Game Overview
A very short and easy game to get to grips with (providing you know the rules to American Football). It's basically a cut down version of Madden, played on an artificial pitch with loads of flashing lights, fireworks, 7 players on each team and no padding but just as rough! If this was a real sport played on a regular basis, there would be broken bones left, right and centre.

Play books are cut down to a more understandable and basic level meaning that you aren't swamped with hundreds of different plays like on Madden, which in turn means that you won't be so confused and can just get on and score some touchdowns or shut out your opponent.

It is stated in almost every press release we have read regarding NFL Tour that it is a pick up and play game but to an extent we would disagree. You still need to understand the basic rules of American Football which not everyone does, we won't attempt to explain them but to cut it short, if you understand the rules of possession i.e. 5 downs and then it turns over, fumbles and interceptions then all you'll need to learn is the controls and you'll be away.

Gameplay is actually quite simply once you have grasped the concept of the game but then unfortunately it becomes very easy and then obviously once it becomes easy it becomes repetitive. You are able to bash 'A' when you are tackled to counter a tackle and continue running, master the art of this and you'll very rarely get tackled, meaning it is virtually pointless in having defense. This is all against the AI though and when you come up against friends online they are able to counter a counter so the difficulty notches up a bit.

The commentary is absolutely dreadful, by far the worst commentary we have ever heard on any game, period. We really don't know why they bothered putting it in there, they repeat and repeat and repeat and then constantly make jokes about repetitive commentators on video games. It has to be the most frustrating commentating in gaming history and after just two 3 minute games we had heard virtually every phrase 3 times over and had to turn it down as it was honestly driving us crazy.

A couple of filler mini games are included which are good fun to play against friends, one is the "Red Zone Rush" where it is 1-on-1 and you have to score a touchdown without getting tackled and then there is "Smash & Dash", again 1-on-1 and you have to keep the ball for as long as possible to win. Both of them are fun for short blasts but you won't hang around long. Other than the 2 mini games, online and exhibition matches there aren't really any other game modes which is a little bit of a let down, the 'Tour' mode is available but it's the same as playing a succession of exhibition matches.

Our Conclusions
NFL Tour isn't going to set your world alight, it is a little repetitive and nothing more than an Xbox Live Arcade game really. £39.99 is a little steep but that’s just because it's the UK and the novelty of American Football is huge at the moment, the States have NFL Tour at a much cheaper price. It's enjoyable running off walls and playing a cut down version of NFL for a while and it's enjoyable to play against mates once in a while but realistically it is so simple it's boring.

Overall Score: 6/10

Thanks to EA and Shine