Gamespot: Madden vs ESPN
 

http://www.gamespot.com/features/6104789/index.html

Spoiler below...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sorry Kodos! :)



Todd

I think the numbers prove that Madden obviously wins out.

Who cares what a website says?

They called us NERDY!!

"As the years go by, the popularity of the franchise mode steadily increases. Now, number crunching and team management aren't just for nerdy PC text-based management sim fans anymore! So, who crunches the numbers better?"

Stupid pricks.

LETS GET EM!

theres something wrong with being nerdy?

I got both when I got my Xbox Saturday night. One day of gaming does not make me an expert, but...

Since I had played Madden before, I threw ESPN 2K5 in and was just amazed. The graphics and presentation were amazing. I played that some Saturday night and on Sunday threw in Madden.

It felt just like Madden 2004...which is good, but it just didn't do much for me. The game presentation wasn't as good, the graphics not as decent, the awful training camps still there. Yes, I hate training camp b/c some of those "drills" are just plain annoying. I really liked ESPN's tutorial better.

So out came Madden (with me wondering how to get my $50 back) and in went ESPN. When Deuce Staley go over the top on a 1 yard leap, I almost cheered.

I have a couple of reservations with ESPN. The passing game is very difficult - my passes are batted so much that it feels like volleyball sometimes. And I've heard some so-so things about franchise mode. But if I'm just sitting down to play a game, it's gotta be ESPN right now.

You really have to work on finding the open receiver in ESPN. Hot routes and reading the defense before the snap are also key. Just like a real NFL QB ;)

I'm sorry, but both of those guys are retards.

That being said, I cannot stand having to tap tap tap tap to go somewhat fast. The draft bug annoyed me. The presentation is better in ESPN, but Madden still reigns supreme for me. The gameplay is just more fun for me.

I've been a lifelong Madden die-hard, but so far I'm sticking with ESPN even though it's far from perfect.

ESPN annoyances:
- Franchise is good but not great
- Draft bug, not to mention quirky scouting routine
- Interface looks nice, but not as polished as Madden
- I still can't get certain things to work (I change my playbook, but how do I get to use it in games, etc)
- Passing game has too many batted balls -- even when the overall TD and yardage numbers work out, it's because of a few big plays. QBs rarely pass for better than 55%.

Still, I've felt for years like Madden was treading water and from what I hear of 2005, I doubt I'd like it. I found last year's version too frustrating, with all the little CPU cheats they threw in to make it tough. This year, the pitch line seems to be "Now even harder!", so forget it.

Hopefully ESPN gets even better next year, and hopefully Madden wakes up and fights back. That's the best of both worlds.

What numbers? More sales = a better product? Rigggghhhht....

Heck, even without the $30 difference in price Sega did one heck of a job with ESPB FB.



Todd

I waited a little bit to grab Madden, and I haven't played ESPN yet, but but Madden is outstanding. I'm an "every year" Madden purchaser, but this one is still impressing me. The franchise mode is much improved.

That's pretty much where I am.

I bought ESPN when it first came out (their $20 sucker price ... err ... marketing strategy worked on me) and I liked it. I then picked up Madden over the weekend, and played it for a little while. After playing them both, I think that ESPN's presentation is much better, but when it comes down to gameplay, Madden is the better game.

I've purchased every version of Madden since it was first introduced for the PS1, and I think a big reason why I like Madden 2k5 better is familiarity. Having not messed with the franchise mode, it appears as though Madden (gameplay-wise, at least) is simply a roster update over last year's version. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing for me.

I simply feel more comfortable with Madden because I've played it so long. To me, the left receiver is square, and the backs coming out of the backfield are L1 & R1. I just can't get used to the L1 button corresponding to the left receiver, which is the way ESPN is set up. Now that is just a little thing, but there are a lot of little things like that that just feel more natural for me in Madden than ESPN.

What is the draft bug in ESPN?

It seems like in the first round, the CPU teams almost always take Ts, QBs, HBs and DEs. Other positions rarely (never?) get taken until round two. Meaning you'll almost never get a good player from one of those positions, and if you have your eye on some WR or CB you're going to get your first choice no matter what.

Kind of like WR's in madden

This is much better this year from what I've seen so far. I picked up a guy projected to go top ten at 18 one year, and a guy projected as a first-rounder at 12 in the second round another year.

Edit: To clarify, they were both WRs.

No need to apologize. I like aspects of both games, although I prefer Madden once again and will probably only pop in ESPN occasionally.

Oh, and Madden was winning the user poll as of last night... :D

This is the biggest problem with ESPN NFL for me. I enjoy the game a lot, but the feeling of playing Decathalon (whatever the name of that old game with the 100-yard dash, long jump, etc) on my 2600 just doesn't do it for me. Ever since I started playing NCAA2K5, I haven't put ESPN back in. It may see the light of the XBox when I'm bored with my NCAA-to-Madden franchise in a couple of months.

Gee, do you think that the fact that Madden has an installed user base 20 times the size of Sega's influences the poll at all?

My guess, less than 20% of the voters had played 2005 version of either game, and less than 5% had played both.

I was just joking around, sir. Who really cares what the poll says either way? Sometimes it seems like people take these things too seriously. I say, enjoy whichever one you like and don't worry what everyone else likes. I've played both, and happen to prefer Madden. If I could add Sega's presentation and ability to realign divisions to Madden's Franchise mode, I would be in football heaven.

:)

People I talk to who own both games hate NFL and love Madden. I am just going by opinions of those I know personally.

I played NFL 2k5 when I rented it, and I returned it early. I wasn't a fan. Thats just me though.

Ditto!

Ack. That's a game killer for me.

I bought Madden 2002-2004, but never enjoyed any of them as much as NFL2k1 on the Dreamcast. So the next football game I get will probably be in the ESPN franchise. I also liked that the NFL2k games were somewhat arcadey in that runners could cut on a dime. I've just never enjoyed running the ball in Madden since my runners always feel like they are being sucked into a black hole.

Just to note: I had all the NFL's on dreamcast and loved them. Sadly it hasn't translated over to the PS2 for whatever reason.

I prefer ESPN. I don't think the pass defense is tough enough, but that is easily fixed with a couple tweaks. The passing game seems to be better for me in ESPN. I like taking the 3-5 step drop, read coverage, get rid of the ball. The running game is where I really like ESPN, it just feels right for me. I'll also give a boost to ESPN for only costing $20.

What it comes down to, IMO, is personal preference. Both games are amazing in their own right this year. Some prefer ESPN, some prefer Madden. I happen to fall on the ESPN side. If people truely enjoy Madden, that's their choice, its a great game. My only problem is Madden fans that think Madden is the greatest thing on earth, because its Madden and its automatically better than anything else. Its just annoying to me.

You're absolutely right, it does come down to personal preference.

On the flip side of your annoyance, there are plenty of people who don't like Madden just because it is from EA Sports (a.k.a. - The Devil) and refuse to acknowledge that it has any good qualities. Basically, fanboys who can't tolerate differing opinions on either side make the whole Madden vs. ESPN thing annoying for everyone else.

You know I'm just kidding you! I like them both as well and I'm thinking on doing a side by side franchise with both games.


Todd

Hmmm...has the makings of a very interesting dynasty. I see a Golden Scribe nomination floating on the horizon.

Boy Todd, THAT was quick!! :D

Mizzourah's dual ESPN/Madden dynasty