Amazon.com Review

Sports fans with little interest in video basketball games may want to rethink their stance after getting a look at Sega Sports’ NBA 2K3. They--not to mention hard-core basketball simulation enthusiasts--will likely find it hard to keep from being drawn in by the game’s picture-perfect detail, engrossing realism, and challenging gameplay.

Like NFL 2K3, NBA 2K3 is presented in the patented ESPN style. The game has all the sights and sounds of the NBA: the pomp and circumstance of pregame introductions, accurate arena re-creations, realistic player animations and sizes, and fluid dribbling and shooting (including crossover moves and the ability to change shot direction in midair). All of this is accentuated with special touches such as alley-oops, tipped shots, the ability to make passes on the fly, fierce rebounding battles under the basket, and the added drama and excitement of the ball bouncing off the rim before it either falls in or goes awry.

NBA 2K3 offers a host of moves and modes on either side of the ball, with 25 offensive and 10 defensive plays from which to choose. Throw in fully customizable strategy options--everything from player clutch factor to computer shot tendencies, plus all types of shot percentages and fouls--and it’s easy to create the ideal matchup and game environment. The limitless roster manager feature also ensures that league and franchise modes will keep from getting stale.

Street mode offers a break from the grind of NBA play, allowing you to go two-on-two or all the way up to five-on-five in nine playgrounds and gyms. Pick your favorite players from current teams or choose greats from the '50s through the '80s and go at it as the Ballers vs. the Ringers. Street even features requisite trash talk such as "Yeah! You like that?" and grunts backed with "Get some!" --Larry White

Pros:

• Accurate, eye-catching graphic representation
• Challenging artificial intelligence
• Realistic gameplay

• Blocky player movements
• Players celebrate with fans after key shots
• Lob quality of passes

(This review refers to the PlayStation2 version of this game) ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Best Basketball Game Made
This is the best basketball game made because if has many more features in it than nba live 2003.This game is also better han any basketball game now because the franchise mode is incredible because you make your own ways through the nba, like you coach your team, play with your team, make your own player, and win titles back to back if you are lucky.It also has street mode where you mix up players from any team and play on some of the geatest courts some nba stars played on when they were young.overall this is a good game when you play it. it might be the best basketball game you played and trust me I have it so go out and buy it I'm sure you are going to have fun playing it.

Average
There are deffinatly better games out there.NBA 2K3 is cool becauase it ahs the espn look, but the graphics and gameplay deffinatly dont live up to 2003 standards.NBA live 2003 is a much better game.

<<>>

The game has a large variety of game modes, ranging from 1 season, to a frachise mode where you can take ownership of a time and scout players and try to draft them, and play with them for up to 100 years!!The franchise mode is teh thing I got the game for, i wanted something that would last a while, and it did.You can see just what its like to run a team.

NBA 2K3 also has a street mode, where you can play from 2 on 2 up to 5 on 5.You can choose any current stars in the leauge, or older players.You also choose where you want to play, there are about 7 different courts.

Low Down on NBA 2K3
Undoubtedly this is GameCube's most realistic basketball game. The 2003 update contains not only the addition of C-stick passiong, but also includes improvements to the passing mechanics themselves and tweaks the previously irritating percentage of shots that are actually scored.
NBA 2K3 is steeped in an almost dour regard for the rules and practices of the sport of basketball. There are no outrageous steals, no somersulting dunks and definitely no smashing of the glass backboard. Instead, this game plays very much like the real thing - perhaps too much so.
Getting to the bare facts:
Visuals: Good animation, presentation and character models. Very nice throughout.
8.3/10
Audio: The commentary falters a lot less than many other sports games.
6.8/10
Gameplay: Serious and accurate, but is that what you really want?
7.2/10
Lifespan: Multiple game modes, expansive options and season-long campaigns.
7.6/10
Originality: Merely builds on and improves the previously decent NBA 2K2 (one of the reasons that I can't give it a good score)
6.3/10
OVERALL SCORE AND THOUGHTS:
-7.1/10 (71%)
Proof that sometimes sports games need a lot less realism. (Probably a good idea to wait for NBA Street 2)

The Basketball Game To Get
This is the best Basketball game money can buy so don't miss it!If you have an Xbox with Xbox Live get it on there so you can take the competition online.

CHANGE OF HEART
i wrote a review of this game a couple of months ago and after starting to play this game again have changed my mind.i thought before it was slow and the passes were too balloon like.but i have started playing the game on fast mode which i believe brings the game up to regular speed and brings back some of the fast break points.fast mode doesn't make it like nba live, it just makes it regular nba speed.this game is very real.just watch the passes and watch how the computer plays at times (penetrating and dishing out).although the computer doesn't know how to handle a zone (jacking up three point shot with whoever is at the top of the key).the only thing to watch out for is the game freeze on franchise mode. this will drive you crazy ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Madden NFL 2002 delivers old-fashioned Madden gameplay with a classic mode that lets you relive the golden days of Madden NFL 93. You can also learn the X's and O's from the master himself, John Madden, with the all-new training mode. Develop your game-playing skills in defensive mode and head-to-head play in the two-minute drill, or perfect your playbook by repeating any play with the new Mulligan feature. The Madden Meter lets you track players' intensity levels, and a new kick meter will drill you on your kicking skills. You can play with one to four players. And, if that's not enough, this release's new Madden cards now feature cheerleaders. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Madden 2002 ROCKS!!!!!!!
Madden 2002 is a cool game! Yesterday, the New York Jets made the highest score in an NFL game, winning 67-0 over the 2002 and 2004 Super Bowl champion, New England Patriots!!! Martin made NINE TOUCHDOWNS FOR THE BIG APPLE!!!!!!

Pros and Cons
Before i start i want to say that if you want a game that you can play for a year and not beat this is the game.

Madden 2002 has many good and bad things about it, Great A.I. and it is also very realistic, maybe too realistic.

I say too realistic because you can get fidgity when the Refs pullout the chain or the teams switch sides. It shows all of this so it can really be time consuming.

Also, a good QB can complete at least 65%of their passes. EA dosen't agree with me though 'cause in Madden 2002 even if your guy is open there is still a good chance that the ball will go through their head or their hands.

Quick, name a RB who can rush 12 yards a carry. What, no one does, well go tell that to EA cause on the hardest diffulculty I can rush for 12 yards a carry with Browns running back Rhite.

Bottom Line: Rent it, or pick it up at a yard sale cheap.

keyword
The keyword for this game is sucks. it is just the same as madden 2001 except a mode that teaches you how two play the game and mulligans which i think is totaly stupid. i would just buy the 2001 version because it is cheaper

Best Football Game EVER!!!
This game is the best football game ever. It has everything; grraphics, good gameplay, and realistic. The only 2 downsides is John Maddens voice (which says the same thing 4-5 times a game but u can turn his voice off) and on thee sideline everybody is 88. I have some super records on this game including getting 79 points in 5 min quarters and have one receiver catch over 1000 yards and 6 TDs in a game. Anyway this game is awesome and i would totally recommend it to good football fans/gamers.

The Greasts game ever
This game has all the knew players and the most up to date stats this game should win an award ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Beginning at the dawn of human civilization and progressing through the 19th century, Trade Empires is an episodic transport and trade simulation that lets you create a merchant empire. Controlling your family dynasty of merchants, your mission is to build vast transport and trade networks that change over thousands of years as new technologies are developed and more modern products are discovered.

In Trade Empires, you'll start out simple, with one merchant and his donkeys. Gradually you'll build up your merchant empire until you control a vast trading web. You can manipulate the supply and demand economy to dominate the other merchant families. Or you can corner the market and undercut their prices. Perhaps you'll want to explore and exploit, continually discovering new markets and products, from silk in the Far East to steel in industrial Europe. You can adapt your family's trading network to an ever-changing economy or face defeat when your competitors purchase advanced technology and deliver superior products. Build vast transportation networks, using anything from dirt trails to railroads, and compete against other merchant families who are powered by a clever artificial intelligence. There are more than 200 structures and 30 units in 15 different episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Trade Empires
1. Technical problems:I have encountered no technical problems with this game.It functions equally well on windows 98, ME, XP, XPpro.
The game once installed does not require the disk for play and has never caused a problem with my computers.I have encountered no errors.
2.Graphics:Graphics are simple and not particularly impressive in comparison with other games in the same venue.
3.Sound/Music:the game has a limited variety of sounds.There are several music scores for different ages and cultures.
4.The game is somewhat challenging and complex so it probably isn't the best choice for young children.Although it is rated for young children I assume this is on account of the fact that there are no adult content (read sexual or violent) considerations to worry about.
5.Game play:In this game you manage a Trade company in one of several offered regions and eras.Essentially you buy or produce products at the lowest price you can find and sell them for a profit.Changes in technology cause markets to open and close and political considerations can cause markets to be more or less profitable.The game offers other factors in regards to transportation systems, improving ones own market by placing civic improvements and the competing trade companies.
5.I have no reservations recommending this game to strategy enthusiast.As an older game the price should be reasonable ($10-$15) and the game is exceptional in that it works without the need to download patches and reconfigure your system with fixes just to play.That by itself is quite refreshing.There is or was at the time of this post (7/3/2004) an additional scenario available for download.I hope you find this review helpful.Happy Gaming.

Play the demo (or at least read the box) before you buy.
I am dismayed by the complaints in other reviews that Trade Empires requires too much micromanagement. It should be obvious that this is the case if you bother to study the game even a little before playing. If you don't like games of resource allocation and balancing, I'm not sure why you would even consider this one.
Trade empires does a great job of presenting a "merchant's-eye" view of historical periods. It is engrossing in the same way that SimCity (the original) was way back when: you watch your ecosystem grow and try to nurture it as best you can.
That being said, I think the choice of using scenarios was the wrong one for this game. The victory conditions often seem arbitrary or contrived, and it would be much more fun just to pick a historical period and geographic area and go. There is also very little in the way of rewards-your merchants get special abilities after a certain amount of service, but I never find the abilities to be all that useful. Nothing connects you to the game in a personal way.
The design and development of Trade Empires are both quite good, but the style is a little lacking. Particularly when you compare the game to Frog City's previous game, the masterful Imperialism II. I2 was a gorgeous game with period details and oodles of style. Trade Empires is flat and lifeless. Perhaps the breadth of cultures and time periods is where the disconnect occurs?
In any case, Trade Empires is well worth checking out if micromanagement is your thing. If you're looking for the next amass, deploy, and destroy RTS, you should look elsewhere.

NOT WORTH THE PRICE
This is the first time I gave a bad review for a game.The reason
that Trade Empires only got 2 stars is lack of interest.First of all the scenarios are way to micromanaging (in other words hard)and when you do get something right there is no fanfare not even
a pup up video.The graphics are lame the wagon that goes all over the map is so tiny it looks like a ant.No zoom feature
and the status bar is also confusing.So if you want a quick or
at least enjoyable trip through history get AOK or EE.

Trade Empire
A wonderful concept, but demands too much detail management.Very confusing to manage, and I believe that this game was not beta tested very thoroughly.Don't buy it.

Wait for the bargain bin on this one.
Trade Empires isn't different enough from other, older strategy games for me to recommend it.The game's biggest lacks are personality and originality.As I watched my trade routes increase and my markets grow, I felt no sense of accomplishment.New items and options that are added as your empire grows don't seem to add anything new to the "feel" of the game as a whole.In addition, everything is so small and bland-looking, much like strategy games that were released several years ago.I never felt a pressing need to finish one more task or to continue playing.The ... price tag is too high for a game that doesn't really add anything new to the strategy genre.If you can later find the game for ... in the bargain bin, it might be worth a look. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The release of NCAA College Football 2K2, based on the NFL2K1 game engine, should appease many of the long-suffering Dreamcast ownerswho look upon the NFL with disdain and pined for a good college-ball simulation.The game offers good playability, tight controls, generally good approximationsof college stadiums, and excellent graphics. There are a few flaws, however,most of them relating to the most anticipated aspect of the game--thecollege-specific features.

The passing game is sharp, as the developer minimized the number of "moneyplays" without taking away every option available to the offensive player. Thereare few plays you can run for instant yardage, making it more important to cyclethrough your many options on passing plays. And the defense will play effectivebump-and-run coverage on your receivers, throwing off your timing on some ofthose otherwise dependable out patterns. The running game is also solid,although occasionally a bit generous to the offense on up-the-middle runs. Thegame has more than 700 plays from actual team playbooks, and gives players theoption of designing their own.

Graphics are smooth and often spectacular. Watching your receiver make a leapingcatch over the middle with the safeties in pursuit is both as exciting and scaryas it should be. The graphics on the sidelines and in the stands are sacrificedin favor of better resolution and animations on the field. One thing is neverquite explained, though: why do so many skill-position players have beerbellies?

The title offers several game modes, including a tutorial mode, network play(with some lag time--the game doesn't support broadband adapters), and season,scrimmage, tourney, and legacy modes. Legacy is somewhat of a disappointment, asrecruiting players (one of the cornerstones of college ball) amounts to lookingat nondescript player ratings and choosing several athletes for visits. Even afew minor tweaks would have made recruiting more enjoyable, such as includingnames, pictures, quotes, stats... anything, really. But legacy mode does allowyou to choose redshirts, cut poor performers, and allocate skill points toplayers in spring ball.

The collegiate atmosphere, while definitely welcome in the game, is sadly thebiggest disappointment to die-hard college fans. Many college fight songs areincluded, but not all of them, which will aggravate fans whose rival teams haveto listen to Michigan's "The Victors" after every score. In addition, SegaSports wasn't able to secure a deal with the Bowl Championship Series, so no BCSbowls are included in the game (with the exception of the Rose Bowl, which hasalways marched to its own beat).

NCAA College Football 2K2 is still a good college football game, however,and that's great news for people who prefer college ball over pro ball. If youjust plain like football and don't care what level it's played, stick to the NFL2K series (especially if you already own NFL 2K1 or 2K2). Ifyou're a college football fanatic for whom every small detail has to be perfect,stick to watching it on TV. But if you just plain like college football and wantto play a good football video game with your favorite teams, NCAA CollegeFootball 2K2 fits the bill very well. --Rivers Janssen

Pros:

• Great passing and running engines
• Defensive AI makes you work for your yards, but lets you take advantage ofmistakes
• Graphics and gameplay are especially good for the first game in a series

• Doesn't include all the little things that make college football fun
• Legacy mode, particularly recruiting, is disappointing
• If we hear the announcers make their Brittany Spoons joke just one moretime...

Reviews (62)

An awesome college game for the Dreamcast sports nut.....
This is an awesome game folks.I have always, ALWAYS wanted a college football game for my video game systems.First it was NSES, then I got DC.

Gameplay is great.Passing is NOT a piece of cake like the NFL 2K, 2K1, 2K2 that DC makes, which is a plus.This is college, so you can expect 45-40 games a lot (especially if you are K-State against Rutgers!).The difficulty levels are really good too.I have had this game for a month now and I am still struggling on the middle level.It is also realistic in that the stronger teams in NCAA football like K-State, Oklahoma, Texas, Miami, Florida/Florida State are much better than say Rutgers, Kent State, Northern Illinois, etc.Their rosters are all better in skill and agility.

Yes, there are no names on the jerseys (that's why the review is 4/5), but hey...I figure that since the seniors are going to graduate on each team and you have to recruit new players, names is just too much.You don't NEED them.Would have been nice, but oh well.

Buy this game if it is under $20.00.Over that, it isn't worth that much.But then again, Dreamcast isn't worth much these days.For Dreamcast games, THIS IS A GOOD BUY!

The only college ball on Dreamcast
College football fans who owned a Dreamcast had to wait until the last days of the system's life for a college football game, and the results are mixed at best.Visual Concepts, developers behind the NFL 2K series and the excellent NHL 2K2, put NCAA 2K2 together and did a fantastic job visually, but all the excitement of the college ball atmosphere is missing.Graphically speaking these are some of the best graphics to ever grace the DC; the players move and react just like they're real life counterparts (except most players seem to have beer guts), and control wise the game is flawless.The announcers however seem a little behind the play, not to mention they can get rather repetitive as well.But what should have been the meat and bones of NCAA 2K2 is missing: no BCS bowls (except for the Rose Bowl), only a few school specific fight songs, and the legacy mode is disappointing.However, if you just want to get out of the NFL arena for a while and you own a Dreamcast, you can't go wrong with NCAA 2K2, but if you need your video game college ball exact from the get go, stick with EA Sports NCAA series.

ncaacollage football2k2
Ilove itdoanyabouthaveit.letmebuythegamefromyou,ILIKEPLAYER .

Good graphics but lacks longevity
This is a great game at the beginning with some killer graphics, but it lacks the gameplay in legacy mode that nfl 2k2 has, like trades and the NFL Draft. The recruiting mode totally sucks it's impossible to get good players.So if you have a lot of games and you just want to play this one every now and then with some multiplayer action then this game's for you.But if not you will probably lose interest soon as i have after 2 weeks.

a few big flaws, but overall a great game
This was the Dreamcast game that everyone couldn't wait to come out, including me. I just couldn't wait till Christmas when I finally got it. The first college football game for Dreamcast. The first thing that caught my eye was the amazing graphics. The grass/turf on the field looks so realistic, the players are a big improvement upon the NFL 2K1 graphics and the teams jersey's and helmets look much like the real ones in college. Also all 117 college football teams are included and the announcers provide great play-by-play except for some very corny jokes and comments. The gameplay is very good most of the time anyway. Soemtimes the game will slow down then the play will go 10 tiems as fast as it should. The game levels are whack. On walk on you can ebat teams 100+ to 0 while on Starter I normally win by a good 25+ points while on All American you normally lose by 1-20. The worst thing is the bad teams are good against good teams and the Legacy mode is [...]. I played a game earleir today, Florida State vs. Troy State. Florida State won 23-3, but Florida State's QB throws only 21-44 for 357 yards, 1 TD and.....5 Inetrceptions! IN the legacy mode the recruiting is terrible, you get a list of players and literally do a draft. ALso on create a player the players name won't show up during the season or in stats. Despite these flaws the game is great. Amazing graphics, nice announcing, great gameplay and a very good list of Bowls to be in and the Heisman Trophy are all in this game. Also the game is very cheap and if you like college football get this game. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

RedCard 2003 offers 11-on-11 gameplay with 32 international teams, 60 frames-per-second animation, and character models that are realistic to the last scar. The game includes 500-plus motion-captured moves modeled specifically for the high-impact, hard-core style of RedCard 2003. Stadiums and spectators capture the pageantry and fanatical nature of international soccer audiences (without the hooliganism!). Modes include single match and world championship. The game features multiple hidden characters, stadiums, attributes, and other secrets as you progress. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

BRUTAL!
this is the beat soccer game you can get. i am a huge fan of fighting games and soccer, so this game was perfectfor me. the best feature is the boost button. with it, you can headbut, punch, and dropkick other players weather its to get the ball or not. plus you can exicute matrix style kicks at the goal, like scissors kicks, frontflip shots and even a flamingo karate shot!i could play for hours and you probablt will to if you get this game.

I really need this game
I would like to know if i can buy this game from you because i really want it and can't find it anywhere. please let me know if i can or not!

Ok Soccer
It's okay, but not nearly as brutal and insane as it should have been.

Finally, a good soccer game
This game rocks! After reading all the reviews, I was very excited about getting this game. All of my waiting paid off one day when my package arrived. When I started playing I noticed the superb graphics in this game. The gameplay was awsome!!! Although it was kind of hard at fist I picked it up easily. This game is nice and challenging with lots of options and bone crunching tackles. The tackles are fun and make the game more exciting, but sometimes they can get a little too much, because the ref barely calls them even if you do put him on the strictest level. Overall this is the best soccer title that I have ever played.

NON REALISTIC
Ok to start off, this game is a very fast pace and fast action game; much like that off NFL Blitz.If your looking for realism, this is not the game ur looking for. Graphics... not bad, but the accuracy and precision you have to make is virtually nothing.A much more realistic game would be FIFA 2002 or 2003- more precise, realistic, and excellent game play.If you are looking for a game to just flat out hurt someone while getting soccer in there in the meantime, heres your game.Overall, it's a pretty good game, just not the type of soccer you may be looking for. ... Read more

Product Description

Updated rosters, enhanced play modes, beefed-up character animation and great pro commentary give this game the edge on the ice. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Sports
• Mission: Get ready to hit the ice for the fastest, toughest pro sport ever
• Platform: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

Reviews (32)

The Best Installation of EA Sports
The idea of GM Mode is a very good one because you get to control a lot more about your team. The game play is also very good the way you can charge up hits and the fights are very realistic. Another thing is the leagues from other countries which is very creative.

dynasty is terrible
I liked the Franchise mode from 2003. You could change teams any time you wanted, become every team if you liked, play any game. Even if my team didn't make the Final, I could still play the whole series! But EA Sports decided it'd be a wise decision to limit the people's options. Now, you can have ONE team, and you MUST deal with payroll, training and a bunch of other stuff that just takes time away from playing games. I wouldn't mind a salary cap (but then we wouldn't get the NHLPA to sign off would we?) or something to keep things in check, but that should be optional.

If you want to have one, and only one, team and mess with all sorts of budgets and firings and whatever, fine. But I don't want to. I want to be able to switch a team's ownership if I want one of their players on my team, and I don't want to have to fit him into a budget! I want to play Game 7 between Minnesota and Washington.

Please somebody from EA read this and add some choice to Franchise, because NHL 2003 ain't perfect but that's what I'm gonna play instead.

Good Graphics, Good Game, Great Idea
First off, I've been playing the EA NHL franchise since 93-94 and every few years the game gets a facelift.This year, you can see the mesh of the jerseys and the skating engine was improved.Another monster improvement was the lack of ability to skate through defenders with the puck.This means passing is very important, as it is in real life.

There are some bugs where defensemen (and goalies) knock the puck into their own nets, but overall the game plays well though it takes time to get proficient at it.The game scores are moderate (especially if you try and play it like a real game.If your scoring is spread around you might have 2 - 4 20 goal guys and maybe only 1 or 2 80-100 point players.Goalies are not likely to get more than 8-10 shut outs but your save percentage can get pretty high (around 0.930).

Dynasty mode.This is the best part of the game.The fact you can either take your favorite team or build your own (however which ever team is displaced from the NHL to accomodate you, their banners are still in your rink).You can do a complete fantasy draft and then start simming/playing games.Win now or win later by trading experience for potential, set your ticket prices, buy upgrades for your team, etc...The sad part is, you can't extend contracts until their last year (and then they usually want a big increase).Salary is based on stats, not performance, so if you have a really fast skater sitting 'in the minors' he'll want big league money....Hint: sign and trade for a young guy, especially if you don't need him right now.

The computer trades frequently though the dialog box you see does not have enough information.You have to go and manually look at the trade by proposing it yourself.The create a player feature, to me, was upgraded.Visually you are limited though now if you want a Wayne Gretzky - he's gonna cost ya.A lot of money.

The announcing team got a facelift with Craig Johnson becoming the new color guy.It sounded a bit stilted but at least he sounded intelligent.

I'll buy 05 when it comes out.I think the game went in the right direction this year from 03.

Great Game...Can use some improvements
For those who TRULY understand the game of hockey and how it is played you will know to give this game a good review. It is much improved over the versions of yesteryear. Yes it can use improvements, no doubt, but overall I am pleased with this version and have been waiting since NHL 99 for EA to release something worth buying/playing.

The faults with this game are the AI, the computer does have a tendency to go on sprees of scoring when they gain momentum ar get a goal. But you HAVE to learn how to negate this! I have learned very well how to CONTROL momentum throughout the game, and this is what the designers of the game had in mind when they wrote it. There is also a little too much emphasis on the one-timer in this game, I would like to see a little more on the other facets of scoring as well. Also the bobbling puck that suddenly finds it's way into the net can be frustrating as hell. But heym thats video games for ya.

The pluses are the player movements, choice to fight, checking, (made it more difficult to do-because it is tough to do in real life!) And I LOVE the way you can grind in the corners in the offensive zone. There is truly nothing more real about Hockey than that.

I recommend this game to any hockey enthusiast looking for a good time. The upper levels can be tough to compete in, but in time you will be playing with the best of em. With a little arm pump I might add! For PC it is totally worth the $19.99. Go buy and have a blast. Trust me, I am a tough critic. This one is worth it!

Did EA test this game before it was released?
One can tell that much effort was put into game play, visual realism, and features. But after the game was "put together" did anyone at EA check to see how the final game played or if those features even worked?
Because of a poorly planned player ratings (skills) system(including facilities that start poor and can only IMPROVE with time?), one is left to wonder why all their players perform more poorly with each passing game. -Thinking gamers beware.
The interface is a mess, with player information scattered and not where you need it.
Outrageous simulated scoring of players (Paul Kariya- 13 goals, 9 assists in 3 games) can crush your hopes of your star player ever topping the ratings.
Also, players may still end up with 'twins' still playing on their previous team when you create a new team to replace another in the league. Horrible errors.
It all leads to a major disappointment from EA. ... Read more

Product Description

Madden returns as king of the gridiron for another year of hard-hitting action. Put on your pads and helmets and get out on the gridiron; this is going to be the game of your life. It's never too early to start thinking Madden NFL 2003. This game may well be the competitive standard for interactive football gaming and it's going to be a very big year for football fans and video gamers everywhere! ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Nintendo GameCube
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Sports

Reviews (34)

Letdown
I AM a fan of football games but this feels WAY too much like NCAA Football 2003 with a different title and cover art. It does have different modes, not too deep. I was struggling last week with a decision whether or not to get NHL 2004 PlayStation2. NHL 2004 happens to be MUCH better. It also doesn't have a good "addiction level" as I call it. Besides, the box now has a hobby, collecting dust. Commentary is quite annoying. Just the same thing again and again and again. Anyway, if looking for football, buy it. Otherwise, buy a better game like NHL 2004 or Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee or even Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2.

Madden Football, or is it really just madness
This is very dull.The graphics are attrocious and the game play, don't even get me started on it.The extras are dull, the soundtrack is a bore (except for the anthem by GC, and their leads Joel and Benji probably could have made a better game) So in conclusion buy this game if you want to die a dull and painful death. *shout out to my fella Rafe (You forgot your diapers at Melanie M's)

Good
Good game...well, for its time it was.Of course, 2005 is out now but oh well...

Thisgames graphics are not bad, the commentating is good, the gameplay is great!Franchise mode is deep!

Madden NFL2003 IS IN THE HOUSE
Madden NFL 2003 probably has the best sound and graphics in all the gamecube games. You can make your own team, make their uniform, select their stadium, select how long you want the game to last,and much more.

Also, the teams have realistic stats and many gameplays to choose from. You can also design your own gameplays for all of the positions. Not to mension... you can also play tournements. Their also are 2-minute drills for throwing, reciving, intercepting, tackling, kicking, and much much more. You have to try to defeat as much of the levels as you can. The more you defeat, the more madden cards you get. (You can trade madden cards, sell them, and buy them. To buy them, you must do tasks which include throw a 30 yard pass, intercept a pass, recover a fumble ball. But since these are such easy tasks, you get less points then you would to complete do the folowing tasks. Run 60-80 yard in one play, or when your opponent kicks the ball you run the whole way without being tackled, complete 20 consecutive passes, and much more tougher stuff. Levels range from 1-5, 5 being the most difficult. This is probably the best sport game on gamecube.

OUT OF 10

Sound-10

Graphics-10

Gameplay-9.5

Still the Best
EA Sports continued in the Madden legacy this year. Madden is still by far the best football game franchise out there. Best graphics, best gameplay, best extras.
A new addition to the game this year, that I love, is the mini-camp mode. The mini games are lots of fun and wicked addictive.
They also improved the franchise mode. Now you can scout rookies and see them before you draft them.
It will be hard for EA to improve upon this for 2004. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

NHL Hitz 2003 is an ice-melting inferno of blistering hockey. It features a new franchise mode for deep gameplay, a full season with every team and every game, in-depth stat tracking, international and all-star teams, fantasy teams and stadiums, and a soundtrack with Rob Zombie and Powerman 5000. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Best Playability of any Hockey Game
Complaints I have with other hockey games like EA Sports and Fox Sports titles is that they are either too easy or too hard. This game allows an amazing amount of customization of the difficulty so you can apply a little more difficulty to offset something you are really good at when you want more of a challenge.

I have seen some complaints about the fantasy aspects of NHL Hitz but I think they add a lot of fun to the game. I also like the fact that you play 3-on-3 (plus goaltender). That really opens up the ice for some beauty goals and spectacular hits.

This game is just too fun to miss!

Awesome hockey game!
NHL Hitz 2003 is the best hockey game i have ever played.Its fun and the hitting is awesome.The graphics are sweet and the controls rock!The hitz are really cool, a little unrealistic but just enough to make it fun over regular hockey games.Also you arent really pestered by too many peneltys but a few obvious ones to keep it real.Also the graphics are really good you can really see the hockey players fly through the glass on hard hitting checks like your there!Over all I give it an A+.

Inaccuracy
The game at first is pretty fun--I like how you can get in goalie fights and check the goalie.The graphics are excellent--each individual players face look exactly like the actual player.The pronounciation of the players names are TERRIBLE.They can pronounce some of the more difficult names, but can't pronounce simple names such as Roy (Wah), etc...The mini games, heads, names of created teams, etc... are really corny, making this game seem to be more for a five-year-old.The game gets boring quick.The game being a checking and fighting game, with no actual rules of the game of hockey in it, makes it very irritating--such as icing, tripping, etc...

Awesome Game
This is probably the best NHL game on GameCube right now, its fun and easy to play!The only draw back is only being able to have one season going at a time, however the non stop hitting and fun with the game overcomes that one little problem!I would recommend the Hitz game over any of the other 2003 NHL games!

BUY THE GAME
Don't let the "2002 version is better" reviews. I played this game last night and I bought it a couple of hours ago, I have played 2001, 2002, and 2003. BUY 2003 VERSION.
Sometimes you could call this game "War" because if you turn penaltys off you can check to your heart's content. Last night at my friends house we got 233 checks in a game!
This game isn't about checking though (even though when people ask me how to steal I tell them "X") this game is perfect for hardcore hockey fans. This game is so in depth that you can change equitment! Favorite game ever. Parents, buy it for your kids, kids, beg your parents or buy it yourself. g2g bye! ... Read more

Product Description

Head back to school and get on the gridiron as Sega recreates the excitement of college football for Nintendo GameCube. The game will pull you out of the stands and on to the fields with plays like the wishbone and other triple options, to the sidelines complete with mascots and cheerleaders, into the jumping student sections, marching bands and more. Go behind the scenes as you assemble your team from the country's top prospects, prepare in off-season training and endure an ultra-competitive Division 1 Schedule. The Writers' Poll, Coaches' Poll and the BCS Standings track your progress throughout the season and determine which team will compete in the 25 post-season Pro Bowls. Strive for perfection and the spoils of the gridiron are yours, including the Heisman Trophy, The National Title and the BCS Championship. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Nintendo GameCube
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Sports

Reviews (28)

Worst... Game... Ever...
I was sucked in by the price tag.With that much of a price difference from Madden, how bad could it be.

Worse than I could have imagined.

If you happen to like football games where your offense has no flow, running is only slightly more impossible than passing, you play as hard as you can, and get blown out anyway, and then end up turning off the game and never playing it again, NFL 2k3 is the way to go.

If, however, these are not the traits you are looking for in a football game, skip it and get Madden (any Madden).

Jeez
Bad game, I mean, I really should have gotten madden, everything is kind of bad, i mean once a quarter back broke his wrist and then they put didin't have a back up Q.The graphics are ok.I mean after a while it's like same old same old, give me a break.Seriously, I didn't play it for 3 month spread once.My advice is buy th Madden sereis, much much better!!

Best Game Ever
This game is awesome. The gameplay is realistic. It is sort of difficult to control, but the graphics are unbelievably realistic. BUY THIS GAME.

fun
it is verry fun. fun for the whole famely. the end

NFL 2k3-a gaming odessey 3 years late
As a avid nintendo fan, i didnt know much about the "2k" series that was extremly popular on the Dreamcast and PS2. So, I didnt buy it when it came out. So this past August i was in the local blockbuster and used stuff was 25% off. I saw this game, NFL 2k3, sitting right there on the shelf, i picked it up and thought what the heck, couldnt hurt. The best 7.50 I ever spent. The Franchise mode is genious, it gave me a realistic shot of getting my much maligned Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl. The trading is well done, the free-agency isnt too complicated and the draft is smooth with little problem. Although you may curse at your players who wont take a 50k cut from their salary so you have enough room under the cap, you get used to it. Player progression is one of the most interesting parts of the Franchise Mode. A older player tends to get worse and a younger tends to get better, however this isnt certain. For example, Morten Andersen, my kicker, who has been playing for 22 years improved and Michael Vick whose been playing for 2 got worse. If you can get them go after cheap veterans who nobody wants, this is a great tip for success. The gameplay is smooth and easy to grasp, while i complain that the Falcons playbook has no 4-3 defense in it, most playbooks have great varieties of plays including some trick plays like flea-flickers. It takes about 3 to 5 games to learn how to play but once you get the hang of it, its very simple. Unlike a lot of football games, the pass and the run are about equally effective. For example, in my old QB Club 2000 game the passing game is awful and all you can possibly do is run the football. In some games, although i dont have an example off-hand some games the run is impossible and the pass is all you can do. Not this one. Great mix, hats off to sega for the good work there. The defense, stopping the run is a sinch if you figure out "the ot secret" i dont want to give it away because it could ruin the realism. The pass defense is pretty much up to the comp. Other modes include: Season, Practice, Exhibition and Situation. All are very interesting.

SO BUY THIS GAME! 10 BUCKS! if you like football, youll like this game

peace ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This is the massively multiplayer online role-playing game for those whose report cards were always marked, "Does not play well with others." Dark Age of Camelot allows thousands of players to adventure, grow, and battle one another for territory, goods, and experience.

Set in Europe's mythological past, Camelot incorporates Arthurian legends, Norse mythology, and Irish Celtic lore. Players choose which realm to serve during character creation: noble Albion, brutal Midgard, or mystical Hibernia. Each realm has unique character races and classes, such as elves, trolls, and highlanders. Once chosen, the player's character will serve that realm forever. Once the character has gained in power, he or she will be asked to defend the realm from invasion and to go on raiding parties into other realms.

If you're thinking that Camelot is designed to encourage player-vs.-player combat, you're right. Realms will battle over territory, key structures (such as towers and castles), and relics. Certain powers and noble titles can only be gained by successfully attacking or defending against rival realms. But Camelot also requires teamwork. All player-vs.-player combat is team based; you can only fight characters in opposing realms. Members of a realm must band together to fend off and attack other realms. In fact, each character class has been designed with player-vs.-player combat in mind, and each will offer a different ability or perform a specific task in player-vs.-player situations.

The inter-realm war is not merely chaotic, mass melee combat. There are towers to be taken over and defended, relics to pilfer from enemy realms, and territory to scout and conquer. Siege warfare will be required to take over castles, stealthy rogues will be able to climb into strongholds and open the gates, and much, much more will be available.

Player levels will be based on experience versus monsters, not versus other players. And while players can only gain certain powers by actively going out on raids or protecting their realms' relics from enemy invasions, it is entirely possible to have a successful and enjoyable experience in Camelot as a merchant, trader, or monster hunter. At higher levels, players will have to adventure out into regions between the realms, which could bring them into conflict with enemies--but not necessarily so.

In order to allow new players time to grow familiar with the game, each realm will have its own unique, protected adventuring areas designed for new players.These areas will be consistent within each realm, and will allow new players an opportunity to gain experience and power without worrying about an invasion from across the seas.

Of course, at higher levels, you could be asked to rally to Arthur's banner before the gates of Camelot itself, or to conduct a druid ceremony in the mists of Hibernia, all for the greater glory of the realm. --Mike Fehlauer

Dark Age of Camelot is a multiplayer online game you play via the Internet. A stable Internet connection is required to play. Mythic Entertainment charges a small monthly fee for this game, separate from your Internet service provider access charges. The first month of this fee is included in the purchase price of this package. You must provide a valid credit card to register and play. After your first month, you can use your credit card to buy more time.

Reviews (234)

Unique Multiplayer Game
I've been playing this game for over 2 years now, and am still enjoying it. It has different systems and style than the other MMORPGs out there at the moment, most notably the 3 realms competing against eachother, each character and guild having a current and custom web page automatically built on the Herald, and a development staff willing to fix its mistakes.

This MMORPG is less of a time-sink than many of the others out there, though still is a bit of one.

The most amazing game I've ever played!
From begging to end, it was by far the best game I've ever played. The only reason I stopped playing was the fee of around 12 dollars a month. Being a 13 year old it's very hard to scrounge up the money. So now I've returned the game and I'm regretting it so bad! In DAoC you are a Hibernian, Midgard, or Albain. There are all types of races, skills, and abilitys that you can choose from to create your character. You start out as a lvl 1, then as you grow about to lvl 5 you choose a class you want to be, from fighter to pladin, rouge to scout, etc... then at lvl 10 you get to choose a last name, for instance my name was Chubbss, then, I added my last name, Chubbss Timestwo! Catchy huh. It gets better though, at lvl 15 you can now interact with other characters from other realms, by fighting them in a speacily made world for this type of thing.. to Albians, it is like hunting moose... haha. Then at lvl 20 if you are in a guild you get a guild embelem, that is somthing that show you are part of that guild. As you progress with your character you learn chants, spells, abilatys, all things that can help you be the ultimante (whatever class you are). There are other things you can do in the game also that I'm not quite sure many of the other reviews have mentioned... one is getting married. Just some little fun thing that they decided to put in.. don't ask me;). Another is dueling. You can duel with characters of your realm by typeing /duel /duel accept or somthing like that, you don't lose xp or gain xp, it's just a fun little thing like weddings haha. If your reading this review right now than let me tell you this, BUY THIS GAME!!! It's the most exciting RPG you can find. Better than SWG anyday! Ignore the people who say this game isn't the best because it is, and definatly deserves the gamers award for best game of the year, which it got! So there ya have it, hope you like this game as much as I do!

The best MMORPG currently available
I have played UO and Daoc and beta tested Eve online. Daoc in my opinion is the best current RPG available. I hear in the gaming community VERY little complaints about this game.

Ive played Daoc for a year and a half. shortly after beta on the american servers as i had to order the game from america as im british. This game has extremely smooth graphics. ive not found much in the way of graphical issues at all since i started playing. I run on a gerforce4MX. The ONLY problem i have sometimes is enlargement of world objects which only happens as i begin to get slowdown in graphics from loading huge battles. which is no big issue. just requires a 30 second reboot of the game. The static graphics in the inventory which update the characters avatar not updating is the only graphical issue. i cannot currently correct this. I dont recommend geforce cards for great graphics like this anyways. apparantly they dont work as well.

Gameplay is somewhat weak nearer level 50. it took a LONG time because of the class i chose and my time zone (and laziness :P) to level my character. My character is also widely agreed as needing improvements (the class) but most classes are customizable to a certain extent as you can specialise a certain line of spells or melee to attain certain spell types and combat damage types. (eg. a light specialised mentalist for direct damage spells. or a mana specialised mentalist for mana regeneration spells and others) the characters play solid roles in groups EXCEPT the stealther types. which have very little to offer groups. thus they have trouble grouping. the nature of these classes is very specialist anyways so requires quite some time and investment.

Tradeskills take quite a long time to raise to a high level. and from what i hear the rewards for this effort is lacking although they legendary gm (HIGH HIGH end tradesmen) are constantly in demand. so i would not be suprised if they were making a big profit. you can train in such things as alchemy. spellcraft (imbues armor with abilities) armorcraft, fletching, siegecraft.

The RVR is fun and although it can end pretty quickly. its a rush. large scale battles are a blast! unless you have slow modem and graphics then its just pure lag and gets annoying. You get the opportunity to take other realms keeps so you can eventually try for a realm relic. capturing these relics gives extra % of damage on top of that relics damage type (e.g 10% extra spell dmg for a power relic and 10% extra melee damage for a strength relic) These take a LOT of people (50+) and can be extremely fun and demanding.

This game is for the high end PC user who has time to burn. Overall this game in my opinion IS the best MMORPG currently available. the customer support is quite stable and they update the game info regularly on the site.

I strongly reccomend this game as a first MMORPG or your next.

Ambadias Kesmai. Level 50 Ranger on the Galahad server

Best MMORPG out there...
I've tried all the MMORPGs that are currently shipping.I played AC for almost 3 years, I started playing DAoC when it came out. And I flowed between AC and DAoC.I was all set to give up DAoC when AC2 and Shadowbane came out.

However, those two games just showed me how much better the game play was in DAoC.

MMORPG playing at its pinnacle.
As a lifelong gamer, I cannot begin to tell you how refreshing this game is. After the plethora of Everquest expansions, Diablo ripoffs, and subpar multiplayer games (Anarchy and Shadowbane), DAoC comes out on top as the penultimate on-line gaming experience. With fully fleshed out PvE (player vs. environment) and PvP (player vs. player) environments, the game touts an infinite amount of depth. Granted, with the end game actually being Realm vs. Realm combat, those players looking for a deep story will be left wanting. However, the building of your character to level 50 can be extremely addicting and strangely satisfying. Add in the multitude of crafting options, guild associations and alliances, and now the upcoming housing options, this gamer cannot think of another title that gives so much for so little. Mythic's support of the game is unrivaled, supporting an in-game help and appeal system, and a wonderfully slick gaming interface, this title is unmatched in the world of MMORPG's. If you are a fan of RPG's or online gaming, you deserve to play this title at least once. With the first months subscription coming free with the purchase of the game, what do you have to lose? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Fans of the NASCAR Winston Cup will thrill at the dynamic racing modes of NASCAR Heat. Choose from one of 25 different drivers to race on 19 real Winston Cup tracks. Five modes let you compete in single races, season championships, beat-the-heat, head-to-head, and race-the-pro. Realistic car damage, dents, scratches, sparks, and collisions heighten the race drama, as do special effects such as lens flare, waving flags, and rotating signs.

Take on all-new racing scenarios that capture the split-second decisions and timing required of NASCAR drivers. Race at normal level for fun arcade-style racing, or take on the expert simulation mode and experience the physics of driving a 750-horsepower Winston Cup car. Realistic graphics and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound capabilities heighten the pulse-pounding competition. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Life's too short to spend it going in circles.
"NASCAR Heat" gives you the chance to feel what it's like to be your favorite NASCAR driver.That is...you feel everything except the thrill and danger of the actual experience.That pretty much leaves you with the tedious experience of driving around an oval racetrack for an obscene number of laps.Yay!

It was a nice try on Atari's part to include a full racing field.The attempt at realism ultimately doesn't work out though because that many cars causes a slowdown in the framerate.The controls are flighty enough as it is but the stuttering in the framerate makes it a chore to keep your car on its intended path.

The only remotely fun element of "NASCAR Heat" is trying to causebig pile-ups.If you agree, then you probably have already played "Burnout 2" and that blows this game away.Perhaps NASCAR fanatics enjoy racing around and around and around for 100 or 200 or even 500(!!) laps.Maybe there's fun to be had to repeat that task on a total of 19 tracks.Personally, I found this game to be lacking in excitement and I consider it to be both a waste of time and money.

Heat Better Than Thunder!
When I first popped"Nascar Heat" into my X-Box I have to admit, I was a little disappointed.The graphics don't look as impressive as they do with "Nascar Thunder". But as I started to play they game I realized there was no comparison.The race cars have a better feel about them.If you play in the Hardcore mode, (No driver aids) the way I always do, you quickly realize this game is tough too beat.It's harder to win than any other racing game I have.(That's saying a lot.)Both "Thunder" and "Heat have problems with their two road racing courses, way too much slow down."Heat" is almost impossible to drive on the two road courses with the driving aids turned off.But on the short Nascar ovals "Heat" has it all over "Thunder".The one funny thing about "Heat" is that there is no way to speed up the process when a yellow comes out.You have to wait for the pits to open, (Just like the real Nascar) and then you have to wait several laps before going back to green.My advice, get up and stretch and have a cup and coffee, and be ready to go back to green. Can't wait for this game to get updated.Nowget out there and buy a racing wheel and pedals, and you'll never go back to hand controllers again.

Fun, But Not Exciting
-Chad Steingraber-
-Paradigm/Infogrames-
-Level Designer/Game Designer/3D Artist on The Terminator: Dawn of Fate-

I must admit, this is the first NASCAR game I've ever played...so, I can't compare it to another NASCAR game.I thought is was pretty cool, it had really good graphics and the driving physics were pretty realistic.I found myself trying to create car wrecks as much as possible...it was just fun to watch a 10 car pile up.I played an entire season and took first place....and this is why I quit playing feeling dissapointed:There was nothing to award the player for taking first place!NOTHING!At least, AT LEAST a floating gold cup spinning around with "You Win!" at the bottom.Come on guys, that was just plain dumb.

It was a fun game, but I found that after playing one season (with no reward) there was no reason to play it again.If you love NASCAR, this game would be good....if you just want to see cool cars driving around, rent it first.

Fun!
I'm not really a Nascar fan but I do love racing games.This one is a hoot!Here's the deal:I bought Nascar Thunder but I also own Nascar Heat because my girlfriend bought it the same day as a surprise to me.So here I was with two Nascar games and I've kept them both.As far as true racing and competition, Nascar Thunder is the better racing game.It has a create-a-car option and most of the real Nascar drivers.The graphics aren't as good as Heat though.If you're into better graphics and bigger, fiery crashes, Nascar Heat is the way to go.Sometimes I create havoc on the track just to watch the replays of the crashes.You can create a lot more mayhem on Heat than Thunder...and that's why I love it.The only problem with Heat is they don't have all the drivers.Half the cars in a race are just fake, generic cars.I play both a lot, but if I could only pick one - I'd give a slight edge to Nascar Heat.But you really can't go wrong with either one.Both are great games that you can pick up anytime for a few minutes (or hours) of fun.If you love great wrecks, get Heat.Great racing, get Thunder.

Good things, bad things
I have Nascar Heat and Nascar Thunder.On the good side, Nascar heat is more of a simulation, meaning the driving is a bit more realistic and if you know a little about Nascar racing, you can adjust your car in about every way possible.In Thunder, you can only adjust tire pressure, spoiler angle, and gear ratios.In this game, you can adjust individual tire pressure, spring rates, wedge...the more technical stuff.The "in-car" view is better in Heat because you can look left and right, which I'm pretty sure you can't do in Thunder, which to me makes it unplayable.I think Heat sounds more like Nascar than Thunder does.The graphics are about the same.

ON the bad side, if you have the Mad Catz steering wheel, you can't up shift using the gear selector.There are only three controller configurations, and you can't customize them.Drivers are limited to 20, and there are only 19 tracks.

So basically, Heat is more of a simulation, but you can't use a steering wheel with a manual transmission, a lot of drivers/cars are omitted, and a few tracks are missing.If future versions of Heat fix these things, then I'd prefer Heat.As it is, I prefer Thunder. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

EA Sports claims the rights to combine the two biggest names in the golf world into a single golf simulation series title: Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Rolling into the 2001 edition on the PlayStation2, the gameplay is now up to par with the quality of licensees.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 boasts a new game engine that delivers supercrisp graphic detail and realistic golf ball physics. With the new control options available using the Dual Shock 2's pressure-sensitive analog stick, players can feel the realism in every swing. Fade, draw, and spin shots finesse the golfer's pin approach. The enhancements should provide a refreshing upgrade to the traditional control configurations. Eye-popping visuals and realistic controls are caddied with rich layers of environmental and on-course sounds. Subtle announcer comments on your game's progress and player jaunts add that extra boost of realism that golf simulations demand.

A strong roster of star golfers--each motion-captured into the game--is available, including Justin Leonard, Brad Faxon, Robert Damron, Stewart Cink, and Tiger Woods, among others. One to four players tee off on beautifully rendered Pebble Beach Golf Links courses such as the famed Spyglass Hill Golf Club and Poppy Hills Golf Course. --Eric Twelker ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Amazing
This is a good game it has three golf courses pebble beach, poopy hills and spyglass hill there are so many ways to hit the ball its so good. You can play 6 different kinds of shots, and it has greatg graghics. there are about 5 or 6 diff. types of games - skins, match, tourny, stroke, practice, and play now mode which is a random games that the computer picks.

Not up to PS2 standards
After thoroughly enjoying some of EA's other sport titles, Tiger Woods golf left me completely unimpressed and disappointed.

The well-captured motion of Tiger is the only plus in this game, as the other features of the game remained below par:

- graphics of the courses did not fully utilize PS2 capabilities and are easily beaten by the PS1 version from last year
- accuracy of play in terms of predictable distance and ballflight is lacking, even though the analog stick seems to give more control
- variety of courses is unacceptable for a PS2 title
- overall playability in terms of time to play a round of golf and enjoyment derived from it is rather poor (you spend more time waiting for something to load than play and don't really get rewarded for your wait).

In summary, this title seems to have been rushed by EA to get something on the market, so it can go back to the store and I'll just pop in my PS1 PGA Tour Golf for some enjoyable play.

Not a bad start...
Ever since the introduction of the Playstation to the world of video gaming, I've been searching for a console golf game that would rival the fun and satisfaction I had playing PGA Golf II and III for the old Sega Genesis.Sad to say I've been greatly disappointed thus far.

Tiger Woods golf for the PS2 is pretty solid.This was my first foray into the 'Tiger Woods' series of golf and I have to say I was somewhat surprised.I enjoyed the new swing meter (you use the analog stick to control the meter) and the graphics are very good.However, I felt like the accuracy of the shots (i.e. distance relative to club selection and weather situations) was somewhat questionable.I was also very disappointed in the fact that there are so few courses and players to select from.

In all, this was an enjoyable game, but not as enjoyable as, say Links 2000 for the PC.Hopefully EA will rectify these problems for 2002.

Great Golf Game.Best I have ever played.
One thing that has been overlooked by most reviewers is the speed of play.This game is fast. Even with the 8 to 10 second load time each hole, I can still play 18 holes in 20 min.This makes the game very addicting.Things to fix on TW2002: 1.Green grids when you are not on the fringe.2.Hole overviews that actually show you a usefull view.3.More stats. Stats add to replay value. The only tracked stats are not course dependent nor do they depend on what tees you play from.It tracks Longest drive, longest putt, fairways and greens in regulation, number of putts, score, birdies, eagles, hole in one, and tour winnings.The tour is a lot of fun (requires 12 rounds of golf, so it will take a while).The game can be challenging even after you master it.CPU Tiger can shoot anywhere from 62 to 70.Depending on how your swing on the analog stick is(it varies from day to day just like a real golf swing) you can shoot as low as 55(I even hit one OB on Pebble Beach #18), or easily get into trouble and shoot 70 with super Tiger.Tiger does hit the ball extremely far, so it can be more challenging to use the other golfers(who also hit the ball 350 on occasion by pushing up during swing)More courses and pros would be nice too.Chiping is tricky till you get the hang of it. Good features: putting(specifically the way you read the green) and the swing control.It relies less on timing and more on feel, which to me is more comparible to a real swing.Go buy this game, I have had it for three months and I still play at least one round a day.You can always try and improve your score, just like real golf.The wind and analog stick always keep the game challenging and keep you on your toes.Even after unlocking red shirt Tiger, it is challenging to try and stop the ball on the greens off the tee on the shorter par fours.

They can definitly do better
3 courses...thats all.Not enough options for OTHER golfers.I played the Tiger Pga for PS1, and I like that one.But this one was just not enough for me. The fact that I was REQUIRED to use the analog didnt appeal to me.I prefer to use the X button to hit the ball. The graphics were great, but in the end I was very disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Mr. Madden's football games continue to be the titles against which allother gridiron games will be judged. Considering that Madden NFL 2002 isthe Xbox's first contribution to the series, it's a triumphant debut indeed.Everything that we've come to know and love about the console Madden games hasmade it to the Xbox. This version even has minimal but noticeable upgrades fromthe PlayStation2 edition.

Gameplay is almost exactly the same as Madden NFL 2002 on the otherconsoles, with key differences relating to the enormous Xbox controller. Ifyou're not a fan of the Microsoft controller's ill-placed black-and-whitebuttons, you'll be happy to see they aren't used too frequently.

The artificial intelligence exhibited by the Xbox-controlled players seems to beequivalent to that of the very smart PS2 version. In other words, expect aslow-paced, competent game that will challenge you for every yard.

The graphics, however, have been slightly tweaked for the extra pixel-pushingabilities of Microsoft's console. Helmets get scratched and dirt, grass, andother filth accumulates on player uniforms. Players are somewhat sharper andsmoother than in the great-looking PS2 version, plus people with widescreen TVscan view the entire offensive and defensive lines without having to pan left orright. All in all, the improvements over the PS2 version are slight, but they doadd to the atmosphere of the game.

Also retained are the two-minute drills, teaching modes, and Madden Cards fromthe other versions. Sadly, repetitive and droll announcing by Pat "What Game IsHe Watching?" Summerall and John "Blandly Stating the Obvious" Madden didn't getupgraded. One or both of these guys need to hang up their microphones in ahurry. Also, the game still puts way too much emphasis on the passing game,leading to sometimes inflated QB stats.

If you've enjoyed the Madden series on other consoles, you'll love this 2002edition. The legendary Madden gameplay is better than ever, and the games havenever looked this good. --Mark Brooks

Pros:

• A great football game that plays like its PS2 counterpart
• Aside from picking receivers, the black-and-white buttons on Microsoft'squestionably designed controller get minimal usage
• Some visual upgrades, including dirty players and somewhat sharper graphics,from other versions

• Lethargic commentary by Madden and Summerall
• Gameplay differences between this and PS2 version are minimal at best; don'tbuy both
• Emphasis on passing can lead to inflated stats

Reviews (68)

holding penalties are ridiculous
Great graphics and some very realistic features but I am furious over the number of holding plays I keep getting especially when I use a superior team over another i.e. the all madden team vs. a regular team. The regular team rarely gets called for holding while I get called nearly a third of the time and on running downs. THAT IS BULL PLOP.

The commentary also needs a lot of workon better coordinating and adding many more so we don't hear the same thing over and over.

Also there are waaaay to many receivers dropping the ball on well thrown passes.

Madden 2002, great game
If you like the Madden series, you will love this game.The graphics are astonashing, and the gameplay is amazing.It is a little slow looking at times, but none the less it is such a fun game.

Best football game for 2002.
This was a great game to get in 2002. Dont bother now, get 2003 but only for the better rosters. I guess you could do this in 2002 but you need to update stats and trade players away, ex. Ricky Williams to the dolphins but it might take a while. ALso you can't add players to the Texans. The controls and gameplay is great. The commentary is average but the player models look fantastic with real-life faces that you can make. You could make a moustached-bearded 400 pound guy or a little, bald, 160 pound kicker. Overall- a great port.

It sucks!
This game has OK graphics.It's gameplay SUCKS, everything SUCKS!

Addictive
Madden 2002 is an awesome football game! You will be amazed at the graphics on this game. One of the cool things about Madden 2002 is the training camp mode that teaches you how to do every play! Madden 2002 is a great game to try. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This portable version of Madden NFL 2003 offers a detailed,high-action simulated football experience. Link your GBA to a friend's forhead-to-head play, then track your stats over the course of an entire season.Scout new players and build your own from scratch, then develop your teamthrough experience and hard work. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not bad for a GBA game
May I start off by saying that this is a very good rendetion of the classic Sega Genesis games of yester-year. The graphics and sound are alike and the same, which is not a bad thing. All in all this is a very fun game to play but only for the casual gamer on the go. I don't recomend this game to hardcore gamers who enjoy depth to their game but to the casual on the go gamer. The new version of Madden comes this year with over 150 plays to choose from and many different features taken from the older games. For instance, you can create your own player and instead of using a point system to build his stats, you must take your newly created player and train him in around five different tests to find out his skill level. Do good and ur traded to that team, do bad and well, lets just say you should start over and try again. Madden 2003 is a very good portable tried and true game of football for the casual on the go gamer and for someone who just wants to waist an hour or two on the plane. Overall I rate this game a four out of five stars mainly because it is and "rerelease" of the Sega Genesis madden of yester-year. Buy this game for the fun factor not the depth of it.

this is a poor excuse for a madden game
I hate this game and if your a madden freak you might get it for
colletion but not for fun.it:boring,no fun at all.but all in all
the best thing is the create-a-player thats it.If you know madden
,this madden game looks like madden 1996 on SNES.i am going to tell you the pro's and con's for you can understand.
PRO'S:Create-a-player is great but not that all great
Got all teams even all madden
but i got to give them credict..they try to give them a cool inzone dane
its got link play action..2p action
CON'S:game play sucks like hell...thats right i said hell
i told you about the grahics it look like 1996 madden
gets boring real quick i..mean quick

well thats all about this stupid game.Im telling the truth i got
this game by mistake..i well speak the truth.

Waste of Money..
I was really looking forward to play this game, but I am really disappointed now. First, I personally do not like Madden-style up and down field mode. Nonetheless, I'm glad I only paid $ for this game.
PS I would really want to see Tecmo bring back Tecmo Super Bowl (SNES Version) to Gameboy Advance. Tecmo Super Bowl is the best football game ever!

Decent Football Game But Is a Real Disapointment.
I have bought every single Madden game dating back to Madden 2001 for the N64. Now I know it isn't fair to compare GBA games to high-powered systems like the Xbox. So I won't. I bought this game thinking I was going to get a pretty good football game for my GBA. Well, after experiencing what this game has to offer, I may never buy another Madden game for the GBA. The sound is crisp but only plays one song, Andrew W.K. Party Hard. The controls are decent, the graphics are a real letdown compared to what EA did with the NHL 2002 for the GBA, and the replayability is only there if you wish to play as another team, because the schedule is the same when you start a new season. The playoff mode will provide some replayability, but like the season mode, after a while, you just won't want to play it again. The real big problem I have about this game is that you cannot run worth beans and most passing plays are decent. I found a passing play that worked for me 96% of the time, and everytime it was completed, my receiver would run in the length of the field for a touchdown. So the A.I. is a REAL drawback to this game. Plus you can rack up the score real easily in this game. It would be nice if the schedule could change after each season. NHL 2002 is a much bigger game, as far as to develop, than Madden was. You would think that they would be able to easily squeeze in a chip that would change the schedules!

Overall: Madden 2003 for the GBA is the best footbal game out there for the GBA system. But the system's graphics, A.I., and consistant schedule make the game a bad experience compared to what EA has done with the NHL franchise for the GBA. Hopefully they can have better graphics, better A.I., better running, passing and defense abilities, more modes of play, and a chip that can change the schedule after you play a season. Oh yeah, did I mention that the creat-a-player was the worst?

Madden 2003 is Great
Since I don't play sport games on other systems I thought since I love football(Go Houston Texans) I purchased Madden 2003 for GBA. I had a blast playing. There ARE TONS OF PLAYS Its about 85% real. You can either playexhibition game or season or playoffs. This is my first Madden game let alone football gaame. When you do exhibition game you can choose where to play and the wheater (snow,fair,rain,windy) I hope you liked this review. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

NBA LIVE 2002, Its in the game
If you have played the 2003 and 2004 versions of NBA LIVE and played this version, you will find that they are pretty much the same. Especially the 2003, Players all look pretty much the same and there are not any new moves at all. NBA Live 2004 made some improvement but some of the AI is not tolerable. This game has great AI, and great game play with alot of flashy dunks. Sure some of the guys faces doesnt look as good as the 2003 or 2004, and sure, Michael Jordan still plays in this game, and yeh, Nba Live 2004 has that option where you can choose your favorite team and their colors and players will be showing int he menu, but so what? Aren't these sport games all about gameplay??? Petty features should be ignored and we should not encourage EA to make a sport game every year if the roster is THE ONLY thing to be changed. THis is definitely a cheaper but more worth your money NBA Live.

Gameplay:9
Sound: 8.5
Graphics: 8.5
Replay Value: 9
Overall: 8.75

A unrefined game.
The problem about this game is that there is no defense, which means that the only thing that you can do is drive in with the turbo button, then dunk.*sucks.*YOu can roast the AI doing this.Bleg.

wheres the Defense
well i've been probably one of the biggest NBA live fans from NBA Live 95 on SNES to current....but wow, this was not very good
graphics and stuff are whatever, they dont really matter ALL that much in a basketball game
crossover and 'stutter step', theres no stutter...
umm, and the worst thing about the game, there's no defense
i was playing it at a friends place and even a person who's never played a basketball game could possibly score on every posession...theres no DEFENSE played by the computer and it is very hard to play defense as a user
holla

Great Game, Minor Flaws...
First things first: This game was a blast, with excellent gameplay, options, and overall depth.Here's what I thought of the XBOX version of NBA Live 2002 by EA Sports:

1. Gameplay: Excellent in almost every way.Unlike in the older versions, now when you play a good team like the Lakers, it's a lot more difficult to win then when you play someone like the Bulls.I've played a season so far in franchise mode, and I have to admit, it was very addicting.Anyone remember playing the old versions of Live, and finding it so easy on the hardest mode to go 35-0 to begin a season?Not the case here.After probably 50 hours or more of gameplay, I still lose 2 or 3 out of every 10 games.And in the big games, playoffs, or against a team like the Mavs, Lakers, Kinds, etc...you really feel the pressure to win.The AI plays smart, the players and bench react, and the crowd cheers with you on big plays, suddenly goes mute when the other team goes on a run.The reason I love this game, NBA Live's gameplay rocks anything we've seen so far!

The graphics: Very good, but not superb.It's really cool to see a 3-pointer swish threw the net once, then rattle around and go in the next.The ball goes in or out different ways now.Example: in past versions, the ball would just CLANK off the rim or SWISH if it went in.No other animation.Now I never know if it's going to go in or out, and it rattles around a different way every time.The dunks in this game are simply put: AWSOME!!!You never see the same dunk twice, and the twists and spins are incredible to watch.The players as well now look great.You can now clearly tell the difference between big 'ole Shaq and a much smaller Kobe Bryant.The graphics bring this game to life.Where the graphics fail you may ask?There isn't any differnce between one pass or steal and another.No behind the back, no diving for lose balls, no jaw dropping blocks.It gets the job done, but nothing else.I guess we're just spoiled in today's time, but parts of the game are just too simple!

3. Options: Once again: very good, but not great.You can do the usual 1 on 1, exibition, season, franchise, 5 on 5.There's still create a player.But unlike in NBA 2k2, you can't do anything but 1 on 1.No 2 on 2, 3 on 3.In streetball, only one court.In franchise mode (this really killed me) no FANTASY DRAFT.AHHHHHHHH!!!I used to love that, and it always seemed to create a new challenge.But for some reason, no fantasy draft in the 2002 version.WHY???Who knows.Oh, one more thing: No real cash.It's a points system.If you want to re-sign your star, you offer him what...250,000 points?Just make it regular cash like everybody else.I hate the points system.

Overall though, this game rocked.I have probably played it for close to 60 hours, and I still can't put it down.If you want a good basketball game, with the best graphics, gameplay, and overall realism of the NBA.NBA Live 2002 is for you!

Thx!

ARE THESE PEOPLE STUPID?
you have got to be kidding me, how can this game be getting all these great reviews. this is quite possibly the worst b-ball game i have ever played (next to espn nba tonite). Nba live 98 is seriously better than this. this cant compare to nba 2k2 on any level. the gameplay is horendous. the graphics are horendous. the concepts are horendous. Please buy nba 2k2 instead of this. the people giving this a good rating must have been hired by EA sports or something. Trust me, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Given that most people will buy anything with Mario's chubbyface plastered on it, the developers of Mario Golf could havetaken the easy route with this license. Instead they practically ignoredit, focusing on gameplay instead. Players can jump straight into thegolfing action on one of the game's four courses, but we recommendchecking out the excellent role-playing mode. In this mode, you create acharacter and improve his or her golf skills by earning experiencepoints in tournaments, playing minigames, or receiving items fromcharacters in the gaming world.

This is one of the best arcade golf games on any system, period. Thephysics just feel right. If you perform poorly, it was probably yourfault--rather than poor game controls. The camera zooms in on the actionwhen the ball gets close to the hole, turning many shots intonail-biting experiences. After a few pathetic rounds, we were able to get afeel for the wind and the lie of the greens. Then, it happened--webecame hooked on this must-own game. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Terrific, intuitive controls
• Ability to improve performance of your golfer in the RPG mode

• Not your typical Mario game

Reviews (43)

What an awesome game
I only got gameboy for the car and long trips or to wait somewhere.I play this games for hours at a time and it never gets old.I this is the BEST games for gameboy!!!

Mario golf is the best game for gameboy period.
this game is awesome. it is a very very addicting game. the grafics are great, gameplay out of sight, there are so many things that you can unlock but i wont tell you. the more courses you win the better it is for your drive, control and the stuff you can unlock. i highly recommend you buy this game even if u dont like golf that much.

Golfing, Mario, and RPG combine
This game is absolutely fantastic. With excellent graphics, a very easy learning curve, and simple play control, anyone can pick up and enjoy this game. Beyond these though, is the game play. Not only do you travel from club to club, testing your skill against people, but every match you play increases your number of experience points. At certain intervals, your level increases, allowing you to better one of your statistics. You could increase your maximum driving distance, adjust your shot height, or take care of that annoying slice you may have. Starting out with only a minimal amount of characters, you can earn more by winning championships. This game has an incredible amount of depth to it. By no means should it be overlooked.

My Husband's Obsession
I bought this game because it was on sale and after fighting over it with my husband for 4 days or so, he emerged victorious and has been playing with it every day ever since. At ages 31 and 36, we have a hard time finding Gameboy Games that can hold our attention, but I do fear he's going to get carpel tunnel syndrome soon. I just wish there were more courses available to us. Although I am trapped on the Palms course and it might take me a while to actually finish well, so we have gotten our money's worth out of this one.

Most Amazing Game
When my cousin first showed me Mario Golf I thought it was going to be a cheesy mario game, but it was amazing i couldn't stop playing it was like it was glued to me. I recommened this game to anyone who has gameboy Colour.Trust me this game is the best game made for gameboy colour!Buy It!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Realistic gameplay combined with total control over your team make Sega’s NHL 2K3 the game of choice for serious hockey fans. The game captures all the intricacies of the NHL, from the furious, hard-hitting action on the ice to the day-to-day decisions made in the front office. Don’t like the production you’re getting out of one of your players? Send him down to the minors for a few weeks of seasoning to get his game in order. Prefer high-scoring shootouts or 1-0 grind-it-out defensive struggles? Tweak the game’s highly customizable AI to set things just the way you like them. Regardless of your preferences, NHL 2K3 delivers the goods to make this a more than passable hockey sim.

Like most of Sega’s recent sports releases, NHL 2K3 hangs its hat on stellar gameplay and sweet graphics. Little, if anything, is overlooked: players move and react much like their real-life counterparts--goalies are especially acrobatic; the puck seamlessly glides, flips, and bounces around the rink and off the posts and goalie’s pads; players can be pinned to the boards during a scramble for the puck; missed shots are covered up by a diving goalie or slapped in off ensuing rebounds; arenas are painstakingly re-created and feature music and sounds specific to each. Off the ice, there’s plenty of strategy and options to tinker with. NHL 2K3 boasts over 30 sliders to alter effects ranging from ice friction to referee collisions. And, of course, there’s the franchise mode that allows up to 250 years of dynasty building. --Larry White

(This review refers to the PlayStation2 version of this game) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The fun goes on and on!
I got this game about 8 months ago and I still say it is my favorite title for gamecube.If you want a game with an in depth franchise and unlimeted replay value this is your game.This game is so much fun.You will love it.

better then nhl 2003 but still not good
buy nhl 2002 its cheaper and better you can update the rosters yourself

NHL 2K3 Score !!!
NHL 2K3 Very good game . Graphics are well done the game play seems faster than EA's NHL 03 . I like the real names of the arenas and the banners as well . The crowds look real and the gameplay is realistic .

The Nest so Far...
I have played EA NHL2003 and NHL2k3 is by far more realistic in the game play.The attention to the details of the game are excellent.
My favorite features are:
1. You have to actually think were you are passing to and aim the pass accurately.
2. Fighting for the puck on the boards.No hockey game ever did this.
3. Scoring is not ridiculously easy like the EA game.These goalies mean business (excellent replays and commentary)

Simply put: This game rocks.

THE REAL DEAL
I HAVE PLAYED EVERY HOCKEY GAME OUT THERE...THIS GAME BY FAR IS THE CLOSEST THING TO REAL HOCKEY YOU CAN FIND...IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY A HOCKEY GAME FOR ANY SYSTEM, THIS ONE IS IT!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

World Series Baseball 2K1 nearly ruined one of the most cherishedfranchises in sports gaming with its poor gameplay. For the 2K2 edition, Segaturned to Visual Concepts--the developers behind its excellent football,baseball, and hockey titles. The developers only had 10 months to work on thetitle, and while it's the best baseball game on the Dreamcast to date, it playslike a game that needs more work.

Thankfully, fielding is back in the game (fielding was automatic in 2K1).Unfortunately, the controls can be very tricky. Ground balls hit within areasonable range of the player often pass him. The only alternative is diving,which leads to spectacular shots of players diving over and past baseballs. Thebatting and pitching controls are simpler than in last year's version, but couldhave used more polishing. Hitting is way too arduous (in the video gamesense)--even after dozens of game hours, tracking pitches is far more difficult than inother games. Positives include sharp graphics and a plenitude of modes, such asexhibition, season, playoffs, home run derby, franchise, and online. This iscurrently the only baseball game on a console that supports Internet play,albeit with some lag and bug issues.

Problems aside, this is as good as baseball gets on this platform. If theDreamcast is your only system and you're itching for a baseball game, then don'thesitate to pick this one up. Gamers with other consoles should consider EASports's and Acclaim's baseball titles. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• The best baseball game on the Dreamcast
• Excellent graphics
• Internet play

• Gameplay could have used a few more months of tweaking
• AI is easily fooled
• Internet play can be buggy

Reviews (107)

Upgrade from 2K1, but still some work to do...
If you haven't looked at 2K1 yet let me save you some time, DON'T!!!We all know it stinks and all we Dreamcast gamers feel at least a little ashamed for SEGA.If you have looked at WSB2K1
here are the updates in this version.

PROS:

(1) Fielding!2K1 was almost massacred with ratings saying that "automatic fielding was so boring".I admit I was one of them.Well, here it is.This was sort of a problem for me as it sometimes a pro and con at the same time.One minute your player makes a stupid dive right over the ball, the next a diving catch or snag of a line drive 10 feet in the air. HOWEVER, this manual fielding isn't so bad as everybody says, although sometimes I wish that automatic fielding was an option.
(2) Graphics!WOW!If you gamers thought that 2K1 had some sweet microchips for graphics take a look at these.I'm talking about the view of stadiums here.I'll get to players' graphics a bit later...
(3) "Oh, the selection of modes..."!This pretty much sums up this section.You can choose from Quick Start, Season, Playoffs, and Franchise gameplay modes.There are also, of course, Options where you CAN create a player.
(4) STATS!If you play sports for none other than stats, get it on the spot.I love getting stats, and they show it all...(pitchers) ERA, I.P., Saves, W/L, and CG.(for batters) BA, HRs, Hits, RBIs, SLG%, SB, and Runs scored.Let me tell you, Mr. Ichiro Suzuki can sure rack up the stats in this game!

CONS

(don't be scared because I didn't put up enough pros up there!)
(1) Graphics...I told you I'd be back for player graphics!The players don't look anything like the real thing.Although you rarely get close enough, unless in replay, to see their faces, Ichiro Suzuki looks more like Ronald McDonald!And Cal Ripken Jr. (which is retired now, of course, but the game doesn't know that: another con!)
(2) Gameplay Realism...Have you ever seen Ichiro Suzuki throw a that little white ball before??I'm sure you've seen his April 8th, 2001 throw to David Bell to nail Terence Long of Oakland at third base??In this game Ichiro's throws are almost as good as mine!(No offense, Mr. Sultan of Swat!!)They just go up, up, up, etc., and then drop down perfectly to the base they are throwing to.Only 3 times (out of some 100 bil. throws) have I seen him throw a lazer beam, but only when he is standing perfectly still for about 2 seconds flat.
(3) Create Mode...Now, of course, like most of you gamers, I like being fair to the CPU and try to make a well balanced team and it seems when SEGA made this they wanted that, too.COME ON!
The trading won't let you trade for anyone else unless they have exactly the same ratin or you getting ripped off.You also can't trade more that I player at a time.If you want to get some superstar (I tried to trade for Scott Rolen to bring him to the Cardinals) you have to create a player literally a clone of a body-builder with 100% rating to get someone of that value!!Try trading for Ichiro now..!!!I also need to say that this clone will put a log-jam in the statistics with .400+ avg., 60+ HRs, 150+ RBIs, 100+ SBs, etc.!!Like I said if you are a statistics person like me, you have to hate that.
(4) Celebration...We all want to make our favorite team suped up for the postseason to go all the way, of course!Unlike you NBA, NHL, and NFL 2K, 2K1, 2K2 you will find a mean suprise at the end of the World Series. (assuming you got the guts to go all the way to the big dance!)NO CELEBRATION, TROPHY PRESENTATION, ANYTHING!!!!!The least WSB2K1 had was a little sendtence in the season mode say "Congratulations, you are the WORLD CHAMPS!".In this game, they all just trot off the field (even after a Game 7, walk-off grand slam by Cliff Floyd of Boston: of which I was getting hoarse from yelling) as if this was a preseason game, which they would celebrate anyway!Also, as the review below me states, when you hit a walk-off HR, the player does not get credit for it.Only for the RBIs and Runs.Also, what happened to MVP, Gold Glove, and Rookie of the year awards?!?!?!?!?

I could add more, but the reviews below me will probably fill the rest of you questions (and time) with useful answers.I hope this helps you, a fellow consumer, to be thrifty about spending money on video games....

The Best Baseball Game Out There
This has got to be the best baseball game on the market.The learning curve is not to steep and you will be hitting the ball with ease in no time.Base running,throwing and fielding are all excellent.
I just got through playing a complete season which took about 3 months playing it pretty regulary and made it to The World Series and won....the cpu is smart and depending on what skill level you have the game set on the cpu is a tough opponent.

Pitching in this game RULES!Curveballs,Sinkers,sliders,fastballs,Change-ups,forkballs and splitters.They're all here!

The players are so realistic it's like you are controlling real life players.Each player has their own unique body type,batting stance and swing.

Mark Mcguire looks and acts JUST like Mark Mcguire.All of the players are true to life.

If you own a Dreamcast or are thinking of buying one this game is a must in your Sports Collection.

Not the best, not the worst.
I had high hopes for this version of World Series Baseball after the disaster that was WSB2K1.This game is definitely a solid improvement, but it wasn't the grand slam that I was expecting.

PROS:

1. The stadia and fields are very realistic.

2. At first, I was concerned that there was no "spring training" or "batting practice" mode.Then I figured out that "rookie" mode is all about BP.

3. This game has the best create-a-player that I've ever seen.

4. Actual gameplay (controls and movements) is top-of-the-line.Better than any other baseball game I've seen to date.Once you master the reaction needed to field grounders (after changing infielders, if necessary) and position yourself for shagging fly balls, you're golden.I will agree with the other reviewer who mentioned that there seems to be at least one dropped fly ball per game, but in my case (thankfully), it usually happens to the CPU.

CONS:

1. No color commentary.There is a play-by-play announcer, and it is not very dynamic play-by-play--the announcer will repeat himself frequently.And if you score more than 100 runs in a game (yup, I have), he gets really confused.It's quite humorous.

2. Every single player has the same home run "trot" that involves pumping his fists in the air and landing defiantly on home plate.It's funny to see a player like Edgar Martinez--who shows very little emotion on the field in real-life--acting like he has never hit a home run before.

3. You can strike out anybody, anywhere, anytime by simply locating your pitch just beneath the strike zone.It doesn't matter what pitcher you are using.

4. There are lots of bugs.I won't repeat them since other reviewers have covered most of the, but one that is worth mentioning (and proves that I've played the heck out of this game) is that no player can have more than 127 homers in a season.Once you hit the 128th, the counter resets to -127 and counts back to zero.NICE.

5. I'm not sure why Sega even included the ability to "trade" in Franchise mode, because the CPU will reject any trade.I tried to trade Barry Bonds for Charles Gipson.Ixnay.Now THAT'S funny.

There are other issues, but these are the major pros and cons.I'm still waiting for a computer baseball game that truly blows me away but in the meantime, there is always the real thing.

Best baseball game on Dreamcast, but flawed
World Series Baseball 2K2 for the Sega Dreamcast is a very fun and exciting game despite having many flaws. After having a terrible game World Series Baseball 2K1 game I knew this one just had to better, but I was reluctant to get it because of the way 2K1 made me want to get rid of it (Which I did afte rplaying it 3 times). This game is probably one of the deepest baseball games out there now. It has a very, very deep franchise mode where you can manage your team through several seasons by signing free agents, making trades, drafting players and re-building your team if you are struggling or your star gets signed by a new team. Another great mode is the Home Run Derby which is the best Home Run Derby in a video game for a very long time.

This game has many flaws that make this game frustrating at some points though:
1) There is a bug that allows pitchers to get the save and win if the come in in the top of the 9th after you scored the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth

2) If your player hits a walk-off homerun, he will not be credited with the homerun in his stats
3) In this game it seems like arule for there to e an error made in the game while trying to ctach a fly ball
4) All homerun celebrations are the same, no Sammy Sosa leap, no Barry Bonds flinging the bat and walking, just pumping of their fists in the air.
5) Your catcher always throws out the computer if they attempt to steal.
6) In franchise mode you can't do blockbuster trades with multiple players, you can only make straight-up trades

Due to these and many other glitches this game is challenging, but still very fun. I foyu want a great baseball game for your Dreamcast check this one out, it's definitely worth 20 bucks.

Many Inaccuracies, but Still Fun
Although I've found the gameplay much better than other baseball games, there are several things that are quite annoying about 2K2:
1)The reason the batting averages are so high is that anytime a runner is moved over, even on a groundout to the shortstop, it is considered a sacrifice.
2)Your catcher always throws out the computer's base stealer.
3)Pitchers hit far too many home runs.
4)It's useless to try to dive with an infielder, becuase if you miss the ball, the outfielder dives as well, so the computer will get a double or triple.
5)You can always move up on a flyball, because the computer will throw 2 bases ahead.This counts as a sacrifice fly, which also improves the batting average.
6)If you hit a "walk-off" homerun in the bottom of the ninth, the batter will not get credit in the statistics for either the hit or the home run.He'll only get credit for the RBI and run.
7)There's a glitch that allows a pitcher to get the win and the save.
8)Even though fielding is user-controlled, the computer intitially picks your fielder.Many times, it picks a fielder that is further away from the ball, and the one it should have selected will be running to cover the bag.This can make it tough to get some ground balls.
9)You can only do straight-up trades for a player of equal or lesser value.This really takes away from the franchise mode.
10)Your outfielders throw to the base, not a cutoff man.That means if the computer has a runner on 2nd and gets a base hit, you either have to concede the run and hold the batter at first, or try to throw the runner out at home and allow the batter to go to 2nd.The game doesn't allow you to select another fielder while the ball is in the air so that you can cut the ball off.

Because of all of these glitches, the game is definitley challenging.Because it's hard to "master," it's more fun, but some of these things are very basic that could have been avoided by using a little more care. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

NASCAR Thunder 2002 lets you race on the original Daytona Beach course--the beach that started it all. The game has 23 NASCAR Winston Cup tracks and five fantasy road tracks. From Daytona to Sears Point, you can drive every track on the circuit. More than 30 real NASCAR drivers are here, including Gordon, Earnhardt Jr., Waltrip, Labonte, Stewart, Marlin, Jarrett, Petty, and more. You can unlock cars, tracks, and offensive and defensive power-ups such as better fuel mileage, horsepower, tire durability, and brake wear. Try to create a driver and a legendary career. See if you can triumph as NASCAR Winston Cup champion and defend your title over multiple seasons. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Available in Collectors' Edition
Now available in 3 box set Collectors' Edition.Includes NBA Live 2002 and Madden 2002.

Greatest Racing game for Playstation ever!
I own Nascar 99, Nascar 2000, and Nascar 2001, and so I expected Nascar Thunder 2002 to have the same exeptional graphics.Boy was I wrong! The graphics are comparable to a Playstation 2 or PC. The game has all of the best cars, including some drivers that you can unlock by running well at certain tracks. You can race ANYWHERE that the drivers race Sunday, from the season opener at Daytona, to the closing at Atlanta. Also included is Daytona Beach, where it all began. This a great game, my only complaint was that the draft stinks. And a note to EA sports:Give us the 43 cars on the track next time!!! You have it on Playstation 2, why not on PLaystation?

not the best
nascar 2002 has the best graphics but all playstaion nascar game are never realistic, the draft is so unreal u lose the ability to race side by side and there is only 18 cars aloud in a race, and the wrecks stink. the nascar games are always better on the pc. i have all the nascar games from 96-02 but they arent that great

Unbelievable
What an awesome game, the tracks look real, you can set up the car anyway you like, choose any driver you wish ( I prefer Richard and Kyle Petty, all 3 DEI drivers, and Kevin Harvick.) You can even make your own driver and paint the car any color you want. The engine sounds are exact, the feel of the car is accurate, the crowd cheers on the last lap whether you're in the lead or not, the game is accurate in every detail. I have one gripe about the options, though.
If you have a Dualshock controller and enable vibration, you don't feel it during game play.

Unbelievable
This game is so unbelievable with the things you can do.
You can creat your own driver, car (the best cars to use are the Chevy and Dodge). The track features are very real you feel like you are there on the track racing with the guys. The one thing I don't like about it though is when you are in the game options and go into Controller Config, setup the controller anyway you want and it finds out that you have a Dualshock Analog Controller and you go to enable vibration with analog button turned off, and go to play the game, you find out that the vibration feature does not work, Other than that, The game is worth 5 stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Complete with all 31 NFL teams, as well as legendary teams from years past, Madden NFL 2002 delivers hard-hitting action. The 2002 release adds all-new player face and body technology and hundreds of new animations. Its upgraded coach animations heighten the drama on the field, and it's still the only game that lets the coaches roam the sidelines.

Taking you beyond the broadcast, Madden NFL 2002 delivers exhibition, season, playoff, two-minute drill, and tournament modes. You can also play in franchise mode and take complete control in a quest for NFL glory. The 2002 release of this popular NFL series also takes you inside the huddle with new camera replay angles, and it delivers widescreen TV support. ... Read more

Reviews (237)

I love this Game!
Well,
I just want to say that this games truly rocks! I love the graphics, the animations, sound bytes, season and franchise mode and the hype of going thru a season/play-offs and going all the way against the computer in all-madden mode. As a matter of fact I just lead my San Fransico 49'ers to a "Super Bowl win in year 1 in franchise mode against the Indianapolis Colts on Chirstmas eve 2003. (final score 24-21)I am getting ready to shape my roster to start year 2. In fact I love the on the field graphics even better than "NFL MADDEN 2004", although the 2004 version has more features both on and off the field I still think the overall on the field animation and clear cut look around the field and view of the players is better and more realistic than '04. Heck, I didn't care to buy the 2003 or 2004 version. I'am quite satisfied with "NFL MADDEN 2002". I hope that the 2005 game is similar in on the field style and graphics as 2002, then I would like to upgrade perhaps. I won't deny I wish the play-by-play comentary was a bid sharper with each play and situation, sometimes I hear good old John Madden say a comment that has nothing to do with what's really going on in the game. For instance, I am playing a game right, and its barely still early in the first or second quarter and say I am loosing by 7-10 points and I decide to run the ball and John says, its no longer time to run the ball any more. Could it be that I play 6 minute quarters? Oh well, things like that. I also would love to see more hype and celebration after each win! Special after a play-off win, and oh yeah, please make more on the field celebration and commenatary after getting and winnig the SUPER BOWL! How about showing the legendary Lombardy Thorphy please!

Your game guides come in very handy thank you! I do own the game guide for "MADDEN 2002" it has made me a much better player.

I hope this games keep getting better in every way!

Sincerly,

Julio

Better than PS1
I played this game on Playstaion and i was disappointed with the fact that the Left-footed kickers such as Joe Nedney from the titans was Right-footed. That has bugged me for the longest time. If you want to make a realistic game, make the players realistic liek having Left-Footed kickers. Well, I played this game on PS2 and I was blown away. The different camera angles, The auto-zoom, the players names are readable on their backs. This game just is amazing.

A really awesome football game
I used to think that Tecmo Superbowl for the original Nintendo was the best football game of them all. Now that I've been introduced to Madden 2002 it's opened up a whole new playing field. With awesome play-by-play coverage and commentary by John Madden and Pat Summeral and smooth graphics and great handling, and the addition of Madden cards and managing your own franchise, Madden 2002 is the best football game of 2002.
Bottom Line: Madden 2002 rocks

Best football game ever.
I think that this is the greatest football game ever.I have madden 2003, nfl 2k3, and I had nfl 2k2 and I believe that this is better then all of them.I love the player introductions and what happened to them on 2003 it is dull.It has pretty much the same gameplay and graphics, but is a lot more fun.If you just want graphics go with 2k2 or 2k3 if you want gameplay definitely go with madden 2002, and it also has a great franchise mode.

Madden 2002, The Best so far!
After a full year of Madden 2002, I am convinced this is the best football game out there. The series of Madden games seems to get better and better every year as I own the entire series.
I began playing Madden 2002 at home in exhibition mode, season mode, and even franchise mode. The computer does tend to get a little easy when you get your team rolling, even in All-Madden difficulty. After a few months, Madden 2002 went somewhere into my entertainment system and began to collect dust with the rest of my used games.
The re-birth of my Madden 2002. I am stationed on a US Navy warship and a few months ago my ship departed on a 6 month deployment. One of the few things I grabbed for deployment happened to be Madden 2002. This game is awesome. Using the Custom League, me and the guys are able to have a great season only playing eachother with no computer involved. We usually get around 6-10 people and kick off a season on our off time and go at it using created players and fantasy drafts. The compitition is awesome! I never relized just how bad of a player I was until I started playing people from all over the US on my ship.
Why this game is the best:
Gameplay: Awesome... D-backs knocking the ball away, RB's juking, WR's diving for catches, Kickers kicking the game winning field goal into the wind for the win.
Graphics: Looks like the real thing. Some tackles look a little stupid, like the guy is breaking his back.
This game is alot of fun, I recommend creating players and playing as many different people as humanly possible to get the most out of this game. This game is FOOTBALL at its best! ... Read more