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NFL Gameday 2001 (PS2) ReviewBackground Info
Presentation/Graphics : 40
Where the game takes a leap back to its 32-bit heritage is with the limited animations. Players all run
similarly, tackle similarly, receive similarly, and throw similarly. The few frames of
animation were acceptable on the PSX, but on the PS2, we've been treated to some fine football animations
thanks to EA Sports and Madden 2001. You can forget about animations of players breaking tackles or
spectacular one-handed catches. Coupled with the poor animations is a collision detection system that
makes the Patriot missile look like a can't miss defense system. When quarterbacks drop back in the
pocket, their throws are identical; every pass is a perfect lob down the field. The ball takes a high
trajectory over the field and lands not in the receiver's arms, but on the surface of an invisible box
enveloping the player. The ball than instantly transitions from being caught in mid air to resting in the
player's arms. Unfortunately, secondaries don't have the same luck with grabbing a ball. Not only can
receivers run right through defenders, the ball often does as well.
When compared to Madden, Gameday is a joke. The difference in quality is night and day. Strike 1.
Presentation/Audio : 75
Ball 1.
Interface/Options : 50
After playtesting Madden 2001 to death, I was accustomed to a certain visual and logical quality of the
menus. Once Gameday 2001 landed on my doorstep, I had a slap in the face. Player controls were no
problem. Most football games these days use a similar set of controls. Visually, the menus are rudimentary
both in design and look. Working through the offensive and defensive formations was particularly
annoying. You have to cycle left or right through the list of formations and plays. Unless you memorize the
next play, you have to keep cycling. I was expecting Madden-like playcalling where three plays are shown
followed by text above and below the plays to let you know what is above and below. It makes playcalling
more efficient (and less annoying). Fortunately, you have an infinite amount of time on defense and ample
time on offense to pick your play. But the lack of quality in just this small area shows the lack of quality for
the entire presentation.
I started playing the game in the General Manager mode, which lets you take control of a team from player
personnel issues to play on the field. The first thing to note is that player characteristics are absent. I started
with the college draft, which at a paltry four rounds left me with a bad taste. Talent was based on overall
ability rather than being broken down into passing, catching, running, blocking, and other vital categories.
Next, salary negotiation was left to a yes or no response with no room for bargaining. Furthermore, the
CPU has a huge role in determining who makes the team and who is cut. Wait, I thought I was the GM?
Statistically, Gameday 2001 holds its own. In-game stats as well as those around the league are realistic.
However, the good quality stats do not make up for an otherwise inferior system.
That's pretty much it. I guess I should mention that besides the "franchise" mode, the game has a season,
exhibition, and tournament style mode. All are forgettable because of the horrid gameplay. If you can
actually last a season, you deserve to win the Super Bowl.
John Madden winds up. Whiff. Strike 2.
Gameplay : 50
I already mentioned that every pass is a lob. No bullets, no in-between throws. Just lobs. Of course, the
lobs are fine since more times than not receivers are wide open thanks to an incredible poor secondary AI.
Cornerbacks will cover areas behind the line of scrimmage even when receivers are down the field.
Safeties drop back 20 yards or more at the snap of the ball. Many times the secondary runs away from the
ball carrier. This is particularly apparent on sweeps. The secondary must think every sweep is a potential
halfback pass as they won't converge for the tackle until after he crosses the line of scrimmage. The swiss
cheese secondary is an embarrassment to console football.
The quality passing game continues on offense as well. I about fell out of my seat as I witnessed my QB
toss a perfect lob as he was on the run. After the snap, I rolled out to the left, parallel to the line. My right-
handed QB tossed a perfect lob at a 90 degree angle to his path in an instant. No setting and planting the
feet. If it was a left-handed QB I could almost buy it, but right-handed? Nope.
The running game is equally bad. In this league, equality is everything. No matter the size of the back,
from the diminutive Robert Smith to a big boy like Alstott, they go down equally with arm tackles from
gnome-sized safeties. On pitch plays, running backs run to a spot in the backfield at which point the QB
tosses the ball and the back waits patiently. The backs will run in place for a second or so until the ball
finally arrives. The extra delay is just enough time for the defense to run into the backfield for a tackle.
Even the AI playcalling is terrible. Before the half or late in the fourth quarter, the CPU will rapidly burn
its timeouts. No clock management skills are necessary for the CPU team. Furthermore, once the AI team
burns its timeouts, it never engages in a hurry up offense. The team strolls back to the huddle and wastes a
good 10-15 seconds off the clock. It then decides on a play with 37 seconds left on the play clock (every
play in every game is always decided with exactly 37 ticks on the play clock). If you actually go out and
rent or buy this game, you can use exploit this to quash any late attempts by the CPU to score.
There's so much bad in this game and I can't think of a single positive thing. I played with the limited AI
settings and still couldn't come up with a decent brand of football. The gameplay just blows.
Strike 3.
Replay Value : 0
Overall : 29
The only way you should come into possession of this game is if you get it for free. I got this game for
free, and I still feel like I've been taken for a ride. I will never get back the time wasted on this lousy
football game. After my last game of Gameday, I had to rinse out the bad taste it left with a quick game of
Madden 2001. It was refreshing. If by any chance someone gives you this game as a gift, tell them to take
it back. Put it this way - both Madden and Gameday are the same price. If moldy black bananas cost the
same as the best 10 ounce sirloin, which would you pick? I don't even eat meat but I know the answer to
that one. Do what you do with the moldy bananas - throw them in the landfill.
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