Metacritic Games

ESPN NFL Football (Xbox)

ESPN NFL Football brings the complete NFL experience. Whether it's by making an opponent lose his shorts from a stop-and-go juke, by scraping your toes down as you make an acrobatic first-down catch along the sideline, or by piling on top of a swarming gang tackle on fourth and short -- you will truly feel everything that makes the National Football League so intense. Don't look. Don't listen. Feel.

Sega
Sports, Football
Players: 4
E (Everyone)
Developer: Visual Concepts
Released September 2, 2003

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

91 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 Gaming Age
First Person Football is the monster addition though. With everything in the gameplay that was updated for 2K4, I don’t know how they found the time to add this big of an addition. First Person Football is a game unto itself, and you get it for free.
100 GamePro
A masterful effort. It literally redefines itself within the span of one videogame football season and is a worthy preseason Pro Bowl pick.
96 XboxAddict
The best sports game I have played to date.
95 Cheat Code Central
If you're looking for a solid football game that pulls you right in the action, ESPN Football will do exactly that. If you're looking for a football game that offers plenty of options and online features, you will find that as well. ESPN Football is one of the best sports games to come around in a long time!
94 XGP Gaming
It's clear after playing Sega's latest, that all others will bow down when ESPN comes to your town.
94 Team Xbox
Just what the fans of the 2K series have been waiting for; an updated version with more polished controls, better computer AI and the best presentation possible...This game has the perfect blend of arcade and simulation football that should make it fun for every type of sports gamer.
94 Operation Sports
The bread and butter of this game is it's gameplay and presentation. The graphics are bar-none the best out there. If you are looking for football at it's best, look no further than ESPN NFL Football.
94 Gamezilla!
The graphics and level of realism are just unbelievable. Although there isn't a world of difference between the Xbox and PS2 version, the graphics are a bit better on the box game and it does support progressive scan.
93 IGN
This is the tightest offering of the series to date, with improved AI--especially in the passing game-- and loads of features.
93 GameSpot
While "Madden" is the most realistic-playing football game on the market, ESPN NFL Football is simply the most exciting football game on the planet.
93 Official Xbox Magazine
No game, no TV broadcast... flat-out nothing I've ever seen has come close to re-creating the intensity of a real NFL experience like ESPN Football's First Person Football mode. [Oct 2003, p.73]
93 Game Informer
Madden still has the best pasing game and deepest franchise options; yet ESPN's running game is unmatched, and TV-style sequences which range from weekly wrap-ups with Chris Berman to payers leaping into the stands after a touchdown are far and away superior to anything in EA's camp. [Sept 2003, p.117]
92 GameZone
Aside from the occasional player gliding across the ground, the graphics are phenomenal and superior to "Madden 2004."
92 Xbox World Australia
ESPN however has a certain appeal that comes from its brilliant presentation and easy to grasp controls, the addition of the crib makes this one of the best sports games available for the Xbox.
91 Play Magazine
Visually, ESPN NFL Football is top notch, especially the tackle and running animations. No other football game comes close in this area. Coupled with tight controls and great online play, ESPN NFL Football is a fine success. [Sept 2003, p.86]
90 Yahoo! Games
The competition may have a few small details and features over Sega, but no one can touch this gameplay. With subtle but effective tweaks made to all areas of the offensive and defensive games, ESPN NFL is certainly the toughest and most satisfying simulation currently available.
90 Armchair Empire
"Madden 2004" may include more realistic gameplay and statistics, but ESPN is a much more satisfying experience when breaking down the purpose of games in the first place. To be fun.
89 GamingTrend
ESPN NFL Football has the better graphics and commentary while "Madden 2004" has better controls, gameplay and arguably more replay value if you're into franchise play.
86 Sports Gaming Network
ESPN's fatigue problems and lazy secondary play detract from the game, but the first person view, running game, and overall presentation show ESPN is a strong contender.
85 GameSpy
It is the near-seamless integration of the ESPN look and feel that sets this game apart.
83 Game Revolution
If ESPN wants to compete with an EA Franchise that has made some serious leaps and bounds this year, they’re going to have to buckle down in the off-season, tighten up their offense and maybe learn some new plays on defense.
80 G4 TV
ESPN is incorporated seamlessly into the game, and it mostly works well, with solid pre-game coverage, a clean interface, and some slick graphic overlays in between gameplay.
80 Xbox Nation Magazine
If there was no "Madden," ESPN NFL Football would easily be the best football game this year. [Oct/Nov 2003, p.96]
80 Cincinnati Enquirer
Year after year, ESPN NFL Football (formerly NFL2K4) inches closer to becoming the "must have" football game. Almost.
80 GMR Magazine
On the field, Sega falls short of the more immediate action, tighter controls, and more powerful on-field flexibility of "Madden 2004." [Sept 2003, p.73]