Who has Madden AND 2k5?

[bucswinitall]

Just wondering what you thought was the better game, why, and which you would buy if you had to pick one (considering 2k5 is only 20$).

I only have 2k5 and wondering if I should get Ncaa or Madden.

[BigPoppa3]

Just wondering what you thought was the better game, why, and which you would buy if you had to pick one (considering 2k5 is only 20$).

I only have 2k5 and wondering if I should get Ncaa or Madden.
I dont have Madden but my roommate does. I for whatever reason just like the ESPN game better. Not only is it only $20, I would have gotten for $50 too but I like the graphics and the gameplay better

[wtmcgee]

i have both, and i'm going to be listing ESPN on eBay very soon. the only real good part of this game is the presentation. the highlights @ halftime, etc. the game PLAYS like nfl blitz or something though. very arcade-ish.

[Java_Thief]

no offense to BigPappa's taste, but 2k5 is complete crap. I got it for 15$ at target when it came out and i'm lookin to trade it in. The presentation, crib, and espn licensing are very very cool, but the game play is god awful.

When you pass the ball its almost as if the game slows down while it is in flight. I do like that you can do a shoulder charge to take people head on, but other than that, I really don't like the tapping and holding system they use to complete juking moves.

The gameplay is just too jerky, and I find certain aspects of the franchise mode hard to use.

I have them both and I say definately go for madden, plus the mini camps are always cool and they added a new one called rushing attack where its two players going against each other in a ground attack like drill.

[bucsfan9740]

madden is better than 2k5

[bucswinitall]

Well, I hope it's as good as everyone says it is...I love 2k5 a lot more than madden 04, and I'm not sure why none of you like the gameplay, because I think its terrific. Still, after I get NCAA I may go for Madden, just to be well covered :)

[Charger02]

2k5 is better. madden still hasnt fixed there problems and only added some new annoying features and a few new dumb comments from john himself.

[2goodbucs]

If you like NFL Blitz type of gameplay with a beautiful graphics and presentation announcement interface along with a crappy NFL combine, rookie draft, team weekly prep (god awful addition) and top player trades that go crazy between teams in the league starting right after the first game of a pre-season game, then pick ESPN 2k5.

If you like a real THINKING mans NFL game where you actually feel like your playing that man on the field with no 'bling bling' visual graphics and commentary that is average compared to its competitor with the BEST franchise mode with great NFL combine, rookie draft, player personalities that determine whether the player signs with the team or wants to be traded because he is not 'getting the damn ball' (Me-Shawn), and an added little bonus of a football radio station host telling it how it is in the league while you gather up info about the comming week game (reminds me of Grand Theft Auto 3 and 4's car radio feature) , pick Madden 2k5.

Thats all you need to know because I am giving you the honest truth from a hardcore football/videogame fan.

[DUTCH IS BACK]

If you like NFL Blitz type of gameplay with a beautiful graphics and presentation announcement interface along with a crappy NFL combine, rookie draft, team weekly prep (god awful addition) and top player trades that go crazy between teams in the league starting right after the first game of a pre-season game, then pick ESPN 2k5.

If you like a real THINKING mans NFL game where you actually feel like your playing that man on the field with no 'bling bling' visual graphics and commentary that is average compared to its competitor with the BEST franchise mode with great NFL combine, rookie draft, player personalities that determine whether the player signs with the team or wants to be traded because he is not 'getting the damn ball' (Me-Shawn), and an added little bonus of a football radio station host telling it how it is in the league while you gather up info about the comming week game (reminds me of Grand Theft Auto 3 and 4's car radio feature) , pick Madden 2k5.

Thats all you need to know because I am giving you the honest truth from a hardcore football/videogame fan.

So what you're saying is that ESPN 2K5 is way better?? :winkretro

[PewterCurtainD]

Is it worth picking up if I already have 2004?

[bucswinitall]

If you like NFL Blitz type of gameplay with a beautiful graphics and presentation announcement interface along with a crappy NFL combine, rookie draft, team weekly prep (god awful addition) and top player trades that go crazy between teams in the league starting right after the first game of a pre-season game, then pick ESPN 2k5.

If you like a real THINKING mans NFL game where you actually feel like your playing that man on the field with no 'bling bling' visual graphics and commentary that is average compared to its competitor with the BEST franchise mode with great NFL combine, rookie draft, player personalities that determine whether the player signs with the team or wants to be traded because he is not 'getting the damn ball' (Me-Shawn), and an added little bonus of a football radio station host telling it how it is in the league while you gather up info about the comming week game (reminds me of Grand Theft Auto 3 and 4's car radio feature) , pick Madden 2k5.

Thats all you need to know because I am giving you the honest truth from a hardcore football/videogame fan.

In my 2k5 franchise, I haven't seen alot of trades besides my own, I love the weekly prep (it can be turned on and off weekly), and I don't really see the comparison between blitz and 2k5 because Blitz is more like NFL street and less like 2k5. Still, Madden does have a killer franchise mode, although I never did have any success in their draft and will have to see about 2k5 when I finish my 1st season (almost to playoffs).

[BucFan9720]

In my 2k5 franchise, I haven't seen alot of trades besides my own, I love the weekly prep (it can be turned on and off weekly), and I don't really see the comparison between blitz and 2k5 because Blitz is more like NFL street and less like 2k5. Still, Madden does have a killer franchise mode, although I never did have any success in their draft and will have to see about 2k5 when I finish my 1st season (almost to playoffs).


Here are some off-season tips forESPN.. Dont overspend in free agency, dont draft RB's because they take forever to develop, always draft a player from the suggested player list.. in the late rounds go ahead and take a fast QB(In round 6 I got a 68 overall QB that ran a 4.5 40) and DB's are gold in the 2nd-3rd rounds.

[bucdude79]

Madden is 10 times better than ESPN.... what a game it is...

[2goodbucs]

So what you're saying is that ESPN 2K5 is way better?? :winkretro

What I am saying is that ESPN is a beautiful looking game and Madden is more of a football fanatic type of game with no pretty visuals. If you like looking at something good while playing it, get ESPN. If you like all the details that goes on within the NFL, get Madden. I was just giving you my opinion. I am more of a thinking mans NFL football gamer so I pick Madden over ESPN.

[2goodbucs]

In my 2k5 franchise, I haven't seen alot of trades besides my own, I love the weekly prep (it can be turned on and off weekly), and I don't really see the comparison between blitz and 2k5 because Blitz is more like NFL street and less like 2k5. Still, Madden does have a killer franchise mode, although I never did have any success in their draft and will have to see about 2k5 when I finish my 1st season (almost to playoffs).

A trade that made me upset while playing ESPN was a trade between the Dolphins and the Jets. The Dolphins traded RB Ricky Williams for the Jets DE John Abraham. The Dolphins already got DE Jason Taylor and DE Wally Ogunlye and both of them are healthy, when the trade was done the next week came by and I found out that the Dolphins put John Abraham on the trading block. WTF was that trade all about!?!? I said to myself. Now the Dolphins have Travis Minor as their number one RB. ESPN is really not realistic at all. Thats where the NFL Blitz 'type' of gameplay comes in. It just doesnt seem realistic at all when it comes to playbook plays. Its not a Blitz game, but it just seems like you can play this game in an arcade at your local arcade at the mall. I wouldnt be suprised if there was arcade machines of ESPN out there because it would pass as a easy to play type of game.

[BigPoppa3]

no offense to BigPappa's taste, but 2k5 is complete crap. I got it for 15$ at target when it came out and i'm lookin to trade it in. The presentation, crib, and espn licensing are very very cool, but the game play is god awful.

When you pass the ball its almost as if the game slows down while it is in flight. I do like that you can do a shoulder charge to take people head on, but other than that, I really don't like the tapping and holding system they use to complete juking moves.

The gameplay is just too jerky, and I find certain aspects of the franchise mode hard to use.

I have them both and I say definately go for madden, plus the mini camps are always cool and they added a new one called rushing attack where its two players going against each other in a ground attack like drill.

Whayt is wrong the shoulder charge?? RBs and WRs do it in real life so why not have that in the game? I dont notice any slowness of the game play. Lets face it all of us are going to have different taste and like different things. I cant ever diss Madden because it was the Pioneer but I am a 2k series person now a days

[BigPoppa3]

A trade that made me upset while playing ESPN was a trade between the Dolphins and the Jets. The Dolphins traded RB Ricky Williams for the Jets DE John Abraham. The Dolphins already got DE Jason Taylor and DE Wally Ogunlye and both of them are healthy, when the trade was done the next week came by and I found out that the Dolphins put John Abraham on the trading block. WTF was that trade all about!?!? I said to myself. Now the Dolphins have Travis Minor as their number one RB. ESPN is really not realistic at all. Thats where the NFL Blitz 'type' of gameplay comes in. It just doesnt seem realistic at all when it comes to playbook plays. Its not a Blitz game, but it just seems like you can play this game in an arcade at your local arcade at the mall. I wouldnt be suprised if there was arcade machines of ESPN out there because it would pass as a easy to play type of game.

Yeah I saw a trade with the Giants trading Strahan to the Colts for Edgerrin James. I wondered WTF was going on and when I loked at the contract detail I could see why a trade like that may take place. The Colts had picked up a Rookie RB that was only 5 points lower than Edge and about 5 million cheaper. The Colts were only about 2 million under the cap and im sure thats the reason the trade went down.

[Bucfather]

A trade that made me upset while playing ESPN was a trade between the Dolphins and the Jets. The Dolphins traded RB Ricky Williams for the Jets DE John Abraham. The Dolphins already got DE Jason Taylor and DE Wally Ogunlye and both of them are healthy, when the trade was done the next week came by and I found out that the Dolphins put John Abraham on the trading block. WTF was that trade all about!?!? I said to myself. Now the Dolphins have Travis Minor as their number one RB. ESPN is really not realistic at all. Thats where the NFL Blitz 'type' of gameplay comes in. It just doesnt seem realistic at all when it comes to playbook plays. Its not a Blitz game, but it just seems like you can play this game in an arcade at your local arcade at the mall. I wouldnt be suprised if there was arcade machines of ESPN out there because it would pass as a easy to play type of game.

Dude...no matter what you wont give Espn any credit b/c you are a Maddenite/fanboy. You've said several times already that Espn is aracady like NFL Blitz. You need to walk out of that smoke filled room and get some clear air. Here's my experience with Madden 05. I was in Best Buy the other day and Madden was playing on PS2. Me and another guy started playing each other. He was the Pats and I was the Bucs. Everytime he would pass, he would run Brady around in the pocket for 10 to 12 yards and throw a bullet to a receiver. The passes didn't even look right coming out of Brady's throwing motion. He was throwing off his back foot, across his body, etc. Not every pass was complete but it did not feel like football at all. Do actually watch pro football dude? When do QB's act like that? Madden is not a thinking mans game. It has a scripted feel to it. Moving the ball was pretty easy when I played that guy at Best Buy. If any game has an arcady feel to it it is definately Madden. In Espn every game I have played has had a different feel to it. Not one game ever feels the same. What works in one game will not work in another. And you think thats arcady?? :rolleyesr

[PirateAttack]

2k5 is better. madden still hasnt fixed there problems and only added some new annoying features and a few new dumb comments from john himself.
Madden hasn't fixed their problems!? Have you played the new Madden on All Madden!?

I suggest you do that first if you haven't already, because you can not light up the score board like you used to w/all the Defensive things they added to the game. I played on Legend (i think thats what they call their hardest setting) ond ESPN and kept throwing over the middle and the LB's would hardly get their hands up. The only teams that had LB's that would swat down a ball or try to INT it was the Bears or any other team w/good LB's. Every other team just stood there and let the ball go right by their head.. That just doesn't happen on madden. Not any more anyway.

Not to mention the Hit Stick also fixes the rarity of fumbles that Madden once had. I'm in Week 7 and my team as a whole has 8 FF. That is realistic, where in be4 '05 on Madden I would have MB 5 FF all season.. The Hit Stick is my Favorite thing about the game, IMO, it puts Madden above any Football game.

Madden is better.

[PersistentBuc07]

i have both, and i'm going to be listing ESPN on eBay very soon. the only real good part of this game is the presentation. the highlights @ halftime, etc. the game PLAYS like nfl blitz or something though. very arcade-ish.
exactly

madden all teh way. especially wenur ganna kick a game winning field goal. HEART BEAT EFFECT- OMG!

[RobBase]

I've got XBOX and have strongly preferred ESPN over the years to Madden. This year it's a close tie, but I'm leaning towards ESPN again.

Short List of Reasons:

1. Graphics: Both are good. Everyon seems to think ESPN blows Madden away, but both do certain things well. Madden's fields have texture, the players look more solid (less transparent) although comic-bookish, and skies are awesome. Madden players tend to have "clipping" issues where there arms pass through bodies where ESPN doesn't. ESPN--the players look incredibly real and lifelike but feel a little hollow, their Stadiums are DEAD ON. Smoke comes out of the pirate ship--very cool. ESPN's field texture is weak though.

2. Gameplay: ESPN's running game and offensive controls offer more control than Madden's. Madden feels like the players are on rails almost where ESPN you feel like you are moving and controlling everything. Madden's defensive options are awesome this year though.

3. Franchise: This is where ESPN seems to be a little screwy. Weird trades and funky drafts make it the loser in this area where Madden is polished.

4. Online: Dead even here. ESPN has a ton of leagues and is really strong--although it's been glitchy. Madden has real time scores of acutal games and emails you stats from your games...Awesome timewaster!

Conclusion:

I bought ESPN for $20--It's easily worth $20. I traded in 3 very old titles for Madden for $30 at EB Games--so I go two awesom games for $40! Who says Christmas doesn't come in August? Get both this year and based on gameplay/graphics use this year to determine your preference. That's what everyone should be doing.

[Dwight Smith]

I own both. In my opinion, it isn't even close. NFL2K5 is for people who like more arcade style of gameplay. Madden is for the people who want a real football sim. Kudos to Madden for vamping up the defense this year, I love how it is so much harder to hit long bombs now, which was one of the bigger problems from previous versions. The only cool thing about 2K5 which Madden doesn't have is the first person view, which is more of a novelty anyway, but a lot of fun when running the ball or playing on the DLine.

My rating:
Madden: 95
2K5: 80

[bucsfan9740]

I have played both now, here are my ratings:

Madden 2005: 98

ESPN 2k5: 83

[gipctech]

Bought 2K5 this weekend and it blows Madden away !!!!

[Chunko]

Madden: A
ESPN: A+

Both are great. Buy ESPN if you want great gameplay and graphics. Buy Madden if you want a great franchise mode.

[SRK65]

To me ESPN is much more realistic. The draft is pretty easy but not as good as madden. But ESPN's gameplay is so much more fun and better then madden. ESPN's graphics are a little sharper and when you tackle someone it looks like a real tackle in footbal. Madden is more arcadish then ESPN i dunno what y'all are smoking.

[BigPoppa3]

I have played both now, here are my ratings:

Madden 2005: 98

ESPN 2k5: 83


83????? How you figure

[BigPoppa3]

We are all going to like different games. I cant talk bad about Madden because it paved the way, however I do prefer ESPN over Madden. I do think ESPN is better than Madden but it is close. Each game has featured I like. dont like so what can ya do.

[BigPoppa3]

I played Madden this weekend on Xbox and the graphics are much better for Madden on that, but I still like the Graphics of ESPN better. I give ESPN a 96 ans Madden a 92

[TheGame2K2]

I have both also and I really don't think you can go wrong with either game. Both have certain things that they do better than the other. ESPN certainly is the best looking game and blows anything else away with its presentation and I admit I love it but I still find myself preferring Madden just because the gameplay just feels more realistic. IF I only had to choose ONE I personally would choose Madden but I don't think anyone out there would be truly disappointed with ESPN. It really is just a matter of preference. If you have the cash I suggest you buy both being that they're the only two football games on the market this year.