NFL GameDay 2004 (PlayStation 2)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 6.3 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Giancarlo Varanini
• Reviewed on: 08/29/2003
• Released on: 08/27/2003
• Originally published on GameSpot: NFL GameDay 2004 (PlayStation 2) Review

Like in last year's game, online play remains the brightest spot in NFL GameDay 2004. Its wealth of features includes everything from tournaments to built-in message boards and e-mail. That being said, the gameplay falls considerably short and is still behind the competition. Unfortunately, GameDay exhibits bouts of outrageously bad AI and displays little quirks that make it seem as though the game is simulating incompetent high school football players as opposed to seasoned professionals.

These problems are almost immediately obvious within the first few minutes of starting a game. Even on the highest difficulty setting, it's not totally uncommon to move outside the pocket as the quarterback and stand there for a good 10 seconds before a defender ever comes close to making a tackle. This enables you to survey the field and wait for an open receiver. Of course, that shouldn't be too difficult since the defensive backs occasionally don't bother picking up open receivers anyway--especially if they come out of the backfield. In addition, the 10 seconds you have to throw the ball allows plenty of time for the receivers to get a good 25 yards down the field, but, not surprisingly, it's still relatively easy to complete these passes. Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the passing game occurs when you throw to a receiver who's facing the line of scrimmage. When the player catches the ball, he automatically runs two yards or so back toward the line of scrimmage before turning around to run in the proper direction. This momentum feature makes sense when players are running toward the sidelines, or just running, period, but in this case, the receiver is stationary but still runs in the wrong direction.

Other interesting quirks can be found in the running game. When running the ball to the outside, once the ball carrier gets a few yards beyond the line of scrimmage, the defensive backs will stay in pass coverage and run in the opposite direction. Normally, this wouldn't be such a big deal, since cornerbacks and safeties are usually focused on coverage, but it just happens far too often for it to not be an issue. Otherwise, the running game is actually pretty solid--thanks to some smart offensive line blocking.

There are some problems with the defense--especially those associated with the passing game--since the defensive back AI just acts ridiculously stupid at points; but it is decent. Defensive backs do a reasonable job of picking up receivers in zone defenses, and linebackers can't really cheat since they have trouble breaking through the offensive line.

NFL GameDay 2004 is pretty standard in its mode selection. There are preseason, season, general manager, tournament, practice, and franchise management options. The general manager mode essentially functions as the game's franchise mode in which you can take a team through numerous seasons in hopes of winning a Super Bowl, or, at the very least, building a dynasty. The general manager mode lets you perform all of the basic actions like trading players, signing free agents, drafting new players, managing playbooks, and viewing statistics to get a glimpse at who the top players are. There's nothing particularly special about the general manager mode since it doesn't really offer anything new that other football games, or even previous versions of GameDay, don't also offer.

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