READ THIS, compares all the versions of NFL 2k3 and Xbox version is the best:
NFL 2K3 (PS2, GCN, Xbox)
NFL 2K3 has finally succeeded in doing what no other sports (except possibly EA's own NCAA Football ) game could... it has toppled Madden. For football purists, there's nothing better than 2K3's realistic gameplay, stingy AI, and mega-deep Franchise mode.
But perhaps you own more than system and don't know which is the best. That's where we come in. This head-to-head is designed to help you sort out which controls the best, which game has the best picture and sound, and what versions can get online (if you're into that sort of thing). Bear in mind that all three versions are great. If you roll with one system, you'll be happy with whatever version you buy. But if you're in a pinch, we'll help you make one of the toughest decisions of your life.
Control
The PS2 has the best sports controller around, period, and it's especially good for football. One advantage it has is that the paddle has basically been around since the PSX launched, so there's been a lot of tweaking to make it the sweetest controller around. It's the best for playing 2K3, too, although Xbox comes in a close second.
Luckily, on both Xbox and Cube, the trigger buttons are assigned to passing, so you don't have to try to find the bean buttons on the Cube or the small black and white buttons on the Xbox. Still, passing with a trigger is not as nice as passing with the shoulder buttons. In addition, both the Xbox and PS2 have analog buttons which makes passing and juking a lot easier.
I feel like I'm harping on this each time I do a head-to-head, but the GameCube simply is not a good sports controller. That said, this is one of the least offensive set-ups for playing football on the Cube. It almost approaches intuitive. The other thing about the Cube is that it supports a wireless controller (the Wavebird) which makes the Cube an attractive option for rowdy four-player games. However, I still have to give the overall edge to the PS2.
Graphics
The animations in NFL 2K3 are some of the best around, and look great on all three systems. In fact, most things look very similar on all three--player models, face textures, and stadiums. However, on the Xbox, everything is a little crisper, and a lot more textured. Take a look at the jerseys on the Xbox version, and you'll see what I'm talking about.
The main difference between the versions lies in the field texture department. The textures in 2K3 have never been stunning, but they look pretty good on the Xbox version. Some of the textures--especially up-close views of dome turf--look good on the PS2 and GameCube, but there are others that are plain awful. Some grass textures, for instance, look mottled and bitmappy, and, well, not much like grass. On a couple of fields we saw on the Cube, the texture actually seemed to "stop" at the bottom of the screen, pixelling out into blackness at the border of the picture. This won't concern you unless you're a big time graphics connoisseur. The same problem exists somewhat on the PS2 as well.
Some of the textures can be pretty muddy on the GameCube and PS2.
The Xbox handles textures the best throughout. In addition, this version adds detail to everything. The stadia look a little more realistic and filled-out, the uniforms look great (check out the mesh) even close up, and weather effects look great throughout.
One more thing to note. We saw a weird blurring effect during some of the action on the Cube version. Again, this will only bother you if you are seriously concerned about graphical matters. The bottom line is that all three versions look good, but Xbox looks great at times.
Winner: Xbox
Sound
NFL 2K3 has some of the best sound we've heard thus far in a football title. The cacading noise of the crowd is great, the field jabber is well done (and not over-done) and the commentary is tight. Of course, if you have a great home audio system, you'll want to show it off. And you want to know which version does that the best.
The audio component of NFL 2K3, in terms of quality, can be broken down pretty easily. A huge part of the experience is hearing the crowds, the announcers, and the unsettling crunches of two teams colliding. Between the three different consoles, the breakdown is very much like it usually is for multi-platform releases.
Starting at the bottom and working our way up, the GameCube version comes packaged with the most compressed, and muddled sound. You'll be able to hear all the same effects, but the separation is very minimal. The announcer is centered, but the crowd and on-field effects start to overpower him, and it doesn't help that it's somewhat compressed. Overall, it's actually fairly disappointing once you've heard all three versions.
Moving on, the PlayStation 2 version is very similar to the GameCube. However, it benefits from a larger media size, DVD, and an optical audio output, so the compression on commentary and effects isn't nearly as detectable. It's definitely a cut above the GameCube version in that regard.
As usual, though, the ruler in the audio department is the Xbox. In the side-by-side comparison, the Xbox would be like listening to a CD where the GameCube and PS2 iterations of NFL 2K3 are more akin to tape cassettes. Also, the separate between the front channels is immediately apparent. As you plow through the lines you'll be able to hear your attackers to the right and left. Meanwhile, the commentary is clean and uncontaminated by the crowds and peripheral effects.
Oddly, all three feature surround support -- the crowds fill all five speakers -- but it doesn't appear to be Dolby certified. This much is a real shame, because with enough work we could have seen much-improved audio, and ultimately immersion, with the implementation of Dolby Pro Logic II and Dolby Digital 5.1. Titles like Halo, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II, and Metal Gear Solid 2 have proven this much.
So, indeed, the Xbox version is the clear winner. Don't laugh all at once kids, it's a clever play on words that you'll no doubt hear again. Now, break from this huddle and move on...
Winner: Xbox
The Xbox boasts the best graphics, sound and also has online play.
Feature
PlayStation 2
Xbox
GameCube
Media/Size 1 DVD 1 DVD 1 GVD
Resolution 640 X 480 640 X 480 640 X 480
Progressive Scan No Yes Yes
Sound Dolby Surround Dolby Digital (5.1) Dolby Surround
Memory Size 1 Memory Card Unlimited 1 Memory Card (251)
No. Players 1-8 (With Multitap) 1-4 1-4
Online Yes Yes No
Analog Passing Yes Yes No
Final Verdict
There is one last thing to consider, and that's online play. Xbox and PS2 have it, and GameCube doesn't. While this may or may not matter to you, we think it's pretty huge. We got an opportunity to play the Xbox Live version at Visual Concepts, and it's great. There's virtually no lag, the communication is fast and furious, and it's plain fun. Just the ability to play a console football game with a buddy across the country has us itching for Novemeber. We can't speak to the effectiveness of online play on the PS2, but the mere fact that the feature exists is itself a plus. The PS2 online service launches next week, so be sure to check the PS2 site for a rundown of how everything plays.
In the end, this one comes down to graphics, and ease of saving (no fumbling for memory cards is a huge plus), both areas where the Xbox excels. Add the best audio and slick online gaming to the package, and what do you have? Xbox emerging victorious again. What are you waiting for? Buy an Xbox today, not tomorrow, because this trend doesn't seem to be letting up.
Overall Winner: Xbox
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