NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

[parkej13]

Hello everyone. After hearing all the praise heaped upon NFL 2K5 (PS2) as arguably the best simulation Football game ever, I spent this past weekend playing it's Franchise mode, as well as Madden 2005 (PS2) Franchise mode, and I must say, aside from a few superficial things, I really don't understand the hype. Don't get me wrong, NFL 2K5 does a few things better. The player movement, player models, physics and presentation are much better in 2K5 than in Madden 2005, but the advantages end there IMO.

The biggest advantage 2k5 has is it's ESPN style presentation, and while that certainly adds to the simulation experience, it doesn't make it a better overall game. I guess it depends on what you want in a simulation Football game. We all have our preferences, and that's why I feel that 2K5 OOTB is unplayable without significant slider adjustments, and even then, it's still flawed. I like to set my initial Franchise season up, building my core team around current players and a few free agent acquisitions. I almost never simulate any games. I usually play all the games or watch the games in coach mode (CPU vs CPU). However I did simulate a few games to see how realistic the sim stats were and Madden 2005 did a much better job than 2K5. Also, watching the games in coach mode, 2K5 fails epically to reproduce a real game. The QB AI in 2k5 is terrible. They throw far too many interceptions. Each game the CPU for both teams threw 4-6 interceptions per game.. Madden has the advantage by a long shot in coach mode.

Franchise mode is where Madden 2005 totally leaves NFL 2K5 in the dust. Madden 2005 has the deeper Franchise mode and so many more features. I was just going threw them last night and comparing the two, and while 2K5 has a decent amount of features in Franchise mode, it can't touch Madden. If you remove the ESPN presentation, Sports center and the Chris Berman post game show from NFL 2K5, this debate isn't even close IMO, in fact, there would no longer be a debate. In Madden you can Edit players during the season in Franchise mode. Also, the Tony Bruno show keeps me informed on all the current events, and actually does a very job with the latest updates around the league. There are many other areas where Madden 2005 clearly outshines NFL 2K5, but I will leave it here and let you all chime in...I think Madden 2005 is the best simulation Football Game ever. What do you all think?

[sheredia]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

you make pretty valid points regarding both games.....with that being said, it really does makes you wonder if both 2K and EA had joined forces, what a game we would have had. oh, well....maybe in a perfect world.

[parkej13]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

you make pretty valid points regarding both games.....with that being said, it really does makes you wonder if both 2K and EA had joined forces, what a game we would have had. oh, well....maybe in a perfect world.

Yeah, I agree. It's just too bad EA got lazy though and decided that buying the NFL exclusive license was their only option. Now they don't have any competitors, and it shows in the quality of their games. I don't even bother with any of the newer Maddens, especially the ones on the Frostbite Engine. They are a glitchy, animation filled disaster. When I want to play a recent Madden title with good graphics and a decent Franchise mode, I will play Madden 17 and sometimes Madden 25 on PS4. 2K is supposed to be releasing a game this year. Hopefully it will be like All Pro Football 2K8 or something like that. I would definitely purchase the game.

[PhillyPhanatic14]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

I didn't have the money for both back then so I got 2k5 and it is the best football game I've ever played. I've had great times with other 2k games, and a lot of Madden games, even Gameday 98 was fun at the time, but 2k5 is the most fun I've ever had with an NFL game. I'm not a hardcore fanatic of that game now... I tried playing it recently and only lasted like 5 minutes because it can't compare to M22 on next gen. I know many people won't like that comment, but it's just my opinion.

2K5 was also $20 while Madden shipped for $50, which is something a lot of people forget.

[Fiddy]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

Man, both were so good IMO. What a time to be alive then!

[parkej13]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

I didn't have the money for both back then so I got 2k5 and it is the best football game I've ever played. I've had great times with other 2k games, and a lot of Madden games, even Gameday 98 was fun at the time, but 2k5 is the most fun I've ever had with an NFL game. I'm not a hardcore fanatic of that game now... I tried playing it recently and only lasted like 5 minutes because it can't compare to M22 on next gen. I know many people won't like that comment, but it's just my opinion.

2K5 was also $20 while Madden shipped for $50, which is something a lot of people forget.

How is the Franchise mode in Madden 22? I'm primarily an offline Franchise mode player. The last Madden I bought was Madden 20. How does 22 compare to 20? I didn't last very long playing 20 because of the scripted game play and animations. The one that bothered me the most was the sack animation, where a defender could sack you even if he's 5 yards away because the sack animation has already determined that you won't be able to release the ball, after you've already pressed the button to pass. Plus I felt like the X factors in 20 were too OP. Madden 18 also had the same scripted game play....common denominator? The Frostbite Engine. So I haven't played any of the newer Madden titles. When I want a modern Madden with decent graphics, my go to is Madden 16 or 17.

[PhillyPhanatic14]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

How is the Franchise mode in Madden 22? I'm primarily an offline Franchise mode player. The last Madden I bought was Madden 20. How does 22 compare to 20? I didn't last very long playing 20 because of the scripted game play and animations. The one that bothered me the most was the sack animation, where a defender could sack you even if he's 5 yards away because the sack animation has already determined that you won't be able to release the ball, after you've already pressed the button to pass. Plus I felt like the X factors in 20 were too OP. Madden 18 also had the same scripted game play....common denominator? The Frostbite Engine. So I haven't played any of the newer Madden titles. When I want a modern Madden with decent graphics, my go to is Madden 16 or 17.

Franchise is... lacking a lot of what we all want. It's a super simplified version of what happens in real life but it's enough to create your own storylines and go through the offseason drafting guys and building a team. AI still sucks at roster management and draft, but it's fun to build your own team.

Gameplay-wise I think it depends on if you're on a next gen console or not. If you're on next gen then M22 is a massive upgrade. I haven't played last gen M22, but I think guys on here said it's pretty similar to 21 and 20. The DLine moves they added a couple years ago are a lot of fun. They massively nerfed the user LB stuff which is cool too.

If you have EA Play then M22 is free. You can also get a 1 Month subscription for $5 and you'll get M22 for free while that's active. Once you're done playing you can cancel your subscription and if it's within those 30 days you can opt for a full refund. So you can play as much as you want for free for 29 days. Definitely worth giving the game a try. I always get the most excited about NFL during this time of the year when the combine is happening and we're building to the draft so I've gotten back into the game recently and it's a good time.

[parkej13]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

Man, both were so good IMO. What a time to be alive then!

Yeah, I have to admit. Games were better then for sure. Even Madden 06, 07 and 08 were solid. I've never played All-Pro Football 2k8, but I've heard it's even than 2K5. I never bought a 7th generation console (PS3, XBox 360) because I had stopped gaming once I got married and had kids, so I after I stopped playing my PS2, I didn't get to play any of the Madden titles for a while. Once I got divorced though, I picked up a PS4 just to try the newer Maddens, but I could only tolerate Madden 25 and Madden 16/17. I primarily just play Madden 05 on PS2 and Madden 07 on PC now.

[parkej13]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

Franchise is... lacking a lot of what we all want. It's a super simplified version of what happens in real life but it's enough to create your own storylines and go through the offseason drafting guys and building a team. AI still sucks at roster management and draft, but it's fun to build your own team.

Gameplay-wise I think it depends on if you're on a next gen console or not. If you're on next gen then M22 is a massive upgrade. I haven't played last gen M22, but I think guys on here said it's pretty similar to 21 and 20. The DLine moves they added a couple years ago are a lot of fun. They massively nerfed the user LB stuff which is cool too.

If you have EA Play then M22 is free. You can also get a 1 Month subscription for $5 and you'll get M22 for free while that's active. Once you're done playing you can cancel your subscription and if it's within those 30 days you can opt for a full refund. So you can play as much as you want for free for 29 days. Definitely worth giving the game a try. I always get the most excited about NFL during this time of the year when the combine is happening and we're building to the draft so I've gotten back into the game recently and it's a good time.

Wow, I didn't know about EA play, but I may have to give it a shot. I must admit, I do enjoy the team building aspect of Madden, even Madden 18 and 20 were fun in that regard. If the gameplay is tolerable then I can play multiple seasons in Franchise mode. When I first bought Madden 18, I held a fantasy draft and I drafted Deshaun Watson to the Bears. I played about 9 or 10 seasons and we won 6 Superbowls, plus 18 had a great soundtrack (save for some of the rap music) which made the experience even more enjoyable. I'll give EA play a shot and try out Madden 22. Thanks for the recommendation.

[PhillyPhanatic14]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

Wow, I didn't know about EA play, but I may have to give it a shot. I must admit, I do enjoy the team building aspect of Madden, even Madden 18 and 20 were fun in that regard. If the gameplay is tolerable then I can play multiple seasons in Franchise mode. When I first bought Madden 18, I held a fantasy draft and I drafted Deshaun Watson to the Bears. I played about 9 or 10 seasons and we won 6 Superbowls, plus 18 had a great soundtrack (save for some of the rap music) which made the experience even more enjoyable. I'll give EA play a shot and try out Madden 22. Thanks for the recommendation.

Awesome! Drop back in and let me know what you think when you get some time with the game. I have a lot of frustrations with how this cycle has gone, but i still enjoy the game a lot. Hope you enjoy it too!

[charter04]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

I had Madden 05 back then. I was more of an NCAA fan than Madden fan but, the franchise mode of Madden 05 got me hooked. It was so deep and fun and still holds up today. I got 2k5 later and I agree with you that Madden 05 is better. I think 2k5 is a little overrated at times and I think the anti Madden bias kind of makes people forget how great Madden 05 was. I think Madden 06 of that same gen is a little better than Madden 05 though. Same franchise mode and slightly better gameplay and some nice franchise additions. 2k's franchise mode overall just isn't that great. especially OOTB.

I prefer All Pro 2k8's gameplay over 2k5. I loved the ESPN presentation. I like both games a lot but Madden 05 or 06 was the total package for me.

[TarHeelPhenom]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

I still have both and still pop both in... especially now since the 2k5 community has created a mod updating the textures, uniforms, stadiums, fields etc and can play it in 4k on the series X using RetroArch. Same with Madden 05. I choose not to user okay any games, but allow the CPU to play all the games. I honestly love both equally for different reasons. The golden era of sports gaming.

Madden 2005
ESPN NFL 2k5
March Madness 2005
MVP Baseball 2005
NCAA Football 2005
NBA Live 2005
ESPN NBA 2k5

All in one year!!

[Hooe]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

Back in the day, I played and enjoyed both, but I tended to favor Madden 05 a little more because it far more strongly supported couch co-op and couch competitive, which was the environment in which I played sports video games most of the time. I wrote about that elsewhere.

That said, I haven’t felt any desire to touch any PS2 / XBOX era football game in at least a decade. My friends with whom I play football games are spread out across the country now, and the presence of online leagues in the more recent EA Sports football games rather obviously obsoletes any older games which existed before online console gaming took off.

[parkej13]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

I had Madden 05 back then. I was more of an NCAA fan than Madden fan but, the franchise mode of Madden 05 got me hooked. It was so deep and fun and still holds up today. I got 2k5 later and I agree with you that Madden 05 is better. I think 2k5 is a little overrated at times and I think the anti Madden bias kind of makes people forget how great Madden 05 was. I think Madden 06 of that same gen is a little better than Madden 05 though. Same franchise mode and slightly better gameplay and some nice franchise additions. 2k's franchise mode overall just isn't that great. especially OOTB.

I prefer All Pro 2k8's gameplay over 2k5. I loved the ESPN presentation. I like both games a lot but Madden 05 or 06 was the total package for me.

I can't argue with that, 06 was a solid game as well. I have Madden 06 on PC and it's a solid game. The Franchise mode is almost th same as Madden 06, but they added some features, like the vision cone, which I wasn't a fan of at first, but it eventually grew on me. I play Madden 07 more than 06 nowadays. But you could put 06, 07 0r 05 as number 1 and I don't think anyone could argue with it.

[parkej13]

Re: NFL2K5 vs Madden 2005

I still have both and still pop both in... especially now since the 2k5 community has created a mod updating the textures, uniforms, stadiums, fields etc and can play it in 4k on the series X using RetroArch. Same with Madden 05. I choose not to user okay any games, but allow the CPU to play all the games. I honestly love both equally for different reasons. The golden era of sports gaming.

Madden 2005
ESPN NFL 2k5
March Madness 2005
MVP Baseball 2005
NCAA Football 2005
NBA Live 2005
ESPN NBA 2k5

All in one year!!

I'm pretty much the same when running my Franchise, except I user play the first season usually after building my initial roster to build a winning foundation. From that point on, I play in coach mode (CPU vs CPU) with the exception of games where the opponent is good or the playoffs. I always play the playoff games because I love the atmosphere and I like to establish dominance early on to gain momentum. I've seen all the Mods for 2K5, and it's a great game, but I just can't get into it like Madden. The Franchise mode in Madden 05 feels more engaging and keeps me interested between games. For me that's the big reason why I don't enjoy 2K5 as much. I see you also played NCAA Football 05, and it's a great game. I love it! I'm playing NCAA football 06 as the Texas Longhorns. Vince Young is a beast! We just played Ohio State in Columbus and we blew their doors open!