NFL Fever 2003
- August 06, 2002 00:00 AM PST
As the competition between the console gridiron champions gets ready to explode, Pong Sifu tries to separate the ashes from the pearls by spending some time with NFL Fever 2003.
Most Improved Player?Though it garnered heaps of praise for its �ber-realistic graphics and wickedly amazing animation, Microsoft's console-gridiron franchise suffered some criticism due to a lack of player control and computer A.I. which was a bit on the tepid side. Microsoft has promised to address these issues in NFL Fever 2003, and the results were readily apparent in the preview build. Improvements have been made to the passing defense system; players exhibited more specialized behavior patterns than before; and overall, the game felt more realistic than last year's version.
Customizing Your Game
Microsoft is also paying more attention to customization for Fever's sophomore outing. New to this year's edition is the Uniform Editor, which will enable you to create and customize your own uniform using pre-existing teams' uniforms as a template. Even better, the all-new Play Editor�enabling you to create your own plays�was up and running in the preview build. With a few button presses, you could select formations, choose between running or passing plays, set pass patterns for receivers or running backs, program blocking, and determine whether or not your receiver will run in motion before a play.
Fourth and 10
The graphics department was where NFL Fever 2002 really shined, and the preview version of 2003 was even more visually stunning. Many new animations have already been implemented, and the player models boasted more details and accessories. The lighting, real-time reflections, and textures were all jaw-dropping gorgeous, and the game ran super smooth and steady. With such fierce competition from console NFL offerings from EA Sports and Sega Sports, Microsoft has its work cut out for it. But if the new features and improvements are implemented in NFL Fever 2003, it looks like the game might even give Madden NFL 2003 and NFL 2K3 a run for their money this fall.
