NFL GameDay 99 - PC Review - Gamecenter

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NFL GameDay 99

continued
A Juke Joint
Because it's an action game, GD99 concentrates on playing mechanics. It has, by far, the largest variety of jukes I've seen. For example, when controlling the ball carrier, you can choose from 12 different moves. Even my mighty SideWinder gamepad couldn't handle that, and I had to resort to the keyboard for some moves. The variety adds a lot of finesse to gameplay. NFL GameDay 99 It takes a while to master the nuances of the game, and novices should expect to get whooped by GameDay veterans. In terms of action, however, there is one move conspicuously missing: you can't take a knee when catching the ball in the end zone.
Line play is good to fair. Blockers do a nice job of picking up the blitz, but they also blow their assignments. I really like the play between quarterback and receiver. GD99 allows you to take "total control" of the QB and his target. This allows for overthrowing and underthrowing, both of which have significant strategic value. The defense also plays intelligently. I found a play that I thought was going to work forever (a QB sneak out of a shotgun formation), but after a couple of plays the defense wised up are started knocking me for a loss.
For those who don't know, GD99 is a PlayStation port. The developer is 989 Studios (formerly known as Sony Interactive). It's hard to discuss a PlayStation port without also discussing the inevitable console hang-ups that come with it; in the case of GD99, the most serious glitch is the inability to save a game. Because there is also no way to minimize, once a game has begun, you've made a commitment. Also mildly annoying is the interface. Most console ports don't use the mouse. GD99 uses the mouse, but not always. Some menus need a mouse, some a gamepad, and some a keyboard. It would be great if all three peripherals were available on all the menus.
On the other hand, multiplayer is a real strength for GD99. Up to eight people can play on one computer (four on each side). This is everything a Supreme Court gaming party could hope for (Chief Justice Rehnquist is never invited). Two players can also go head-to-head via modem, serial cable, LAN, or Internet; any of these options allows each player to have an independent camera view. Internet performance is expectedly unpredictable and depends on your connection. I've had some great games and some that were completely ruined by lag. As always, try to play people with the lowest ping time. Two things are certain: the game is always better for the host, and the kicking game is always horrible on the client machine. Players are matched over the Internet using Sony's free matching service, 989studios.net. The interface is simple and includes a nice in-game chat feature, but chatting is inconvenient to access and not allowed at halftime, which makes trash-talking a lot less fun.
In the 1990 movie Crazy People, a group of mental patients create an advertising campaign based on telling the truth. The ultimate challenge for the group is to devise a slogan for Sony. The end result: Buy Sony because Caucasians are too damn tall and can't get close enough to the circuit boards. If this group were to devise a slogan for GD99, it would be something like this: "Buy NFL GameDay 99. What else are you going to do with the 3D card and eight SideWinders you've bought?" This isn't far from the truth. GD99's biggest distinctions are graphics and multiplayer action. If that's what you're looking for in a football game, then add an extra X to the rating and buy NFL GameDay 99.
Tips
File these tips under T for tricking your opponent:
-Many players give away a pass play by checking their receivers before the snap. Use this to your advantage by checking your receivers on a running play. Better yet, check your receivers on every play (or when you're good enough, don't check them at all) so you don't give away anything.
-After choosing a play, move on to another formation so your opponent doesn't know what you're choosing. Your choice is still active.
-Once you've mastered quarterbacking, use total control and intentionally underthrow your receivers. This is often a good way to keep human cornerbacks away from the ball.
-The offense has to call the play before the play clock expires. The defense has no such obligation. If fact, the defense has no time limit at all; wait to see what the offense does before choosing a defense.

If you liked this type of game, you might want to check out Quarterback Club (N64) or Madden NFL 98.

Hugh Falk currently owns a TRS-80, TI 99/4A, Apple IIc, Vic-20, C-64, SX-64, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, two networked PCs, and several old game systems. His goal is to someday load them all into a balloon and use the heat they generate to circle the globe. Agree or disagree with this review? Let us know.

Facts

NFL GameDay 99
989 Studios, 888/426-3702
Price: $40
Pentium-166 (Pentium-200 recommended), 32MB RAM, 75MB disk space, 8X CD-ROM, Sound Blaster-compatible sound card, Direct3D-compatible video card, Windows 95

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NFL GameDay 99

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