It is easy to forget that football, the manliest of manly sports, is really all about strategy, not muscle. Unlike other pigskin sims, Sorrent's Fox Football '04 focuses on the thinking aspects of gridiron management while adding some interesting twists to the user interface.
Like the original edition, the whole game takes place from the first-person perspective of the quarterback. The camera angle takes a moment to get used to, but it makes the game much more exciting.
Unlike traditional football, the game is composed of 20 runs--10 offensive runs for each side. The score system is also straight from the arcade, so you'll get five points for sacks, 10 for short runs, and 20 for basic touchdowns. Bonuses are given at the end of the game for good stats, so expect final scores like 284-169.
There are three active teammates you can interact with who are assigned to keys 1-3. When on the offensive side of the ball, you can toss the rock to a particular player by pressing the respective key. Holding the key longer will ensure a better toss, but it will also give the computer opponent more time to cover your receiver. Playing defense is essentially the same, except the numbers represent which opponent to cover or sack.
The onscreen display is detailed and fun, so watching the cheerleaders do their thing after a touchdown is always enjoyable, but the digitized graphics sometimes look washed-out. Wisely, Sorrent uses symbols to show game actions, which makes playing a snap. For instance, on offense, the respective number is shown above receiver 1, 2, and 3. If a receiver is being covered or blocked, an X appears on him. A double X means he is being double-teamed, so his chances of receiving a pass are slim.
Fox Football 04's biggest problem is its lack of a two-player option. The computer makes for a great, tough opponent, but there's nothing like beating a buddy. Furthermore, there aren't selectable skill levels or teams, making the game a much blander experience than it should be.
Finally, there are only two defensive play options per turn, and, often, you don't feel enough in control when defending against the computer. The defensive weaknesses wouldn't be so obvious if the offensive game weren't so strong.
However, Fox Football 04 did have me cheering, yelling, and dancing, which is a big reaction to a tiny screen.
