EA Sports has made a dent in video games when it comes to the world of sports, covering every spectrum from football to hockey to NASCAR to golf. But they've also made a name for themselves when it comes to less-than-serious sports titles. You'd think that lightening up on the commentary with NHL 2004 and adding Cedric the Entertainer to the Tiger Woods 2004 roster was enough, but no, they have their own independent label for arcade sports titles. EA Sports BIG has crafted a number of memorable and fun gaming experiences over the past couple of years, including the SSX snowboarding series, the insane NBA Street dunk-a-thon games, the wreslting opus Def Jam Vendetta, the motorcross racing Freekstyle, as well as the smaller but still rush-worthy rally racing game Shox. Now joining the line-up is an NFL title that promises to be in line with the greatness that the Madden series has offered, but with arcade elements that will bring the game down to a more comfortable, out-for-thrills level.

NFL Street does for football what NBA Street did for basketball- it brings a street-tough attitude to a sport and remakes it as its own. The game pits you in 7-on-7 team efforts and gives you the chances to score a touchdown with a number of different plays at your fingertips, from daring pass plays to simple rushing plays that can add up to a number of yards, depending on how the defense reacts. And defensive plays are aplenty as well, giving you plenty of opportunities to sack away or intercept to your content. It's got a great feeling of arcade within it, as you can catch passes that rebound off walls, perform laterals and "knock-ups" to present opportunities for interceptions, and "showboat," where you build up points by showing off on tremendous plays and with taunts, which can lead to Gamebreakers. Like NBA Street's Gamebreakers, these allow you to pull off some kind of "super play" for bonus points.

The game looks to be pretty impressive thus far, with detailed players in typical clothes and padding ready to play football. Some players look a bit scrawny in comparison to others (like some oaf standing next to Barry Sanders), but they still look good. The football fields can vary, from some field out by the NFL Hall of Fame to an urban alley, where apartment buildings are lined along the sides, with tenants ready to complain about the noise (or so we think). Some passes look strange, like the behind-the-back pass (yeah, you can really throw behind your back with such ferocity, I hear), but it's a good look overall.

The game will also features a full-on licensed soundtrack from EA Sports, although the developer hasn't named tunes yet. Expect plenty of good beats to play in the background as you go for your points. Be sure to listen for taunts and some bone-crunching hits as well.

The PlayStation 2 version will have a huge advantage with the addition of online play, so you can match up against friends online and take to the field to see who's the king (or queen). However, if online isn't your bag, there's still the opportunity to challenge your friends in some mean multiplayer play. The game also features a couple of bonus play modes, including the Pick Up game, where you can get matched up with different players for match-ups, and the NFL Challenge, where you take on all 31 NFL teams for bonus points and unlockables, like new outfits, more players, and other little things. And if you're bored with the teams offered, you can also build your own, making your own logo and creating uniforms for your team.

Make no mistake, NFL Street looks as if it will continue the wild trend that EA Sports BIG has created thus far. It looks to be another big hit for the company and a nice offering for those who are bored with the simulation football games on the market. Look for a full review, along with a handful of "yo' momma" insults. Hey, we're good at 'em.