So you've always wanted to know what coaching is about. Some might think it's a matter of balancing out players, running drills, and then showing up on gameday with your play-calling in the hands of flashy players and, God help you, the officials and their sometimes questionable calls. Well, you're somewhat right, but there's more. You also have to make sure your staff stays in line, keep an eye on new players to sign on to the team, and do one-on-ones to work out the kinks that are affecting some of your current teammates. A lot of video games in the past have covered this kind of simulation front, but very few have seen the light of day in the US, and none, as of yet, have graced a game console.

That changed with this week's release of NFL Head Coach, EA's latest attempt to make some good out of their National Football League franchise. And on paper, it's a solid idea, putting you in the shoes of your own dream coach and letting you see what the action's like on the other side of the field, instead of in control of your typical receivers and quarterback. But a few problems surface that keep the game from going for the championship run that the Madden games have been on. It's no failure, by any means, but its structure seems to limit its entertainment to the smarter set of gamers, as it will probably bore casual fans too quickly.

First and foremost, let's clear this aside- this is not a Madden game. Those purchasing Head Coach and expecting to get the full football experience that they've seen before are going to be in for a massive letdown. The game does use the Madden engine, and since EA Tiburon's at the wheel for development, that does make sense. But this engine mainly comes into play on gameday, when your teams take the field and you put your coaching skills to the test. Past that, your hands-on are limited to the coaching role. I ran into some poor schlep at the game store who was expecting to direct both a quarterback and a coach to glory, and the store clerk almost fooled him into thinking this was a Madden spin-off. Fortunately, I steered the guy the right way and avoided a troublesome return for the clerk, despite his fuming that, gee golly, a customer was right.

Now, with that, the game has a laborious engine put together to really bring about all the tasks of coaching, and for those who have been looking forward to such a simulator, it works reasonably well. You'll find yourself hanging around the office checking e-mails and keeping in connection with your staff, holding practice drills with the whole team and taking part in one-on-ones with players who seem to have "situations" that they need to work out with their play style, scheduling new player meetings in which you can get a signing if you're impressed by what you hear (or if they're impressed by you, more importantly), and, finally, getting yourself ready for the game and keeping in contact with your coordinators and players in an attempt to win the game on your smarts. The career mode allows you to play through a few seasons this way, although the pacing isn't for everyone.

The game was built on its technical know-how, so those who lose patience quickly will probably just want to hop into Quick Play mode, where they can test their coaching skills on-the-fly in a quick game and then work out the kinks from there. But no matter which mode you choose, the coaching game still runs into a crucial flaw that keeps Head Coach grounded- and that's the AI. At times, you'll find your player underperforming, against your task, and while I can accept human nature flaws, like an interception or a sack or whatever, sometimes the players just act stupid, instead of frantic. EA Tiburon's done a great job with the engine, it just needed a little tightening up to make the experience that much better.

Motivation is an interesting feature in the game, but I found it to be a rather bit unexplored. It's great being able to pump some emotion into the game by saying different things, but the reactions can sometimes be off the charts thanks to the quirky AI. You're best off not tackling this aspect of the game, unless you absolutely, positively have to be a cheerer-upper. I knew someone like that around the office, and, well, let's just say they don't come in anymore. Not after they found the teddy bear with the noose around its neck on their desk. (Not that I had anything to do with that, mind you.)

The graphics in the game look pretty good, with fair player representation, some solid animation, and nice settings that really make you feel like you're working through a season in football. There's really not that much on the audio front, aside from some occasional chirpings from your coordinators over the headset, but it too is represented pretty well, in real time. The game also gives you the option to create your own coach and then choose your favorite team, in which they're ready to offer you a position (along with a few others), but that option seems kind of limited. Besides, do you really want a funky looking coach hosting your team? Remember, intimidation is everything, and you're not going to fool anyone wearing big shoes and clown make-up. (Fortunately, that's not offered here.)

One interesting addition with Head Coach is its online play. With this, you can log online and get yourself in a head-on coaching match against a friend in a battle of wills. For the first couple of games, this is a fascinating mode, in which you see what your mettle is really made of against others. But it soon grows a bit tiresome, if only because it doesn't really change that much. You win or you lose, it's that simple. Style rarely comes into play.

NFL Head Coach is a well-made game and one that I won't brush off right away. It's got the technical aspects that many hardcore players have been looking for, and those who invest time and effort into it will be rewarded by their coaching smarts. But between the game's turtle-speed pacing, AI quirks, useless motivation, and bland online play, its game isn't as solidly backed-up as it should have been. What should've had the power of Don Shula instead feels like a Wade Phillips, you know?

Our Final ScoreMediocre

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