by Robert Workman on Thursday, January 10, 2008
NFL Street hits the gridiron yet again, this time on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. NFL Tour is the latest entry in the arcade football series, carrying on its spirit if not its name. This time, however, it goes through the stadium circuit with all your favorite NFL teams and players, while keeping the simplified "street" style of football. Players run rampant around the field, catching footballs and keeping the other team out of the end zone with out-of-control moves. Body slams and wall runs are commonplace here – and without NFL lines, no less.
Turbo boosts play a tremendous part in Tour, just as they do in previous Street games. A speed burst is crucial for getting a running back like Terrell Owens into the end zone. It also has its use on defense, as you can knock Tom Brady into the middle of next month – if you manage to squeeze past his defensive backs. Hitting it at just the right time slows the action down on-screen, so you really feel the power behind the player. If you're lucky, you might even grab a loose ball off a fumble for a quick score.
Unfortunately, the rest of Tour's gameplay feels empty. Gamebreakers are gone, as are most of the over-the-top plays like the through-the-legs passes. What's left is still playable, but incredibly basic. There's literally no strategy in choosing the right play. You're bound to score no matter what you choose, thanks to the minimally programmed artificial intelligence. Similarly, you'll find that they can score just as easily, even if their Miami Dolphins battle your far superior Indianapolis Colts.
Players animate nicely and the arenas look sharp on an HDTV, but overall there's very little flash. There's nothing here that isn't doable on a PlayStation 2 or Xbox. Even the players don't look that convincing, coming across as cartoon versions of themselves rather than the real deal. Don't get us started on Trey Wingo's annoying commentary either. A few lines in, he even manages to admit how repetitive everything is getting – not to mention the need for better writing.
Worst of all, NFL Tour is held back by its lack of longevity. The Tour Mode has pre-planned routes to follow as you "dominate" the NFL. The fact you can't choose your own path to a Tour championship is a joke. Furthermore, there are no unlockables worth mentioning, such as bonus gear or classic players. You play a team, beat them, hear a clever insult and then make the next stop. The Create-a-Player option is just as limiting. It lacks the necessary tools to build your ideal Tour star.
NFL Tour's finest asset is its multiplayer. You can play against a friend locally or get on the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live to tackle opposition online. Going against a friend in a game like this is surprisingly fun, only because it opens the door for trash talk. Best of all, you don't need super skills to be good at this game. Just keep that turbo boosting ability intact and you're all set.
Overall, NFL Tour is sort of like taking the Universal Studios Tour when the mechanical Jaws shark breaks down. You'll still have a good time, but you'll miss what makes it so much fun.
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