Finding receivers is easy enough, though you cannot see them all on the screen prior to the snap, even when using the button that pulls the camera back. The familiar icon-passing system is used here and will be instantly familiar and easy to use for all PSX footballers. The running game is familiar to GameDay 98's, though it is far more difficult to break off big runs than it has been in the past. In addition, the defenders will seemingly go right through blockers and the ball carrier is too often taken down on the first hit. Establishing the run can be quite a challenge, and while this can be good, the lack of big plays will turn some gamers off.
Defense is a mixed bag as well, with tackling being far too easy for the most part.
Often the ball carrier will be following a blocker that has you tied up, but by simply hitting the dive button you can still somehow make the play. Pass defending can be rewarding. There is no longer the infamous GameDay interception bug, where you could hit the receiver as he caught the ball and easily come down with the deflection. In fact, interceptions seem to happen at a pretty realistic rate, with players that are pretty much in the open pulling them down, while defenders in a crowd will usually knock the pass away. Fumbles, on the other hand, are virtually non-existent.