ESPN NFL 2K5 for $20!!!

[Dublin Mike]

Now, I'm not saying this game is gonna be better than Madden, but it looks great, and I have heard a couple of great reviews about it. And here is the best part. It is being released tomorrow..... FOR 20 FRIGGIN DOLLARS!!!! :eek:

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/243430.asp

And that price isnt limited to online orders. The local game shop here says they will sell it for the same price.

Even if it sucks, its not like Im out a huge amount of dough.

[da12ken]

Sounds pretty good on paper.

[Dublin Mike]

Wow. WOW! Graphic wise, this game is great. The presentation is smooth, and you feel just like you are watching an ESPN game. It even has Suzie Kolber on the sidelines.

The controls take a little getting used to, especially on defense, but once you have them mastered, its smooth sailing.

For $20, this game is a steal. Hell, id consider buying it if it were $50.

[MountaineerDave]

How's the franchise mode, Mike? I'm down on spending $50 on a video game right now, but know I can't live and breathe without something resembling the correct rosters on my teams, at least the first year...

Dave

[Dublin Mike]

Dave, franchise mode is nice. Contract negotiations are ten times better than Madden. I havent made it to the end of the season yet, but from what i hear, the draft experience beats Madden as well. Hopefully i can update you in a couple of days.

One other thing about season and franchise mode. You actually coach your team through the week, be it practice to watching film to rehabbing injuries. This game has so many different options, it'll blow you away.

[MountaineerDave]

That sounds rockin'!

Only trouble with draft, though, is that you then have to go out and buy ESPN College Gameday 2k5, which is not $20. Is it? Actually... come to think of it, I haven't heard anything about ESPN NCAA Football 2K5. Is there one?

Dave

[Heathen]

What about a PC version :(

[Dublin Mike]

Sorry Heathen, to my knowledge there isnt a PC ver of the game.

Dave, i know sega used to do a NCAA game, but i havent heard a peep about this years game

[Tesh15]

ya now all new sega espn games will be $20 except for the upcoming espn college basketball 2k5

[MountaineerDave]

So... quite by surprise, my local Blockbuster had a copy of ESPN NFL 2K5 available when I was there yesterday, so I grabbed a rental.

I'm torn. The bodies are kinda wierd, I think. Maddox was the same size as Gerald Warren...
Otherwise, very cool. Steelers whupped up on the Brownies, 24-0 cold. No manual, no trying anything out. Just the game imitating life: Jeff Garcia sucking ass. I mean, arse. Whatever. He sucks as Video Garcia almost as much as he sucks in life.

I like it, but I'll have to try Madden before I decide which direction to go for my NFL fix. (I rented NCAA 2005 at the same time, fell in love, looking for $50...)

Dave

[Dublin Mike]

Dave, I still went out and bought Madden yesterday. The graphics have been tweaked a bit, but its almost the same as last year. Before the end of the day, i had jumped back on NCAA.

[MountaineerDave]

Hmmm... well, I'm gonna rent Madden this week to try to decide. I like the ESPN NFL 2K5 negotiations, but I haven't gotten to the draft yet. I do kinda like the idea of prepping the team before each game, although I could see spending way more time setting the prep schedules prior to every game than I'd spend playing the game.

On NCAA--I REALLY like the recruiting system better this year. I love that you can scout, and then spend $$ recruiting kids that scouted out well. A lot more realistic. I also love the position changing piece...sometimes you have more OLBs who could play SS, or a CB who's better as a S, whatever... like I said, looking for $50.

Dave

[Dublin Mike]

I love recruiting the athletes Dave. I found a guy who was 78 overall, but when i switched him to OLB, he was an 84. He started his freshman year.

Two things in Madden that i like. The fact players can get better as the season progresses, and coach mode. You call the plays and watch what happens.

IMO, it seems as if Madden wasn't really too worried about improving the game too much, almost as if they thought they would have no competition this year.

[Alex]

I bought Madden yesterday. Great game IMO. I'm nitpicky when it comes to the rosters and had heard ESPN had depth chart problems. The Madden graphics could be a little better but are pretty decent anyway.

I've had NCAA Football for about 3 weeks now. I'm going into my fourth season in my Penn State dynasty. Penn State now runs the option. I benched Anthony Morelli in favor of a faster QB to run my option attack. Morelli promptly transferred to Ball State at the end of the season.

[MountaineerDave]

Interesting, Alex. I found the ESPN rosters nicer because they
1. Allowed greater flexibility regarding positions: a team can take the field with only 2 of the required 3 OLBs, whereas Madden forces that you spend $$ on a lame-o you'll likely want to cut later.
2. For the Steelers, were a little more realistic regarding who will make the 53-man roster. They had St Pierre (he's missing from Madden 2005), Max Shneck (the long snapper, and nothing else), Matt Kranchik (rookie late round draft pick) but left off the likes of Dante Brown (who may make the team, but will rarely be on the 45-man team for Sundays).

I did experience some trouble with the depth chart, however. Seemed to get reset every couple times that I turned on the game. In fact, problems with the DC caused me to decide I couldn't in good conscience buy it, knowing it'd be a problem for me time and again.

Little has changed in Madden 2005, but I'm going with it out of sheer familiarity. I can pick it up without a manual and move through it with relative ease. That counts for something, I think. And that the interface has been so tightly designed to be just like NCAA is a boon, imo, for both games.

Dave

[Dublin Mike]

Originally posted by MountaineerDave
Interesting, Alex. I found the ESPN rosters nicer because they
1. Allowed greater flexibility regarding positions: a team can take the field with only 2 of the required 3 OLBs, whereas Madden forces that you spend $$ on a lame-o you'll likely want to cut later.
2. For the Steelers, were a little more realistic regarding who will make the 53-man roster. They had St Pierre (he's missing from Madden 2005), Max Shneck (the long snapper, and nothing else), Matt Kranchik (rookie late round draft pick) but left off the likes of Dante Brown (who may make the team, but will rarely be on the 45-man team for Sundays).

I did experience some trouble with the depth chart, however. Seemed to get reset every couple times that I turned on the game. In fact, problems with the DC caused me to decide I couldn't in good conscience buy it, knowing it'd be a problem for me time and again.

Little has changed in Madden 2005, but I'm going with it out of sheer familiarity. I can pick it up without a manual and move through it with relative ease. That counts for something, I think. And that the interface has been so tightly designed to be just like NCAA is a boon, imo, for both games.

Dave

I agree completely Dave, which is why i am trading Madden 2005 back in today for something else :eek: . The 2 games are very similar gameplay wise, but i like the NCAA off season much MUCH better.