared to the likes of Madden, and the achievement continues this time around. In ESPN, the player models are even more fine tuned. The faces lost a little bit from last year, but overall, everything looks incredibly solid. On the other hand, however, the models used for the fans and coaches could use some drastic work. Some of the fans, especially the female ones, look ridiculous. And why does every coach seem to have a pronounced beer belly? These are just a couple problems with the graphics. However, the game makes up for it. Other graphical representations, such as textures and most importantly, the stadium renderings, are gorgeous. With a few exceptions, ESPN NFL Football looks like real football. You could grab a screen shot at just the right moment and be mistaken for a real NFL broadcast. No doubt.

GAMEPLAY: 10/10

ESPN NFL Football's strongest point is it's fine-tuned gameplay mechanics. With Madden 2004 introducing their new Playmaker feature, ESPN countered back with a greater play control. The leap, in this feature, from 2K3 is mind-blowing. Every aspect of the game has been massively improved. On the offensive side of the ball, you can setup specific hot routes, put any number of players into motion to rework or reroute the play based on the defense, and even call audibles easier thanks to a new visual display which shows you the exact play you're switching to. Each aspect of putting up points has improved as well. The passing game is much more refined, including better receivers who are less likely to drop the ball as well as an adjusted defense that won't pick off every play thrown their way. Running the ball, however, is where the fun really begins. With the new charge system, you can build up a meter and unleash any number of special moves, from heavy stiff-arms, neck-breaking jukes and big-air dives to get the points you need. ESPN NFL Football has also focused more on putting the ball in the endzone with players who will reach desperately to get the ball in.

On the other side of the ball, ESPN lets you fine tune your defense based on just what you see in front of you. Beyond calling audibles and shifting your D-Line, you can also position your defensive backs and linebackers just the way you want them in addition to spreading or concentrating the D-Line. This leaves any number of possibilities for guarding against the drive. One of the biggest points from the defensive side is the inclusion of multi-player tackles, where you can drag down the receiver or running back with a friend in any number of animations, which provide almost limitless possibilities.

On special teams, the changes aren't huge. The only really noticable difference comes in any difficulty level under All-Pro, where they've done away with the drifting arrow on PATs and Field Goals, no matter the distance. It still lingers on kickoffs and punts - at least at Pro, I haven't played it on anything under that.

One of the biggest gameplay features of ESPN 2K4 is definitely the First Person Football feature. This inclusion was probably treated the same by many of the fans of the NFL series. Like myself, I was a bit hesitant when it came to using this feature, but it seemed interesting. Upon trying it out the first time, I can safely say it's one of the most entertaining features of the game. It definitely provides an incredibly unique take to the game, and while the controls are mostly the same, FPF also gives you the option to control when you want to see a replay as well as a bullet-time mode to land those key stops or big pass plays, a temporary effect that can have big results. FPF is incredibly fun and a great break from the normal third-person football experience. This is one feature that, if given the proper tweak and poke here and there for 2K5, could be a big turnaround point for the ESPN series.

AUDIO: 8/10

Most of the audio in ESPN 2K4 is carried over from 2K3, but only in minor aspects. The music is almost entirely different including all of the tracks that can be unlocked in the Crib feature, which I'll get to later. Sound effects and player chatter is mostly the same, but the biggest thing that'll be listened to will definitely be the commentary. The ESPN series retained the same commentators from the past 5 seasons - Dan Stevens & Peter O'Keefe. This year, however, the entire commentary has been tremendously improved. Dan now calls the plays on the fly, giving commentary each step of the way. Granted, they do tend to lag a little bit if you want to rush past the replays and get back to the action, but it's okay. They catch up eventually. Overall, the sound portion of the game is great. The new music is nice and the commentary changes are even better. Big plus here.

PRESENTATION: 10/10

Next to the gameplay, the biggest and best thing about ESPN NFL Football is the fact that it's *ESPN* NFL Football. And it shows. While Sega grabbed the ESPN license last season, their use of it then was *nothing* compared to this year. ESPN is branded on every piece of this game, and you'll never forget for a moment that you're playing a piece of ESPN football.

The ESPN presentation is everywhere, from the front end graphics to the commentary to the replay transition graphics to the in-game presentation to the inclusion of Chris Berman. Every moment of in-game play feels like ESPN, and just the right amount. Some of the best aspects of this come from Chris Berman, who delivers awesome pre-game, halftime and post-game analysis. During season mode, you're treated to a short NFL Prime Time presentation, including all of the week's scores as well as a couple highlights from some of the other games, all put together beautifully. During halftime, Berman gives his lowdown on the game, delivering Snapshots of the Half which showcase genuine moments from the first half in a slideshow presentation before he picks his Hot at the Half Player.

From within the actual play, replays are delivered with TV-presentation quality. Not only are you treated to the standard full-screen branded replay, but every now and then a replay will be reduced to a small window which includes the current game stats of that particular player that it's featuring. Also, play could stop to give a specific profile of one particularly impactful player. This is definitely a huge improvement over last year. Also in the game are a couple of new additions, such as team-specific cheerleaders as well as rabid hometown fans, including a few team-specific types such as the Raiders' bunch and Green Bay's cheeseheads.

Other big improvements come from different points of the game, such as season mode with a slightly tweaked interface as well as end of the season awards. A new franchise mode, with a much more well presented interface than last year. Also, a new tutorial mode which gives you the opportunity to practice some of the new controls as well as Football 101 in the form of understanding certain aspects of the game.

Another major addition to the series comes in The Crib, a feature that puts you in the role of a bling-bling NFL player who, when accomplishing any number of goals in the game, can unlock over 1500 different items, including stuff from your favorite NFL team to deck your Crib out with. Also, in addition to decorating your crib, you can also unlock new stadiums, legendary players, new music tracks, custom team logos & stadiums and mini-games such as Paper Football and Air Hockey. This adds a great plus to the game which, in addition to the usual football, provides loads of fun and replay value to the game.

VALUE: 10/10

If you like football, if you like ESPN, and if you like having a good time playing football, you'll love ESPN NFL Football. It may be fifty bucks, but it's some of the best fifty bucks you'll ever spend on football. Every point of the game is just awesome. And with a few little things here and there, almost any football fan would love this game. Granted, Madden has it's plusses here and there, I'd personally recommend NFL2K4 over any Madden game. But that's just me. I enjoy playing Madden, too, in some aspects. But nothing, in my eyes, compares to the quality of ESPN NFL Football. So, there you have it. There's definitely gonna be something to like in ESPN NFL Football. The Worldwide Leader in Football. Period.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/11/03