Madden NFL 2005

"If EA dropped its price down, there wouldn't be any discussion..."

I honestly think that if EA had dropped its price down even ten dollars, then there wouldn't be much discussion about which is the better football game. People seem to always take the $20 pricetag of ESPN NFL 2K5 and worship it, but there's a reason that it's so cheap. ESPN couldn't compete with Madden this year, so they figured they'd lower the price to get at least some Madden fans to buy it; sending out a message that they would be a good competitor in the future. When you play Madden NFL 2005, though, it's tough to imagine ESPN raising their game that much to compete.

Graphics (8/10):
I still must say, after playing ESPN NFL 2005, that ESPN does have better graphics. Don't get me wrong though; both games have great graphics, and that would explain why I give Madden such a high score. The graphics are very smooth and the major flaw that I still see are the field graphics. It's just a little too plain. As far as the player models go, I think they're just as good as ESPN's.

Sound (9/10):
The sound was one of the best things about the game. ESPN seemed to just throw theirs together at the last minute, whereas Madden seemed to focus a little more on it. I still turn off all of the music tracks because I don't expect to listen to music while I'm playing; however, the commentary is still very good. There are a few flaws that EA still hasn't worked out, but it was a drastic improvement from last year when Madden and Michaels would make comments that made absolutely no sense. With that said, the commentary does kind of get old and very repetitive, but the new EA Sports Radio boosts the score. It's such a refreshing new addition to the sound.

Presentation (8/10):
As far as presentation goes, I believe that Madden delivers just as well as ESPN. Everyone keeps saying that ESPN is better in the graphics and presentation departments, however, I see absolutely no reason as to how ESPN is superior in presentation.

Extras (9/10):
The additions are just enough to keep you hooked on the game. First, there's the addition of the EA Sports Radio Show with Tony Bruno (which I really do enjoy listening to while I'm progressing through my franchise). Second, there's the addition of "Rushing Attack," a game similar to the mini-camp mode but where you and the computer face off (I believe you can play it online with friends too). Finally, there's Storyline Central which was a great addition to Madden. It's a great feature, but at the same time, some of the headlines do kind of get old and I expected a little more. There are still some more extras, however, for the most part, those are the top ones. The offseason menu is basically the same as last year's, however, you (and CPU teams) can sign restricted free agents.

Gameplay (10/10):
Once again, this is the area where Madden delivers. The emphasis on defense was a brilliant move by EA, as not only can you deliver big hits to change the focus of the game (with the addition of the hit stick), but minor hits will be simply shrugged off by running backs or wide receivers. The animation of the game is absolutely beautiful, and makes the game so enjoyable. No longer do you just drop awkwardly when someone dives for that tackle, as it plays just like a real football game. The AI has been revamped, and you no longer give up/obtain thousands of passing yards in one game.

Overall (9/10):
I believe that EA did a great job in improving Madden this year, and keeping it at the top of the football-simulation chain. Unfortunately, for some reason, many people have completely misjudged Madden and accused it of being the same game. Even if it were to be the same basic game (which it isn't), it still sits atop the leaderboard of video game football. Please <u>at least</u> rent Madden, and I would strongly suggest buying it. As for ESPN, it took a great leap in trying to become a serious competitor, but I believe the time will have to wait.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/17/04