NFL 2K2

by Sega

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005ME69
• Item Weight: 5 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 18, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,513 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: Sega Dreamcast

Amazon.com Review

Visual Concepts created a huge stir with the original NFL 2K--the first football video game that actually looked like you were watching a game on TV. NFL 2K2, the third game in the series, still features the mind-boggling graphics, stunning player animations, and great play modes of the original. And, despite an often frustrating passing engine, it's still one of the best sports simulations around.

You can play as any NFL team in a variety of modes: practice, tourney, exhibition, season, playoffs, franchise, fantasy, tutorial, and network (against up to seven other players nationwide). The franchise mode is again one of the game's strengths, as it offers a variety of scouting and free agency options, letting you customize your roster as a general manager based on the statistics and financial demands of actual players. Now you can learn what the Washington Redskins already know--the salary cap is a cruel mistress.

The player animations are again the star of the show. There are literally dozens of potential endings to any collision in NFL 2K2, from stumbling five yards after a shoestring tackle to spinning dizzily between two linebackers to somersaulting through the air after stretching for a catch over the middle. And although the tackles can be spectacular, the game doesn't betray its simulation roots by making them too extreme. These aren't torn from the comics pages, as in some games.

Sega Sports has talked up its new passing system quite a bit, and it is both challenging and intriguing--perfect for the hard-core simulation expert. Unfortunately, the rest of us are left struggling to complete 5 to 10 passes a game. Essentially, the game asks players to expertly anticipate routes and time the receiver's catch. This is no easy task in a fast-moving game such as this, as receivers routinely drop wide-open passes on the rare occasions they do get open, and you'll find your primary receiver blanketed by two or more defensive backs on most plays. The passing engine isn't overwhelmingly flawed, but average gamers will need some serious time to overcome the Ravens-like pass defense they'll face early on.

The running game was the original NFL 2K's main weakness, and it remains the single biggest improvement over the evolution of the series. Sometimes running between the tackles in NFL 2K2 can be a tad too easy and running outside can be too challenging, but the game rewards players who see holes develop and are adept at cutbacks.

It's the small details, though, that make NFL 2K2 the sports simulation triumph that it is. The commentary--although still prone to calling turnovers incorrectly--is first rate, the on-field player dialogue is highly entertaining, and even the stadium music and crowd chants add to the atmosphere rather than annoy.

The game isn't necessarily worth an upgrade for people who already own NFL 2K1, as the improvements aren't dramatic (unless updated rosters are your main concern). But for football fans who want one of the best-looking sports simulations ever made--and who don't mind the initial frustration of lousy quarterback ratings--NFL 2K2 is a Hail Mary come true. --Rivers Janssen

Pros:

• Unbelievable graphics, yet again
• Extremely responsive gameplay

Cons:

• Gamers must have genuine football skills to complete a pass
• Improvements from NFL 2K1 are minimal

Product Description

The NFL 2K series was the main competition with the EA Madden Series. Many people thought it was better than the Madden series, however in 2004 the NFL reached an exclusive agreement with EA Sports allowing them to be the only game company allowed to use the NFL team and player names thus ending the 2K series.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let the sacking Begin!, July 30, 2001

By 

john doe (123 fAkE town) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NFL 2K2 (Video Game)

This is still pretty early but NFL:2K2 looks to be a majior hit. This game includes...True-to-life quarterback logic - QBs act like they do in the pros. Want a guy who stands and delivers? Need a scrambler?

Enhanced passing and catching system - Pass play timing and execution is more intelligent and accurate than ever before!

Updated online functionality - Play head-to-head with up to 8 people nationwide and track your win/loss record to see how you rank amongst gamers online!

New player models with extreme detail - You'll recognize all your favorite players!

More player animations - New QB rollouts, improved RB spinning and stiff-arm moves, better grasping and tackling on D, and realistic stumbling for all players.

All new commentary - With more lines of dialogue than any NFL sim, NFL 2K2 delivers an unmatched variety of situation-specific dialogue.

Updated rosters, stadiums and team uniforms for the 2001 season.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars QB improvement, yes; receiving gone bad, better believe it, October 17, 2001

By 

Thomas Welsh "arrogant snob" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NFL 2K2 (Video Game)

Overall, NFL2k2 is a step down from its predecessor.

The improvements:
1) The secondary now knows how to play zone defense. This means there are a lot more blocked passes and INTs, and a lot fewer money plays.
2) Improved animations for tackling, passing, running, etc. Most animations are improved.
3) A more useful spin move.
4) More commentary.
5) Scrambling is now much more effective.

The Problems:
1) Player-controlled O-lines are ineffectual. Even the best linemen will often (not always, not even most of the time, but still too often to be realistic) just sit back and watch pass rushers come on in. They will also occasionally forget whether the play is a pass or run, causing major sack/run problems.
2) Receivers simply drop easily catchable passes far too often. How many flat out drops do you see in a real NFL game? Watching the Rams I generally see about 3 or 4 per game.
3) Fumbles happen too often. Even the best RBs will fumble. I have had a season where Faulk fumbled TWENTY-THREE times.
4) If a receiver is hit within a full second of catching a pass, the ball will be dropped (I've observed roughly a 90% chance).
5) Receivers jog routes instead of running them. This means it takes a LONG time for them to get open. When they do get open, you throw to them, and defenders have a lot of time to get there because the receiver is STILL jogging.
6) Low rated receivers (such as tight ends) catch the ball roughly 35%-50% of the time. Possibly less.

People are calling this more realistic because it makes the game harder on offense. A harder offense would definitely be more realistic than in NFL2k1, but Isaac Bruce dropping 7 passes in a row while wide open is NOT REALISTIC. Difficulty should arise from good defense, not from good, wide open receivers dropping easy passes. Pocket passers should not have to scramble as often as they do in this game (ineffectual o-lines). Do you really think Peyton Manning or Kurt Warner throw on the run more than half of their passing plays? Do you think the Rams' receivers are dangerous because they can jog?

NFL 2K2, as much as I hate to say it, is not a worthy successor to 2K1. While the graphical and defensive improvements are great, the passing game has suffered a torn ACL and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. Maybe its backup on the XBox will be able to come in and play, but otherwise...

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best football game hands down I have ever played, October 1, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: NFL 2K2 (Video Game)

I own NFL 2k and never did buy 2k1, I picked up 2k2 this weekend and I have had a hard time putting it down, this is the best football game I have ever played, it is nearly perfect, it is nice to have to really think and gameplan to win at this game. Running the ball is a ton of fun and the passing game is vastly improved, Improving on what I thought was a great 2k game seemed to me nearly impossible. The more realistic moves by the players and the qb's rolling out is very cool. I can't understand anyone who has had that much trouble completing passes, you have to think quickly and anticipate the routes just like a real qb. It is refreshing to have the computer play you tough, blowing out the computer time after time is boring, I wanted tough hard fought football with the occasional blowout, and I found that here. Also the stats are so much more realistic and the franchise mode is unbelievable. This game will keep you up nights literally. I highly recommend this game to anyone who loves the NFL and wants realism in their gameplay this game is the bomb. I highly recommend it to real football fans.

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