ESPN Football 2k5 and the Skins

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:10 pm

I did it. I long Maddenite went out and purchased ESPN Football 2k5. Heck, it was only $20 and a heck of a purchase for that price. It definately can compete with Madden but I'll tell you right away that ESPN CANNOT compete with Maddens gameplay.

Graphics: I purchased this on the XBOX. I must say that the graphics are INSANE!!! Most of the time... When you're actually in control of the game it doesn't look too impressive. But during the cutscens the graphics and animations surpass Madden. I dont know how to describe it, you'll just have to rent it on your own. A few examples are when I ran the ball with C. Portis, he was wrapped up and looked like he was going down, when he was falling he gave an extra kick and stretched his arm out for a 1st down!! My goodness Im getting excited just thinking about it! The only animation that looks funky is the running animation, I swear they look like they have poles shoved up theirs butts. But other than that, its incredible.

Controls: I like the controls, sometimes. Sometimes you feel like you're playing on the moon, the ball flight mechanics seem a little floaty at times. I dont feel like the ball has any weight to it. I can't really comment on this too much because I haven't played it enough to give an honest opinion. I do feel that they have the weight and momentum of the players down pact. You can't throw off of your back foot and put the ball where it needed to be, you can't run full speed and cut on a dime, and then back again if you're Jamal Lewis.

Gameplay: Two words, no control. I feel like Im not in control of the defense, even though I am. Maybe I just need to get used to the game but the AI will do everything for you. Also the running game has been improved, I remeber that you used to be able to stiff arm and juke your away around R. Lewis with L. Betts all day long. Thats no longer the case. Though once again the AI goes bannanas sometimes and you'll break some tackles that look cool as hell but you know you didn't do all of that on your own. I've had Portis do some wild stuff on here already. I turned the game up to its 2nd to hardest setting and was murdering the Eagles.

Extras: You can add your own music into the game!!! That completly does it for me. Its just a fun feature, you can any song you want that you have saved to your XBOX played at anytime during the game. Whenever I score a TD "The takeover" by Jay-Z plays. My intro is a rock song! It just brings your personality to the game and to your opponent who's sitting beside you.

Also the game keeps a record of your tendencies and applies it to the AI so your friends can take it home and practice against "you". My friends are going to need that, I wish Madden had that. Too slick.

Presentation: No competition ESPN owns Madden completely. The ESPN liscense is really shown off and in a great way, never in Madden do I look at the cutscenes, in ESPN I can't seem to convince myself to skip them.

In the end I have to say ESPN overall is the better game compared to last years Madden and the additions that are supposed to be added. That is to be taken with a grain of salt being that Madden hasn't been released yet. But I know that Madden wont have a few of these features and hopefully they'll be released for 2006. What it boils down to is the gameplay and Madden IMO is better and more realistic. All the pretty graphics can't substitute for inferior gameplay. ESPN isn't bad, but its no Madden and I can't convert. But if EA continues to not put any effort in like Visual Concepts has with ESPN then I will start to wander away.

It was interesting how the Skins are rated and play in ESPN 2005. It seems the developers think the same way as we do.

Brunell is just a bit better than Ramsey.
Portis is a beast and cannot be stopped, lol.
Coles is a beast and burned Newman frequently!
Gardener, can you believe he actually catches passes in this game?
Jacobs, dont try to cover him with a nickel or dimeback, he'll kill em.
McCants hands of gold.
O-line: Crushes the opponents
D-line: Not anything special but they hold their own and make the tackles
LB's: They bring all kinds of pressure and are a force
CB's: Springs isn't super fast but is a decent corner and a solid tackler. Smoot is on his way to stardom according to this game!
S: Taylor is crazy in this game, never loses a tackle, brings the pressure, and shut down TO's lame tail. Bowen, caught an INT, crushin tackler, mediocre in coverage.

This game has it down pact, our team is a monster in the game and out!

tsaler · Post by **tsaler** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:14 pm

I got it this morning too. The only thing I don't like about it is that some of the players have the wrong position (Sean Taylor is a FS, not a SS -- Matt Bowen is a SS, not a FS). I think it would be nice, too, if you could play LBs at DE or FB at HB. Oh well.

Otherwise, I love the game. I was a Madden man too, but not anymore.

By the way, the first game I tried to play was with the Redskins, but I was awful, and threw 3 INTs with Brunell. So, I played two games as the Chargers (big wins over the Jets and the Saints) to get a better grasp on the game. Now with my experience using Tomlinson and that garbage-pail Drew Brees, I should be able to do better with Portis and Brunell.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:18 pm

Wow, what a wrap up.

NC43Hog · Post by **NC43Hog** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:19 pm

$20???? Is that the street price or a special? Where did you get it?

ok that was my last question. :lol:

hatsOFF2gibbs · Post by **hatsOFF2gibbs** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:24 pm

I'm confused...I've never had an ESPN game. When Madden 05 comes out, its going to have last year's roster right? This ESPN game has updated rosters with Brunell, Taylor, Portis and all??? Also, is it also $20 for Playstation 2 games?
If the rosters are updated and its only $20...I'll run to the store and get me a copy. :feedback;

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:27 pm

Moving to the Lounge... should have before... my apologies.

Jeremy81 · Post by **Jeremy81** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:29 pm

can you play it online? and it comes in playstation 2 also right?

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:29 pm

O!! And "The Key", I know why you don't like Madden, its because the wretched Cowgirls are ranked worse than the Skins! HAHAHHAHAHAHHA :lol:

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:38 pm

Wow, what a wrap up.

Thanks Boss!

I'm confused...I've never had an ESPN game. When Madden 05 comes out, its going to have last year's roster right? This ESPN game has updated rosters with Brunell, Taylor, Portis and all??? Also, is it also $20 for Playstation 2 games?
If the rosters are updated and its only $20...I'll run to the store and get me a copy.

Im getting Madden also. Madden and ESPN will have the most up to date roster possible for this time of year. Yes, it is $20 for all platforms its being released for. Definately worth it, but if you like Madden I say pick it up too and then take one of em back or keep em.

can you play it online? and it comes in playstation 2 also right?

Yes to both questions.

$20???? Is that the street price or a special? Where did you get it?

ok that was my last question.

Regular price is $20. They did that to compete with Madden, they need to steal some of their fans. They sparked my interest ONLY because it was $20, if it was $50 I would have jsut waited. They made a good effort, but Im still sticking with Madden, it just plays better.

Brandon777 · Post by **Brandon777** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:33 pm

Thanks for the info Luva Luva. I will check it out.

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:39 pm

Great review CLL...

I expect to be seeing alot of this, this season....

The tough thing is does he go left or right.... decisions... decisions... I think i'd like him to go right just so he can blow kisses to Roy on his way by....

here's another review of the game:
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/esp ... eview.html

tsaler · Post by **tsaler** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:41 pm

I played against the Cowboys today as the Redskins, my fourth game playing ESPN NFL 2K5, and Portis rushed for 193 yards. It was good.

NC43Hog · Post by **NC43Hog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:47 am

I'll be picking up a copy today, then will get Madden when it comes out in August. Might as well have both, especially if ESPN is pretty cheap.

Thanks for the review CLL

redskincity · Post by **redskincity** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:13 am

The ESPN is a good game, but you dont have the freedom to navigate as you would with Madden. I cant switch player positions. You should atleast be able to swap positions, if they are close in duties. There are a few other quirks that upseted me but I forgot or got use to them.

I purchased mine for the BOX and the graphics are very nice and detailed. I mean you can tell the deffrence between afternoon and late afternoon games.

The animations are also nice. The tackles look amazing and the catches are crisp.

The only drawback that I do remember is the playbook. The passing plays seemed to close on routes. The plays will take some getting use to. The running plays are good.

I will and will always love Madden. The feel of Madden to me is more simulation. 2k5 is a very nice game and for only 20 bucks you are getting a real bargain :wink:

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:40 am

Day 2 Impression:

Im returning the game. This game is just too much of a curve in regression for me to keep playing it. I've just been playing it to look at it. I'll be happy when Madden comes out, maybe I'll sell it on EBAY. GameStop will prolly try to give me $10 for it.

NC43Hog · Post by **NC43Hog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:53 am

I felt the same way after playing Madden, (have only played ESPN), so I should be able to jump right in. Plus, I suck anyway - most 10 year olds could probably kick my butt. :cry:

NC43Hog · Post by **NC43Hog** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:42 pm

Bought it today and still suck at it. I guess you have to play it to get better - ohhhhhh.

:cry:

tsaler · Post by **tsaler** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:56 pm

NC43Hog wrote:Bought it today and still suck at it. I guess you have to play it to get better - ohhhhhh.

Haha!

I just played Week 1 of the Redskins' season against the Buccaneers in light rain. I used last year's weather and so forth on September 12, since I play exhibition games (I have a thing about seasons and franchise modes -- I rarely play them, if ever). 27-0 Redskins. Brunell threw 48% with 2 TDs and 2 INTs, which I was not at all happy about, and Portis ran for I believe about 168 yards. Oh well.

I've only played as three teams in this game (Redskins, Chargers, 49ers) since I got it. Maybe I should play with some other teams to see how they are. I have a lot of trouble passing with Brunell, and I'm starting to wonder whether or not it's partially his fault or whether it's all my fault. I've been blaming myself to date, so maybe I'll check out another team later tonight. Colts maybe? A team with a good quarterback, I guess.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 9:31 am

i am addicted. its not the game that madden is, but its current, and is also fun to play. not to mention 20 bucks

tsaler · Post by **tsaler** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 9:38 am

hailskins666 wrote:i am addicted.

Amen to that, brother.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 10:40 am

hailskins666 wrote:i am addicted. its not the game that madden is, but its current, and is also fun to play. not to mention 20 bucks

Yeah, really. It will be very interesting to see if maybe ESPN can force those EA stars to lower the price just a tad. . .

tsaler · Post by **tsaler** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:20 pm

FanfromAnnapolis wrote:
hailskins666 wrote:i am addicted. its not the game that madden is, but its current, and is also fun to play. not to mention 20 bucks

Yeah, really. It will be very interesting to see if maybe ESPN can force those EA stars to lower the price just a tad. . .

If they lower the price, I may reconsider my decision not to buy Madden 2005.

Waterboy · Post by **Waterboy** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 5:13 am

If the Madden peeps came down even $10, that would rule.

Perhaps ESPN's started a decent trend...

Waterboy