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I have been trying to decide on a Football game and was having difficulties choosing between, NFL Fever and Madden 2002.
Basic background:
I have only played Football in school yard pick games of scrimmage, and thus have never played organized ball.
I use to watch football as a young boy, only because my friends watched it and it was the CFL. I do enjoy watching a good game of NFL ball.
I don't know when and how to use all those plays, when should I use a nickel or dime defence...etc.
I do understand the basic concepts and rules enough and do enjoy the game.
I have not played an electronic Football game since Bally's. So I may be ingnorant to what is considered standard play controls.
I do like the Raider's because of their legacy of being a band of misfits.
I'm a Rough Riders Fan, though we have not had a lot to cheer about in the last decade.
OK, first up I rented NFL Fever. I was stunned by the graphics of this game for its realism, the animation of it players with their fluid motion, and all the other elements, like the uniform / helmet and stadium detail.
I proceeded to basic practice to learn how play control worked and how to throw a football. This did not take me long at all for I was up to speed in about 10 minutes of play on how most things worked.
I started to play a game, and found that the play control was simple and easy to learn. This is very important for most of my guests are not as avid a game player as I am. I actually won my first game, so now I understand what every one is complaining about the CPU AI. When I switched to the harder modes it when I found I was having tighter games and would lose quite often.
I had friends over and we all had fun playing Fever. They were also floored by the graphics and commented on how much they appreciated the play control.
Sure Fever has some issues and is not perfect…
So then I rented Madden:
How does this game win Game Spy's Game of the Year for Xbox? Read Here
No disrespect to Madden fans but this game is a port, and you can tell. I don't think a game available on all other platforms should be GOTY for Xbox, esp. if it only a marginal improvement of the other platforms.
Anyway, so I start play and the first thing I notice is the graphics simply are not in the same league as Fever, as it has a very sterile look. Not a big deal, I'm sure play control more than makes up for this. Well navigating the menus is not as intuitive as Fever, as it took me a while to figure out how to get to the offensive practice. When I did get to where I wanted, It was nice hearing John Madden coach me through the practices, actually comforting.
It took me awhile before I could determine how to pass with Madden. I personally have to say I don't like having to press "A" to hike the ball and then having to press "A" again to bring up the receiver Icons, and then press the intended receiver button. Most time I found I was getting sacked for taking so long, throwing interceptions, or pressing the wrong button "Y" where there is no receiver for that button, and then you’re screwed. A lot of times I forgot to press the "A" button a second time for the pass icons, and this really burned me.
OK, so I'm not ready to play a game and decide to go back to practice. Well the more I was practicing, the more I was missing Fever, not only on the control side, but on the graphics side as well. Madden's players and graphics just look too weird and unrealistic to me, their movements are very computer generated looking and jerky a lot of the times. There was also strange inconsistent things’ happening with the players during play. Like they would stutter on a hit and keep stuttering for a second or 2 after the play.
One aspect of Madden I did like was the running game, I really like how it is executed as it felt very satisfying. As well the palyers names do not obsure the run play as in Fever. Many times during a run with Fever, I could not see that I was going to be hit untill it was too late. The players name tag blocked out tackler. Passes also felt very good when I could pull them off, and I can see how hardcore football gamers can like Madden. It really seems to have a deeper sense of the game if you have the patience and time to learn how to use the tools effectively. Then that my biggest gripe with madden, it tries to be to much of a sim at the expense of pure and simple fun.
Personally, I did not really enjoying Madden at all, even though I was trying hard to learn this game, and really wanted to like it based on the fact that it's EA and Madden. I certainly don't think my guests will enjoy the learning curve it takes to get up to speed either. I can see it as no problem if I had a bunch of HC playing Madden friends, but I don't.
Graphically and animation wise Madden really disappointed me. Sure it does have some items I like more than Fever, like the one handed catch, but over all it was a let down.
I had Madden for a week, however most times I found I was really missing Fever as I played Madden.
I can see and understand Madden's appeal to HC players; however from what I want from a console game of Football, it's just not what I'm looking for at this point of the game. I want something that is simple and fun to play, with out having to really dive into lots of practice time to be effective. I want something my guest can come over and enjoy, not something that has them saying,” Lets do that again another year...."
I ended up buying Fever, for it's play control, graphics and because it was coded for the Xbox from the ground up, and is only on the Xbox.
I can see myself wanting another FB game like Madden, or NFL 2k2 at a later date.
What I can't see is how Madden was chosen for GOTY by Game Spy for the Xbox platform; I just don't see it as that good of a game in my mind.
My apologies and respect to all Madden fans.
Bing
Basic background:
I have only played Football in school yard pick games of scrimmage, and thus have never played organized ball.
I use to watch football as a young boy, only because my friends watched it and it was the CFL. I do enjoy watching a good game of NFL ball.
I don't know when and how to use all those plays, when should I use a nickel or dime defence...etc.
I do understand the basic concepts and rules enough and do enjoy the game.
I have not played an electronic Football game since Bally's. So I may be ingnorant to what is considered standard play controls.
I do like the Raider's because of their legacy of being a band of misfits.
I'm a Rough Riders Fan, though we have not had a lot to cheer about in the last decade.
OK, first up I rented NFL Fever. I was stunned by the graphics of this game for its realism, the animation of it players with their fluid motion, and all the other elements, like the uniform / helmet and stadium detail.
I proceeded to basic practice to learn how play control worked and how to throw a football. This did not take me long at all for I was up to speed in about 10 minutes of play on how most things worked.
I started to play a game, and found that the play control was simple and easy to learn. This is very important for most of my guests are not as avid a game player as I am. I actually won my first game, so now I understand what every one is complaining about the CPU AI. When I switched to the harder modes it when I found I was having tighter games and would lose quite often.
I had friends over and we all had fun playing Fever. They were also floored by the graphics and commented on how much they appreciated the play control.
Sure Fever has some issues and is not perfect…
So then I rented Madden:
How does this game win Game Spy's Game of the Year for Xbox? Read Here
No disrespect to Madden fans but this game is a port, and you can tell. I don't think a game available on all other platforms should be GOTY for Xbox, esp. if it only a marginal improvement of the other platforms.
Anyway, so I start play and the first thing I notice is the graphics simply are not in the same league as Fever, as it has a very sterile look. Not a big deal, I'm sure play control more than makes up for this. Well navigating the menus is not as intuitive as Fever, as it took me a while to figure out how to get to the offensive practice. When I did get to where I wanted, It was nice hearing John Madden coach me through the practices, actually comforting.
It took me awhile before I could determine how to pass with Madden. I personally have to say I don't like having to press "A" to hike the ball and then having to press "A" again to bring up the receiver Icons, and then press the intended receiver button. Most time I found I was getting sacked for taking so long, throwing interceptions, or pressing the wrong button "Y" where there is no receiver for that button, and then you’re screwed. A lot of times I forgot to press the "A" button a second time for the pass icons, and this really burned me.
OK, so I'm not ready to play a game and decide to go back to practice. Well the more I was practicing, the more I was missing Fever, not only on the control side, but on the graphics side as well. Madden's players and graphics just look too weird and unrealistic to me, their movements are very computer generated looking and jerky a lot of the times. There was also strange inconsistent things’ happening with the players during play. Like they would stutter on a hit and keep stuttering for a second or 2 after the play.
One aspect of Madden I did like was the running game, I really like how it is executed as it felt very satisfying. As well the palyers names do not obsure the run play as in Fever. Many times during a run with Fever, I could not see that I was going to be hit untill it was too late. The players name tag blocked out tackler. Passes also felt very good when I could pull them off, and I can see how hardcore football gamers can like Madden. It really seems to have a deeper sense of the game if you have the patience and time to learn how to use the tools effectively. Then that my biggest gripe with madden, it tries to be to much of a sim at the expense of pure and simple fun.
Personally, I did not really enjoying Madden at all, even though I was trying hard to learn this game, and really wanted to like it based on the fact that it's EA and Madden. I certainly don't think my guests will enjoy the learning curve it takes to get up to speed either. I can see it as no problem if I had a bunch of HC playing Madden friends, but I don't.
Graphically and animation wise Madden really disappointed me. Sure it does have some items I like more than Fever, like the one handed catch, but over all it was a let down.
I had Madden for a week, however most times I found I was really missing Fever as I played Madden.
I can see and understand Madden's appeal to HC players; however from what I want from a console game of Football, it's just not what I'm looking for at this point of the game. I want something that is simple and fun to play, with out having to really dive into lots of practice time to be effective. I want something my guest can come over and enjoy, not something that has them saying,” Lets do that again another year...."
I ended up buying Fever, for it's play control, graphics and because it was coded for the Xbox from the ground up, and is only on the Xbox.
I can see myself wanting another FB game like Madden, or NFL 2k2 at a later date.
What I can't see is how Madden was chosen for GOTY by Game Spy for the Xbox platform; I just don't see it as that good of a game in my mind.
My apologies and respect to all Madden fans.
Bing
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