cheeterbo

i have been rocking on 2k5 and am wondering if anyone has played them both and what the differences between them are. this was my first football game on xbox (mostly clancy) and for 19.99, this game is phenomenal.

Jeff

I play both of them regularly.

ESPN is better. No doubt.

The gameplays just much better in my opinion. Graphics too. And commentary.

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mr sticky

I haven't played either, but I'll be watching this thread and purchasing the winner!

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tspikes51

2K5 is loads better. Madden plays less fluidly, and the graphics are a ton better (at least on Xbox) in ESPN 2K5. Plus the presentation kicks ass too.

Rdr4evr

I only have played 2k4, and Madden is my choice by far. I have been playing '05 non-stop since I purchased it. The main issue I have with Madden though is the 'cheating comback' the opposing team does when you are slaughtering them. Also, Madden really needs to address the issues with the challenges, its is 100% bullshit 90% of the time. Aside from those issues though, it is and extremely deep game with a wonderful Franchise mode.

omega2K4

ESPN NFL 2K5 is better. Better controls, better gameplay, smoother animation, great presentation, great online play (online tournaments and seasons), VIP system (tracks all your stats, how many times you throw/run the ball, where you run/throw it to most, what plays you run most often, and more, and you can get online and download other player's VIP files and play against them, its like playing against the real person), better graphics and sound (yay for ESPN's custom music, you can cut out tracks from your own music and have it play during certain events, TD, FG, INT, Fumble, Sack, etc), and the price tag of $20.

Instead of Madden 2005, get ESPN NFL 2K5, and ESPN NHL 2K5 or pre-order ESPN NBA 2K5.

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BigGov

I've logged a good deal of playing time on both ESPN and Madden and I can honestly say you can't go wrong with either one.

It's not to say they're the same, but they are both very well done, very polished, and overall offer great gameplay.

While the Franchise modes in each are nice, big, and very customizable, 95% of the stuff is just worthless. ESPN a feature which lets you lay out the week for your team so their ratings get better. Great idea, except once you find the right layout, you never touch it again. Madden has the whole pricing concept again, which overall is just pointless because if you field a halfway decent team you're not going to have a problem. This is all fine though because key things like roster management are done perfectly in both games. In ESPN you can customize just about everything about someone's contract, little pay the first few years, more later, the same over all years, less in the middle, just about any way you can think. Madden have this feature, but instead they have numerous factors (15-ish) to determine where someone will sign, so in theory a big name free agent could take less money to sign with a contender, or just be a money grubbing whore.

The gameplay in each is very well done too. ESPN 2k5 is the best incarnation of the 2k-series, a decent passing system, a nice running game, nothing really sticks out that makes you say, "WOW!", but on the other hand, nothing will make you pull your hair out and yell, "WHAT THE FUCK?!" and make you want to kick your console ...except for that fucking kicking arrow...moving piece of shit...

Madden on the other side falls on both sides of the spectrum. This years Madden is the best incarnation of the Madden series featuring a spectacular passing system, a decent running game, and the new moves on defense will make the defensive guys out there jump with joy. The Playmaker system that seemed like such a pile of shit last year has been carried over almost untouched completely to 2005, and surprisingly it doesn't suck. The offensive playmaker controls untouched from what I can tell, which is fine. The defense though is where it really shines. Before the snap on defense you just select a guy and flick the right thumbsitck, that player's responsibilities will have changed to either blitz, zone, flat zone, or spy the QB. The other nice new addition are the new Coverage audibles. Before the snap you can easily shift your players to bump and run, loose coverage, or the two new audibles and my favorite, line up directly across your man, and stuff the box. They're pretty self-explanatory, the first will line up your players just across the line so your linebacker won't be assigned to the tight-end on the other end of the line anymore if you don't want it. The second is another favorite of mine, choosing this sticks everyone except cornerbacks right up next to the line. Combine that with the new playmaker ability to blitz specific players and you have one potent defense if you know what you're doing. The "Hit Stick" is also fun when you can use it, but you don't use it much. Strip tackling has been improved too, as your player will go all out for the tackle now while trying to strip the ball. It won't cause a fumble often, but it will make the tackle.

What's so bad about the Madden then? The defense. Oh no, not yours, you're gonna love that. It's the computer and the difficulty. On Pro difficulty, a casual gamer will likely just dominate the competition. On All-Pro and All-Madden difficulties the computer will hand you your ass. Here's an example, on All-Pro difficulty I was playing the Packers and I was up against the pathetic Bears. The Packers have one of the best lines in the game. Consistantly I would be sacked, knocked down, or have something distrupted within 1.5 seconds. Except the Bears were just rushing 4 linemen. It was so fast I couldn't do anything, couldn't scramble, couldn't pass, nothing. That experience definately fell under the, "WHAT THE FUCK?!" catagory. But that's ok, I could deal with it, I pulled back and only had two guys going out for the pass, everyone else was staying back to block. Now, according to simple mathematics, 8 blockers - 4 rushers = 4 guys free to block, hey, how convienient, you can double team every guy, or at least give me a chance back in the pocket. Apparently Tiburon failed math in school because the same result happened. It started treading very quickly into kicking the console territory, but I calmed down and decided it might be a fluke. So I went into Pratice mode, and watched Farve get nailed again, and again, and again. I spent 30 minutes practicing one play. Eventually it got to the spot where maybe 20% of the time I might get lucky and have a second or two in the pocket and I would be able to throw it as far as I could for Dante Hall. He has a 98 SPD and ACC rating. No one is going to catch him, especially if I line him up as the slot receiver. So that's what I did. Lined him up in the game as the slot receiver, got a few seconds, and threw the ball about 50-60 yards. Hall had a good 2-3 yard cushon on the no-name worthless 60 rating Bears corner when suddenly this guy turns into Deion Sanders on steroids, jumps up and deflects the ball, then falls down and tackles Hall just for good measure to make sure he can't catch the ball. Very close to console kicking territory...It wouldn't be so bad if you could control what's happening, but in many cases I just wasn't able to control my guys to do anything before the defense broke through and I had to scramble.

And that is really the only area where the two games are truely different, in the difficulty. In ESPN I played with the Eagles, and 10 games through the season have broken almost every record or am on pace to destroy it. Owens has about 30 touchdowns, 90 receptions, and 3,000 yards. McNabb was injured for 4 games, yet has almost 1,000 yards rushing, and 1,500 passing. Kearse (who I control) had exactly 22.5 sacks when he went down with an injury. This is on the hardest difficulty. It's not like I'm pushing it or trying to be a stat whore a, la Tecmo Super Bowl or anything. I throw to the open man, who is almost always Owens, I rush when the pocket collapses and there's nothing but 20 yards of open field ahead of me, and as I said before, I like defense and know how to blitz correctly.

If I'd have to choose one though, I'd still choose Madden. The speed of Madden feels much closer to that of a real football game, the defensive game is superior, and it is a real challenge.

Sega made a great move by lowering the price of ESPN to $20. I would not have purchased ESPN for $50 because I prefer Madden, but for $20 it was a nice little diversion.

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NeverBorn

You know, I absolutely love NFL 2k5, and I really haven't liked a football game since Mutant League Football

Rdr4evr

Damn, after all of this praise for NFL25k, I wish they would release it on GC so I could give it a shot....although I dont think anything could take me away from Madden.

raven12

I always use to think madden was the best...well because it was . I got espn this year because of the 20 dollar price tag and i was very impressed. I would have liked it to have a deeper franchise mode(like madden), i still think it is the better game. The one problem i had was it froze every time i played. I had to delete my franchise and start all over. Other than that its a great game.

rival

The ESPN line of sports games is $30 dollars less than the EA line this year. I can buy two ESPN games (NFL and NHL 2k5) for the price of one EA game. Of course, this wouldn't mean shit if the ESPN games weren't worth while, but in just about every review out there, the two games lines are on equal footing. So, for me at least, the ESPN line will be getting my money this year.

raven12

Have they announced whether college hoops will be 20 dollars? I am going to get 3 games for $40 because i won a free copy of nhl 2k5 with nfl 2k5. Not a bad deal

jordan_is_god

ive played both but i bought 2k5... it was on sale at target for 16.99... both are great games but 2k5 has a slight edge in my book... they were way ahead of the game back in 99-00 on the dreamcast and it has just gotten better and better... madden is good but with the exception of the hit stick nothing has really changed... worth the 49.99???? i dontthink so but im not one of those die hard madden gamers... im a whatever has the best game at the time kinda guy... madden last year... gameday the year b4..... 2k5 ownz joo

docbungle

I'm a die-hard Madden player. Unfortunately, Madden '05 is a HUGE step BACKwards from Madden 04. At least is the collector's editioon, which I bought because it included Madden '96 and a few other old-school versions of the game. The graphics are horrible, when compared to last year's game. The special teamns defense is a joke. I traded it in after playing it for a week, just to give it enough time to grow on me. Well, it didn't. It is a horrible game in the Madden franchise.

ESPN 2K5 is taking some getting used to, but I'm starting to get the controls down. After playing EA Sports games for so long, you get a certain control scheme burnt into you, and it's hard to let go of. Definitely tons better than Madden 05. I feel that Madden 04 compares favorably with ESPN, but I've already played the hell out of that game.

So, ESPN it is. Also, ESPN has the hockey franchise locked down. EA Sports' line of hockey games is going downhill fast.

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jordan_is_god

yeah i have to agree with doc 2k5 takes some getting used to... madden kind of programs ur brain to play a certain way... still tryingh to get the hang of passing... hard to time my qb drops 3 steps five steps and that timing it on his hop... getting better beat detroit today 65 to 3 and beat greenbay by 35

heccubusiv

ESPN has the sportscenter which is cool to watch once or twice, the gang tackling is increabable, you can actually do an over the top dive, and the crib credits are a lot cooler than madden points, the trivia game is pretty sweet.
Madden looks a lot smoother the defensive controls are pretty great. Of course the play maker and hit stick make the game pretty fun. Overall for the money get ESPN but madden is still an amazing game

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shamalama

I've gone from Madden to Gameday by 989, back to Madden and now to the ESPN series since 2K3 and I doubt I will look back from here. It may not have the bells & whistles of the Madden game (although it is slowly gaining ground there), but the actual game play of 2K5 is FAR better, especially on XBox where it excels.

Anyone remember Joe Montana Football on Sega Genesis?