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NFL Fever 2004
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 29 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 15 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Microsoft
Genre(s): Sports, Football
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: August 26, 2003
Summary
Gamers will be impressed with the latest version's revamped A.I., significant offensive and defensive adjustments, animated NFL coaches (roaming the sidelines offering situational analysis), brand-new offensive playbook, totally reworked stadium models, and "Read and Lead" advanced passing. From traditional single-player and multiplayer gaming to league and tournament play on Xbox Live, NFL Fever 2004 is taking football gaming to the next level. [Microsoft]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: NFL Fever 2002 NFL Fever 2003
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
GameZone
The AI is sound for single-player games and the online capabilities are truly amazing.
Read Full Review >TeamXbox
Only NFL Fever 2004 will give you the option of taking your game beyond your console and allowing you to participate in a virtual league like never before.
Read Full Review >Gamer's Pulse
One of the most interactive football titles to date with some of the best game play I have ever seen in a football game.
Read Full Review >Armchair Empire
Having only a few flaws is still too many flaws when stacked up against the stiff competition of both "Madden" and "ESPN Football."
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
The Live stuff definitely adds a new wrinkle to the yearly football competition. For Xbox owners interested in online play, Fever has a huge advantage over Madden, which is unfortunately single-player only on Microsoft's platform.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Online play is taken to the next level in NFL Fever 2004, in what is easily its strongest feature.
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
Each mode outside of online brings less to the table than "Madden 2004" and the fact that this game doesn't run as fast just hurts it in my mind.
Read Full Review >GamePro
But the key is gameplay and control, and that's where Fever’s a little rough around the edges.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
Feels bare-boned and unrefined compared to the other two. [Oct 2003, p.74]
Operation Sports
It’s a fun game to pick up and play, and it plays great online, but in the end; by not doing the little things right on the field, and by lacking depth off the field compared to it’s competition, I just don’t see myself spending an extended period of time playing this game.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
With the incorporation of XSN, new passing controls and improved tackling, NFL Fever 2004 gives Xbox owners a reason to rejoice. [Sept 2003, p.87]
Sports Gaming Network
The overall gameplay feels almost unchanged from the previous NFL Fever games.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
Its single-player mode can be frustrating, the player models are lumpy and odd looking, and the on-the-field gameplay achieves the impressive feat of feeling both too slow and too fast at the same time.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
The game's Read and Lead passing system is simply a blast to play. It's not perfect, but it's a breath of fresh air to the sport. [Sept 2003, p.116]
IGN
Besides the XSN functionality and the Read and Lead passing --which should still be considered experimental like First Person Football-- there's nothing Fever does that other football games out there don't do at least as well and with more polish.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
While it would be technically correct to call NFL Fever 2004 the best in the series, it still doesn't have the quality or quantity of features, the rock-solid gameplay, or high level of polish shown by its competitors.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
Microsoft keeps inserting small innovations when what is really needed is a major overhaul to the entire game engine.
Read Full Review >Cincinnati Enquirer
While not as comprehensive as "Madden" or "ESPN NFL Football," mainly because of fewer game options and graphics that haven't improved much over last year, NFL Fever 2004 is a fun multiplayer game with a lot of replayability.
Read Full Review >XGP Gaming
Throw the slow pace in with the disappointing Read & Lead and you have yourself a recipe for disaster.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
I also have to wonder after 3 years why the game still has some things that have not been fixed? It's not that Fever is a bad game. It just seems to be missing that final polished look and play about it.
Gamers' Temple
Xbox Live gamers should seriously consider hooking into XSN with NFL Fever 2004. For everyone else, the game will be more appealing to the casual football gamer than the hardcore veteran crowd.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
If for any reason, the whole online experience the game brings to the player is unparalleled, this is the reason to buy Fever over any of the competition.
Read Full Review >Cinescape
One cool thing about NFL Fever 2004 is the ability to save the game whenever you want. If you’ve got to run out for a bit and don’t want to leave the system on, you can save your game in the middle of the quarter.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Problems plague the player models, the camera is too high, the Dynasty mode is still shallow, and Fever's announcers make Madden's demented ramblings sound smart. [Sept 2003, p.125]
GMR Magazine
Different and innovative doesn't always mean good. [Oct 2003, p.69]
Xbox Nation Magazine
A cartoony visual style and color palette dilutes the hard-hitting realism of the game. [Oct/Nov 2003, p.95]
G4 TV
May appeal to hardcore football fans looking for a more customizable game of pigskin on the Xbox, but most gamers will lose interest rather fast. Not only are there myriad problems with the overall presentation, but the gameplay also fails to feel as tight or well tuned as this season's other football titles.
Read Full Review >GameNow
Still a ways to go if Fever is gonna compete with "Madden." [Nov 2003, p.54]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Matt C. gave it an 8:
Not only possibly the best NFL game around to date, but its one of the best sports-based games around on Microsoft's Xbox.
tt tt gave it a 10:
The best football game for a long time.
The Moster gave it a 10:
Excellent Game!
Tom D. gave it a 10:
NFL is a great games because of the graphics and the AI.I give it 10/10.
Bill gave it an 8:
This game gets better every year.And this years attempt is pretty good.This game is fun!It has some issues. Not the greatest at anything. It's just fun to play. But I think this will be a contender in a couple years .My rating is based on improvement from last year not it's flaws.
Bryan B. gave it an 8:
If you like a game with no challenge, this isnt the game for you. Sure, you can make it easy, but Reand and Lead passing is rather challenging to learn. Once you get the hang out of it, you can be very successful, but that takes time. I was shocked to see X-Play from TechTV give it a 3 out of 5. NFL Fever is better than madden. You cant even play online with madden, I mean, if you have an xbox, why do you want to play football single player. Fever with XSN lets you play tourneys, season, and other features online against REAL PEOPLE. Can we say WOW? EA Sports NFL Madden 2004 cant do this. ESPN Football can only play single games online with the xbox. OK enough with the online play. The graphics are great, which every football game on the xbox has this. Its a nice addition with the coaches and players on the sideline. The franchise mode is good, but not as good as madden's. Definatly better than ESPN's. If the graphics, sound, and franchise mode were ahead of the competition, this game would be a 10 out of 10. But because of that, I give it an 8 out of 10.
Lance L. gave it a 9:
This game is the most realistic football game. Quarterbacks don't throw perfect passes every time and the player as QB in this game is on his own as far as pass accuracy. People buy Madden for the name not the game! It's the same with the SONY Playstation compared to the XBOX. I could care less about the name on the package, I want quality and realism.
