NFL Quarterback Club 99

Hearing footsteps from EA Sports' onrushing Madden 99, the codemasters at Iguana have dramatically stepped up their own game.

Iguana's hi-res (640-by-480) graphics, a big selling point in last year's version of QBC, have been buffed up even more. You'll notice it first in the subtle shading that highlights the athletes' muscle definition. Once you've begun playing the game, you'll notice how much easier it is to track the action downfield -- especially when you're running long plays like the Jet Right.

Artificial intelligence has been upped considerably, thanks in large part to Jets offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Charlie helped draw up team-specific plays, such as the 49ers' SF Treat, Floyd Void and Stoked. His detailed defensive diagrams show zones of coverage. And if you're sick and tired of Deion Sanders' tenacious coverage of your star wideout, QBC 99 allows you to manipulate matchups by "flipping" plays. This crafty new feature lets you move players from the left side of the field to the right side and from the right to the left. Be warned, though, that defensive formations can flip, too.

Smarter can make things simpler, too. Example: QBC 99's new Analog passing mode, in which the CPU shrewdly decides which receiver you're aiming for. In this mode, pressing forward on the Control Stick hurls a bullet, while taking your thumb off the stick results in a loft over defenders.

Overall, though, the enhanced AI tilts this edition of QBC toward being a sim, rather than a grab-and-go tacklefest. Play names such as Pier 51, Split 52 and Zip Trap assume at least a passing familiarity with the inner game of NFL football.

Once the offensive has selected a play, the quarterback strolls into position -- frustrating to arcade freaks, perhaps, but giving the football buff a chance to check out the defensive formation. And if you make the fairly easy mistake of selecting the wrong play, you can forget about correcting it. All in all, QBC 99's steep learning curve may be too demanding for the youngest pigskin fans.

Optional support for the forthcoming Expansion Pak will enhance QBC 99's graphics and AI even more. By loading code into the Expansion Pak's extra megabits of RAM, the CPU will seamlessly control 22 players, each with different assignments. The Expansion Pak will also support instant replays as long as a minute and a half. Unless you've had the rare privilege of witnessing Orlando Pace rumble 99 yards with a fumble, though, it's highly unlikely you'll ever see a play last that long.

Colorful graphs give you a quick read on player and team strengths. However, some of the options, notably stadium choice, are hidden.

Carrying an impressive endorsement by three-time MVP Brett Favre, QBC 99 features all 30 NFL teams, 6 NFL Europe teams and the futuristic Cleveland Browns. When the $500 million expansion team gets a roster, you'll be able to use QBC 99's extensive general-manager features to replicate it on a Controller Pak.

Historical teams include every Super Bowl contender going all the way back to 1967. You can also create a team, complete with the most garish uniform your fevered imagination can dream up. A realistic Player Development option modifies the skills and attributes of players in the course of a season.

Bristling with full NFL and NFLPA licenses, QBC 99 comes with all 30 NFL stadiums and and more than 1,500 players. Just for fun, Iguana has tossed in the Rose Bowl, Aloha Stadium (site of the annual Pro Bowl) and the Cleveland Browns Stadium, plus fictional stadiums for the Iguana and Acclaim teams which, believe it or not, are the two best in the game. Talk about shameless self-promotion!

Iguana has added 250 new animations, including Terrell Davis's salute and Merton Hanks' chicken dance. You can use any of QBC 99's many camera views or, heck, create your own. The AI does a great job of matching the action to the commentary of ESPN's Mike Patrick and Randy Cross and the referee calls of Jerry Markbreit, NFL head of officials.

With ever-finer graphics and AI, NFL Quarterback Club 99 builds on an already impressive reputation. Pigskin purists will relish getting their hands on this weighty new Pak.

Source:

www.nintendo.com

THE #1 FOOTBALL GAME ON N64 JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT BETTER!

ALL 31 NFL TEAMS, 3-D RENDERED STADIUMS AND OVER 1500 PLAYERS

AUTHENTIC TEAM PLAYBOOKS LIKE THE 49ERS WEST COAST OFFENSE AND STEELERS GROUND ATTACK

ALL-NEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DEVELOPED BY NEW YORK JETS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CHARLIE WEIS

250 ALL-NEW MOTION CAPTURED ANIMATIONS

AWARD-WINNING HI-REZ™ GRAPHICS

• Mike Patrick and Randy Cross call the action from the booth.

• Replay key moments from all 32 Super Bowls in Historic Simulations.

• Create your own players, coaches, teams, uniforms, and playbooks.

Source:

Back of Box - Nintendo 64 (US)