ESPN NFL Football

by MONARCH HOME VIDEO

Product Features

• All-new play-calling system that makes quick decisions happen on the field
• The control in this game is untouchable - responsive controls let you juke, cut or enhance your player's abilities with The Charge
• Groundbreaking animation captures the NFL experience - Realistic gang tackles, sideline grabs, double-team blocks and player celebrations
• Every game is presented like a great ESPN broadcast, complete with scores, highlights, stats and overlays
• Advanced challenge system -- don't like the ref's call? Throw the red flag & get a second opinion

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000ACP8S
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 2, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,491 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

You feel that deep breath you take when you're staring down 80 yards of real estate, a six-point deficit and 1:31 on the clock. You feel the fear in the air that results from unblinkingly staring down a quarterback from your middle linebacker position. You feel that brief moment in time when the ball's in the air and all that fills your mind is the overwhelming need to drive your helmet through that receiver's rib cage. ESPN NFL Football brings the complete NFL experience. Whether it's by making an opponent lose his shorts from a stop-and-go juke, by scraping your toes down as you make an acrobatic first-down catch along the sideline, or by piling on top of a swarming gang tackle on fourth and short--you will truly feel everything that makes the National Football League so intense. Don't look. Don't listen. Feel.

Product Description

ESPN NFL Football 2K4 takes you deep into the action for incredibly real sports playing. This is first-person football gaming where you'll see everything through the eyes of a real NFL player. This is football action you don't just see -- you feel it, too. Go online for head-to-head play against another person - plus get downloadable rosters, chat with football fans and more Get your friends together & play your dream team against theirs, with the multiplayer Franchise Mode

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete package that is just awesome, September 15, 2003

By 

William Stenson III "Big Willy" (Round Lake Beach, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ESPN NFL Football (Video Game)

Okay I will not compare this to Madden, because this version justs beats Madden with the ugly stick. Espn combines a killer presentation, top notch gameplay, a good amount of modes/options and the best graphics out period all in one game. 2k3 had problems, this does also but they are minor and do not take away from the gameplay.
Graphics: The best out period, the players are proportioned well, the Stadiums are done perfectly, the fans and sideline graphics are great. It is a poetry in motions because the animations are so good, anyone that says madden has better graphics needs glasses.
Presentation: Its called ESPN for a reason and from the bootup you see why. It feels like Monday night football every time you play, Berman does a very nice job. Not perfect, but way ahead of other games.
Sound: I love the sound here, bit hits, fans screaming, coaches screaming, music blaring over the Pa. The commentary may seem repetitive, but when you make a great play a new line usually shows up.
Gameplay: This game fixed jsut aobut everything from 2k3 that was wrong, not everything but very close to it. They turned the ship and made it sail right. The passing, running, animations, play calling menu, amount of plays, the game speed. It all flows so smooth together that my head shakes in disbelief sometimes, "No he just did not do that!!!" Now as for things being too easy, on the default pro level it is easy. However bump that up a few notches and that is not the case, also use the sliders to find the game you like best. The sliders do work.
The only downfall I can find is that tackling maybe a little too hard for the casual fan, but this game has always had a steep learning curve. Once you play enough, you can take someone one on one, I do it often. Just take into account who it is, Ricky Williams has a break tackle rating of over 90!! That means he is goign to be hard to tackle. You can edit rosters so i just knocked him down a little. Take good angles to tackle, don't dive, charge, use zones, etc and the tackle issue is no more.

**First person Football and the Crib: These are 2 new features that were put in and I love them. First person Football has done before, it is you playing inside the helet. While this limits you straight forward vision, the control system to it is nicely done (Halo). Once you get used to it you will love it, could use some polish but makes you feel like your in the game.
The Crib I was skeptical of, but it is actually pretty fun. Basically you get this 1 floor pad to pimp out, and the way you get that is by doing hella good on the football field. Get 3 sacks, a long td pass, a td return, etc and you are rewarded. There is a entertainment room, bar, game room, living room, and even a hot tub. There is also a waterfall, etc. I like the diverse selection of unlockables, including cheats. I thought it would suck, but is pretty fun. Hopefully they expand on the idea more next year, maybe a car outside to pimp out and 1 more level. Still great fun and glad they put it in.

***The only bad thing is the challenge system is not tuned up all the way, but is still far more advanced then anything else in any other game.

Overall this is possibly one of the best football games ever made, as close to perfect as anyone has ever come. You will not be dissapointed in it, but if you have never played it before I suggest you stick to the default level for a while. This is a challenging game tha tmakes you read the defense, throw timed passes and play a good football game. Just like in the NFL, ONE MISTAKE CAN KILL YOUR MOMENTUM IN THE GAME. Excellent job on this and I look forward to seeing wha tthey can do in the future.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The finest football game ever made., October 11, 2003

By 

Sean M McCormick (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ESPN NFL Football (Video Game)

This game is simply the best football game I have ever seen. The player models are in a league of their own, the stadiums look beautiful, the animations are unparalleled, and the game engine moves as smoothly as silk. The ESPN presentation takes the cake, but even without the halftime highlight shows and the ESPN overlays, this would still be the best looking football game I've ever seen.

It looks great, and it plays even better. ESPN has the best offensive and defensive playbooks around, pre-snap adjustment options that are comparable to Madden (not as elegantly done, but arguably more useful), the best lineplay I've ever seen, great run blocking, true pockets on passing plays, pass routes that are actually based on drops, defensive backs and linebackers that play great zone coverage, and it goes on and on and on. The special teams play is weighted too far towards the offense- it is possible to return multiple kickoffs and/or punt returns for touchdowns, but this adds needed stress to an area that ends up being pretty dull in most football games. The franchise mode is solid, and the online play is second to none. VC has done a nice job of fixing several of the cheats players used last year, and while there undoubtedly will be new ones found, the overall experience is excellent.

I could have made the review a lot shorter. If you own an Xbox and have any interest at all in football, you need to pick this game up immediately.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TOUCHDOWN!, September 9, 2003

By 

D.L. "generasian" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: ESPN NFL Football (Video Game)

It took almost four years, but Sega Sports finally got it right. As an avid football gamer, I would always buy the current editions of the Madden and NFL 2k series since both offered the most exciting and realistic game play I've ever seen. But year after year, Madden would always beat out the NFL 2k series in terms of overall game play, yet the margin grew gradually smaller as the years progressed. However, I can truly say that this year's version of Sega's NFL game truly outshines Madden 2004.

This year, Sega fully utilizes the ESPN brand name after obtaining the license late in the development cycle of last years game. Playing the game is like watching an actual NFL broadcast on the world's leading sports channel. The presentation is phenomenal. Those who watch Sunday Night Football on ESPN will immediately recognize the slick graphics and music during the intros. Getting Chris Berman to do the commentary during the pre-game, half-time, and post-game shows was a home run. His unique witticisms add a certain amount of flavor to the game. Tell me if one doesn't get goose bumps when he spits out his famous, "He-could-go-all-the-way!," during post game replays. ESPN NFL Football should definitely be the blueprint as to how to successfully take advantage of a license.

Those that are familiar with the NFL 2k series know that the graphics have been one of the game's biggest selling points. This year is no different, if not better. The player models are the most realistic and detailed I've ever seen. Players are size-proportionate to their real life counterparts and sport specific playing gear only unique to them. No fan will mistaken Ricky Williams with his imposing black visor and the dreds sticking out from under his helmet. A nice touch was added cut-scenes in-between plays that showed player and fan reactions after a big play or a costly turnover. Jerseys would also get dirty and worn as the game wore on. And depending on the playing surface, the field would gradually deteriorate during the course of a game. I just loved these little details. The stadium recreations were also amazing. Being from San Diego, I was amazed at how accurately Qualcomm Stadium was rendered including the surroundings outside the arena. I even recognized some of the buildings that were adjacent to the stadium. You can tell how much care was put into the look of the game.

However, a game cannot just go on presentation alone. Thankfully, NFL 2k4 also offers fantastic game play. Gamers will immediately recognize the new play calling system. Borrowing from Madden, plays are now selected from a menu at the bottom of the screen by pressing an assigned button. Gone is the awkward cursor that you had to direct in order to highlight a play you wanted to execute. Passing and running plays are varied and there are plenty to choose from. Of course, if you're not satisfied with those that are available, you can create your own playbook which seems to be the latest craze in football gaming. An added feature this year allows the "coach" to suggest a play for you by pressing the left-trigger button. A major gripe I had with last year's game was that during passing plays, the receiver would almost always drop a pass once he was immediately tackled. This year's game fixes the problem. Granted, there will be instances when the receiver will drop a ball after being floored, but it happens much less frequently. Running is a little too easy though, especially if you have a stud running back. It isn't hard to make a ten or twenty yard rushing gain, especially with the bevy of moves that are now available for your running back. By charging up a power meter, you can pull off more effective jukes, spins, and stiff arms than ever before. The power meter stays charged for only a few seconds which makes it important to choose which move to utilize in order to gain the first down. A small gripe I have with this year's game is that on defense, it is difficult to bring down a receiver or a ball carrier with an individual tackler which makes gang tackles almost crucial to bring down an opponent. Regardless, the player animations are beautiful. For instance, when a running back is met head on at the line of scrimmage, he may continue to push back the defender in order to gain that extra yard or two. Or on defense, a cornerback will dive in front of a receiver to snatch a one handed interception. I don't think I have yet to see the same player animation twice.

The NFL 2k series have definitely grown since it's inception on the Dreamcast. Only time will tell if Sega Sports can maintain it's excellence. However, after playing this game, I think it's safe to say that they will.