NFL 2K4

E3 2002 – First Look 

One of the more closely watched battles in sports video gaming in recent years was the competition between NFL 2K3 and Madden 2003.  Both games were the subject of heated debates: Which game was better?  Madden enthusiasts stressed the strong gameplay of the EA giant and NFL 2K fans chose the Sega title because of its sharp graphics.  This year’s NFL 2K4 enhances all of last year’s strengths, adds a few new features, and should give those on the Sega side of the debate more reason to raise their voices. 

It only takes a few seconds of watching the game to tell that it simply moves better than last year.  The stellar graphics have been even more improved, and players move and react more realistically than last year.  Gone are the exaggerated slides after tackles and other anomalies that hurt NFL 2K3.  This game looks beautiful.  New catches, tackles, and blocks have been added to the library improving the in-game aesthetics, and new cutscenes make the game practically jump off the screen. 

The other great improvement in the looks department is the enhanced ESPN presentation.  The Sports Center desk has been added to the main menu (sans Chris Berman) and in game stats have been improved.  Run a sweep to the right with Charlie Garner early in the game, and a graphic will show up listing all of Garner’s vitals, height, weight, even college.  It’s an addition that makes any game feel like Sunday Night Football. 

Other improvements in gameplay should lessen the gap between the NFL 2K series and the current champ, EA’s Madden franchise.  The ‘charge’ system from last year has been revamped and retooled for this year’s version.  For example, players can either tap the sprint button to speed up their running, or hold the sprint button and charge up a special move meter.  When the special move is initiated, a spectacular juke, spin, or hurdle turns would be tacklers into turf munchers.  It seems to add a slightly arcade feel to the otherwise straight simulations, but it has spectacular results.  The updated NFL playbooks can be selected through a simpler play-calling interface, one of the consumer’s requests from last year’s version.  Because it was so important in many NFL games last year, the challenge system has been added to this year’s game, a feature previously available only in Madden.  Think the ref is a buffoon?  Throw the red flag and get him in the replay booth.  There’s also a multi-player franchise mode in the works for ultimate in-house competition.  Both the PS2 and Xbox versions will be playable on-line complete with chat, downloadable rosters, and more.