ESPN NBA 2k5 or NBA Live 2005.. Which will you get?
 

Both ESPN NBA 2k5 and NBA Live 2005 are being released this week.

Which of the two games are you planning on getting?

I'm currently on the fence, and am waiting on some reviews to be released. ESPN is $19.99 and Live is $39.99, so ESPN has the price advantage, but I'm looking to get the better game, regardless of price.

If anyone gets either game, or is also on the fence, and want to comment, please do!

I saw a commercial for ESPN 2K5 and thought "wow, that looks like crap." However, game mechanics are more important than appearance in a sports game, so I'd have to try both before buying either. EA has more history in sports games and rarely does them poorly, so ESPN has to use the price edge to try to crack in, but I don't think they're all the way there yet.

As a basketball player, I like ESPN because the gameplay is more realistic. More stuff to do in-game, and more stuff to watch out for makes it all the more fun.

I'd go with ESPN.

I have been a fan of the NBA 2K series since the beginning. The player models and the smoothness of the controls are more natural than in the Live series. One thing that people don't realize, now it has been brought up, is that Sega Sports began in 1994, and released NFL '95 as its first game. Most think that it started with the Dreamcast.

ESPN NBA 2K5. Great gameplay, graphics, and controls. And the fucking awesome 24/7 mode. And its only $20.

Sega Sports > EA.

I just picked up ESPN NBA 2K5, and wow; it's superb.

The graphics and commentary are really well done, and the gameplay is superb. Fast breaks are done well, and it feels like real basketball.

I haven't played Live, but ESPN is really good.

If you are thinking of renting ESPN, I'd just buy it; renting is 1/4 the cost of buying, and the game really is good. I know IGN tore it up, but their review was a hunt for negatives, and I really don't hold much credibility to it, especially after getting and playing the game myself. It's just so well done and plays really well out of the box without touching sliders.

Take care, and if someone gets Live and has comments or a review, please post it up here.

I just got 2k5, and it's hard on higher levels than Pro. You have to use the gameplay sliders to reduce shooting accuracy or else the computer will drop shots at a 75% clip on you. Of course, I'm in a franchise with the Bulls, who are the 2nd or 3rd worst team in the league.

I'm a glutton for punishment it seems.

gonna try out the 2K series this time around for the price alone

Your one-paragraph guide to EA vs. ESPN this year:

EA games have more management functions than ESPN games. That means more draft choices, more player options, more flexibility with writing your own plays, more substitution options, more stadium options, etc. ESPN games generally have better graphics. The actual gameplay is very similar between the two lines, your preference will be a personal decision and I've had lots of people tell me they prefer one over the other (but about 50/50). ESPN games are universally cheaper, their entire line starts at $19.99 this year compared to EA's $49.99 ($39.99 for NBA Live). Finally, many EA 2005 games closely resemble their 2004 counterparts, with relatively few changes. Madden, Tiger Woods, and NBA Live are the worst offenders in the Too Much Rehash club.

I prefer ESPN, and Game Informer magazine (Gamestop's magazine) almost universally rated the ESPN games higher this year.

i got 2k5 last week... i don't like a couple of the control changes like the removal of the crosspad movement option and the replacement of the jab step with a hop step which basically makes you travel. but besides that the passing is crisper (more like 2k2) and the graphics and momentum of players are an improvement.

oh, 1 more thing. i'm a big fan of the fantasy draft/ manage-a-franchise option and i don't think i like the team chemistry feature. it doesn't factor in important things(like whether your team is winning) and the player meeting multiple personality choose your own adventure interface is retarded.