Which is Better ESPN or NCAA Football?

[Sharpieman]

I would say it would be a tie between the two, sadly there are obvious flaws with both.

[Sun Tzu]

To be honest I can't decide right now. I am still getting use to the controls in ESPN, and once I get use to that I'll probably be playing both games an equal amount of time.

[JeeberD]

I like the fact that I can actually run the ball on ESPN. Of course, maybe I can't run on NCAA because I'm always using UTEP.

Either way, I'm enjoying both games even though I haven't had enough time to really get into either one yet...

[Cards4ever]

Sad to say, but I think I like ESPN 2K5 better then NCAA 2005, why oh why did the fuck with the game play. I still can't get the CPU to punt anywhere close to average and I'm not a huge fan of how the recruiting is, if a team wins the National Championship, it should not be that hard to recruit.

[GrantDawg]

I would have to say both is border-line unplayable to me. Major disappointments.

[Philliesfan980]

Grant;

What are the major problems with ESPN for you? It seems to me, most of the complaints on here comes from the Franchise mode, and the fact that you pretty much have to have a clipping calls turned off. To each their own, but the clipping thing is a non issue for me, and the franchise thing is simply annoying, but not enough for me to not play it.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Philliesfan980

Grant;

What are the major problems with ESPN for you? It seems to me, most of the complaints on here comes from the Franchise mode, and the fact that you pretty much have to have a clipping calls turned off. To each their own, but the clipping thing is a non issue for me, and the franchise thing is simply annoying, but not enough for me to not play it.

Well, the franchise/trade thing IS a gamebreaker on its own. It is a silly bug that is more than distracting when you are trying to play out a franchise. Clipping is not a gamebreaker in and of itself, but it is bad. I can't tell you how many punt returns I have seen clips on in game, and having to turn that off takes away from realism.

I'm still working on the gameplay (coach mode). I haven't tweaked anything yet, but it seems that there once again is a QB completion problem. I have yet to have either QB complete more than 50%, and have seen about 5 ints a game on average. Another thing is Vick will not run in coach mode. When I call a run for him, it is either a 6 yard loss or a 50 yard run untouched. He never evades a sack (will stand there and watch the guy take him down) and only once on a passing call has he taken off, and that time it was immediately afterthe snap so he didn't even give the recievers time to get open.

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Well, the franchise/trade thing IS a gamebreaker on its own. It is a silly bug that is more than distracting when you are trying to play out a franchise. Clipping is not a gamebreaker in and of itself, but it is bad. I can't tell you how many punt returns I have seen clips on in game, and having to turn that off takes away from realism.

I'm still working on the gameplay (coach mode). I haven't tweaked anything yet, but it seems that there once again is a QB completion problem. I have yet to have either QB complete more than 50%, and have seen about 5 ints a game on average. Another thing is Vick will not run in coach mode. When I call a run for him, it is either a 6 yard loss or a 50 yard run untouched. He never evades a sack (will stand there and watch the guy take him down) and only once on a passing call has he taken off, and that time it was immediately afterthe snap so he didn't even give the recievers time to get open.

Yeah, I'm as much of a coach mode player as you are , so I can feel your pain. However, I find that ESPN plays a nice game of "real play" mode. Last year, ESPN completed way too many passes in coach mode, so I guess they tweaked it too much the other way.

To be honest, I'm looking forward to Madden PC version coach mode. On MaddenMania they always have a group of guys that really do a nice job tweaking the sliders for coach only mode. Thats where I'll get my fix for coach only stuff (although I'm VERY disappointed that NCAA doesn't have a coach only mode that works well, hell, I'll even take a nice CPU vs CPU game at this point and just be the AD).

[MizzouRah]

You know the funny thing? I'm at Gamestop yesterday and there's a big sign that reads, "Trade in NCAA 2k5 and get Madden for $19.99!"

Basically, thanks for making us $30 or paying $70 for Madden.


Todd

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

You know the funny thing? I'm at Gamestop yesterday and there's a big sign that reads, "Trade in NCAA 2k5 and get Madden for $19.99!"

Basically, thanks for making us $30 or paying $70 for Madden.


Todd

Yeah, I suppose so. But getting $30 bucks for a trade in is a good value. How many other below par games can you get $30 bucks trade in for?

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Philliesfan980

Yeah, I suppose so. But getting $30 bucks for a trade in is a good value. How many other below par games can you get $30 bucks trade in for?

Considering I just bought it last week for $50, $30 doesn't seem like much value.


Todd

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Considering I just bought it last week for $50, $30 doesn't seem like much value.


Todd

Very true! (I feel the same way).

However, welcome to the world of the second hand market. The classic example being the college bookstore. You buy the book at the beginning of semister new for $120, you sell it back to them (mostly in barely used condition) for $30. They turn around and sell it for $80.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Just like last year, I love NCAA for dynasty mode, and I love ESPN for online play. If EA gets the bug worked out with people taking a loss when their online opponent quits, I'll love NCAA online too.

ESPN isn't a bad game, but I don't think I'll play a franchise with it. I'll do that in Madden, which I also loved last year.

I guess I'm not as discerning as I used to be.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Philliesfan980

(mostly in barely used condition)

That doesn't say a lot for your study habits.

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

That doesn't say a lot for your study habits.

Actually, I kept all my accounting & business books, but the hell with Psychology!

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Just like last year, I love NCAA for dynasty mode, and I love ESPN for online play. If EA gets the bug worked out with people taking a loss when their online opponent quits, I'll love NCAA online too.

ESPN isn't a bad game, but I don't think I'll play a franchise with it. I'll do that in Madden, which I also loved last year.

I guess I'm not as discerning as I used to be.

I have to pretty much agree with this assessment. I love the gameplay in ESPN (although some minor tweaks might be needed as I get better) however, the players really seem to play differently based on their ratings. I'm getting torched because Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown aren't that well rated (rightfully so I'm afraid.) However, I'm able to score a lot with McNabb, Westbrook, and T.O. (both Westbrook and T.O. are probably overrated, but I'm not complaining )

As for NCAA football, I love the dynasty mode. I'm enjoying the games now that I realize I have to widen my suspension of disbelief. I'm simply not going to get consistent realistic stats, but that is ok because the game is more challenging. I can't make USC back-to-back-to-back-to-back (well you get the picture) national champions like I could in NCAA 2004. I'll take that tradeoff.

Now that I'm enjoying NCAA football for what it is, I'd say I'm getting about equal enjoyment out of both games, but for different reasons. If ESPN had a great franchise mode (i.e. without the trade problems) I think it would become the clear cut winner between the two.

I've been a Madden guy for 14 years, and I'm hopeful this year's edition will be better than either game (have great gameplay and a great franchise mode.)

[MizzouRah]

I've been a Madden guy for 14 years, and I'm hopeful this year's edition will be better than either game (have great gameplay and a great franchise mode.)

There's always hope.


Todd

[Cringer]

Maden can not have a great franchise mode until they let you go on forever, or 200 yeas or something real long like that....20 years or 30, whatever it is at stinks.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Maden can not have a great franchise mode until they let you go on forever, or 200 yeas or something real long like that....20 years or 30, whatever it is at stinks.

I sorta feel that way, but I only played 4 or 5 years of last season's game. Then again, of the 16 games each year, I play at least 12 of them myself, so it takes me a while. I do wish they'd let you go on a lot longer, though.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm ok if it only goes 30 years, because I play at least half of my games each year, and I only made it through 6 years last year. I just don't want to see crazy trading, cutting, etc.

[Philliesfan980]

How many years can you get on the PC?

[pennywisesb]

Originally Posted by Philliesfan980

Very true! (I feel the same way).

However, welcome to the world of the second hand market. The classic example being the college bookstore. You buy the book at the beginning of semister new for $120, you sell it back to them (mostly in barely used condition) for $30. They turn around and sell it for $80.

I don't know where you went to school, but at UCSB where Vince and I went, you buy the initial book for 120, then sell it back from about 15% of that value, so around 18 bucks, then they turn around and sell it for like 100 . I hated buying and selling books, its just one big rip-off.

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by pennywisesb

I don't know where you went to school, but at UCSB where Vince and I went, you buy the initial book for 120, then sell it back from about 15% of that value, so around 18 bucks, then they turn around and sell it for like 100 . I hated buying and selling books, its just one big rip-off.

Yeah, it was that bad too. My figures aren't that accurate. It got to a point where I'd just rather throw the book away than give them an opportunity to earn a 60-80% Gross Profit.

[Kodos]

I'm hoping that Madden makes me forget the disappointment I feel in NCAA and ESPN.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I'm hoping that Madden makes me forget the disappointment I feel in NCAA and ESPN.

Oh Madden will have problems, every game does, I just hope it plays as well out of the box as ESPN does for me... without the glitches.

Madden has never played very well for me out of the box, but there's always hope.


Todd

[The_herd]

After picking up ESPN I went over to the neighbor's house yesterday (he has NCAA) and we played a good bit of both. My 1st experience with NCAA was not all that great. After playing both, my impression is that ESPN does a much better job of capturing the "feel" of NFL football than NCAA does of getting the "feel" for the college game. Way too many holes in the gameplay of NCAA for me. This game sent me back to some of the early editions of NCAA where you quickly figure out the handful of plays that work, disregard the rest, and run the plays that do work to death. ESPN is definately not without its flaws, but I'll take ESPN over NCAA any day.

[Anthony]

i hate the plays in NCAA. there's waaay too many plays where the receiver will cut into the middle of the field. like there's these plays where the 2 trips receivers will run down about 15 yards and the other will run down like 20, then they both cut in. how you're supposed to make that play without an interception is beyond me. the DB's are too good in this game. in other versions they'd get fooled by out patterns, now they seem stay with their man pretty good. when your receiver finall does beat the CB to the outside, they don't seem to get to the pass in time.

[Anthony]

the option plays work great though, i'm glad i spent about an hour practicing those plays.

[MizzouRah]

Thanks to Jistic, the game plays very well now. Ahhh... finally, I'm into a football game.


Todd

[The_herd]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

i hate the plays in NCAA. there's waaay too many plays where the receiver will cut into the middle of the field. like there's these plays where the 2 trips receivers will run down about 15 yards and the other will run down like 20, then they both cut in. how you're supposed to make that play without an interception is beyond me. the DB's are too good in this game. in other versions they'd get fooled by out patterns, now they seem stay with their man pretty good. when your receiver finall does beat the CB to the outside, they don't seem to get to the pass in time.

On deep balls the AI rarely makes the catch, even when wide open. I had to learn quick to take control of the receiver on most pass plays.

I love the passing game in ESPN. 3 or 5 step drop and get rid of the ball. Thats the way it should be. After playing ESPN, this part killed me because in NCAA you have to be really patient and wait for the play to develop. Every QB also appears to have a cannon as I'm yet to see a QB that can't throw the ball 60+ yards with pretty good accuracy.

The thing that kills me with console football games that I'm starting to think will never be fixed is the near god-like power of mobile QBs. Is there nothing programmers can do to keep other human players from cheesing it up using McNabb, Vick, Culpepper, and to a lesser extent, Kyle Boller?