10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

[rtkiii]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

I don;t know if anyone is saying the game was perfect because it was not. But as an experience with the ESPN weekly wrap up and presentation as a whole it had just felt fresh and amazing. I had been playing Madden from the very early years on Genesis(I think) every year(I didn't buy but rented) and I liked Madden. I even bought Madden with my PS2 when PS2 launched. And I loved it but I had never really given any other FB game a chance(Well besides Tecmo Bowl series) and I was happy. But then I did play NFL 2K on Dreamcast and was blown away by it so once NFL2k5 was $19.99 it was a no brainer...BUT I NEVER EXPECTED WHAT I FOUND. An Experience with a Football game I had never had before, authenticity. It just felt as close to real as possible. Again the game was not perfect but damn good and I think everyone thought this was a WELCOMED step in football gaming. But we all know what happened after that year. Imagine what it could be like today if 2K would still be doing FB games...just look at their NBA series...evidence is all right there.

[matthewk]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

I shouldn't be saying this 10 years later, but 2k5 is close to becoming my NFL game of choice this season.

The graphics still look good in 2k5. Not as good as M25, but on their own they still hold up. I've been trying to put 2k5 to rest for years, but keep coming back to it after a few weeks with the latest Madden. Each year is made a little more difficult by changes in the NFL like uniforms and playbooks, but there are things in M25 that just take the fun out of it.

Some examples:
- Slow response of menus and play-calling screens.
- Poor interaction between defenders and blockers.
- Bland atmosphere

If I could get the read option and pistol into 2k5 I'd be so happy.

[NYG 5]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

the only killer with 2k5 is the AI rushes it's throws too much.

[jmood88]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

If they combined everything about 2k5 with the route running, sideline interactions, and skill system of All Pro 2k8, that would be the perfect football game. There's still presentation stuff in 2k5 that I haven't seen in any game to date and the game just has life to it that no other game has come close to matching.

[mWolfe]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

I an agree,
And is not to say Madden hasn't tried but when you look at 2k5 running and look at Madden 25 running you will notice the difference, 2k5 feels more realistic running than Madden you actually see the cutbacks, the slow down, the change of direction and not just by moving the joystick but when you get popped by a defender. I always hear 2K5 is arcadish becuase you have to charge up to do moves, but when you build up the speed charge and hit the hole it is more realistic imho than just holding a sprint button.

And when you look now at Madden with run free and stringing moves together 2K5 already had that in place, and to me and the reason I play Madden on the PS2 and 2K5 on my Xbox it offers more than Madden today. 2K5 has its problems I will not tout its a perfect game but on the field it plays better, CB's fight and have more interaction with WR's than Madden, 2K5 has a better AI adjustment than Madden, especially when running the same play over and over again, and just like Madden roster edits in 2K5 roster edits brings out better play by the CPU.

These are reasons I prefer an older game than today's Madden25, I tried the demo and I am content with sticking to 2k5 and older version of Madden on my PC and PS2, same goes with NCAA, I didn't pick up NCAA 13 or 14, but still play NCAA 12, 07, 06 on the PS2 to me these game play better and offer more of a challenge than the current form. IMHO playing games that are old doesn't mean there inferior or out dated just means they are a person's preference other wise no one would be playing Super Mario on the Nintendo still:wink: .

[Big FN Deal]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

If they combined everything about 2k5 with the route running, sideline interactions, and skill system of All Pro 2k8, that would be the perfect football game. There's still presentation stuff in 2k5 that I haven't seen in any game to date and the game just has life to it that no other game has come close to matching.

Add to this the player/team management depth of EA's HC09 and I would be in football nirvana.

It's funny the little things that can really put things into perspective and for me today it was a thread about Leon Sandcastle in the Madden forum. It made me think back to that old Reebok commercial with LB Terry Tate (check Youtube) and after laughing about it, I got really annoyed because representation of the NFL has been such a joke this gen. The fact that the people making decisions for the only NFL game allowed found it so hilarious to add Leon Sandcastle into their created draft classes was just the last straw for me, as odd as that may be.

NFL2k, APF2k, HC09, Tecmo Bowl, no stellar NFL football game has ever been perfect but they were all professional, unlike Madden this gen which comes across like it was made in a frat house.

[Herschie]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

At least in 2K5 you can figure out which way the wind is blowing. Madden gets so many things wrong on so many levels, things that should be simple and standard in every game. Then they have the nerve to put Snickers ads in the game. I'll never eat another Snickers again!

[MysteriousPanther]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

I feel people act like 2K was an amazing game. I enjoyed the game and found it fun, but it was certainly not perfect. I feel sometimes people bash Madden and act like 2K was perfect. I agree that Madden definitely has it flaws, but I have enjoyed playing it this gen for the most part. And we are comparing this gen to previous gen. 2K never made the switch to 360/PS3(I think) Who knows how the game would have progressed or regressed.
Just throwing in my 2 cents

I agree with you. ESPN NFL 2K5 is an good football video game. But, it isn't the greatest game of all time (overrated). I'll take NFL 2K or 2K1 over ESPN NFL 2K5 anyday of the week. Does Madden has flaws? Oh yeah! But, so does 2K football games & people in the football gaming community don't want to hear it. I wouldn't mind if there was an competition in all football video games.

[GlennN]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

2k8 is a better game than 2k5. However I do not like the kicking mechanic in 8 at all should have left it a button press. They made the game tough to mod with only 25 team slots but for a pick up and play game on the 360 2k8 is still amazing. The PS3 version while good is not up to the 360 version.

I'm an offline franchise guy - I tried 2k8, but the lack of any franchise mode kills it for me.

[GlennN]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

I agree with you. ESPN NFL 2K5 is an good football video game. But, it isn't the greatest game of all time (overrated). I'll take NFL 2K or 2K1 over ESPN NFL 2K5 anyday of the week. Does Madden has flaws? Oh yeah! But, so does 2K football games & people in the football gaming community don't want to hear it. I wouldn't mind if there was an competition in all football video games.

I'm not saying 2k5 was the greatest game ever, and it certainly had its flaws (like only DE, OT, QB and RB could be drafted by cpu in the first round), but it is remarkable that the play and feel of 2k5 remains better than anything EA put out in the 10 years since. Players really play to their ratings. Defense is actually fun to play (no OL suction blocking). I still enjoyed playing 2k5 more than any football game since.

[MysteriousPanther]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

I'm not saying 2k5 was the greatest game ever, and it certainly had its flaws (like only DE, OT, QB and RB could be drafted by cpu in the first round), but it is remarkable that the play and feel of 2k5 remains better than anything EA put out in the 10 years since. Players really play to their ratings. Defense is actually fun to play (no OL suction blocking). I still enjoyed playing 2k5 more than any football game since.

That's cool. But, I feel that ESPN NFL 2K5 didn't improve all that much. When I played it more than several years ago, suction blocking & tackling were there (just like Madden football series). Did it really happen where cpu can draft DE, OT, RB & QB in the first round?

[daflyboys]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

....& people in the football gaming community don't want to hear it.

Not true. The years following the end of that title when we were probably at our highest volume around here in regards to modding and discussing all of the plausible upgrades and fixes, there was plenty of discussion about the flaws of the game. I mean, after all, that's WHY we tried to implement the best possible upgrades and fixes within our reach. And if there had been a PC version, the possibilities would have been endless.

[MysteriousPanther]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

Not true. The years following the end of that title when we were probably at our highest volume around here in regards to modding and discussing all of the plausible upgrades and fixes, there was plenty of discussion about the flaws of the game. I mean, after all, that's WHY we tried to implement the best possible upgrades and fixes within our reach. And if there had been a PC version, the possibilities would have been endless.

I'm sure that people here at operation sports website community are reasonable & don't have that elitist mentality like other gaming websites (YouTube & GameSpot). If anybody brings up couple of flaws in 2K football games, that person/username will get pick to pieces (I've see it for myself)!

[GlennN]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

That's cool. But, I feel that ESPN NFL 2K5 didn't improve all that much. When I played it more than several years ago, suction blocking & tackling were there (just like Madden football series). Did it really happen where cpu can draft DE, OT, RB & QB in the first round?

I can't say 2k5 was an improvement over 2k4 (I think I had skipped 2k for a couple versions). As to the suction blocking, with a created DE (very highly rated), I can get pressure easily, as a highly rated player should (even though I lack good stick skills). In Madden, even editing my player to high ratings doesn't help (I just feel like you need the stick skills for Madden much more than the ratings matter).

Yeah, a lot of the draft process in 2k5 was done great, but there were certainly huge flaws. First, the mock draft was always (ALWAYS) exactly correct. So, if there was a guy you wanted, you knew exactly how high you had to get in the draft to get him. And, yeah, no matter how good a WR, CB, DT, etc, the cpu only drafted one of those four positions (QB, RB, OT or DE) in the first round.

[heime2003]

Re: 10 years and an entire console generation, 2k5 still the champ

nfl 2k series were not free of flaws but they at least get me excited as opposed to madden series