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NFL 2K3 Squeaks By Madden
I've always been a madden fanatic. It has the best graphics, gameplay, and authenticity of any football game on any system. At least until nfl 2k3 was released. The player models are on par with their real-life counterparts with facial features and bodysize almost all of the time (some players appear to have shoulders the size of watermelons). Most readers are looking for a comparision (I have to give the edge to madden because I'm an gameplay fanatic that can't stnd players turning on a dime, the open field speed seems way to slow as well). That withstanding, if you don't mind semi-artificial moves, NFL 2k3 is the way to go. It has incredible tackle animations, announcing to rival most televised games, and a smartly used ESPN lisense.
The gameplay is only area I have trouble with. The players seem to cut unnaturally fast (I've avoided tackles by running in tiny circles) and the open field running is incredibly slow (even on fast gameplay). If you measure the fourty yard running time compared to real-life there is an extreme difference, 2-3 seconds (Madden is much closer to normal). The players seem to jump unnatural distances, I'm talking five yards for the average QB (at least you can't hit players in mid air, last year you score from the five because you couldn't hit in mide air) - makes for some really spectacular hits.
As long as you don't mind that the gameplay is great. All of the player run the same as their true counterparts, so you might take fifteen secondes to return a punt 80 yards, but if it's Randy Moss he won't be caught by the punter from behind.
Enough complaining, the rest of the game is smooth as silk. Receivers ajust to ball and don't need a one second catching break before you can control them again (Madden has this and it hurts speed receivers that can make big plays out of nothing). The QB's and RB's have amazing animations associted with their positions. The quarterback wiggles his hips when dropping back and running backs have the most believable stiffarms and breaktackles imagineable. Defenders look strained when attempting to bring down bohemoths like Jerome Bettis and the running backs appear to have defenders lose grip and roll away. In summary of the gameplay:
Everything is great except for the few annoying things that I personally can't forgive. You might be able to. Oh-yeah, have fun trying to manuver the play select screen, it's a terrible but small annoyance I readily forgave.
The graphics are incredible. It finally looks like a real ESPN broadcast. Players are almost totally balanced in their body structure. Last year had skinny speedsters like Randy Moss with 20 inch arms that were the same width from sholder to wrist. No more of that here. The stadiums have been modeled correctly and the SEGA SPORTS fans are back in action (EA tends to use swarms of frenzied heads compared to whole bodys form SEGA that react with the plays more). The Grass could use a little more work. The players seem to slide over it instead of a true interaction.
Regarding sound, it kills Madden in this department. Instead of droning preplanned explanations (Madden) there's play by play with the bickering and friendly atmostphere of the NFL broadcasting booth. The on-field trash talking and chatter sounds like one of those SportsCenter "sounds of the game" clips.
Final Thoughts
After playing both games, I personally, feel NFL 2K3 is the Super Bowl champ. It has a more wide range of commentary, bone-crunching tackles, and lets not forget the ESPN license that took over NFL 2K3.
The played two matches of online play and lag was virtually non-existent. I must admit I had great fun playing with user 'AndrewD.' Me and him had quite a game when he won in overtime with a 54 yard field goal. If you can read this AndrewD, thanks. With all it's different game modes and options, NFL 2K3 should keep you busy until NFL 2K4 arrives. -- Anonym. Contributor, PGNx Media
---- Aug 18, 2002
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