ESPN NFL 2K5

"Worth every penny- and you only need 2000, not 5000!"

I've been a longtime Madden player, and I'd never tried ESPN's 2k series before. After putting the game in and playing for several days, all I can say is WOW. Madden is still gonna sell like hotcakes, but this may be the first year that it's not actually the better game.

GAMEPLAY- 9/10
The gameplay is the meat and potatoes, after all, and this is where 2k5 really shines. Initially, the game has a very arcade feel- you're able to "charge up" special moves, like jukes, spins, and charges. However, this is actually rooted in reality. The ballcarrier runs slower if he decides to charge up a move, but that move will hit with more power. Therefore, you have a choice when rushing-speed burst to the hole, or hit it slower, but with enough power to break a tackle? This system, combined with the incredible variety of tackling animations that actually play a purpose, make 2k5 feel like the best implementation of a rushing game to date. On All-Pro mode (which is technically normal difficulty) you will NOT get a 6-7 yrd gain on every play- you'll get 2 or less, and have to fight for more, just like the real NFL.

When passing, 2k5 has a Max Passing mode, where you can control what shoulder to (attempt) to throw to, etc. No more 15 yrd dropbacks like in Madden- if you throw while moving, the result, 90% of the time, is a poor pass. Again, realistic. DB's are VERY good at coverage- if you don't know how to read man/zone coverage, or how to audible out of a blitz, you will get killed until you learn.

The only reason I don't give gameplay a 10 is because of a few game glitches (that occur very rarely) and because I hate the kick meter. I think Madden's is a little better.

GRAPHICS: 9/10
Compared to Madden, ESPN has better graphics, no contest. As mentioned above, not only do the players look better, but they feel better- you actually have weight and momentum now, and you can actually see that reflected in your running. Lots of extra graphical touches, such as shots of fans tailgating in the parking lot (decked out in your team colors), the ESPN studio, and more. One of the game's best features occurs every week of franchise play- a SportsCenter broadcast, complete with highlights from your team. This is where the Xbox version shines- they get full video replays during SC, while PS2 owners get snapshots. Still, it works very well.

SOUND/COMMENTARY: 7/10
The on-field sound effects are excellent. Again, there's all sorts of small touches, from player-specific taunts, to catcalls by the fans when the home team is playing poorly. (After going up by 21 at one stadium, I heard fans yelling, "This is what we pay you for?" It was great.) While the commentary can get very repetitive, that's true in every sports game, so I don't fault that. The game can't match Madden's soundtrack, though- prepare to hear the ESPN theme a lot.

EXTRAS: 9/10
2k5 has all the requisite extras (create-a-team, create-a-player, create-a-playbook, franchise mode, etc.) plus more. The first person football mode from 2k4 is still present, and while it's still tough to play multiple games in, it's worth playing one game in, just for the effect. While the franchise mode is not as deep as madden's in many respects(no owner mode), it does introduce a very robust weekly prep feature, where you can train your team for each upcoming matchup. 25 situations from NFL history are also included, such as The Drive, The Catch, etc., and you can try to reproduce (or change) history.
Finally, there is the Crib. The counterpart to Madden Cards, instead of getting tokens that let you buy cards, you get tokens that let you decorate your apartment with furniture, team paraphernalia, etc. Any trophies that you earn are stored here as well. You also have a phone in your Crib, that will be called by B-list celebs challenging you to a game. (Which is somewhat annoying, but can be turned off. Also, there's only 5, and once you beat them all, they don't call anymore.) Finally, the most robust feature of 2k5 is the new VIP system. A VIP profile is saved for every player, and the profile accurately reflects his playing tendencies. For example, if you play against a friend who uses outside runs a lot, if you play his VIP profile later, that team will do many outside runs as well. It's kind of eerie, but very cool.

ONLINE: NR
I don't have a broadband adapter, so I can't rate this. From what I hear, you have the ability to form leagues, which everyone loves, but it's tough to chat in the lobby.

REPLAY VALUE: 9/10
While some find the Crib annoying, I definitely prefer it to Madden Cards. I feel a more tangible sense of progression in the game from seeing my apartment fill up, rather than watching the number of cards I have increase.

OVERALL: 9/10
While the Madden vs. ESPN argument will be debated for a long time, they are both excellent football games. However, one costs $20, and one costs $50. IMHO, the games are going to be close enough that I'd rather start my 2005 football early with ESPN, rather tan wait till August and pay more for a game that (probably) will not have any majro improvements. If nothing else, buy it for a fix now, then trade it for Madden. :) You might end up missing it though...

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/04