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By Kyle Johnson on February 2nd, 2002
Introduction Microsoft was probably one of the last companies people would think of to release a video game console. But they did. That’s probably how EA and Sega thought about Microsoft and releasing an NFL game for a console. But here it is. 2001/2002, and Microsoft has accomplished both. They’ve released a video game console, and an NFL game for their console.Presentation When it comes to football games, or sports games for that matter, there’s always comparing going on between the games. Game so and so is better in this area, but this game is better in this area. But when you compare the Madden series, or Sega Sports’ NFL 2k series, to Microsoft’s NFL Fever series, there’s a lot of difference between the three. Two of them are known as good NFL games, while the third, people aren’t so sure about. Well, it seems that NFL Fever 2002 is taking the sports genre, and raising it to a new standard. With it’s near perfect, well, as perfect as it can get, commentary, it’s hard hitting action, and it’s trash talking, which no football game should be left without, it sure is setting a new pace for the upcoming football games.All though most people won’t buy it because the Madden series, along with the NFL 2k series, are both widely known as being the top NFL games ever created, there are a lot of people picking up NFL Fever 2002, because it, like the other two football games, will bring friends over to play, and possibly, give you another reason to call in sick today (not recommended). With all the features that NFL Fever 2002 has, including the dynasty mode and fantasy challenge, it’s not hard to miss the fact that the in-house team responsible for this game, really took their time on creating it, and didn’t rush it. Graphics & Sound As your playing a game, do you ever wonder if this, game, could possibly be more real life looking? Well, quit your wondering. That game is no longer a game. NFL Fever 2002 is going to shape the way football games are shown, both graphically, and cinematically. With its hard-hitting graphics and sound, Fever gives you the feeling as if you’re actually controlling an actual NFL football game. Although the commentary is excellent in Fever, the commentary gets annoying, and the things they say does the same thing, gets annoying. But then that’s why TVs come with volume controls, correct? Overall in the commentary area, there’s still quite a few “bugs” to be fixed. Which should all be changed by the time NFL Fever 2003 comes out.What couldn’t possibly be more intimidating is the fact that the defensive linemen will actually “annoy” the quarterback when they’re getting ready to start the play. Sayings such as “Hey Manning, you better keep an eye on me,” etc. will give you the realism that your probably looking for. Overall, NFL Fever 2002 did an excellent job on the sounds of the game. They’ve been able to take what used to be the best sounds in a football game, and revolutionized it. The graphics aren’t much different from the sounds of the game. They did an excellent job on the graphics. But not matter how good they did on the graphics, you still see the players’ legs going through each other. There’s really not many graphical problems in Fever, it’s more of the sound that’s low. Gameplay While EA and Sega Sports has pretty much set the control scheme for football games, it’s pretty hard to imagine how Microsoft’s development team could possible think they can take on that scheme, and make it better. Well, they almost did. The controls in NFL Fever 2002 are amazing. In fact, I prefer them to any other football game control scheme to date. The fault didn’t actually come from the development team; it came by the design team. The team who was in charge for creating the Xbox’s controller. When they created the buttons (A, B, X, Y), they put them too close together. So if your hands are the same size as mine, you’ll notice that when you want to throw it to receiver “Y”, you’re having to “stretch” your thumb over the other buttons, nearly pushing down “X” and “B”, possibly “A”.NFL Fever 2002 is pretty much your ordinary football game. You have your season mode, your single game mode, etc. Just because it’s like your ordinary football game, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have much to offer. Right? Wrong! NFL Fever 2002 has modes in it in which set it apart from the two competitors. Modes such as your dynasty mode, in which you can go up to 25 seasons with one team, you’ll have your off season, and your regular season. You can also have drafts and trade players. Another mode you want to check out is the fantasy challenge. The development team got creative here. They put together fantasy teams, with the toughest players they could come up with, and you have to beat them with your average, current day football team. With the exception of the dynasty mode and fantasy challenge, there’s nothing that NFL Fever 2002 offers, that the others don’t. If your one of those people who don’t really care about the modes the game possesses, and you just want to know the straight, down to earth facts on the game itself, then you keep reading. A lot of times, people are complaining that the plays are too easy to pull off, and that the defense’s AI needs to be improved. Or maybe the play calling for the computer is weak, and it’s too easy to intercept the ball on them. Well, that’s all fixed in the game. Want tougher defensive and offensive AI for the computer? You’ve got it! Microsoft built this game, to prove to you that a game can be like a real life game of football, and you can have a challenge. How much of a challenge? Well, it all depends. Would you consider yourself a rookie, a veteran, or an all-pro? Depending on the difficulty setting you set, that’s how much of a challenge you’ll get. If you want the computer’s offensive play calling tougher, well, look no further. Fever offers the most up-to-date plays that the pros use. Even the defensive plays are accurate to the pros. If this doesn’t show a great NFL game, I don’t know what does. No matter what you’re going to do, whether it is a pass, or a run, it is as realistic as a game can get. Now, if your like me, and you like to tackle the receiver just before the ball gets to you, don’t be surprised if you get called for pass interference. The play calling in this game is realistic. But, the beauty about this game is you can have the refs be real loose when calling plays, meaning they won’t call everything they see. You can also have them call the plays normal, to where they’ll call pretty much everything they see. Or, for those out there who love their challenges, you can even have the refs be real harsh, to where they have eyes in the back of their heads, and they’ll call you for anything and everything they possibly can. Lasting Appeal NFL Fever 2002 is unlike no other football game. It includes features which will keep you coming back for more. Features such as the dynasty mode, which will allow you to keep playing as the same team, throughout 25 seasons, which will include the season, off season, drafts, etc. Now, if your like a lot of people out there, you probably start playing your games on easy, and then working your way up. Well, if you think easy will give you a challenge, think again. It’s too simple, and too easy to get a pass off, and score. I recommend you start on rookie for a couple games, and then go up to veteran. No matter which difficulty setting you play on, Fever will get you hooked.Conclusion After hours and hours of playing NFL Fever 2002, I am still hooked, and I refuse to put the controller down. It’s hard to compare it to Sega’s NFL 2k2 and EA’s Madden 2002, for the fact they’re all excellent football games, and each offers something that the others don’t. So don’t settle yourself short, get all three if you can. You’ll be happy you did. |
