NFL Head Coach

Easily one of the most mentally challenging and complex games to date, NFL Head Coach proves football is hardly a dummy's game.

At first glance, NFL Head Coach might seem like a Madden re-hash or a clever reworking of EA's marquee franchise. But the surprising level of depth and managerial complexity makes NFL Head Coach a very unique sports gaming experience, and signals the emergence of what's sure to be a new niche genre. As the first action-less sports game (dubbed "sports strategy") NFL Head Coach removes the quick-twitch reactions and arcade button mashing of other football titles in favor of an entirely cerebral approach to the game. Be warned, the closest thing to action in this game is clicking through endless barrages of menus and selection screens to call plays, conduct practice, and read your emails. That's right - a large part of NFL Coach's highly strategic career mode involves managing the mind-numbingly tedious interoffice minutia of year-round coaching (like answering emails, making business calls, and attending staff meetings). Unfortunately, this means that the fun and challenging game day coaching segments stands in stark contrast to the dead-dull managerial tasks that comprise the majority of the game.

Chalk Talk

If this desk jockeying sounds more like an office simulator than a sports RPG, don't worry - you can easily advance past any dull (but strategically necessary) events by skipping ahead on your coach's calendar. NFL Head Coach emphasizes realism and, accordingly, all games are played out in real-time. In other words, the on field action won't stop because you need to ream your lazy receiving corps, or talk to your coordinators in the booth. The optional headset also makes a very cool peripheral addition here as well, allowing you to communicate directly with your coaches and receive play suggestions right in your ear.

X's and O's

The typically high-end EA presentation is present here, but in a more subdued form as the graphics remain uninspired and modest in the office segments (but shine during plays) and the score seems nearly absent. But while it may be lacking in aesthetic qualities, NFL Head Coach accurately captures the intense pressure and stressful multitasking of being a professional coaching icon. The level of football knowledge required to successfully become a coaching legend in the game is fairly substantial, but players less familiar with the inner workings of the sport shouldn't be intimidated, as the support provided by your assistant coaches allows you to eliminate a great deal of time and frustration if you choose to forego most of the year-round tasks. Overall, the unique approach of NFL Head Coach makes this game a smart pick for football freaks and sports gamers looking to add some analytical and intellectual flavor to their library.

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