This week Critical Reception looks at Electronic Arts' first take on the sport management simulation in
NFL Head Coach (available on the PC, Xbox, and PS2 and developed at EA Tiburon), wherein the player assumes the role of the same title.
For a first attempt at a relatively unpopular and untapped genre (in the U.S.),
NFL Head Coach scores a middling 72% average according to game review compilation resource GameRankings.com.
1UP's Tom Byron's
main qualm is that the game might be "doing too good a job of simulating the world of a coach in professional football." He elaborates, "Make no mistake: This is a high-pressure situation and, frankly,
NFL Head Coach has given me a greater appreciation for what these guys go through. But, good god, did they have to simulate boredom? If you play
NFL Head Coach on a daily timeframe, you are looking at long days answering e-mail, making deals, talking to your staff, talking to agents, futzing around with the salary cap, and meeting with your bosses."
You can
read the full Gamasutra column for more, including thoughts from GameSpot and IGN (no registration required).
