NFL 2K3

{{Short description|2002 video game}}

{{Infobox video game

| developer = Visual Concepts

| publisher = Sega

| platforms = PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube

| release = {{vgrelease|NA|August 13, 2002 (PS2, Xbox){{Cite web |date=August 7, 2002 |title=Hot Box: August Edition |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/07/hot-box-august-edition |access-date=August 8, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=November 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121202336/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/07/hot-box-august-edition |url-status=live }}|NA|August 20, 2002 (GC){{Cite web |title=NFL2K3 launches! - News |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7663/nfl2k3-launches |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-date=2023-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328230212/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7663/nfl2k3-launches |url-status=live }}|EU|March 28, 2003 (GC, PS2)|EU|April 17, 2003 (Xbox)}}

| genre = Sports

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| image = NFL 2K3 cover art.jpg

| caption = North American cover art

}}

NFL 2K3 is an American football video game released in 2002 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. It was developed by Visual Concepts and published by Sega. It is the only NFL 2K game for the GameCube. The cover athlete features Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears, becoming the first cover athlete in the NFL 2K series besides Randy Moss.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| align = left

| NGC = true

| PS2 = true

| XBOX = true

| na = true

| EGM_PS2 = 9/10{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |url=http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1488753,00.asp |title=NFL 2K3 (PS2) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=161 |date=October 2002 |page=184 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040321180713/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1488753,00.asp |archivedate=March 21, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| Fam_PS2 = 33/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=13346&redirect=no |title=NFL 2K3 [PS2] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |accessdate=April 22, 2020}}

| GI_NGC = 9/10{{cite magazine |title=NFL 2K3 (GC) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=113 |date=September 2002 |page=85}}

| GI_PS2 = 9/10{{cite magazine |last=Kato |first=Matthew |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200209/R03.0801.1447.43080.htm |title=NFL 2K3 (PS2) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=113 |date=September 2002 |page=79 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050410141117/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200209/R03.0801.1447.43080.htm |archive-date=April 10, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 23, 2020}}

| GI_XBOX = 9.5/10{{cite magazine |title=NFL 2K3 (Xbox) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=113 |date=September 2002 |page=89}}

| GamePro_NGC = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Bro Buzz |date=August 12, 2002 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/25644.shtml |title=NFL 2K3 |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204133539/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/25644.shtml |archivedate=February 4, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| GamePro_PS2 = {{Rating|5|5}}

| GamePro_XBOX = {{Rating|5|5}}

| GameRev_NGC = A−{{cite web |last=Dodson |first=Joe |date=September 2002 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32456-nfl-2k3-review |title=NFL 2K3 Review (GC) |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912225647/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/nfl-2k3 |archivedate=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| GameRev_PS2 = A−{{cite web |last=Dodson |first=Joe |date=September 2002 |url=http://www.game-revolution.com/games/ps2/sports/nfl_2k3.htm |title=NFL 2K3 - Playstation 2 Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206083555/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/ps2/sports/nfl_2k3.htm |archivedate=February 6, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| GameRev_XBOX = A−{{cite web |last=Dodson |first=Joe |date=September 2002 |url=http://www.game-revolution.com/games/xbox/sports/nfl_2k3.htm |title=NFL 2K3 - Xbox Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040215135959/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/xbox/sports/nfl_2k3.htm |archivedate=February 15, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| GSpot_NGC = 9.1/10{{cite web |last=Varanini |first=Giancarlo |date=August 12, 2002 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nfl-2k3-review/1900-2877102/ |title=NFL 2K3 Review (GC) |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124021832/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nfl-2k3-review/1900-2877102/ |url-status=live }}

| GSpot_PS2 = 9.6/10{{cite web |last=Varanini |first=Giancarlo |date=August 13, 2002 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nfl-2k3-review/1900-2877237/ |title=NFL 2K3 Review (PS2) [date mislabeled as "August 20, 2002"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521044300/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nfl-2k3-review/1900-2877237/ |url-status=live }}

| GSpot_XBOX = 9.1/10{{cite web |last=Varanini |first=Giancarlo |date=August 12, 2002 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nfl-2k3-review/1900-2877104/ |title=NFL 2K3 Review (Xbox) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124021832/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nfl-2k3-review/1900-2877104/ |url-status=live }}

| GSpy_NGC = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Satterfield |first=Shane |date=September 17, 2002 |url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/nfl-2k3/593292p1.html |title=GameSpy: NFL 2K3 (GCN) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051206105801/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/nfl-2k3/593292p1.html |archivedate=December 6, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| GSpy_XBOX = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Hiscock |first=Josh |date=September 5, 2002 |url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/nfl-2k3/595903p1.html |title=GameSpy: NFL 2K3 (Xbox) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |accessdate=April 23, 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124021833/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/nfl-2k3/595903p1.html |url-status=live }}

| GameZone_NGC = 8.8/10{{cite web |last=Surette |first=Tim |date=September 10, 2002 |url=http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20249.htm |title=Sega Sports NFL 2K3 Review - GameCube |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314073605/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20249.htm |archivedate=March 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| GameZone_PS2 = 9.3/10{{cite web |last=Knutson |first=Michael |date=September 2, 2002 |url=http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20249.htm |title=Sega Sports NFL 2K3 Review - PlayStation 2 |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828213652/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20249.htm |archivedate=August 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| GameZone_XBOX = 8.9/10{{cite web |last=Lafferty |first=Michael |date=September 2, 2002 |url=http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20249.htm |title=Sega Sports NFL 2K3 Review - Xbox |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628175112/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20249.htm |archivedate=June 28, 2006 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| IGN_NGC = 9/10{{cite web |last=Carle |first=Chris |date=August 9, 2002 |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/367/367401p1.html |title=NFL 2K3 (GCN) |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060107025413/http://cube.ign.com/articles/367/367401p1.html |archivedate=January 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 22, 2020}}

| IGN_PS2 = 9.2/10{{cite web |last=Carle |first=Chris |date=August 9, 2002 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/09/nfl-2k3 |title=NFL 2K3 (PS2) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027040411/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/09/nfl-2k3/ |url-status=live }}

| IGN_XBOX = 9.1/10{{cite web |last=Carle |first=Chris |date=August 9, 2002 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/09/nfl-2k3-review |title=NFL 2K3 Review (Xbox) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124021832/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/09/nfl-2k3-review |url-status=live }}

| NP_NGC = 4.1/5{{cite magazine |title=NFL 2K3 |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=160 |date=September 2002 |page=163}}

| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=NFL 2K3 |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=60 |date=September 2002 |page=117}}

| OXM_XBOX = 9.3/10{{cite magazine |title=NFL 2K3 |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |publisher=Imagine Media |date=October 2002 |page=100}}

| rev1 = Maxim

| rev1_NGC = 9/10{{cite magazine |last=Boyce |first=Ryan |url=http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/articles/article_4754.html |title=NFL Kickoff 2003 |magazine=Maxim |publisher=Biglari Holdings |date=August 2000 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020804102900/http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/articles/article_4754.html |archivedate=August 4, 2002 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 23, 2020}}

| rev1_PS2 = 9/10

| rev1_XBOX = 9/10

| MC_NGC = 92/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/nfl2k3 |title=NFL 2K3 (cube: 2002): Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913070458/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/nfl2k3 |archivedate=September 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |accessdate=April 22, 2020}}

| MC_PS2 = 93/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nfl-2k3/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=NFL 2K3 for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=2019-08-20 |archive-date=2019-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018054632/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/nfl-2k3 |url-status=live }}

| MC_XBOX = 92/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nfl-2k3/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=NFL 2K3 for Xbox Reviews [mislabeled as "GameCube"] |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913070342/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbx/nfl2k3 |archivedate=September 13, 2008 |url-status=live |accessdate=April 22, 2020}}

}}

The game received "universal acclaim" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, where the PlayStation 2 version was localized for release on December 26, 2002, Famitsu gave it a score of 33 out of 40.

GameSpot named NFL 2K3 the best Xbox game, and second-best PlayStation 2 game, of August 2002.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206065848/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/090702/ | url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/090702/ | title=GameSpot{{'}}s Game of the Month, August 2002 | author=((The Editors of GameSpot)) | date=September 7, 2002 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=February 6, 2004 | url-status=dead }} It won the publication's annual "Best Traditional Sports Game on GameCube" and "Best Traditional Sports Game on Xbox" awards, and was a runner-up for "Best Online Game on Xbox", "Best Online Game on PlayStation 2" and "Game of the Year on Xbox".{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207155400/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | title=GameSpot{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2002 | author=GameSpot Staff | date=December 30, 2002 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=February 7, 2003 | url-status=dead }}

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References

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