Another excellent release for this series, and this latest one is a HUGE upgrade over last year’s version. The ability to customize – already a major feature and differentiator between this game and others like it – has been greatly expanded so that pretty much leagues of any size (up to 130 teams) can be used in Single Season play, and leagues up to 32 teams (and as few as 8) can be used in Career mode. A quasi-Free Agency feature has been added as well, that is optional to use. In addition, career stats are tracked, and stat files in text format can be exported from any season or career in progress. A player encyclopedia is included that tracks all players in a career over an almost infinite number of seasons. I have simmed through as many as 25 and the results remain believable and consistent.
The sim engine continues to be a strength for this game as well. The developer continues to improve this, and the sim engine certainly rivals that of pure stat-based sims that are out there on the market. But the key difference is the animation that adds that extra bit of value to this game so that it’s more than just reading stats – there is visual representation of how each down plays out. The graphics are not sophisticated – we’re talking a 1990s look that many have often compared to Tecmo Bowl – but that’s part of the charm of PSF.
The best thing is that the developer listens to everyone and does his very best to respond to all suggestions and ways to continue improving on this wonderful game. As I mentioned in my review last year, PSF is simply about the game of football and what happens on the field. It leaves out the GM and owner stuff that really doesn’t relate to the Xs and Os, and keeps it pure and simple. Or at least as simple as one wants it to be – the advanced coaching option is a blast and allows one to pre-plan almost every key player’s movement on the field before the ball is snapped.
Overall, there’s a little something for everyone – to a point, of course, but overall about as complete of a football simulation as you can find, while still maintaining the “fun” part of what makes the game of American football what is it. I highly recommend this game!