I’ve always been a fan of Sega’s NFL2K series, although I feel that series peaked at 2K1. Coming into this year, after enduring the manufactured hype surrounding the new “First Person Football” mode, I have to admit I was quite pessimistic about the direction of the game. I’m happy to report that my worries were unfounded. Visual Concepts has delivered in a big way.

The most obvious change this year is the title. While playing ESPN NFL Football one could easily think they were watching Sunday Night Football. The game oozes the style of an ESPN broadcast. The menus, in-game music, and pre-game show featuring Chris Berman all add to the feeling. During a season you can even watch an episode of NFL Primetime, featuring real highlights, to get a summary of what happened that week.

Another major addition is “The Crib”. In an effort to promote replay, Visual Concepts has implemented a clever feature that hooks into everyone’s addiction to unlocking goodies. You’re given a virtual house which can be furnished by reaching in-game milestones. You can unlock Sega game soundtracks to play on the jukebox. You can decorate your walls with jerseys or even a Rez promotional poster. You can also unlock free agents like Michael Irvin or characters from Virtua Fighter. The Crib is a lot of fun and more importantly it’s addicting. Once you start collecting trophies you’ll be hooked.

Of course, the Crib really doesn’t matter if the game isn’t worth long periods of play. On that front, the news is both good and bad. We might as well get the bad out of the way now and simply state that the “First Person Football” is a work-in-progress. By moving your point of view inside the helmet you actually feel like you’re on the field. Unfortunately, it also makes playing football much harder than it should be. Running and tackling are fine and dandy. The problem comes when you try to actually catch the ball. Not only is it confusing but it practically requires you to use a Matrix-like slowdown feature that’s as ridiculous as it sounds. The mode is also full of horrendous collision and clipping problems as well as a terribly disorienting effect whenever you switch players. Perhaps next year they’ll polish it up, but this year it’s a gimmick at best. At worst, it brings back memories of the game Quarterback Attack, and that’s something we don’t really need.

The good news is actually more like great news. The normal gameplay modes are fined-tuned and polished to near perfection. All of the old series gripes are gone. The lethargic pace has given way to a faster, more exciting game. The circular play calling menus are gone. Replacing them is a standard Madden-like system, with a clever addition allowing you to sub players on the fly. No longer will pro-bowl receivers drop five balls per game. The vacuum blocks of old are a painful memory of the past. Perhaps the most important fix is that now you can actually mount a successful running game. Your blockers are extremely intelligent and following them through the hole is a whole lot of fun.

The standard running special moves are back, including the always-fun rapid press to run faster. You can spin, dive, juke, and lower your shoulders; as well as charge to perform a more powerful version of each move. Thankfully, the terrible pseudo-spin move from last year has been given the axe, leaving us with running moves that are intuitive and effective. New this year is the ability to actually chain specials. If you’re able to think ahead, you can enter a string of moves, and watch as potential tacklers get nothing but air.

On defense the news is also good. Finally we have proper and effective moves to separate ourselves from pesky blockers. In fact, you can actually push back against a block, then run away from it and make a tackle as a runner passes. The removal of the vacuum blocks, allowing the defensive to move much more fluidly, gives you the option of fighting through blocks rather than automatically switching players.

The passing game receives a bit of a tune-up with the addition of “Hot Routes”. Should you see a match-up you wish to exploit a simple flick of the right stick combined with that receiver’s button allows you to change his pattern. This adds a new layer of strategy to your offensive attack, allowing you to react intelligently to the defensive formation, at the line of scrimmage. The audible system has also been overhauled. Now a helpful pop-up window allows you to see the play you’re calling.

The new offensive special moves and improved running game means players are much harder to bring down. This is countered by the inclusion of true gang tackling. Grab a runner with one defender and then quickly switch to another to deliver the hit that ultimately sends him to the turf. Piling-on isn’t only a good idea, it’s practically mandatory to bring down talented runners.

All of this action is conveyed with animation that is, in a word, amazing. Gang tackles, side line catches, and powerful stiff arms will leave you gawking at replays. Every game you’ll see new tackles or moves you haven’t seen before. In previous versions, I sometimes felt I was just stringing animations together with a loss of control in between. This year control is always responsive and smooth, allowing gameplay to be as fluid as it looks.

The rest of the graphics are a bit of a mixed bag. The game features well proportioned player models as well as highly realistic uniforms and stadiums. Unfortunately, the devil is in the details and some of those details are really ugly. Many of the ground textures appear grainy or just completely unrealistic. The crowd is once again the standard collection of 2d cutouts that’s, unfortunately, the norm for sports games. The game also features some strangely deformed cheerleaders as well as comical pear-shaped coach models. I guess every coach in this league needs weight watchers. These are all minor gripes, that certainly don’t affect the gameplay, yet they’re annoying enough to taint the feeling of immersion.

Sound has always been a strong point of the series and this year is no exception. Pads cracking and players grunting convey the impact of a football game. The always great commentary crew is back with more to talk about than ever. Chris Berman, keeping with the ESPN theme, offers his take during pre-game and halftime.

The improved Franchise mode is much more intuitive, with a simulated e-mail Inbox being the hub of the experience. After each week of play you’ll get several e-mails, each linking you to a menu that allows you to investigate further. Injuries, scouting reports, and power rankings are all a click away. The free agent market seems a bit livelier as well. It’s not uncommon to see a computer controlled GM make a big trade or sign a valuable free agent. Basically, the league feels much more alive and that’s always a good thing.

Add Xbox Live support to the mix and you have the recipe for a great football game, with practically unlimited replay value. I can honestly say this is, by far, the best playing and most polished game in the entire NFL2K series. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, this game deserves your attention.

· · · PBMax