ESPN NFL Football | Sony PlayStation 2

ESPN NFL Football | Sony PlayStation 2 | PS2

After NFL2K3, Sega follows up with another addition to its football franchise in the form of the less-cryptically titled ESPN NFL Football. Promising some of the most convincing American Football seen on the PS2 to date, ESPN NFL Football manages to improve on just about every aspect of its predecessor. The gameplay has been updated, with new controls for improved passing, tackling and running, and for the first time, you can get inside the helmet of your character with the innovative first-person perspective.

Details

Fans of the series will no doubt welcome the return of the scarily comprehensive Franchise mode, which allows you to manage every aspect of the game, season to season, controlling signings, trades and your team's performance. And now Sega has added a virtual email system, which gives you access to league updates, feedback from the team manager and injury reports that'll let you know whether your star player is fit to take to the pitch on match day.

In addition to the Franchise mode, ESPN NFL Football has Quick Game, Season, Tournament and Practice modes, as well as the new 'Crib' area for displaying all the goodies you unlock by completing certain objectives. It's essentially a virtual trophy cabinet that you can fill with a wealth of neat extras, such as new furniture for your crib, in-game cheats, and new players.

The opposition AI has been tweaked since the last title, and teams behave in much the same way that their real-life counterparts would on the field. Graphically, ESPN NFL Football also aces the previous game, with improved player modelling, crowd animation and stadium recreation.

Features

Decorate your 'Crib' with extras unlocked by completing missions
Take on the opposition in unique First-Person Mode
Run the show with the improved Franchise Mode