The DP Challenge is a research project in which you play and analyze the top 100 games ever to hit your console(s). At the end of this project, I hope to be a better writer with a host of ideas for my own projects. I anticipate that I will learn more from the games that are in genres that I don't usually play or simply from games I wouldn't usually pick up than from the games I love. I'm looking forward to that education!
Information on the DP Challenge can be found at: http://www.dpfiles.com/dpfileswiki/index.php?title=THE_DP_CHALLENGE
**Note: As it takes a long time to evaluate 100+ games and new games are constantly being rolled out, my top 100 list continually changes. There will undoubtedly be discrepancies in the numeric rating of my list. As I catch them, I'll try to update them, but, I want to play all of the great games, so I know I'll be changing the list often.
#33 NFL 2K3
December 2, 2010#33 NFL 2K3
Game Info
Publisher: SegaDeveloper: Visual Concepts
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Football
Players: 1-2 Players
ESRB Rating: E(Everyone)
Release Date: August 12, 2002
Intro:
A real, live, video of the Sports Center announcer introduces NFL 2K3, giving way to animated gameplay footage of various NFL teams.
Getting Going:
Players first get to choose from a variety of options:
- Quick Game
- Game Modes
- Franchise
- o Preseason Games
- o Trade Deadline
- o Fantasy Draft Roster
- o Customize League
- o Import NCAA2K3 Class
- o Draft Players
- o Sign Draft Picks
- o Sign Free Agents
- o Update Depth Chart
- Season
- Playoffs
- Tournament
- Exhibition
- Practice
- Situation
- Online Play
- Options
- Load/Save
- Roster Manager
- Sega Sports Challenge
- Test yourself and compete with the best. Play the challenges and post your records online to see how you rank.
Choosing a team brings up team stats: how the team rates in rushing and passing offense, rushing and passing defense, how many playoff appearances, number of Super Bowl Appearances and the number of Super Bowl victories, as well as overall standing.
Fun:
Players get a more realistic feel of control in the game than in the Madden franchise. There is a greater element of decision-making and speed in active play. With it’s impressive graphics and greater player empowerment, NFL 2K3 is realistic enough to keep players involved in the action of play.
Visuals:
The coaches appear to have cerebral palsy as they are shown in close-ups on the sidelines. This will only be remarkable when seen against the impressive graphics and animations of play on the field. The game is played in a top-down style as players choose the plays on the field and then partake in the action. Players have control of the quarterback and then will have control over the receiver. In other words, players have control over the players closest to the ball. Photographs of actual players are part of the introduction of every game as the ESPN announcers discuss the most valuable players and what is expected in the game. The crowd is still basically faceless shapes in the distance. Here, the action is all about the game.
Sound:
ESPN announces all of the games as well as giving the sports desk news regarding the rest of the teams. The voice-acting is superb in overall play-by-plays and commentaries. NFL 2K3 lacks the real sound of the crowd and the war music of the games but, it creates an immersive, realistic feel in the sports announcing.
Intelligence:
Visual Concepts took great care in creating the AI for NFL 2K3 and it shows. If your players don’t get to the right spot to catch a pass, there is a tremendous possibility for interception or a fumble. The opposing team takes quick advantage of this. They are also relentless in their own scoring drives. Nothing is a given. Players don’t simply have two to four options for plays, either. There are eight pages of play choices for every drive. The initial play choice gives way to more choices and finally it’s time to play it out. While the feature can be turned off, if a player takes too long to make choices, there is a delay of game. The opposing team also receives this penalty, as well as taking time-outs.
Immersion:
There is an illusion of immersion in the football game environment. While the player has a huge amount of decision-making in the game and is involved in the play on the field, the announcing is done outside of the game as we hear it on our televisions, as opposed to hearing the action on the field from the point of the players or coaches. Players can turn on the coach feature, however, giving them even more involvement in the plays. As you play, no one is actually commenting on what you should do or what they might expect to see. There is a small, subtle element of that in which an announcer might say ‘they should focus on a short rushing game.’ but, it’s not as in-your-face as it is in other football video games.
Rewards and Punishments:
This doesn’t really apply. Either the player plays well, or they don’t. As in any sports game, the rules of the sport rule the win/lose states of the game. NFL 2K3 does take this a step further in allowing the player access to the sports calendar, franchise options and draft picks. This would seem to be more of a feature of the game than a reward for playing, however.
Cameras:
The player has no control of the camera which views the game from behind in a top-down viewpoint.
Controls:
The controls are basic and easy enough to learn. In the heat of action, it seems that there is a bit of lack of control. In defense, for instance, which player you are in control of is not completely clear. The realism of a quarterback under siege makes it difficult, at times, to get your receivers in position.
Ideas:
I was impressed with how empowered the player is in NFL 2K3. There are many decisions to be made, all in the hands of a player who is treated as if they know the game of football. All football games, it seems, give players the illusion of immersion in the game. In other words, football games give the decisions and control of play on the field while the game plays out in front of them with sights and sounds reminiscent of watching, not playing, a Sunday afternoon NFL game. In the background, players have control of their team. I would still like to see a football game that puts the player on the field, in the thick of the action; injuries, helmet talk, and all.
Memory:
As a football game, I am really impressed with the graphics and the amount of AI in NFL 2K3. As a player, though, I’m not a big fan of sports games.
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Sports
