We tackle the five things that make this football game a standout.
by Jonathan Miller
NFL Tour is upon us. While EA Tiburon is busy polishing up next year's versions of NCAA Football and Madden, it also managed to unleash yet another football title, and a brand new one at that. If you're a football fan and have been looking forward to something new once the regular season ends, here are five things you may not know about NFL Tour.
1. This is not NFL Street.
It's EA Sports Big. It's arcade football. But rest assured, NFL Tour is not NFL Street. Following flagging sales of its old arcade football franchise, EA wanted to brand a new package for NFL fans that retains the over-the-top gameplay of Street but leaves the, well, streets behind. So NFL Tour was born. Its brand of seven-on-seven action is meant to resemble an NFL summer league: the interesting street fields have been replaced by generic outdoor arenas that are surrounded by familiar monuments from their respective cities. You'll play near Central Park in New York, next to the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, and by the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans. Players now suit up in their official uniforms rather than street gear. This is a new beginning for EA arcade football, sort of like Pacman Jones trying out wrestling.
2. This is NFL Light.
One of EA's goals with NFL Tour is apparent from the first snap. This is NFL Light, a casual, pick-up-and-play football experience meant for John Q. Gamer and not the hardcore Madden fan. While this will surely disappoint Madden simulation junkies looking for a change of pace during the offseason, NFL Tour will be a nice place for beginning sports gamers to hone their skills. The playbook, controls and setup are basic and simple, but NFL Tour is packed with exciting arcade hits and highlight-reel catches to keep the adrenaline pumping.
3. You'll hit a wall.
One of the more exciting mechanics in NFL Tour is the new wall climb. Nothing is more embarrassing to a would-be tackler than to be left hugging air while a ball carrier runs sideways along the arena wall like he's jacked into the Matrix. Other moments that define NFL Tour's arcade-style gameplay are the super tackles that slow, appropriately, to Bullet Time when you drop the hammer on an unsuspecting quarterback. You can also pitch the ball at any time, lower your shoulders to truck tacklers, and summersault into the end zone for six.
4. A Wingo ate my baby.
Making his first appearance in a video game is Trey Wingo, the ESPN personality and host of NFL Live. Wingo's commentary is unlike any gamers have ever heard. Aside from giving you strange geographical facts about the city you're in (New Orleans once belonged to Spain, you know), Wingo will also detail the fall of the Roman Empire. There's no doubt his quips are more entertaining than the bipolar radio announcer currently calling games of Madden. Wingo does tend to repeat himself often, but this is made bearable as he jokes about it himself. "I am video game announcer. Hear me repeat!" he proudly proclaims. More importantly, this is perhaps the best use of an ESPN personality in an EA game that we've seen yet. Hopefully this is a harbinger of things to come.
5. Bring your friends.
As with most arcade sports games, NFL Tour shines brightest when played with your buddies. The new reversal system lends itself to some exciting moments as you can truly score with any touch of the ball. Even so, multiplayer games tend to be tense and usually come down to the last possession. When you've had your fill of the normal game modes, try the pair of one-on-one minigames. The open-field tackling drill Endzone Dash is ripped straight out of American Gladiators, while Smash and Dash is an NFL-caliber game of keep away. Both are nice diversions from the norm - just like NFL Tour.
Posted: 7 Jan 2008
