In the past few years, computers have caught up to video games in the sports genre. With 3-D video cards becoming standard equipment in PCs, computers have surpassed the video console’s graphics. Even with my old Pentium 200 MMX, sporting a 4 MB PCI video card, Microsoft’s NFL Fever 2000 looks and feels great. But the commentary leaves a lot to be desired.

The game ran a little choppy initially on my machine running software 3-D, but improved when I activated my video card. The game doesn’t miss a frame on a Pentium II and is as fluid as an NFL television broadcast.

The game has a fast learning curve that allows players to jump right on the gridiron. The controls are excellent and intuitive, using Microsoft’s Sidewinder gamepad. The manual isn’t needed. Using the keypad/keyboard quick reference on the back of the jewel case is all the instruction needed.

The real surprise was the realism. I’ve never seen a game with such a good balance of running and passing. Most games tend to make passing overly simple and running hardly an option. But Microsoft has done a great job here. The blocking is also unbelievably realistic. Offensive lines actually give quarterbacks time in the pocket, and downfield blocking is unparalleled on any other football simulation I’ve played.

But for all the good in the game that sets it above, Microsoft really fumbled the ball when it came to the commentary. The two announcers lack any sort of color, adding about as much enthusiasm as Ben Stein did as a teacher in "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off." Sentences are consistently choppy, sounding like they were spliced together at the last minute. The biggest disappointment is the lack of commentary. Big plays come and go and nothing is said. Running backs break for a huge gain, and the announcers stay silent. A quarterback gets creamed right after releasing the ball. Again, silence.

While the commentary is in the stone age when compared to almost any sports simulation that has been created in the last 10 years, the game is definitely worth buying. The play, simulation and graphics are all state-of-the-art.

This one makes it right through the uprights.

Microsoft
Rated: E (everyone)
$39.99
System requirements:
Pentium-200,
Windows 95 or 98,
64 MB recommended,
2 MB VRAM card or 4MB VRAM card
*** of ****

Originally printed in the News & Observer and NandoNext.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 7th, 1999 at 5:03 pm and is filed under Gaming, PC Game Review, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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