Customer Reviews

ESPN NFL Football

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

anyone that thinks that madden 2004 is better is incorrect... this game has every option imaginable, from edit players rating to their appearances. Also overall game play is better than madden. madden who i was a big fan of seems to be cheapening their games with repetitous screens, terrible instant replay, features the screen is cropped out...
Also it's madden name is all over the box and you barely hear him at all duringthe game, you get the whining Al Michaels...ESPN... the way the guys look, run, break tackles, gang tackle looks and feels like real football. i also think madden has become to complicated to play with all of these multiple button manuevers, ESPN is much simpler to operate. Also the first person perspective is tremendous and well done. Brings you right into the action, like never before, without the bumps and bruises.

Another game I'd recommedn is NFL fever 2004 for X-box they have made some improvments from last years version... but I still think Espn FOOTBALL is the best on the market!!!!

After reading several reviews, I finally decided it was time to go out and get ESPN NFL Football. I am so glad I did. Let me first say that I do like both Madden and ESPN NFL Football. They each have their high points. However, there are just times when I want to do nothing more than play football. Sure it's fun to build stadiums, raise prices on your snacks and stuff, but when I wanna play football, I go to ESPN. The gameplay is just better in my opinion. Play calling is so much easier, the running game is superb, the passing game is on target, and the overall fun factor can't be beat in my mind.

The crib is awesome. It's a great way to motivate you to go for the glory so to speak. When I first got the game, I thought that's nice - I'll never use it though. 4 games of air-hockey later and I am changing my tune.

First person playing, not my cup of tea - but a nice feature. Nothing againt it, I just have a hard time playing much anything other than driving games in first person. I have read several good reviews on this feature.

I like the ability to see the whole field, sideline to sideline. It helps so much with the passing game.

I use this mostly as a two player game, head to head with my son so most of the franchise options and season goodness hasn't been tested by me to the fullest, but from what I can see, this is where Madden will take over top position. But again, I enjoy having an easy game to sit down to, and play football. I guess I am not all that hard core.

ESPN, in my mind - your NFL game is the best out there. Madden is definitely next in line. The rest I found not to be worth the money.

Sega/ESPN vs. EA/Madden, the ultimate debate. Madden's got better graphics, better extras, and better stats. Not to mention you can build your own stadium and even set the price the fans pay for a burger. As a guy who bought his first EA game in 1990, it actually pains me to say it but, ESPN is just the better game. Why? If only EA had spent as much time on the game play as it did at the concession stand. Sega spent their time making a game that has tighter controls, a better running game, and a easier play calling interface then EA's latest installment. Admittedly, it would be nice if you could save mid-game like Madden (a feature that is way overdue) and the first person view is a gimmick, but Sega/ESPN just makes a more playable, enjoyable, and fair game. I say fair because EA's shot at solid IA is the computer picking a run defense if you are going to run and a pass defense if you are going to pass. Despite the down or yardage to go, the computer chooses the right set, in advance, EVERY time. Trust me, if you run on 3rd and 20 out of the shotgun, the computer will play the 4-3. That kind of "cheating" makes Madden VERY frustrating, along with it's nonexistant running game and completely inaccurate kicking system. As far as extras go, ESPN does have fan celebrations including painted fat guys. Sure they are gross but they are also cool and add to the fun of a solid ESPN title. Sorry EA, maybe next year. Bottom line if you want to sell burgers, buy Madden. If you want to play football, choose ESPN.

Ah the long time debate of which game is better, Sega/ESPN or Madden. Well, in my opinion, they are both awesome. Madden is tried and true, if you liked 2003, don't expect anything different from the gameplay, but the extras are huge. Designing stadiums, setting ticket prices, etc. Overall, a good game.
ESPN on the other hand is the same but different. I think gameplay wise the games are very similar, but ESPN allows you to do more running moves, by doing combos and charging up power. While this sounds like an arcade game, it's actually very realistic. They have a cribs feature for awards, and an awesome First Person mode. Where in my opinion, ESPN takes the cake is in the presentation. You get Chris Berman analyze your game before and at halftime, and at the end. The stat overlays are great and the game graphically looks better.

In the end, you won't be dissappointed with either game, but in my opinion, ESPN Football/Sega 2K4 is the better of the two.

For as long as Madden has been around (going back to the Genesis days), I have religiously bought each year and enjoyed them very much. The last few years have made even greater strides in pushing the envelope. As 2004 came out, I trotted over to the store and picked it up anticipating another great edition. However, after playing it, I quickly became disappointed. Not because of the gameplay, which has always been stellar or the new features, but the overall presentation and play-by-play. EA has never really gotten that TV presentation down and overall the play-by-play and presentation has been rehashed the last 3 years. How many times over the past 3 seasons of this game has Madden said in the game after you caught the ball for a first down, "..and it's a good thing he caught it, you don't wanna drop those passes for first downs." Stale.

Now enter ESPN NFL, from the get go, this game breaths ESPN Sunday Night Football (minus the announcers, though both here are pretty convincing), from the overlays, telestrader, replays, accurate intros and memory of plays made earlier in the game and commented on later. Chris Berman is more than just a name here, he accurately, freshly highlights the action during Pre-game, halftime, and NFL Primetime. I won't comment on the stellar gameplay since it's been mentioned enough in these reviews. What hooked me was the overall excitement of feeling like I was playing through an entire day of Sunday football. The crib is great, the franchise mode is adequate, and the numerous subtle nuances you hear during the game and even the PA announcer getting the correct ball carrier and defender's name mentioned after each play, which adds to the realism. Madden has had great gameplay all along, if they would invest more assets now to the presentation, they would be on the same playing field with ESPN. ESPN NFL can only get better. I'm sure next year, they'll have the Sunday Night crew in the booth since Clement and Thorne made it into ESPN NHL this year. Great job Sega, VC, and ESPN!

I was frustrated with Madden, so I went and picked up this game. I wasn't disappointed at all! Gameplay is a well oiled machine, features are great and the fun level is off of the charts its so HIGH! The only aspect that let me down was the way the players looked like when they are running. Their back is straight and they look like they're running in freakin quick sand as they pick their feet up like they're on the Stair-Mater, or maybe it's just me. In my opinion this game is, dare I say, BETTER than Madden! I might be pushing it but would us ESPN/Sega fans enjoy an ESPN College Football game?

First off let me state that I have played Madden for many years and I always like to try different football games as they come available. Just because a game has Madden on the cover does not mean that this is the only game in the market worth playing. I have played Madden this year an honestly it just was not fun. Now on the otherhand ESPN is the jewel of the football sims on the market right now for the ps2. The ESPN license is well integrated into the gameplay from beginning of the game to half time reports. They game shows you halftime highlights of your game with the annoucers using names and everything. It truly gives you a feel that you are watching a live report. The challenge system works very well and overturns calls that it should and lets plays stand when they should stand. This seems like a difficult thing to implement because you are telling the game to actually cheat on those close calls. I have to say that it works wonderfully and really adds to the gameplay. The gameplay is where this game really shines from running the ball, to the pass catching, to the audible play calling . I didn't even mention the first person mode which works very well also. It gives you a new look and feel to the game. Catching the ball in this mode takes some getting use to but after practice it becomes easier. Lastly, the crib is a really cool idea especially with the unlockable mini games. It just adds to the game. In conclusion, I am not saying that Madden is a bad game. ESPN is just better in terms of gameplay, presentation and fun factor.

Let me first begin by saying that I have played both football games. I bought Madden the first day it came out and was hooked out. Owner mode turned me into Jerry Jones. But about 4 months later, I found ESPN foootball for a measly $8. I called up my best friend and we got hooked. I love the openning to sequence with an aerial view of the stadium, watching the players get pumped, and the commentary. My jaw dropped.

Gameplay - The best I have ever seen. Although on the pro level it is too easy to break big runs, playing on the all-pro level, it feels a lot better. Playing with Ricky Williams, I continously pounded for that 3 yards and cloud of dust. I also loved the feeling when you tire out a defense and watch Ricky explode into the secondary for a 20+ yard run. However, there have been many games were I have just been straight up stuffed. My last game against the Pats got Ricky 23 carries for 67 yards. The passing game takes a little getting used too but it works. I have to admit that Madden's passing mechanics are a little better. The hook and curl routes were my forte in madden, but they don't seem to work as well in ESPN. As far as defense is concerned, the DBs come to play. Playing with the fins, I loved playing bump and run because Madison and Surtain just shut recievers down. Sacks and DL moves are more realistic and frequent. And I love watching the tackling animations and the linebacker pursuit is just a beautiful thing.

Commentary + Sound + Graphics - All top notch. Even the fans and thier painted faces.

Presentation - No one is better then ESPN. You can freakin watch NFL Primetime for Christ's sake. Primetime is my all time favorite show and to be able to watch it in May brought tears to my eyes. And I love the halftime show, Chris Berman rocks!!!!!!! The Crib is cool to.

Few negatives -

Franchise mode - Not as deep as Madden but it will suffice. I love being able to break alltime records in Madden as hard as it was. I also liked being able to see carrer stats. Although, ESPN does keep track of carrer stats of players, you are only lucky to see them in a game. Also the salary cap is really annoying. In Madden if I have 7 million left in the cap room, don't take 3 million away if I sign Antonio Bryant for a 5yr 3 million dollar contract.

I hope ESPN makes the leaps and bounds Madden made with the Franchise mode, because if they do, Madden is going to be in hot water. If ESPN develops the franchise mode where you can track individual players carrer stats and make it as deep as maddens, then ESPN will have created the ultimate football experiance. But I do have two wishes:

1. Harder Hits - I want to punish recievers with Rodney Harrison for running routes through the middle.

2. Mel Kipper - I want him to analyze some of the rookies. Put a face on some of these rookies so I don't feel like I am drafting a name.

I own both EA Sports College Football 2003 & ESPN NFL Football 2003 (Sega's 2K-series). In fact, I've been purchasing these two titles for the last three years. The reason I'm pointing this out is because I know what both EA and ESPN have to offer, so I can offer a fair assessment. The main thing I want to point out is that BOTH EA & ESPN offer top notch games...period. There is a lot of entertainment, depth, and value in the games that these companies produce.

In all honesty, the game I play more often is EA College Football and the simple reason why is because I prefer college football over the NFL. The game really captures the atmosphere of the college game and does so quite well. But...if I had to pick the better video game, I'd give a slight edge to ESPN.

I feel the ESPN A.I. is more accurate and challenging. I can set the difficulty settings the same on both games and it takes a lot more thinking to win consistently vs. ESPN than it does against EA. The ESPN A.I does a much better job of using all the plays in it's play book and really mixes things up quite well. EA seems to re-cycle through a smaller portion of it's playbook. And more often than not I've put away my EA opponent by halftime and simply end up going through the motions for the remaining quarters. In addition, ESPN does a better job of picking up your tendencies and will forcing you to adjust as necessary.

I'm not going to break down all the other nuances of these games, as that would take far to long. Basically, some people prefer one titles gameplay over the others. That doesn't mean the other game is automatically crap, like many players out there seem to infer. I suggest you do your own research and form your own opinions. Rent Madden & ESPN NFL and play them equal amounts and then purchase the game you like best. This is the only way you'll end up purchasing the game that suits you best.

Played Madden and every year it is the same way: Defense blows! Offensively Madden is a bit more realistic except that throwing the ball down field isn't all that great but the slants work wonders. Running the ball here isn't too hard either if you follow your blockers. Graphics? Well it's madden and the graphics don't change very much. Now as for ESPN football: Very cool. Throwing the ball takes some getting used to but still good, however running the ball is way too easy. Ricky Williams for 319 yard on Pro level and averaging 200+ on all pro level. Not very realistic. Defensively though: Great!! Qb's get sacked more than once every fifteen games (unlike last years) and pass defense is a lot better. Over all this game is like a fine wine getting better with age. Much love to ESPN and Chris Bermans ROCKS!!!