Jack's ESPN NFL Review comments...

[Web_22]

First of all, that was a great review Jack, I enjoyed it a lot. This years ESPN NFL is truly a spectacle, and at $20, there's just no reason anyone shouldn't own this game, even a diehard madden fan.

I love this game, I go home and play two games of my season every night I get the chance.

The replays are more realistic this year. No more 360 revolving camera junk from the older days, these replays replicate those broadcast replays nicely, something I definitely wanted.

Halftime show, great highlights.

The commentary can sometimes trail WAY behind the action. I've had them call the action from the previous down after I've ran a hurry up offense and already made the next play. Still, I'll take that commentary over madden/summerall any day.

The blocking on punt returns is still absolutely aweful. 9 times out of 10, everyone is already down there ready to drill me after I go 2 or 3 yards. Now I'm not looking for some returns every punt, but the blocking coverage could be a lot better than that, or at least give you a few more opportunities.

The running animations: Boy, when are they going to record some more realistic running animations. Knees need to come up higher, legs need to kick back a little more. Watch football this weekend and tell me if anyone runs like these guys. It's not the worst running animation, but this is one area I give madden the leg up on. Let's get separate animations for different body types, and maybe even have 2 or 3 variations for each body type. There's always next year for that one.

Tackle momentum: For the most part, this thing is spot on. However, there are times where I get hit from behind and actually fall the opposite way of the momentum. No biggie on this one.

Sportscenter: Great idea, but if it's just Chris Berman, why not make it an episode of Praaahhhm Taaaahhhhm (Prime Time of course!)? They should make the highlights a lot more like Prime Time seeing as they use the music from it, but only during the video clip. It completely stops as soon as the score page comes up, where as in the real broadcast, it still keeps going. And only ONE highlight clip per game? I'm sure this will get better as well.

Susy Kolbert: The interview could use a little work. Sure looks like her tho. The shot of just her face as she asks the question, that just doesn't happen. It's almost always both of them, or the players face in there, so that can use some more authenticity.

As for dropped and tipped balls, I think they happen a lot more realistically this year, even better than last years which was quite good. My bum QB has some bad accuracy at times tho when my receivers are wide open.

Crib points: Man, you gotta play this game a lot to get those points. I go with 5 minute quarters cuz that's about how long I want to play the game. But you only rack up about 600-800 points and some of the better stuff really costs a lot of points. You'd almost have to play 10 to 15 minute quarters to gain anything substantial. I've had 300 yard passing games with 100+ yard rushing games and 15 sacks and 4 INT's (3 by one player), 2 taken back for TD's and a punt return, and I still didn't even get 1000 points for that game. I kind of like the system better I just wish the good stuff didn't cost so much. The 10 measily points you get for playing an extra hour makes me laugh. You should get like 100 points with how much everything costs.

(Edit)The replays: Not sure if there's a slider for this, I haven't checked, but the defensive replays go right to the end of the play instead of watching it develop. Sacks in particular, you don't get to see your guy blow by the line or whatever, you just see the 1 or 2 seconds right before the sack.(end edit)

Still, this is stuff they can work on for next year. I'll still be playing this game everyday, online and off. They've seriously addressed a TON of issues I had with previous versions and I'm oh so happy with the results. if they address half of what I've put up there, and you got another ringer from ESPN for next year. I contemplated switching this year, but after seeing all the improvements, I think I'm ESPN for the life of that franchise.

[Jbrown]

well i play at least 1 game anight on my saeson and i have 4 catalogs unlocked. I have gotten like 1500 crib points from a 5 minutee quarter game... I got at least 16 sacks with derrick brooks tho.....hes the man!

[Web_22]

Well, I guess it's my fault then. I think I've gotten over a thousand recently, like 1200 something. Spikes had like 12 sacks in that game.

Oh yeah, how about some better replay coverage on the challenges. Do a slow mo just as the questionable part comes up and give us a few looks at it from different angles.

And don't let that guy reveal the result before the ref actually lets us know. There is one glitch from last year and I haven't tried it from this year. Forward progress. You can throw a challenge flag against a guy who already crossed the line or whatever, but if he gets tackled behind that line after making forward progress, the commentator will say that he went down behind the line. You didn't lose a timeout, and the commentator almost made it sound like they would overturn the call, but they still get the 1st down. I'll have to see about this years if that's there.

Gotta get some games in tonight, I love that game so much!!!