NFL 2K2

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

--This text refers to the Dreamcast version of this game.

Pros:

• Unbelievable graphics, yet again
• Extremely responsive gameplay

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

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

Kicking-Nfl 2k much better kicking
Running- a little easier in madden
PAssing- Difficult in both slight edge to nfl2k. Lot of dropped balls in MAdden
Play calling- Definatley MAdden. Gets a little confusing in NFL2k
Modes: Both harder as you move up. Can play every game on both in a season.
There both very similar. Both lots of fun. I liked the added stuf nfl2k had. So its a tough choice


Hike the damn ball   April 10, 2002
I have enjoyed playing this game alot. Excellent graphics, fun gameplay. It may not be the most realistic nfl game out there but it is alot of fun. I played nfl 2k on the dreamcast and found it very playable. This has the same level of playability with better graphics. It is well worth the money to buy. Unless you have Madden. Both games are good and I enjoyed playing them both, but you probobly do not need to buy both games.


Horrible   March 15, 2002
 2 out of 8 found this review helpful

Would you like to play this game?..ok then just keep hitting the x button.

I dont understand these "actually play if you want to" games, where playing is optional. you can just sit there and let the game do all the work: THIS IS SO BAD. you can just put the controller down and let the game play by itself (except oh yeah, press the x button to start the play) no other genre of game could get away with this. these games are horrible.

Having trouble winning? ok just change the difficulty RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME. Having trouble kicking field goals? ok, just switch to another player besides the kicker and let the computer do it. Having trouble running? then just dont touch the controller and let the computer do it. dont want to pick a play..ok, just let the computer do it

Want to take a team through a season? sure but at the superbowl play another team...makes playing the game feel pointless. you should be locked into a team, and you should be forced to actually PLAY the game.

manual is very very poor: advanced line moves...whats that? the manual doesn't say, I had to look it up online. commentary is sloppy. I sacked the qb with the same player 5 times and each time they said "first sack of the game"...also, the simple act of trying to use the same player each time is annoying.

I hate this game.