NFL Gameday 2003

Whatever you do, let the quarterback decide whether to run or stand in the pocket. If he moves, he won’t pass the ball and becomes little more than a sack target.

That is the biggest problem plaguing NFL GameDay 2003, a PlayStation release from 989 Sports and Red Zone Interactive. Should the quarterback flinch, quiver or even shake a leg, he won’t pass the ball, and likely will get dropped for the loss – unless, of course, he has the legs of a Dante Culpepper or Avery Brooks.

When it comes to console-platform titles, GameDay 2003 can’t really compare to the higher-end systems, but it shouldn’t be compared to them. The game has to stand on its own merits. Compare it to Madden Football and it may come up shy of the first-down marker. There is lag in the load times, stalling between an in-your-face touchdown and the ensuing kickoff, and some audio anomalies that can only be attributed to an enthusiastic production team (how else can you explain a match-up between the St. Louis Rams and the Houston Texans as a match-up fans have been anticipating between two quality teams – no disrespect to Houston fans, but thus far the franchise has yet to prove itself).

Throw all that aside for the moment. This game provides solid graphical animation and environments, sound fluid game play and hard-hitting NFL-style action.

If you are a devotee of other platform games, you may find the control elements slightly askew from what you are used to. However, throw in a 20-30 minute learning curve, remember not to move the QB, and you should have the fundamentals of the game down well enough to put up a decent counterpunch to what the rest of the NFL can dish out.

Like most current NFL games, you can create and insert your own player into the mixture. There are several ways to play – exhibition, season and tournament, and the game offers a general manager mode wherein you can draft or trade players and control different aspects of your team – including a play editor function. This game has great options and terrific play, on a par with most console systems.

You can also turn off the salary cap to create the dream team of your choice, and even realign the leagues if you so desire. The season menu allows game players to simulate a week, keep track of injuries, statistical leaders, schedules and standings.

Dick Enberg, Dan Fouts and Ian Eagle lend their voices to the announcing and color commentary, and while not exactly on top on the immediate action, the audio does provide a nice adjunct to the on-screen play.

Graphically the game is very two-dimensional, and lacks lighting effects associated with other titles. The game, while featuring a bounty of colors which play well against each other, is somewhat flat looking. However, what the game may lack with depth of perception, it makes up for with animation and character. Players are, when given the choice, capable of celebrating after a long gain, and the close-up camera angles show solid rendering.

NFL GameDay 2003 offers player depth of play, challenge and solid action for the PlayStation console system. While not the definitive console platform game, it still provides an entertaining fix for football junkies.

This game is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 7.2
Too much time is spent in load times, whether after scoring a touchdown (with an entire drive recap) or in the opening coin toss. You can hurry up the play after the huddle, but if you are milking the clock, that works against you.

Graphics: 7.3
The game is well animated for the platform, but is still somewhat flat and very two-dimensional. The environments, though well rendered, are somewhat dull and action can blend with stadium features.

Sound: 7.3
The play-by-play is fine, but the commentary sometimes misses the pulse of the game. However, the same can be said of a variety of games within this genre.

Difficulty: Medium
The controls seem backwards to other titles, and you can expect 20-30 minutes to get used to the control structure.

Concept: 7
Though this game offers a nice variety of options, the game itself really doesn’t offer anything new or different from what is already out there.

Multiplayer: 7.5
The computer AI is solid, but the game really takes on a personality when two humans have snatched up the controllers and are going head-to-head. You can start to see a pattern in the computer AI toward the fourth quarter, but the human element is so thoroughly unpredictable, and the game plays well into that hand, as to make any outcome in doubt.

Overall: 7.2
NFL GameDay 2003 is not the best console football title on the market, but it does a nice job in presenting the game, albeit in a two-dimensional fashion. If you own other console systems, you might want to look elsewhere for your football fix. If you are a PlayStation-only owner, you will find this game challenging, though not quite in the same league as Madden Football.