As I said last year, it's a fairly safe bet that gridiron fans aren't exactly anticipating this year's iteration of NFL Gameday, or it's college counterpart, NCAA Gamebreaker. However, those who were willing to give the series a shot last year found that both games not only showed significant improvement over the previous season, but also showed great promise. Gameday in particular not only showed the makings of a solid football game, but also provided one of the most complete online experiences of last year's three competitors. Although the game still failed to regain the MVP trophy it held in the 90's, that?s not stopping anyone from giving it one more shot.
This year, Gameday 2004 is coming to gamers with a whole new look featuring enhanced models, which promise to look and move just like their real-life counterparts. This means that each player will be recreated on your PS2 to exact weight, height, and body proportions, and will even include the actual faces of 180 players and player-specific accessories like visors, tattoos and neck rolls. Player animations will also benefit from a bit of polish thanks to "Motion Blending" technology that allows for seamless transition between movements. Just like last year, the game will also feature numerous bone-crushing tackle animations. Each of the game's stadiums have also received an overhaul with more detailed textures and new lighting enhancements.
The control system will also be tweaked and will include a variety of new options. On defense, players will be able to view assignments, shift the line and audible the secondary. There will also be a new "Jump Start" option that will allow players to attempt to anticipate the snap and get the jump on the offensive line. On offense, the brand new Max Protect and Super Max Protect will allow players to keep two extra blockers for better pass protection. A new Hot Route function will also enable players to change any eligible receivers pass route at the line. These will include seam, fade, out, slant, hitch and curl routes.
Gameday 2004 will also enhance the already excellent online mode by adding a list of new features. Although lag wasn't much of an issue last year, an all-new architecture will help to eliminate lag on both broadband and 56k connections. A new lobby feature will also be included and sport 989 and user-hosted tournaments, as well as message boards, user mail, buddy lists, stat-tracking and roster updates. An HTML interface will also allow players to tap into the lobby from their home PC. Also planned is a live sports ticker that will provide info on current scores and sports news and real-time weather reports during games (meaning, if you're playing at Lambeau Field, and it's really snowing in Green Bay, then it will snow in your game). A centralized login for message boards and mail will allow players to keep in touch with all 989 sports gamers. You will even be able to chat in a lobby during or between games.
For fans who feel the NFL game has been tarnished, 989 will also offer a spruced up version of the 'purer' football experience (well, purer unless you?re the University of Alabama), NCAA Gamebreaker. While the graphical package will receive an upgrade similar to it's older brother, most of Gamebreaker will remain unchanged -- including color commentary of the legendary Keith Jackson. The Coaching career mode will also make a return, allowing players to climb the ladder of college success. The biggest change to the series is the inclusion of an Online mode, which will feature a centralized lobby, message boards, buddy-lists, in-game chat and more.
The game will also include 50 new, fully animated mascots along with animated cheerleaders and other sideline personnel. All of the 28 bowl games will be included, such as the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, FedEx Orange Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl, and Rose Bowl. Like last year's Gameday, the game will feature 11 special stadiums like the Roman Coliseum, Aircraft Carrier and old Gamebreaker Bowl.
Both games will ship later this year.
