Are You Ready for Some (Arena) Football?

"Arena Football" features a tutorial to help you learn the basics of the game. (Ea Sports)

No punting on fourth down? The difference between a "jack" linebacker and a "mac" linebacker? Where are the offensive tackles and tight ends? If you've ever had questions about indoor football, the answers can be found in "Arena Football," the newest football game from EA Sports, the makers of the world-famous "Madden NFL" franchise.

The AFL (Arena Football League) is on full display in this well-put-together simulation. Fans of "Madden" will recognize from a graphics standpoint that many features of the "Madden" game engine were used for "Arena Football," but it is far from a "Madden" clone.

"Arena Football" stands on its own as a surprisingly fun gaming experience that might go a long way to increase the popularity of indoor football.

For a gaming fan playing "Arena Football" for the first time, there are obvious differences to adjust to. Shorter fields. Eight-on-eight play instead of 11-on-11. Three down linemen on each side of the ball. Blitzing is complex. The aforementioned "jack" linebacker is the only linebacker (out of the two on the defensive side of the ball) allowed to blitz.

EA does a great job of ensuring that new fans to the sport don't have a hard time with the gameplay; "Arena Football" has an excellent tutorial mode for offense, defense and special teams. The tutorial mode also explains the rules of the game while teaching you the controls.

Offensive and defensive controls are easy to master after practice. Gameplay is fun and extremely fast. Little things such as having your quarterback sit in the pocket hoping for that extra second for a receiver to get open won't guarantee you success but possibly can guarantee your quarterback being thrown to the ground by a defender. As soon as the ball is snapped, look to get rid of it or look to get hit.

Passing is obviously the main aspect of the game, and there are an array of passing formations and receiving routes. Pump fakes by the quarterback are a great way to bait defensive backs and get your receivers open, but again, time is money. The pocket collapses quickly.

Some quarterbacks are extremely mobile, and there is a scrambling option, but don't look to get your Michael Vick on and think you're going to run amok as soon as the ball is snapped. Rushing your quarterback a lot is a good way to get him injured.

There are also multiple running plays for the one player who may be forgotten the most in "Arena Football," the running back. Running backs should primarily be used in short yardage situations or for the rare occasion that you get tackled at the 1-yard line. If it's 2nd and 9, don't look to get the first down by handing the ball off.

New features, such as taking control of your receiver before the snap and running your own routes and a new analog kicking control that one hopes will be installed in all of EA's future football games, highlight what should be the start of a successful franchise.

Visually the game is great to look at. One minus is that there is no announce team for games, but maybe that will be added in a future version.

-- David Betancourt

Arena Football Everyone 10+, PS2, Xbox ($29.95) EA Sports