Arena Football (xbx: 2006): Reviews

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xx Madden NFL 09

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Arena Football


9.1

based on 17 reviews
Read critic reviews
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based on 9 votes
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GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Official Website

Arena Football replicates the unique intensity and passion of the indoor gridiron, giving gamers a completely different football gaming experience. Staying authentic to AFL rules, Arena Football will feature 8-on-8 play, including six players who play both sides of the ball, and the ability to send players into and over the walls with each exciting play. Fast-paced and high-scoring offenses allow players to launch an all-out aerial assault using playbooks created by actual AFL coaches. The arena comes alive with fans, fireworks and a rock-concert atmosphere. For the first time ever in sports gaming, an in-game telemetry system will provide real-time information about opponents such as passing tendencies, scoring history and player health. Players can build an AFL powerhouse in Season mode and win their way to ArenaBowl or challenge the best players in the nation with head-to-head online play. [Electronic Arts]

PUBLISHER:	Electronic Arts
DEVELOPER:	EA Tiburon
GENRE(S):	Sports, Football
PLAYERS:	8
ESRB RATING:	E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
RELEASE DATE:	February 7, 2006

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

IGN

Priced at a frugal $29.99, Arena Football is a fantastic way to cure those post-Super Bowl blues thanks to the numerous spectacular plays you will witness every game. This game is really, really fun.

Gaming Target

It won't blow your mind, but it has enough style and playability to make it quite fun, whether you care about the league or not, which is a far cry from "Madden" which is practically designed to run off anyone who doesn't enjoy football in some form.

Team Xbox

It might be tough to pinpoint one single aspect of the game that shines above the rest, but it’s an overall functional package that will help the pain until the big show comes back in town next season.

Stuff

The tackles in the game—some of which can literally send players flying into the bleachers—are the most vertebrae-jangling hits we've seen this side of a roller derby.

Game Chronicles

A technically solid game overall, and its only major stumbling point is simply its subject matter. Arena Football – the sport – may be perfectly designed to emphasize high scoring and high action in real life, but on the gaming consoles it comes across as cramped and chaotic, yet strangely regimented.

WHAM! Gaming

All I want do is throw or run with the ball and mash as many players as humanly possible in as many ways as possible. EA's Arena Football does all of that quite nicely.

Official Xbox Magazine

Arena Football may be a little rough around the edges, but it has the potential to grow. [Mar 2006, p.77]

GameSpot

But the actual gameplay feels like too much of a nebulous gray area between arcade and simulation, and both the presentation and the features set are lacking.

Game Informer

I have no idea why this title was even made. [Apr 2006, p.118]

1UP

The all-new telemetry system and be-the-receiver feature are interesting additions that enhance the fun derived from Arena Football, but they are not enough to push the game over the top.

GameShark

Despite the fact that the game has a franchise mode of sorts (you sign free agents in the off season rather than holding a draft), this isn't the kind of game that you'll most likely play multiple seasons as you would Madden or NCAA unless you're simply a die-hard Arena League fan. The game simply doesn't have the legs for it.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

If I only owned this game, I'd watch more television. [Mar 2006, p.102]

GamerFeed

Fans will find plenty to enjoy, as the frenetic, pounding action of the sport seems to be intact, but many might find themselves left out by the tacked-on presentation and season mode.

GameSpy

Online play is the best aspect of Arena Football, particularly if you've been turned off by the rampant use of cheats in Madden.

GamePro

While the overall control scheme works well enough, kicking long range field goals through the notoriously tight uprights is far too simple. The limited playbook also gives the game a stale feeling and the half baked telemetry system fails to save the gameplay with largely unimportant statistical minutia delivered in eye-straining small fonts and obnoxious menus.

Maxim Online

Sure, Arena Football may look and play almost as good as the pros (featuring all of the teams, players, and fast-paced fury of alternative smash-mouth), but time out here: who cares about the AFL? Oh, that's right—no one.

G4 TV

Arena Football may be an engaging sport to watch in real life, with the excitement of packed arenas and the promise of frenzied action on the shortened field, but the developers did a poor job in conveying that sense of atmosphere in the game.

The average user rating for this game is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
The game is perfect except I did not like the atmosphere. It felt as if you were traped in a dungeon and playing football. But every thing else was good especially the graphics.

Fred G. gave it a10:
Don't listen to the critics, this game is a winner. It is fun to play and having only 8 players on the field makes gameplay easier to control. The AI is realistic and the game has most of the features of Madden football without the cojmplex plays and formations. In this game I am able to control my defensive line and backs better.

Dave R. gave it a9:
This is a solid football game. If you have wathced the AFL and understand their rules, then you will love the way this game plays. Most of the poor reviews are due to the reviewers not knowing the differences between AFL and the NFL. Its too bad they didn't spend the time to realize that this is not the NFL and is a solid football effort. At least give this game a rent, if not a buy (only $30), and enjoy the Arena type game for what it is. It is fast paced scoring FUN.

Tom H. gave it a10:
if you hate the afl, you won't like this game. otherwise give it a try, it's only $30 and it's unlike any other.

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