NFL Head Coach Critic Reviews

A chance to go out and have a taste of what it's really like in the world of NFL coaches today. It's a job, and a game that only a chosen few will really be able to embrace and get the most out of it.

However, if you enjoy building your team more in Franchise mode than you do actually playing the games, give NFL Head Coach a shot – the game definitely has a lot to offer despite some shortcomings.

It's not perfect, but it's worth a look.

When Head Coach hits, it slams it out of the ballpark. Excellent structure and balance in the practice periods before game day ensure that you take your time and prepare extensively, while tasks at the front office put you in control of every aspect of the franchise.

From a video game standpoint, there are things that the game does well, like the strategy and motivation of your players, and things that it doesn't, such as the barebones online showing and the absence of any offline multiplayer.

If you have the personal motivation, joining the ranks of coaching legends could be incredibly satisfying.

EA Sports is best known for its other monster football game, "Madden NFL." But where "Madden" lets you control real-life players and plays on the field, "Head Coach" takes you behind the action, putting you in the Gatorade-scented shoes of a coach you create from scratch.

It is nice to see EA Sports use their license for something a bit different.

Get used to the interface and you will find a very deep game that should give you a new respect for the job of a NFL Head Coach.

As it stands, NFL Head Coach will appeal to die-hard fantasy football fanatics and Madden franchise mode junkies, and to little else. Still, that's all EA ever wanted.

Still, while Head Coach is ultimately an imperfect football-management simulation, it is also, almost in spite of itself, a frequently fun one. Those with a penchant for serious football management are most certainly going to find things to like about it.

Chances are that NFL Head Coach won't cure your football jones unless heavy-duty statistical simulators are up your alley.

There are a lot of great ideas in NFL Head Coach, but quite a few of them aren't executed to perfection.

I'm not sure that I will or would ever export my coach or team to Madden, but I think there is some exciting potential.

Best left to the diehard franchise mode fans.

Even though you are the coach in this game, you're still little more than a bystander.

An average start to a series with potential.

The idea behind NFL Head Coach was an interesting one. But too many little flaws and deficiencies shelve the game on the nearly-unable-to-perform list, at least at the performance level it set out to reach.

It features too few options, too little control and too many load screens. There are moments when the game shines and you will actually be really excited to play. The chess game that is NFL play-calling can exhilarate at times and frustrate at others.

NFL head coach takes a bold leap and attempts to start something well needed in the sports simulation field, change. Unfortunately, it falters in more aspects than it flies, with horrible AI, and an in game system that makes the game feel like more of a chore than a fun experience.