Review
NFL Street 3 Review (PS2)
EA return for another instalment in their urban gridiron series after a short break, but has the franchise lost its momentum?
“I don't understand the thrill of the running, catching, throwing, taking orders from a moron, grabbing for the sweaty crotches, getting hit by people I don't know,” sang Belle and Sebastian. Chances are, then, this game is not for them. In fact, NFL Street 3 is probably not for anyone who doesn’t understand American football – sure, there’s a pretty comprehensive tutorial about the game’s controls, but there’s not a lot to educate you on how the game itself actually works. So, unless you’re already well versed in exactly how much of a worry being faced with a 4th and long situation is, or are willing to put in the time to actually learn the ins and outs, this might not be the game for you.
Not that NFL Street 3 is a tactics filled brain teaser, exactly. As anyone who’s played the first two knows, the series is very much from the NBA school of sports games; it’s seven on seven match ups, where players fly through the air and regularly send each other flying as well. It’s not all crashing to the touch line, though - there’s a number of game modes to play through. All of these can be experienced in the game’s career mode, Respect the Street, though they can also be selected individually in the expected Exhibition and Quick Game modes.
While all of the modes follow the general rules of the games in terms of possession and movement, the Standard play is the most familiar – teams simply play to a set score. Defensive Scoring mode gives players points for impressive defence plays: for example, when the ball is pushed back, or an opposing player takes a particularly hard knock. Playbook Elimination also rewards good defensive play by removing one of a set number of plays each time a play fails. Yards for Points awards points for distance moved, with double points being given for running plays. Time Attack sees each team given a minute to score a touchdown, with the remainder being awarded as a score. Finally, the Bank mode uses the game’s Style Points – which are awarded for flashy and impressive play – all of which go into a bank, which is awarded to the scoring team.
Some modes are more successful than others: Yards for Points tends to drag a little when the set goal goes above 400 yards, and Defensive Scoring can often seem a little unclear on exactly why points are being awarded. The more enjoyable modes go some way to making up for this though, especially Bank, which can often feel exhilaratingly frantic as the number of Style Points builds up over the course of successive turnovers. However, the Standard play still feels the most complete and well rounded, and doesn’t feel like it’s dragging – even when the set goal is well over 60 points.
As well as being used in the Bank mode, Style Points are also put towards Game Breaker moves, which allow you to intercept the ball more easily, or, conversely, pass without the danger of it being intercepted. There’s also more powerful tackles, or juke moves available. Though it’s often frustrating to see an opposing player jump from one side of the pitch to the other just to intercept your otherwise well timed pass, the moves do complement the tone of the game, and don’t seem ridiculously powerful, for the most part. The tackle is undoubtedly the most useful of these, as it can be used right from the start of each play, and will often cause a player to fumble the ball. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be used by the AI players much, if at all.
The controls are somewhat of a mixed bag – while the running, passing and tackling feel spot on, the spin and juke moves are inaccurate and occasionally feel like they’re suffering from a little lag. The jumping moves, on the other hand, are nothing short of atrocious. Though the game makes special reference of the ability to double jump off barrels, walls and other objects, the actual task of doing so is made so unpleasant by the fact that each jump feels about as responsive as the aerial moves in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero. If you haven’t played that particular title, uh, that’s a very bad thing.
There’s a number of states to conquer in the career mode, each with its own themed playing field – Illinois has a car factory, while California sees you playing under the Golden Gate bridge. While they’re more than sufficient, they do occasionally feel a little bland, especially since the majority seem to be in dark, disused buildings of some sort. The player models are also nothing special – the animation is competent, but if you have ever played any of EA’s sports titles, you’ll know exactly what to expect. There are some odd cut scenes in between plays at times that feature less than amazing animation, however. They’re also particularly annoying, with player high fiving and dancing while spouting embarrassingly clichéd Americanisms; fortunately, they can, and should be, turned off.
The music should also be turned off at your earliest convenience – with tracks from Korn, who should really have broken up long ago, and Raised Fist, to whom the same applies, amongst others. With EA having done some pretty laudable work lately on titles like SSX On Tour and Need For Speed Carbon, it’s clear that they can put together a reasonable soundtrack when they put their minds to it, but it’s well worth moving the CD player next to the TV for this one.
If you’re an American football fan, and haven’t already tried and tired of the series, NFL Street 3 is worth a look. It’s a fun title that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and proves a lot of fun when taken in small doses – especially before the set goals for each match get too high. For anyone else though, there’s far too many average moments for it to have a truly wide appeal.
Top Gaming Moment: The earlier and shorter matches definitely capture the pick up and play charm of the game more so than the longer matches.
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| Fumbling the ball can turn even the most one-sided game around | New York’s snow field makes a nice change from the grass and concrete of other locales |
“I don't understand the thrill of the running, catching, throwing, taking orders from a moron, grabbing for the sweaty crotches, getting hit by people I don't know,” sang Belle and Sebastian. Chances are, then, this game is not for them. In fact, NFL Street 3 is probably not for anyone who doesn’t understand American football – sure, there’s a pretty comprehensive tutorial about the game’s controls, but there’s not a lot to educate you on how the game itself actually works. So, unless you’re already well versed in exactly how much of a worry being faced with a 4th and long situation is, or are willing to put in the time to actually learn the ins and outs, this might not be the game for you.
Not that NFL Street 3 is a tactics filled brain teaser, exactly. As anyone who’s played the first two knows, the series is very much from the NBA school of sports games; it’s seven on seven match ups, where players fly through the air and regularly send each other flying as well. It’s not all crashing to the touch line, though - there’s a number of game modes to play through. All of these can be experienced in the game’s career mode, Respect the Street, though they can also be selected individually in the expected Exhibition and Quick Game modes.
While all of the modes follow the general rules of the games in terms of possession and movement, the Standard play is the most familiar – teams simply play to a set score. Defensive Scoring mode gives players points for impressive defence plays: for example, when the ball is pushed back, or an opposing player takes a particularly hard knock. Playbook Elimination also rewards good defensive play by removing one of a set number of plays each time a play fails. Yards for Points awards points for distance moved, with double points being given for running plays. Time Attack sees each team given a minute to score a touchdown, with the remainder being awarded as a score. Finally, the Bank mode uses the game’s Style Points – which are awarded for flashy and impressive play – all of which go into a bank, which is awarded to the scoring team.
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| The touchdown celebrations are far wilder than anything seen in the actual NFL | The showy run from one side of the field to other really rubs a breakaway in to your opponent |
Some modes are more successful than others: Yards for Points tends to drag a little when the set goal goes above 400 yards, and Defensive Scoring can often seem a little unclear on exactly why points are being awarded. The more enjoyable modes go some way to making up for this though, especially Bank, which can often feel exhilaratingly frantic as the number of Style Points builds up over the course of successive turnovers. However, the Standard play still feels the most complete and well rounded, and doesn’t feel like it’s dragging – even when the set goal is well over 60 points.
As well as being used in the Bank mode, Style Points are also put towards Game Breaker moves, which allow you to intercept the ball more easily, or, conversely, pass without the danger of it being intercepted. There’s also more powerful tackles, or juke moves available. Though it’s often frustrating to see an opposing player jump from one side of the pitch to the other just to intercept your otherwise well timed pass, the moves do complement the tone of the game, and don’t seem ridiculously powerful, for the most part. The tackle is undoubtedly the most useful of these, as it can be used right from the start of each play, and will often cause a player to fumble the ball. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be used by the AI players much, if at all.
The controls are somewhat of a mixed bag – while the running, passing and tackling feel spot on, the spin and juke moves are inaccurate and occasionally feel like they’re suffering from a little lag. The jumping moves, on the other hand, are nothing short of atrocious. Though the game makes special reference of the ability to double jump off barrels, walls and other objects, the actual task of doing so is made so unpleasant by the fact that each jump feels about as responsive as the aerial moves in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero. If you haven’t played that particular title, uh, that’s a very bad thing.
There’s a number of states to conquer in the career mode, each with its own themed playing field – Illinois has a car factory, while California sees you playing under the Golden Gate bridge. While they’re more than sufficient, they do occasionally feel a little bland, especially since the majority seem to be in dark, disused buildings of some sort. The player models are also nothing special – the animation is competent, but if you have ever played any of EA’s sports titles, you’ll know exactly what to expect. There are some odd cut scenes in between plays at times that feature less than amazing animation, however. They’re also particularly annoying, with player high fiving and dancing while spouting embarrassingly clichéd Americanisms; fortunately, they can, and should be, turned off.
The music should also be turned off at your earliest convenience – with tracks from Korn, who should really have broken up long ago, and Raised Fist, to whom the same applies, amongst others. With EA having done some pretty laudable work lately on titles like SSX On Tour and Need For Speed Carbon, it’s clear that they can put together a reasonable soundtrack when they put their minds to it, but it’s well worth moving the CD player next to the TV for this one.
 |
 |
|
| One of the Titans mistakes the opponent for the ball | Don’t expect to see this in-game often, if at all |
If you’re an American football fan, and haven’t already tried and tired of the series, NFL Street 3 is worth a look. It’s a fun title that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and proves a lot of fun when taken in small doses – especially before the set goals for each match get too high. For anyone else though, there’s far too many average moments for it to have a truly wide appeal.
Top Gaming Moment: The earlier and shorter matches definitely capture the pick up and play charm of the game more so than the longer matches.
