IGN Reviews ESPN 2k5

[Cush]

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/530/530939p1.html

Score: 9.4 / 10

[MTK]

I rented 2K4 this week to try it out and I wasn't all that impressed. There were things that I liked but I just couldn't get a feel for the gameplay. I guess I'm just too used to Madden.

[redrock-skins]

You're right about 2k4. I think 2k5 will be a completely different game.

[SKINSnCANES]

what it comes down to is that I need to have a game with the Skins new roster on it, and this is the first one that I can buy. So im going to have it and play it for atleast two weeks until Madden comes out. I doubt ill play it much longer than that though.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

the more and more I think about it, I think I'm just gonna go with espn2k5 and not even buy madden, unless 2k5 somehow lets me down tremendously. There r just too many kewl as crap games coming out soon and all I personally need is one football title a year. i gotta save my money for fable, halo 2, burnout 3, x-men legends, prince of persia 2, and a few other games. if somehow I get tired of espn2k5 I'll probably just rent madden for a couple weeks, but I don't see that happening from everything I read and seen of 2k5 cuz nothing I've seen or read about madden knocks me off my feet as much as the stuff in 2k5.

[SKINSnCANES]

boooo, dont fall into their trap, thats what they want you to think, that you dont need madden. Frakly that sounds outrageous to me. Id say if anything just get teh collectors edition of madden.

Well, on a more serious note, its going to be really hard to play 2k5. Im so used to the madden game play. it would be awesome if they had a madden mode where the buttons were the same as madden. It would incline a lot more people to try it, IMO.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by SKINSnCANES

boooo, dont fall into their trap, thats what they want you to think, that you dont need madden. Frakly that sounds outrageous to me. Id say if anything just get teh collectors edition of madden.

for the longest time, the trap was buying madden year after year for $50 just for the new rosters, with no improvement in graphics and only tiny tweaks to the gameplay. (sorry, Owner Mode was not worth $50, i wanted to play more realistic football, not do math with hotdogs). this year looks like they are upgrading the graphics a bit more than in the past FOUR years, and added some significant defensive options so it looks like it'll actually be worthwhile this year...

Originally Posted by SKINSnCANES

Well, on a more serious note, its going to be really hard to play 2k5. Im so used to the madden game play. it would be awesome if they had a madden mode where the buttons were the same as madden. It would incline a lot more people to try it, IMO.

you've always been able to switch to madden controls in the 2k series. though bred on madden myself, i've actually done the reverse and switched to the 2k style controls, keeping speed burst on the A (for PS2: X) for both defense AND offense. more consistent that way.

[MTK]

I was getting sucked in to the 2K5 hype for a while, but after renting 2k4 I think I'll be sticking with Madden.

I just couldn't get used to the gameplay, and I think the player models are really crappy compared to Madden. And what's up with the Skins uniforms? They just don't look right at all, the numbers look weird, the facemasks are gray, and the red in the jerseys is just a little off.

[SKINSnCANES]

I thought owner mode was a nice enhancement. They took it to a deeper level this year but it was more than pricing hotdogs. This year with players having emotion about where they want to play will be really cool, expecially since the computer initiates trades now. They fixed so many things that will make playing a franchise realistic and similar to as if they were all real players. Also then trading up in the draft. Madden for a logn time was just a roster update, and I never bought any of those maddens either. But in all reality the roster update is the biggest reason i buy the game,expecially being a skins fan and having a full new roster everyyear. This year should be a great madden though, this competition is great and will make both games so much better.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I just couldn't get used to the gameplay, and I think the player models are really crappy compared to Madden. And what's up with the Skins uniforms? They just don't look right at all, the numbers look weird, the facemasks are gray, and the red in the jerseys is just a little off.

ok good, im glad im not the only one obsessive enough to notice this. they've never been able to get our Burgundy down, it's true. for $20 i'll pick up 2k5 and let you know if they've fixed this. i hope one day the games, Madden or 2k, finally realize that our home uniform is WHITE (!@#$% Schottenheimer...)

here's a 2k tip, never play in default difficulty, play on all-pro straight away. much more strategic and life like. on default, your players break way too many tackles as its tuned for more 'fun' style gameplay and to show off the animations.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SKINSnCANES

I thought owner mode was a nice enhancement. They took it to a deeper level this year but it was more than pricing hotdogs. This year with players having emotion about where they want to play will be really cool, expecially since the computer initiates trades now. They fixed so many things that will make playing a franchise realistic and similar to as if they were all real players. Also then trading up in the draft. Madden for a logn time was just a roster update, and I never bought any of those maddens either. But in all reality the roster update is the biggest reason i buy the game,expecially being a skins fan and having a full new roster everyyear. This year should be a great madden though, this competition is great and will make both games so much better.

I'm really looking forward to how your players won't re-sign just for the money. If your WR isn't seeing enough throws his way he'll look to go elsewhere.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by illdefined

ok good, im glad im not the only one obsessive enough to notice this. they've never been able to get our Burgundy down, it's true. for $20 i'll pick up 2k5 and let you know if they've fixed this. i hope one day the games, Madden or 2k, finally realize that our home uniform is WHITE (!@#$% Schottenheimer...)

here's a 2k tip, never play in default difficulty, play on all-pro straight away. much more strategic and life like. on default, your players break way too many tackles as its tuned for more 'fun' style gameplay and to show off the animations.

Prior to Marty Madden did have the Skins in their home whites, since then it's been switched.

I hope they have the all-white look available this year, I thought it was pretty sweet.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by SKINSnCANES

I thought owner mode was a nice enhancement. They took it to a deeper level this year but it was more than pricing hotdogs. This year with players having emotion about where they want to play will be really cool, expecially since the computer initiates trades now. They fixed so many things that will make playing a franchise realistic and similar to as if they were all real players. Also then trading up in the draft. Madden for a logn time was just a roster update, and I never bought any of those maddens either. But in all reality the roster update is the biggest reason i buy the game,expecially being a skins fan and having a full new roster everyyear. This year should be a great madden though, this competition is great and will make both games so much better.

of course the roster is why we buy the game (and keep EA rich). makes me mad because its really only a roster download away...

extras like franchise, fantasy and owner mode are cool and tons of people love it, but i've always felt obligated to just play the actual Redskins. no what ifs or made up trades (although this year i'm super tempted to play as if we got Ogunleye..)

i've always been more concerned with the on field gameplay/physics and am still waiting for the day Madden doubles its animations and gets that accursed 'ice skating' feeling off the running game. if i'm Clinton Portis i should be able to really CUT and see it / feel it.

[MTK]

I haven't felt that ice skating feeling for quite a while now. In fact I think the spin move is something that needs to be adjusted, because as it is right now it's just deadly in the open field. You can literally cut on a dime while running full speed and spin away from a tackle.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

As a gaming fan who enjoyed 2k3 I really liked some of the things they did differently from madden(scouting & the draft) and yeah the controls took a little getting used too, but after I did it was a really addictive game(i didn't buy madden that year either,lol.) So if I can save $30 buying one game out of two very similar games then I'm getting the cheaper one so I can use my extra money towards more games, gas, movies, or food. I definitely wouldn't pay $60 for the collectors edition of madden cuz I could really care less about the behind the scenes stuff, all I want is the game. Plus I for one am really tired of listening to madden babble on and on and would rather hear a bit more creative commentary and highlight reel in 2k5. I'll have a couple weeks to try out espn 2k5 and if it winds up being a total flop then I'll go ahead and get madden, but to me it's not worth it to buy both when there r just too many other good games coming out and I'm not pulling in the big bucks as of yet to buy as many as I'd like.