The kids at Microsoft didn't exactly get to the point of being labeled capitalist Nazis by being completely ignorant to the needs and wants of the marketplace. So, not unlike the Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder, they have put the money in motion and are attempting to build a superior franchise overnight. During an explosive debut at Gamestock 2001, Microsoft claims that, just in time for the season, we can expect NFL Fever 2002 will deliver all the action, intensity, and big hits football fans crave, and thanks to the power of the Xbox, they will do so at a level unparalleled by any other sports developer in the business. Unfortunately for them, they are picking a fight with two of the toughest bullies on the block. Visually, the game has its ups and downs.
Fever promises to deliver a hard-hitting, emotional experience.
Madden school of thought, and from what we saw, there wasn't much in the way of variation at this point, but the early nature of the build probably explains this more than the system's lack of power. The effects that were present, however, are awesome. The lighting in the game is really something else, giving one of the most realistic portrayals of night and day effects we have ever seen in a sports title. Player muscles ripple with activity, and the helmets shine with real time direction-based reflection technology. The animation, on the other hand, was rougher than turf on a bare elbow.