Taking a look back at Sega's football games back on the Sega Genesis, I can honestly say that the games really didn't get better with age. Prime Time NFL Football and NFL '98 didn't really have enough to offer to make people depart from the long-running Madden series.
Meantime, things got even worse on the Sega Saturn, with one of the most shoddy football games ever made for the system, NFL '97. One would think that, after playing that smelly heap of a CD-ROM, Sega would never get focused into a good game of football.
But then came a glimmer of hope from the folks at Visual Concepts, who themselves used to be programmers of EA's mighty Madden games. Sega and Visual Concepts worked from the ground up on an all new football game for the Sega Dreamcast, and the result was NFL 2K. The game quickly became a must-have, selling almost at a 1:1 ratio with the systems that flew out the door. Many felt that the game's graphics were terrific, and the presentation was hands down above Madden's, but the game still had flaws, including a poor running game and the occasional problems in different modes. Still, it was the promise of a new direction, with more to come in the next year's edition. Which is now here, might I add...
NFL 2K1 is Visual Concepts' second football game for the Sega Dreamcast, and could very well be the game to steal the gridiron thunder from Madden NFL 2001 this year- yes, even the Playstation 2 version. It takes last year's game engine and improves it nicely, adding several new options and the ability to play online via the SegaNet online service.
Check the breakdown below for yourself to get a glimpse at something great...
Visuals:: Just like last year's game, NFL 2K1 is a very smooth experience to be seen. The players move and react just like the real thing, right down to Terrell Davis' Bronco salute and Kurt Warner's arm snap during a key throw. There are some moments when the frame rate does skip a beat, but it's hardly harmful enough to ruin the presentation. The stadiums are perfectly rendered just like the real things, and the crowd actually looks alive, if somewhat diminished in size. Hey, Visual Concepts can't fit EVERYTHING in the screen, you know. Let's just say they don't look pasted on, like WWF Royal Rumble's plastered fans. Replays still show off like a dream, kind of like an NFL telecast but with Sega logos all around. You can even control your own replays in the options, so you can change camera modes, positions, etc. This was in last year's version, and remains a treat to see here. Detail is terrific, with jersey numbers and names clearly seen and facial expressions during the up-close replays, which are fascinating. To round it all off, the game features a great new introductory movie and some of the most stylish options screens I've ever seen, right down to the swirling Sega Online logo in the corner when you're playing through SegaNet. NFL 2K1 isn't exactly perfect when it comes to looks, but it's a whole lot better looking than the glitchy Playstation affairs and holds its own against Madden for PS2.
Audio:: Just like last year, a stellar reproduction of the real thing is at hand. The crowd reactions are great, almost thunderous to the point where you can barely hear yourself think. On-field chatter between the players is lively, right down to the snap. The other field effects, like the painful tackles and the impact between players, is also rightfully captured. There is some music in the game that's good as well, such as Sega's revamped "HEY!" theme and the occasional cheerful fare from the band. The play-by-play commentary by Peter and Dan (from last year's game) is still as fun to listen to as always, with accurate descriptions of each play and plenty of observations to take heed of as you prepare your next play. Finally, as the nice golden touch on the audio portion of the game, we have authentic effects for each stadium, like the stadium announcer using the neigh of a horse to liven up the Denver Broncos fans and such. Visual Concepts once again delivers with their football expertise, and your speakers will thank you for it.
Gameplay/Control:: Fortunately, this is much-improved over last year's edition, although still not quite perfect. Changing players on the field can be a pain in the butt at times, and the blocking game could use a bit more refinement when it comes to player sizes and power, but everything else sinks in nicely. The improved running game is a delight, as you can finally use Terrell Davis for what he was intended- some good first-down dashes. Of course, passing remains as detailed as always, with the ability to pitch the ball to one of several receivers in a crunch. You can also use turbo speed, spin, jump, dive, block, and juke your way to victory, whether it be offense or defense. The control is very accurate, even in the SegaNet mode (which we get to further below in this review), and the challenge remains just right in terms of balance, with rookie difficulty giving you the chance to hone your skills and pro difficulty giving you the meaty challenge you desire. So, despite the small setbacks mentioned above, there's an excellent-playing football game here.
Extras:: Incredibly heaping. Let's face it, NFL 2K1 will keep you busy for some time, even if you don't go near the SegaNet service. There's the single player game, which lets you go for the Heisman trophy or just take on some games in exhibition; there's the franchise mode, which lets you build your own football dynasty, right down to creatively-picked players; there's the multiplayer option, where friends can either play with you or against you in a merciless game of football; there's the practice option, where you can dig into each of the unique playbooks of each team (yes, there's a crapload of plays to dig through) and try them out to see if they're best suited for you; and, last but definitely not least, there's the network mode, for use with SegaNet. I admit, it was kind of a pain in the rump to get into the network for the first time on Thursday, only because of registry problems and local server dial-up issues. But, finally, last night, I got in, and, man, you will NOT believe how smooth the game plays online. Your choices and your opponent's choices come through quickly, and there's hardly any lag whatsoever during actual gameplay. There were some outside issues that forced me to cut off some games the other night (so to those people who played against me, I did NOT QUIT ON PURPOSE!), but that's no fault to the game. I got right back into it and played nearly all night, and I gotta say, this is definitely a good direction for Sega. Sure, I'm losing to 12-year olds right now, but I have to build my skills. And you can bet I'm enjoying the hell out of building such skills online. I'll complete that fake field goal play yet!
Overall:: Despite some minor issues that still keep this game from being absolutely perfect (maybe something we'll see in NFL 2K2, huh?), NFL 2K1 is an amazing feat by Sega, in terms of actual gameplay and features. If the online play doesn't hook you, the multiple options and realistic look and feel will. Even arcade football fans who clamor to the NFL Blitz games and fear the word "simulation" shouldn't miss this game, no matter how bad you get your butts whooped. Remember, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. And, man, does this game play...
Score:: 9.0/10
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