iPhone Football Games Reviewed with Surprising Champion
With the iPhone and iPod touch gaining popularity by the day and the football season upon us, we thought it would be appropriate to review some NFL video games. As we put together this iPhone Football game roundup, we found three that could just be some of the best apps out there. Let’s take a look at EA’s Madden 10, Gameloft’s NFL2010, and Chillingo’s Super Shock Football.
Madden 10, the 20-year-old king of football games, has finally been released by EA and is now available in the app store. As you might expect, though Gameloft’s NFL2010 was the first on the iPhone and iPod touch, Madden 10 is a solid addition that leaves gamers with a dilemma.
Graphics are good, but not as good as we would have expected. They look like console graphics from some time ago, but do not compare to what we see today. They are adequate for the platform, though. Sounds are decent, with the obligatory John Madden comments and helmet-to-helmet sound effects. Madden 10 allows you to play music from your own library, so you can skip the included tracks if you wish. Controls work well and offer a lot of options with just a simple tap or two.
Hopefully, we the game will obtain multiplayer and roster updates as the title gets successive updates in the App Store. Where it stands today, Madden 10 offers tons of replay ability. Don’t forget, this is a Madden football title. Gamers will be playing this feverously until the next Madden title is unleashed. Comparing it to NFL2010, it’s a close draw as both offer a slightly different experience. If you like, you may choose to buy both and determine which options you like the best. Madden appears in the App Store at a $9.99 price point. We believe it will remain there for the rest of the season. We give Madden 10 a 4-Star rating that puts it neck and neck with NFL2010.
NFL 2010, the first full-featured football game specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch, was released earlier than expected by Gameloft. With a graphic style similar to Madden, it is hard not to compare NFL 2010 to the king of all that is football. Fortunately for mobile gamers, NFL 2010 holds up quite well.
We really were shocked by the stunning visuals in NFL2020. Madden 10 better watch our as this smaller competitor is racking up to be a huge success. All the audio sounds are pleasing. Controls are well honed and respond appropriately to our commands. Some functionality does feel absent as the plays come off as preplanned. We felt like we just set them up and then watch them unfold in front of us. However, we did like the Kicking plays as we felt these offered the most control with aiming and power. This was probably our favorite aspect of the gameplay.
For what it’s worth, NFL 2010 looks great and plays well for a first effort. We expect to play this one for some time. While a little pricey at $7.99, it seems downright cheap when you consider that any similar console version will likely start around $50. NFL 2010 is a solid 4-Dimple touchdown celebration of a game.
With Super Shock Football, iPhone app publisher Chillingo brings a different style to the football genre. Based on the electric football games of the past, Super Shock Football will grant a satisfying experience to iPhone gamers, even if it doesn’t replace Madden 10 or NFL2010.
Super Shock Football is a visual masterpiece – we loved the 2D players all zigzagging around the 3D environment. The game presents a top-down view when setting up your players but then it rotates to an on-field angle for play watching. Audio effects are very enjoyable as you can hear the little men humming as they vibrate around the field. Crowd noise and whistling add to the entire effect of being in a virtual stadium. Every game control mechanism can be accomplished with a single finger. At the bottom of the screen you’ll see the usual stats like scores, time remaining, etc. These are a tad difficult to read, but they are not distracting from the game itself. A few options can be set like length of the quarter, and the number of players on each team.
Super Shock Football, although not on the same level as its more serious contenders, brings a lot of nostalgia and humorous gameplay to the App Store. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll have a ball. Since the outcomes are so random in this title, no two games will ever be the same. Replay ability is very high as a result. At $1.99, Super Shock Football is positioned by Chillingo to be a winner. Surprisingly, we have settled on a 5-Star rating for this little gem of a football game.
We can’t believe how far iPhone and iPod touch gaming have come in just a little over a year. When we decided to take a look at these NFL video games for review, we were surprised at how well they all performed. With Madden 10, NFL2010, and Super Shock Football, players clearly have some of the best apps to get their football fix.
Learn more about iPhone game reviews. Stop by Eric Meister’s site where you can find out all about the best iPhone apps and what they can do for you.
