NFL 2K3

Thanks to its smarter-than-average artificial intelligence, NFL 2K3 sports a somewhat steep learning curve that requires sound football simulation instincts. Knowing your team's strengths and weaknesses will ultimately be a big help if you hope to win at the game's advanced levels. Be prepared to mix up your play calling and make adjustments instead of thinking the same old reliable plays will get the job done. Of course, practice mode is always there if you need to work the kinks out of your game plan and master the multitude of offensive and defensive sets at your disposal.

Graphically, sports games don't come much better looking than NFL 2K3. Among the highlights: player animations are amazingly realistic and lifelike, and a wide array of facial emotions appear that are relative to game scenarios; stadiums are painstakingly re-created to take on almost postcardlike feel; and replays access a wide variety of angles to put you right on the field or in the stands.

One area in which NFL 2K3 easily aces Madden is its game commentary. As part of the game's ESPN broadcast presentation, announcers Dan Stevens and Peter O'Keefe call every bit of the action in varied detail. Their comments are far removed from stale Maddenisms, offering worthwhile play breakdowns, player assessments, and quips that don't make you wince in disgust (at least not too often). Stevens and O'Keefe, along with the crowd, will let you hear about it when you bite it on the fi

Amazon.com Review
Look no further than Sega Sports' NFL 2K3 if you're seeking a more than worthy alternative to the established Madden football franchise. The game's superb graphics alone are enough to draw in any fan, but its in-depth gameplay realism and ESPN broadcast presentation easily rank this as the finest football game Sega has released to date.

Thanks to its smarter-than-average artificial intelligence, NFL 2K3 sports a somewhat steep learning curve that requires sound football simulation instincts. Knowing your team's strengths and weaknesses will ultimately be a big help if you hope to win at the game's advanced levels. Be prepared to mix up your play calling and make adjustments instead of thinking the same old reliable plays will get the job done. Of course, practice mode is always there if you need to work the kinks out of your game plan and master the multitude of offensive and defensive sets at your disposal.

Graphically, sports games don't come much better looking than NFL 2K3. Among the highlights: player animations are amazingly realistic and lifelike, and a wide array of facial emotions appear that are relative to game scenarios; stadiums are painstakingly re-created to take on almost postcardlike feel; and replays access a wide variety of angles to put you right on the field or in the stands.

One area in which NFL 2K3 easily aces Madden is its game commentary. As part of the game's ESPN broadcast presentation, announcers Dan Stevens and Peter O'Keefe call every bit of the action in varied detail. Their comments are far removed from stale Maddenisms, offering worthwhile play breakdowns, player assessments, and quips that don't make you wince in disgust (at least not too often). Stevens and O'Keefe, along with the crowd, will let you hear about it when you bite it on the field. --Larry White

Pros

• Superb graphics in most areas
• Commentators sound realistic and rarely repeat themselves
• Challenging AI forces you to adapt your game plan

Cons

• Receivers can't be put in motion
• Slow, lofting quality of the passes
• No ability to challenge plays
• Often unrealistic player animations

NFL 2K3 eliminates the complexity of previous versions, making it simple to call a blitz or take advantage of a defensive mismatch. Computer opponents now use more smarts when calling plays, including making tough defensive stands when you're attacking in the red zone. And gamers now have the ability to draft senior college players from NCAA College Football 2K3 and have them play in the next season on NFL 2K3. Players look genuine and lifelike, with more facial models and expressions that let you recognize your favorite NFL stars. Every NFL stadium is here, authentically reproduced in 3-D. From the cheap seats to sidelines crowded with players, coaches, and camera crews, no detail is overlooked.

I dont know why I waited so long to try the 2K series.

Madden SUCKS! Buy this instead. Better gameplay, graphics and it is cheaper.


10 Stars.. GOOD GAME   November 23, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I bought NFL 2K3 in October 2003, and i think it is By Far better than Madden 2004. I had played Madden 2004 before, and it was ok, but one on one open field tackling was near impossible, and Some players seemed like they were covered in grease. Also Strategy actually makes a difference in this game, unlike many of its predeccesors. Here are hte Pros/ Cons

Pros: -Online Capable
-Player's stats improve year to year depending on their performance, so bad players can get good, with work.
-Scouting, you scout college players, and you get to draft them.
-You can sign free agents off the free agent wire.
-Strategy of play calling makes a difference.
-Impressive player creating and team creating program
-Customizable difficulty settings, from 3 year old easy, to extremely hard.
-Difficult kicking, unlike Madden games

Cons: -It has froze up on me once or twice
-Create a team mode only has 10 premade uniform styles

This is an excellent game. If i had to pick NFL 2K3, or Madden 2004, id take NFL 2K3. And apart from all that, 2K3 is only $9.99, unlike Madden's $49.99. The main reason i love this game is because it is actually challenging


great-needs improvement in few areas   November 13, 2003
I went out to buy some games and realized that NFL 2K3 was the real deal in graphics. I owned Madden 2002 and it was terrible graphic wise, i thought it was great until I saw the graphics for 2K3. But the announcing is just like Madden. I don't care what other reviewers say, this game's announcing is great, and then wham, after you play about 4 games, the announcers start using the same phrases over and over and over again. ANd sometimes, when I spike the ball to stop the clock, it says that I got the first down, how stupid!!! I definitely recommend this game over Madden 2003, but for 2004, people say its cool but I'm not really sure. I'll go for that probably once I'm sure and you will be hearing about it as soon as I play it... ta ta for now.