Just bought espn 2k5

kingerock, I'm also interested to see how ESPN's reduced price effects competition.

I test for EA Sports and in all honesty I think both (ESPN and Madden) are worth the purchase this year. I have played much more ESPN than Madden since I've had ESPN longer, but in their own right, both games have great features and replay-ability. If you can, check out both titles.

On a side note, look for the 2006 and 2k6 titles to be beyond imaginable improvements. Competition has a way of helping these game producers become more 'innovative'

My thoughts exactly. ESPN is now pushing Madden and vice-versa. Its great to have two great games on the market.

the animations are excellent in this years espn game, the problem with them is that they arent smooth in the game.

Take something simple, run down the field straight, then turn left or right. The player stops going forward to change the direction you are running. It really sucks. It makes it hard to run at an angle. I have linemen catch my recieivers just because of this weird way that they piece together the animations.

Comparing 2k5 to madden 04 it definitly has better off field presentation. But for running a team and franchise madden is just hands down better. Hopefully Madden improved their presentation. I know they added stuff to the super bowl, hopefully other stuff got added as well. But either way, those things are only cool for the first few tiems you play. How often do you watch sports center and the halftime show? mabye the first three times then never again? Thats why madden has always been a better game, because they understand whats more importatn to the long term game play.

Take something simple, run down the field straight, then turn left or right. The player stops going forward to change the direction you are running. It really sucks. It makes it hard to run at an angle. I have linemen catch my recieivers just because of this weird way that they piece together the animations.



exactly right

the animations are excellent in this years espn game, the problem with them is that they arent smooth in the game.

Take something simple, run down the field straight, then turn left or right. The player stops going forward to change the direction you are running. It really sucks. It makes it hard to run at an angle. I have linemen catch my recieivers just because of this weird way that they piece together the animations.

Comparing 2k5 to madden 04 it definitly has better off field presentation. But for running a team and franchise madden is just hands down better. Hopefully Madden improved their presentation. I know they added stuff to the super bowl, hopefully other stuff got added as well. But either way, those things are only cool for the first few tiems you play. How often do you watch sports center and the halftime show? mabye the first three times then never again? Thats why madden has always been a better game, because they understand whats more importatn to the long term game play.

I don't know, I think its cool seeing the highlights of other games, finding out injuries, and trades on sportscenter after each game. It is kinda true about the halftime show except when there r a couple plays u wanna see again. I haven't had any problems at running at an angle except after first catching the ball or right after a handoff, but a couple seconds after those types of plays I'm able to make them run at an angle without making a cut.

I might rent madden for a week or 2, but weighing my options of other games that I want, the fact that I've already got a really good football game in ESPN 2K5 for $35 bucks cheaper, and seeing as to how nothing I've seen or read about madden knocks my socks off, I'll see my normal $50 towards madden going to something else this year.

I might rent madden for a week or 2, but weighing my options of other games that I want, the fact that I've already got a really good football game in ESPN 2K5 for $35 bucks cheaper, and seeing as to how nothing I've seen or read about madden knocks my socks off, I'll see my normal $50 towards madden going to something else this year.

My thoughts exactly. My gaming budget is small and if I can get ESPN titles for $20 and they are decent games-I'm all over it. I'm sure Madden is gonna be good as usual, but I barely have enough time and money for one football game, let alone two.

well for me I have no worries about any other game. Budget is definitly small, and its all going to madden. If there are a bunch of games coming out then you arent going to go through a lot of season anyways, which is what I want to do. I play madden as if it was an rpg, and I go through a ton of seasons. And since you will probably just mess around with it, and play mostly head to head games, then it wont make much of a difference to you.

One big thing madden has going for it, is the fact that the skins are ranked really really well. And they are ranked like shit in 2k5

well for me I have no worries about any other game. Budget is definitly small, and its all going to madden. If there are a bunch of games coming out then you arent going to go through a lot of season anyways, which is what I want to do. I play madden as if it was an rpg, and I go through a ton of seasons. And since you will probably just mess around with it, and play mostly head to head games, then it wont make much of a difference to you.

One big thing madden has going for it, is the fact that the skins are ranked really really well. And they are ranked like shit in 2k5

I kinda like the ratings cuz it makes it more of a challenge and last year I played franchises in madden until year 8 or so a few times and then I'd start it all over with another mixed assortment of players. I'm just the type of gamer who has various gaming stretches where I could want to play rpgs for a week or 2 and then turn around and play football for a few weeks and then turn around and want to play 1st person shooters. it just comes and goes and so I like to have a somewhat rounded gaming library that's reasonably budgeted, lol.

well for me I have no worries about any other game. Budget is definitly small, and its all going to madden. If there are a bunch of games coming out then you arent going to go through a lot of season anyways, which is what I want to do. I play madden as if it was an rpg, and I go through a ton of seasons. And since you will probably just mess around with it, and play mostly head to head games, then it wont make much of a difference to you.

One big thing madden has going for it, is the fact that the skins are ranked really really well. And they are ranked like shit in 2k5

i just can't bear being the redskins without BEING them. the roster has to be the real roster for me else i'll always feel im cheating. thats why i can only go through one season at a time, or mirror real roster changes.

i'm more interested in how it looks/feels/plays on the field and right now ESPN has me enthralled with all the super realistic animations (away from the ball too) and real physics tackles. hope Madden '05 finally breaks out of the super familiar (and relatively few) scripted animations we've been seeing since '00, but from the looks of the videos it totally hasn't... lighting/textures have improved alot though.

I bought 2k5 on Saturday. First off let me say that 2K5 CANNOT TOUCH MADDEN!

But, I do admit that it's fun and it will keep me entertained for the next 9 days until Madden comes out. Gibbs playbook is awesome. It has all types of counters, play-action pass, play-action roll outs......alot of the stuff that Gibbs likes to do. Also the single-back formation has about 7 pages with different packages. Rock Cartwright is sometimes lined up as H-back, which I found odd. Gardner up the middle on a crossing route is my bread and butter, and Coles catches everything thrown to him.

Portis is a MONSTER. On my first game he rushed for 221 yards on 16 carries. Once he gets out in the open....he's gone. Betts runs pretty well also. The defense is good....even though the secondary is suspect. Marcus Washington is everywhere, and Griffin gets good penetration up the middle. Sean Taylor is pretty good too.

Overall, I give it a 8.5. I still prefer Madden simply because the game play is ALOT smoother and the franchise mode is 10 times better. You have so many more options on Madden. I do like Sportscenter and the post game highlights. It's a fun game and I was impressed, but I'm still waiting for Madden and I'll probably give away 2k5 once I do get Madden.