Customer Reviews

ESPN NFL 2K5

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

To be fair, I've been a Madden fan since 1993. I played it on my C64, Genesis, Playstation, PS2 and the xbox and gamecube versions as well(final 2 were not at my house). I hear people talk on here about 2001 and 2002 being the same so the went to Sega. I've also played Sega football games for a long time (since Joe Montana Football in the early 90s on my PC) I've also played the NFL 2k series on the dreamcast. Always seemed more of an arcade type game more then a true sim like Madden. I take issue with people that say NFL 2k series(espn) players look more realistic. Have you seen the way the player walk? There is no looseness. Also there was a comparision between NCAA and NFL 2k? What the heck is that about, it's 2 different types of games, EA's team for NCAA and Madden is separate. There has been slight upgrades in graphics for NCAA 2005 but that's not what I am talking about.

I'm picking up both games because they both offer something different.

Pluses for ESPN football.

1. Breakdown of gameplay is really good.
2. Playbook is deep.
3. Day by day breakdown is cool, TBD how useful this is to the game.
4. Pregame, Halftime and postgame is cool, but takes a lot of time.
5. Cool $20 price tag

Minuses for ESPN football

1. Player movement is questionable.
2. Menus hurt speed of game(I like to just get to the next week.)
3. Crib is just stupid

Pluses for Madden football
1. Deep realistic playbook
2. Coaches and assitant coaches in the game
3. Deepest franchise mode
4. Importing classes from NCAA football is the best.
5. Tony K. radio broadcast(unsure if this is really a plus)
6. Ability to play past versions of Madden
7. Smooth best looking and most human like players for any game.

Minuses for Madden football
1. Steep $60 price tag.
2. Bad Announcing

I picked up NFL 2K5 the other day and I'll have to say that I was thouroughly impressed. Skeptical at first due to my dissapointment with NFL 2K2, i had purchased the last two Maddens because of that. For $20, and all the hype this game was getting I couldn't pass it up.

The game presentation is outstanding. Boomer does a terrific job in pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. The announcing during the game was impressive. I'll have to say that I don't think I'll be muting the announcing in this game, as I have with previous Madden games due to them being so predictable and boring.

Franchise mode gets incrediably deep. You can hold team meetings, schedule workouts, plan diets, study film, etc. You name it you can do it to prepare for the next game. This, however, when this option is turned on can get tedious, long and drawn out at times. However, it really shows you the aspect of what goes on during off field time. Trading, signing gets incrediably detailed with your contracts being very detailed. The only thing I found lacking in the franchise area other than the drawn out weekly preparations, was that I could not be named head coach. I liked in Madden where you could be the coach of your football team, but apparently it is not possible in 2K5 when not in coach mode (I haven't played the game in coach mode yet, so maybe you can there, but I don't know).

Play control is rock solid, as you have much control over your player and players. A neet feature I have enjoyed is being able to not only change the DB coverages, but I can individually change one DB in tight, and another to be off a little bit. Player movement is a little questionable as I find the players in Madden to move a little more realistically in that aspect. It was also very easy to simply pick up and play, and the learning curve is very low. If you do want a challenge, I highly suggest setting the difficultly levels to All Pro and tweeking with the AI a bit. It can be a bit too easy at times to run the ball. I know it has been said that issue has been fixed, but I've been able to get 100 yards plus per game with Curtis Martin from the NY Jets on All Pro ... easy. You do the math. This can be tweeked, however, along with many other AI aspects of the game. Defense never fails to please compared to Madden. Close, low scoring games are very common in 2K5 as apposed to 40+ point games I'd have in Madden 2004 consistantly.

I've never been too concerned about a game's graphics as I suppose it's because I grew up in the age of Intellivision, Atari, and early Nintendo, but I can say I was very impressed with the amount of detail that went into this game. Instead of random players on the sidelines, you have actual players off of your roster cheering or getting frustrated on the sidelines, as apposed to something that always aggrivated me about Madden football, which was the random no name players that were placed on the sidelines. Players make great realistic facial expressions, jerseys get dirty later into the game, the field gets mighty torn up into the forth quarter, and weather effects are outstanding.

The Crib is just stupid. Sorry, but that's all I have to say about that.

Anyway, there is so much to this game it really is insane as to what the price is. However, if ESPN Videogames really wanted to off Madden as the superior football franchise this definately could be the way to do it if nothing else impresses you about this game. All in all, for $20 and the amount of stuff that's jam packed into this game makes it a great buy. Is 2K5 better than Madden? As apposed to Madden 2004 I think so. We'll just have to wait and see about Madden 2005.

ESPN NFL 2K5 is an amazing game at a low price. It is a better game than madden 2006! And it is cheaper! What more do you want?
2K5 has amazing graphics and phisics that are more realistic than Madden 2005 and 2006. In madden 2006 and 2005 you can throw an 80 yard touchdown throw with any team at any time. In 2K5 it is more realistic, wear most of the huge hailmary passes are deflected or intercepted. The controls and gameplay are very smooth and easy to handle in NFL 2K5. Madden 2006's controls are hard to remember. The gameplay for madden 2006 is choppy and the replays only show part of the play. In NFL 2K5, the replays are smoothe, and the gameplay is superb.If u want a good game, get this one.

I knew I was going to buy this game the instant I heard the price. $19.99 is a great buy and gives you a great NFL experience.

After owning nothing but EA sports titles, I found the game play on ESPN to be similar to that of Madden. A lot has to do on how you position the slider bars. Defense is still dificult at times and the extreme move button is hard to utilize. On offense, the game play is fun. The running game at times get shut down, but I've broken some long runs. At times, the receivers won't catch a thing.

The game has an incredible amount of features. There are so many items that I haven't had time to get into yet. The franchise mode is fun yet the offseason free agent period and draft are hard to understand because there is no manual or on-screen explanation.

The VIP room is a fun addition to the game as well.

If price is a criteria for you, then definitely pick up this game. I'd buy it even if you can afford Madden. It is a fun NFL game.

At $19.99, ESPN 2k5 is probably the best football per dollar you'll find this year for Playstation 2. The gameplay is great, I personally think the addition of the charge-up meter for moves is great. Unlike what some reviewers might lead you to believe, you don't HAVE to charge-up to do a spin-move, juke, stiff arm, etc., it just raises the chance of the move being more successful.

The game also comes with a nice football dictionary and guide in-game. The in-game handbook teaches football newbies the strength and weaknesses of all the formations, and explains all the complex football terms that you might PRETEND to know in front of your friends. This lets players who might not be experts of the game choose plays more successfully, especially on defense. In addition, for the first time I've ever seen in a football game, the game allows the defense to see what kind of formation the offense puts up before they choose their play. This is invaluable, because after all, that's how defense is played. And if you're too lazy to read the handbook or choose your plays, there's a (usually) very intelligent "Coach's Pick" that lets the computer suggest a play for you. Great stuff.

However, the game itself does have some significant drawbacks. For one, the computer's clock management at the end of the first half is suspect. They simply do not run the two minute offense at the last two minutes of the half, and they don't run out the clock either. I've seen them run running plays with more than 60 yards to the end zone with :02 left in the half. And the "Coach's Pick" recommended that I go with a more standard defensive formation, as opposed to the more conventional prevent defense in that situation.
I've also noticed that for some reason, short east-west passes are freakishly difficult to connect on. Not only is the quaterback's accuracy way off, but the reciever can't catch the ball!

All in all, a great package. The presentation is great, the game is still fun, and most importantly, it's a great value.

Alright, let me start with the complaints about not having autosave for this game. If you purchase/have purchased the Hard Drive for PS2 then this game will acknowledge that fact and, get this AUTOMATICALLY save your files there. The only exception is the Franchise which you must save every time you quit. Another cool feature you can utilize is your jukebox. You can download music from your favorite cd's right onto your Hard Drive and then play them back in the game, pretty sweet.

Now, back up in the list of reviews someone asked about roster accuracy and Ricky Williams. To you, I ask one question, we found out Ricky was retiring what, two weeks ago at best right? The game came out last week? Do the math man, of course he is on the game. That's like asking "is Eddie George playing for the Cowboys?" Of course not, these developments arose AFTER the game went into production. As for coming out at a higher price later on, I don't forsee that happening but it could I suppose.

The only qualms that I have with this game are the fact that every so often, the sound will start skipping and in the middle of kicking off after a touchdown, I am still hearing about the touchdown. Also, every so often the game will freeze for about twenty seconds or so.

To address the people who say this is a "features" game and not realistic, I have to ask if you have even attempted to play in First-Person mode? What is more realistic than that? Playing in this mode, you can't see the whole field, you can't pick the defense just by looking and, unless you look around while running, you WILL get blindsided. This feature makes this game quite possibly the MOST realistic of all the games so far. Plus, can you train you players week-by-week in Madden? Nope.

At the end of your week, try hitting select to watch highlights from all of the other games, including yours on Sportscenter, this is a phenomenal feature and really adds to the realistic, ESPN feel of the game overall. They could have jazzed up what Chris Berman says when you start the game so that it is more than say, "Falcons.....Jaguars......NOW" but hey, it isn't THAT bad.

Simply put, this is a 50 dollar game at less than half the price and if you don't drop the money for this one, you are REALLY missing out on a steal.

ESPN NFL 2K5 is AWESOME!!!!!! It has unbelievable graphics and the Crib is cool too. I can't believe anyone would like Madden better than ESPN. They need to get their heads examined. IT REALLY MAKES ME MAD WHEN PEOPLE SAY MADDEN IS BETTER THAN ESPN. And what really made me mad was when I heard that EA had bought the NFL licence for 5 years, so ESPN couldn't put out a football game. MADDEN SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NFL2K5 is without a shadow of a doubt the greatest football game ever made as of the year it was released (2004). It's absolute shame that the NFL decided to go with EA, for all purposes killing the NFL2K series.

The only downside that this game has is special teams returns are a little too hard, but aside from that I have no complaints about this game and for $20 I don't know if I have ever heard of a better deal in video game history. If you like football and the NFL it is IMPOSSIBLE to be disappointed with NFL2K5!!!

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

i'm not going to write a long review like the other people cause they did a great job describing it but i'm just going to say i just got this game and i played 10 hours straight. i could play more but i had to stop to replenish my energy. the franchise mode is REALLY REALLY deep, a little confusing at first but satisfying in the end. mmmmmmm...nfl 2k5...

I wanted a Football game but I couldn't decide which one so I got both. After playing more than 10 games for each title I have to say ESPN NFL 2K5 is better.

ESPN has better presentation. Madden's presentation is lame. The play menu takes up more than half of the bottom TV screen, so you all see is players' top half, their legs looks chopped off. To make things worse, whenever you scroll thru the playbook the action gets paused a bit which makes all action choppy. ESPN has better looking cheerleaders and they do different things. Madden's cheerleaders have only one look type and she is ugly and has Bugs Bunny teeth and its the same sorry ass scene everytime. Madden's game intro always show players with their helmets on during pre-game exercise, ESPN players have face and hair!! ESPN's replay engine is better too, it shows the entire play, unlike Madden's which shows pieces of play.

Graphically ESPN is better. You can see vent holes on players' jersey. Madden's stadium/background graphic is a bit more clean, for example the banners and jumbotrons look sharper but this is because Madden's camera engine has NO side and iso views. ESPN has side and iso views, so its understandable that the stadium/background graphic is lesser, but just a bit if any. ESPN's animation is smooth. In Madden 2005 the animation is often choppy. Especially in demo mode.

Both games are not perfect. NO regular season mode for both....

Gameplaywise Madden is very arcadey, it kinda plays like Madden on Genesis. On offense you can zip your pass for completion almost everytime in any situation, even into the mass pile of players at the line of scrimmage. You can basically complete your pass to anyone anytime. ESPN's gameplay is more simulation and realistic(could be a bit more arcadey though....), you can't zip your pass like Madden else it will be incomplete or intercepted. You have to read the player's route and wait for the right time to pass. In Madden, quarterbacks pass to the receiver; In ESPN, quarterbacks pass to "the spot" of the route. Running game in Madden is horrible, you get tackled when you get near opposing players. Madden's running game feels like flag football. The running game in Madden just simply don't work that well. ESPN's running game is much better and realistic, you can bump off, spin, and power your way thru other players. Overall ESPN's passing and running game has good balance and both can and will be used in games. In Madden the passing game dwarfs the glitched running game.

Another thing I noticed is that ESPN has more player pictures! Roethlisberger and Eli Manning got pics in ESPN but none in Madden.

I purchased Madden 2005 because of the price drop. I was not impressed with Madden so I purchased NFL 2K5 for $20 the same night(even after so many months since its release). Im glad that I tried ESPN 2k5, it is better than Madden 2005. I will be returning my Madden 2005 tommorrow.