A hesitant thumbs up.
The last football game I purchased was Madden 2004. So, it's been a while since I've played. This game is definitely not Madden. But it can be maddening. Here's my conclusions:
[b]MODS:[/b]
The game can easily be modified. I changed one of the generic teams that came with the game and put together a squad of rednecks led by Ricky Bobby. The stats for an entire team can be quickly and easily modified in Excel. Likewise, custom uniforms, team logos, and field logos can be easily made by tweaking the appropriate files in Photoshop or Gimp. Customizing the player stats in the Roster file to make a super-strong offense was what made playing the game worthwhile. At this time, I have 20 hours of game playing time; most of that is with my crew of rednecks. You can then take this custom team into Franchise mode.
[b]FRANCHISE:[/b]
I played one season, but supposedly this is the game's strong point, especially if you just do Coach or Spectate mode. If building and managing a team on a shoe-string budget over a period of years sounds fun to you, then you may enjoy this quite a bit. I was disappointed that the game required me to release all my QB's at the end of the first season with no option to sign them back on. So, you'll have to deal with the computer making random contract decisions for you. Maybe there's a way around that. I don't know. It was difficult figuring out how to navigate the post-season events in a way that would not wreck my team. I’ll probably try this again at some point.
In Franchise mode, the league is divided into three tiers. You’re placed in the bottom one, and the “Superbowl,” if you make it, is between you and a random opponent. Each tier has its own playoffs and Superbowl. I don’t like the tier system. But it’s not a deal-breaker for me.
[b]---PLAYABILITY---[/b]
This game is not Madden. Not even close.
[b]PASSING:[/b]
Passes are nearly impossible to complete. Using the NFL mod, I played a game with Green Bay and, even with Aaron Rodgers as my QB against a C+ defense, I completed 4 of 17 passes, 0 TD, 1 INT, 50 passing YD. Passes seem to be completed on a random basis. You're more likely to hit your guy in the chest with the ball than for him to catch it. Also, defenders travel faster than the ball when it is thrown. So, a guy who is open when you throw the ball will suddenly have two or three defenders on top of him, breaking up the pass or intercepting it. The computer, on the other hand, even with a C-rated QB, will complete 50-60% of passes. With my beefed up Ricky Bobby redneck crew, I can hit 50-60% pass completions.
[b]RUNNING:[/b]
Running up the middle is nearly impossible. If you don't lose yardage, sometimes you can get one or two yards, but not more than that. A toss to the strong or weak side is where it's at if you've got a RB with decent speed. No option for QB sneaks that I could find.
Defenders can tackle you even if they are being blocked. Being within a few yards of a defender usually results in an automatic tackle.
Offensively, the game is not much fun with an unmodified team. First downs are rare. I spend most of my time punting the ball. Granted, I'm not great at the game, but I have a feeling that even someone who is really good at it doesn't do nearly as well as they would in Madden.
[b]DEFENSE:[/b]
Defensively, things are good. An average defensive line can stop the run and, as mentioned above, tackling is easy.
The result is a low thrill game in which the defense of every team (whether good or mediocre) dominates. Sacking is fun and I can usually get two or three sacks in a game with the player I'm controlling.
[b]PLAY CALLING:[/b]
Usually goes smoothly except on 4th down. Will the computer punt, kick a field goal, or go for a first down? No clue! You won’t be told until you choose your play. There have been countless times that I’ve sent out my punt return crew only to find that the computer is going for a first down, which they usually get unless I call a timeout and send my defense back on the field.
[b]GRAPHICS & PLAYER MOVEMENT:[/b]
Graphics are nothing amazing, but they’re good enough for me. The player movements are funny. Many “tackles” are two players coming within a close distance and simultaneously falling in different directions. The motions are a bit clunky, but that’s not a big deal. I understand this is low budget, and the programmers are doing their best with the time they have.
[b]CONCLUSION[/b]
I wouldn't have lasted 20 hours with this game if it wasn't so fun to customize. Creating a team with a stellar offense is the only way to make this game interesting. But your special team won't last in Franchise mode since the computer will take away your star players at the end of the first season. There are probably people who enjoy the thrill of playing a game that is this difficult, but I'm not one of them.
I’ll give it a thumbs up since I have to choose something. I also haven’t gotten into the second season in Franchise mode. Maybe that would turn out to be fun once I get the hang of it. It’s not a terrible game, but the playability needs major work, especially on the offense.
I've left the review open to comments in case anyone with experience has tips to share.
