NFL STREET 2: Unleashed

During my fifth hour with NFL Street 2: Unleashed, it became clear that Sony's PSP is the greatest videogame invention ever made. It's not anymore powerful than the PS2, nor does it play revolutionary games that put the PS2 to shame. Currently all it plays are variations of and sequels to our favorite PS2 games. This means we can finally take that home console experience with us when we go on family vacations, or to anywhere else that bores us to tears.

The brilliant part of the console, the thing that makes it the greatest invention, is that now I have another way to perfect my gaming skills before taking on my friends.

Possible scenario: I arrive at my friend's house while he and other friends are playing NFL Street 2. I normally would have to wait for them to pass me a controller, but instead I pull out my PSP and begin playing against the computer. I take this time to better prepare myself for the goals I am about to score, making certain that my victory is as devastating as possible. When it's my turn to play, I shut the PSP off, stick it in my pocket, and beat the pigskin out of my friends.

This is something I've been wanting for years. It's one more way for me to extend the time that I get to play. And with the amount of time I spend away from home, I've been using my PSP more than any other console.

 
True NFL Street gameplay! On a small screen! 

Part of the reason for my addiction is NFL Street 2: Unleashed, a spectacular port of the home console version. It has a few exclusive mini-games to help differentiate itself from the other versions, along with a couple graphic glitches and unusually long load times. Essentially it's the same game, and although I hate buying the same game twice for home consoles, I couldn't be happier with Unleashed. It's the only version that I can play anytime, anywhere.

Unleashed is faster, hits harder, and plays better than the original NFL Street. There weren't enough plays before, and while Unleashed isn't fully satisfying in that department, several new plays have been added. They've been manipulated for the new gameplay direction, a direction that requires creativity on the player's behalf. I've played the GameCube version quite a bit and still had trouble with the speed and intensity of the game. I had to work a lot harder and become skilled in everything. Volume 1 was very much a game of evasions and interception, but with Unleashed you can't win solely by intercepting passes. Ask my friend, he'll attest to that. That's why he likes the first game better. In Unleashed, he can't win by playing cheap.

NBA Street's unique GameBreaker move is now a tradition among all the Street games. Unleashed could've left it the way it was and no one would have said anything. That was the last thing I thought they'd improve (it didn't even seem necessary). They did it anyway. They evolved the GameBreaker, creating GameBreaker 2. If the first one was rated PG-13, then the sequel would definitely get an R rating. Once unleashed this new move will automatically steal the ball from your opponent. Press the square button and watch as your players cockily take back what's rightfully theirs. If they already have the ball, use it to score an easy touchdown.

The GameBreaker 2 is a lifesaver.

To achieve a GameBreaker 2, simply choose not to unleash the first one. The meter fills up quick – gain a hundred thousand points and you're there. Now you have the option to use the original GameBreaker and gain a boost in speed, agility and strength, or save it wait for a greater power to come. The choice can be a risky one, but it's not one that can be made ahead of time. Only in the moment will you be able to decide what to do.

By far the best addition to all the versions of NFL Street 2 is the wall moves. Throw yourself at the wall and ricochet to score a touchdown. Jump up and run alongside the wall (a la Prince of Persia) to avoid being tackled. Use the wall to launch yourself higher into the air for an insane quick pass. They're seamless, easy to do, and incredibly fun to execute.

As far as the controls go, Unleashed's are 95% as good as the home versions. The analog movement is just as good, but the PSP has button limitations (six instead of eight), so the developers had less room to work with. This wasn't much of a problem though - I adapted almost instantly.

If anything matters more than the controls, it's the speed and flow of gameplay. You will notice some graphical flaws for certain (floating balls; tackles where the players don't appear to be touching, etc.). But make no mistake: the gameplay is just as fast as the PS2, GameCube and Xbox versions. This game flies, removing all the bad memories of the crappy, two-dimensional sports games that came before it (you know what I'm referring to). All the elements, all the nuances, every little thing you can think of is here.

 
"Pssst! You're going the wrong way!"
"Who's gay!?"
"No, you're going the wrong way!"
"Sway? I prefer to juke."
"Ughhhhh!"

I love NFL Street 2: Unleashed so much that I hate to go into the game's many glitches, but I know I must. Most are graphical, but there were some strange instances that didn't make much sense. One occurred when I re-started a game. If I re-started right after my opponent scored a touchdown, I would (on occasion) end up just a few feet from the goal. If I scored I'd get two points, acting as though I already had a shot at a touchdown (I didn't, but my opponent scored one before I re-started the game). Afterwards the ball is returned to my opponent, in which case they have the upper hand.

This is a minor flaw, but it's one of the many you'll notice. The characters look good from afar except for the jagged edges. Jagged edges seems to be a trait of PSP games, at least for now. Hopefully that will change.

Another trait is ugly faces. NBA proved that the PSP is fully capable of rendering realistic-looking players. I thought long and hard about the best way to describe exactly how the players look. Muddled is all I could come up with. These are not the detailed character models we're used to seeing in EA sports games. I'm sure Madden will be beautiful and drop everyone's jaw. Until then...

As severe as these complaints may be, none of them are hugely detrimental to the gameplay. The gameplay is, for the most part, a perfect conversion from the home screen to the tiny wide screen. I will play this game for the next eight months, no doubt (it’s presumed that NFL Street 3 will be released in December 2005 or January 2006, otherwise I’d still be playing this version). Unleashed will likely be the game that helps me cope with my anticipation during the flight to this year's E3.

Gameplay: 8.0
Pinch me, I must be dreaming. NFL Street 2: Unleashed plays just like the PlayStation2 version! How is this possible? Why am I so baffled when I've been playing great PSP games for over two weeks now? I suspect the amazement will continue for quite some time.

Graphics: 8.0
Good, but could have been better. Unleashed has a lot of stuff going on, so your eyes will never be bored, though they might be a little nauseated by the players' faces. The jagged edges also tend to stand out. By that some token, the stellar animation, style moves and hard-hitting tackles really stand out, as do the nicely rendered backgrounds.

Sound: 7.0
Again, it's good, but it could have been better. Too much rap is not a good thing, and not all of the rock songs sound like rock. There are few good ones, but nothing stellar. Nothing that will have you wasting battery life with the sound turned up.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.5
A perfect port of the home console versions ... almost.

Multiplayer: 8.0
The multiplayer mode is great (it’s the heart of every Street game), but it doesn’t appear to support online play. Your friends will have to be within the vicinity if you want to experience head-to-head competition.

Overall: 8.0
You should've seen the smile on my face when the game first loaded. "This is it," I said to myself. "The moment I've been waiting for has finally come." NFL Street 2: Unleashed is nothing short of amazing. If you've played the PS2, GameCube or Xbox version then you know exactly what I'm talking about. It might seem strange to deem a game a "must-buy" when it receives a score lower than 9.0. Normally I'd agree, but Unleashed doesn't get its praise for perfection. It gets its praise being the most addictive arcade-style sports game on the planet.