Each year this game gets better and better. The polygon graphics for NFL GameDay 99 are looking nicer than ever, and the sound for the most part, is done really well. Powerful crunching sounds during tackling, grunts, groans, and thuds. The player animations are top-notch (the end zone celebrations are great), and there are many nice little graphic touches, like when a player will help up another player from the opposite team after a tackle. My only complaints are that the crowd sounds are completely annoying and seem very “8-Bit-ish.” Basically, they’re just a monotone sound effect loop that gets louder (and even more annoying) during key plays. I also noticed that the commentary occasionally garbles and is almost impossible to understand. I hope this was fixed on the final burn of the disc. Sometimes the commentary would say something like “Great run! He found a hole and went for it,” even though I’d just been sacked for a loss of 12 yards. (Despite that, most of the commentary was great.)

GameDay 99 is football, dude. There are Arcade, Simulation, and Total Control game modes to around in. With this many options, even your dog can play. Now get that ball in the end zone!

Along with the many gameplay options, any skill level player can jump in. There are skill levels such as Rookie, Pro, and Veteran.

If you’ve played earlier editions of the GameDay series, you’ll be at home with the controls. The on-screen menus are clear enough (showing which button to press for each play or sub-menu, etc.) that someone new to NFL GameDay 99 will be at home in no time. Really top-notch.