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ESPN 2k5 First Look Thread

G

God of Wine

Guest
Comes out July 21st....But some people have it already. What gives? I am ready to pick up tomorrow. Anyway hope to improve from 2k4, still can't stop anybody....with the Texans anyway. Hope they make the Texans stronger in 2k5.

ESPN 2K5
 
Did everyone else get it REALLY cheap? Me and the hubby got it yesterday at Circuit CIty for only $19.99. I about PMP cause I couldn't believe it. I had bought him 2K4 last year for his b-day and paid $49.99 and that was several months after it came out.

I just wondered if it was just a error on CC's part in my area or what. Regardless, we snatched it up and got to the register REAL quick.
 
HoustonTexansAreTheBest said:
Hmmm.....want to provide a link on where you heard EA Sports is going to stop making Madden? I highly doubt it.
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nope, no link. just heard it through word of mouth. he said Madden's contract is up with EA Sports and that since they pay so much overhead to Madden for his name they hardly break even, even though they outsell every other football game. they will call it EA Sports Football next year. he also said that Sega will still be offering their sports titles or $20. take it for what its worth. idonno:
 
First thoughts after playing 2K5 for about an hour. I usually buy Madden but thought I'd give 2K5 a shot:

Gripes:

First of all, of all the logos they had to screw up they screw up the Texans. The logo is accurate on the uniforms and on the field (although it looks too small on the field), but on the menus and the graphics they have the logo with a thin white outline around it rather than the thick white outline which causes there to be a gap between the red and blue parts...annoying more than anything. I'm pretty picky when it comes to those things, but I think they could at least get that right.

Reliant looks fine everywhere but the roof. It's open or closed according to wheather but when its open it still has the beams going across. Imagine rather than retracting the roof they just ripped of the white "canvas" part and thats what it looks like. Don't know if that was just an easy way to do it but it looks wrong.

They still have Coleman playing Cornerback. And to make it worse I have yet to figure out how to change his position to safety. The only options are Mcree and Earl at Safety.

For some reason they have J.J. Moses too high on the depth chart...I was a little surprised when the first pass I completed was to my kick returner. That can be changed so I wasn't as upset about that.

In franchise mode the in week training that ESPN hyped seems a little tedious.

Chris Berman looks scarier on the game than he does on tv. What is it with computer animated people that gives me the creeps?

Pros:

You can choose the red uniform...and they decided that the white helmet was somehow a throwback because you can use it too. But as far as I can tell you cannot use a red jersey with blue pants.

The game play seems good. This, of coarse, is the most important thing. I need to play it more to make a final judgement on that. Although the kicking meter arrow is ticking me off. The defense seems easier than Madden which is a plus.


These a just my first few impressions. I was pretty excited about it after the price went down to 20 bucks and decided to go ahead and try it. Its no better than Madden though.

I had decided that I would not buy Madden this year, but I think I'm going to go ahead and get it too.
 
It's annoying that you cant change a guys position. So Pitts is stuck at Tackle and Coleman at CB. Some of the ratings are way off too. Example J.J. Moses has a higher strength rating than Andre Johnson, and Johnathan Wells has a faster speed rating than Domanick Davis and Tony Hollings. Huh!?
 
I think you can edit the positions but i'm not 100% on that though. I was a Madden player too. This game is unreal. From the presentation to the gameplay is simply great. I'm loving it. I have yet to win a game on All-Pro. The Pro (default) level is too easy. The only thing i'm trying to do now is trying to get my PS2 to take advantage of the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. I have a 6.1 system and I tried to get it to go to DD but it only went to Pro Logic II (which I have as well). So that's my only gripe so far. So if anyone knows how to get it to 5.1 let me know. I never thought I would have so much fun not being able to win.
 
I'm starting to like it a little more. The halftime highlights are awesome!! Still don't have the passing touch down yet, I keep throwing it too hard and Johnson drops them.

I like how putting pressure on the QB really effects his throw. That's more realistic than Madden.
 
ok, I've never seen this in a football video game. In week two the Texans tied the Lions 0-0. I suck.
 
another weird thing...after week four the Lions traded Roy Williams to the Seahawks...WTF?!

This game has some really cool features, but then it just has some stupid mistakes and weird things like that. And those beams on Reliant make no sense. They cast a criss cross shadow across the field. Strange.
 
Dont freak out about the player ratings just yet. They came out with the game early. Its 20 bucks, and you can download new ratings and rosters online when the season starts.

I played only a few hours last night. They have made it harder to intercept a pass. They upgraded the physics in this game, so you cant be running full speed, stop instantly, and turn around to grab the ball.

The VIP thing is really cool. When you play enough games online, other people can play against your VIP.

Games to get in order:
ESPN 2k5: Damn well worth $20.
NCAA 2005: Fun game. The crowd noise makes you feel like you are there.
Madden: IMO still not worth $50. Of course Ive always been an Sega sports guy.
 
Seriously, are you guys saying that ESPN 2K5 is gonna be better than MADDEN 2005? Have yall seen the graphics for Madden? Now honestly, the only people that have said it was good where the "sega fanatics". So honestly is it THAT good? I have an open mind and ill probably buy it but i really want to know how good it is. And the main reason i didnt like the old NFL 2K series was because of the graphics and the way every player seemed SO tall and skinny. Has that changed to be more proportionate?
 
What difficulty do you have it on? All-Pro is the best one. Pro to learn on. There is no way any RB should be going through 2 players. I believe thats one of the things they worked on at Sega.
 
Beastlyman2003 said:
And the main reason i didnt like the old NFL 2K series was because of the graphics and the way every player seemed SO tall and skinny. Has that changed to be more proportionate?
Click to expand...

And you think Madden's short stubby players look more correct? Give me a break. NCAA is the only EA game I would buy, just because its College.

If madden is your game, then madden is your game. But just dont come insult us by saying we dont know what we are talking about just because we like Sega over EA.
 
DC_ROCK said:
And you think Madden's short stubby players look more correct? Give me a break. NCAA is the only EA game I would buy, just because its College.

If madden is your game, then madden is your game. But just dont come insult us by saying we dont know what we are talking about just because we like Sega over EA.
Click to expand...
WTF are you babbling about? Did you read the rest?
"So honestly is it THAT good? I have an open mind and ill probably buy it but i really want to know how good it is." That was my statement before the part you quoted! I was asking to get a better feel for what was different about it. And Where is there an insult? If me questioning the game was enough to hurt your feelings, then i dont know how you make it in the world. SO how bout you actually answer the question now?
 
OK so is it fun? is the gameplay realistic? OOH, is there cpu initiated trades? how do the players look on the field? I just kinda want an unbiased opinion. Cuz i actually want to buy it. BUT, im still gonna buy Madden 2005.:ninja:
 
Madden 2005 comes out on August 8th. And V(you sound like you know alot about ESPN2K5) so can you edit a players position and ratings? Cuz i heard theyre FUBAR. And can you tell me how they have Dunta and Babin rated? And how is Domanicks ratings?
 
I'm starting to get the hang of the game. My passing is much improved. I like the fact that the Texans have a Flea-Flicker in their playbook (first modern video game i've seen with that play). 2K5 is real, and I mean real, football. All-Pro is tough I won my first two games today on that level upping my VIP record to 2-10.
 
Yep...I've been a HUGE Madden fan thus far and I was compeletely hyped yet very skeptical about this year's ESPN but boy is this a great game!! I've always like how the player models looked compared to previous elongated ESPN's but that has been addressed. ESPN 2K5 boasts the best graphics and player models in a football game thus far and the fluid movement couldn't be more real like.

Everything from the franchise mode, Gamecast Live, Gamecast, Weekly Prep, VIP, to the gameplay....every aspect damnit is just so precise. As __V__ said...pressure builds up on the QB so you had better make your reads quick...just as in the real game. QB's in ESPN need to have balance as well to be able to make the best of throws much like their real life counterparts.

To the guy who's been a Maddener, get ESPN...it'll be hard to get used to but you said you have an open mind on the subject so just get it and forget about Madden in it's entirety. Forget that you have ever played a football video game in your life...just start the game up with the knowledge you possess as a football fan and go from there. You have a long road ahead of you in terms of learning just how the game plays but you'll get it before you know it. I'm a huge Madden fan because well, I can't put my finger on it but Madden has always just felt right...don't know what it is but Madden always gets the nod. You need to look at ESPN as a real-sim...in terms of simulation...ESPN leaves Madden in the dust. Madden might have more of a fun factor but ESPN 2K5 is right on the money.

I must warn you, I have only 2 days playing the game, that you are going to get frustrated but you'll come to find out that ESPN 2K5 is the game that makes justic for the NFL logo on the game. I can't wait till Madden is out, don't get me wrong. I want to try all the new defensive playmaker abilities that the game will offer as they seem to only make the game better. Real-like sim, count on ESPN 2K5. Semi-sim (tentative on whether they fixed some exaggerations in gameplay) but tons of fun, count on Madden. Last but not least....$20, need I say more??
 
This is from a Madden guy playing ESPN for the first time:

The graphics are great. The players look real. You have to get rid of the ball which at first is frustrating when you are trying to recognize your routes. Even if you wait too long and still get the pass off the pressure will force the QB to throw a bad pass.

After a day of playing I would give it a A-. The minus for the little things wrong with the Texans logo...you can not change a players position...and Reliant's roof. Game play, especially defense is pretty sound.

And for $20....
 
how the running game this year V? is it still very easy. In addition, is the pursuit and tackling better than last year. I still have last year's game, and it's very frustrating when the computer's back breaks 6 to 7 tackles and takes it to the house. That doesn't happen in madden.
 
That has totally been fixed on ESPN...like it never existed....but don't take my word for it. See for yourself....got and get the game....it's $20! What are you waiting for??
 
I have NCAA Football 2005, ESPN NFL 2K5, and Madden is already on pre-order. I have all but forgotten about taking my Baylor Bears to back to back National championships (very hard to do by the way as any Baylor fan knows LoL) because NFL 2K5 has arrived. I love the presentation. The VIP system is very cool. You can actually save someone else's VIP thing, and then have a computer opponent who plays exactly like that persons VIP file. It analyzes where u prefer to run, pass, how you set up your defense, etc. This should come in handy if you come across an especially tough online opponent. My one gripe is the running game. It seems the runner is stiff and upright, but perhaps its just because I am playing with DD. I like the charging feature, but as a Madden guy it takes a bit to get used to. I love the franchise mode, and so far this season the Texans are 2-0. Pounding the Chargers, and barely escaping Detroit 20-16 (hope the real thing plays out like this too). I have to agree with everyone on the pressure getting to the QB. It's great. Luckily the Hot Routes, and Audibles are very easy and help burn a defense. Well I will stop my rambling on and on, and I'll get back to my new adiction. Bring it on KC. :rofl:
 
The graphics are AMAZING... though the players could use longer arms. But the ratings are totally bogus, Wells is faster than Davis, and Moses is stronger than Andre Johnson. wtf? And they have Jammal Lord as the second KR...
 
It may not be likely that Lord would be KR, but he's been pretty effective for me back there. For some reason or another he usually gives me better returns than JJ Moses or Duff. They also have him listed as a RB instead of a FS, but I guess they didn't see how the Texans picked him on draft day.
 
listen i played it and i dont like it all they did was update the rosters and put alot of gliches in it like if your playing with the texans and u use there alternate jersey and u look on the side lines during play they with be wearing pink pants and white jerseys just stooped. and if ur returner gets hurt the put the next fastes guy in there like for the cheifs they put in trent green and for the rams they had bulger 2nd string just crud if u ask me im going back to madden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Hey Tony, it sounds like you aren't giving ESPN a chance. I'll be the first to tell you that it isn't Madden, period. That isn't a bad thing. ESPN plays more like the NFL is meant to be played. To my liking, it's ESPN for me.
 
For franchise junkies...Here's a little tip I found on another MB about the "Weekly Prep" settings.

From: yodawgyo

Here's the newest plan I made. It's easy to customize (everyone gains points again). Everyone does 2 hours of pos drills per week, so you can easily edit it to fit your own teams. Most of your players gain 2 points (some more, some less).


Monday:
Meeting-- Happy
Coaching- Coverages
Film/ 1/ All QBs/ Coverages
Film/ 1/ All Cs/ Fronts
Film/ 1/ All Gs/ Fronts
Film/ 1/ All Ts/ Fronts
Film/ 1/ All FBs/ Fronts
Film/ 1/ All DTs/ RUn Blocking Schemes
Film/ 1/ All DEs/ Run Blocking Schemes
Film/ 1/ All OLBs/ Run/Pass Distribution
Film/ 1/ All ILBs/ Run/Pass Distribution
Film/ 1/ All CBs/ Route Combinations
Film/ 1/ All SSs/ Route Combinations
Film/ 1/ All FSs/ Route Combinations
Film/ 2/ All TEs/ Man/Zone Tendecies
Weights/ 1/ All QBs/ Shoulders
Weights/ 1/ All HBs/ Hamstings and Quads
Weights/ 1/ All WRs/ Calves and Ankles
Weights/ 1/ All FSs/ Calves and Ankles
Weights/ 1/ All SSs/ Calves and Ankles
Weights/ 1/ All CBs/ Calves and Ankles
Weights/ 1/ All DEs/ Hamstings and Quads
Weights/ 1/ All DTs/ Hamstings and Quads
Weights/ 1/ All OLBs/ Arms
Weights/ 1/ All ILBs/ Arms

Tuesday:
7 on 7/ 3/ All/ Partial Pads
Full Drill/ 2/ 1st team/ Partial Pads
Full Drill/ 1/ 2nd team/ Partial Pads
Full Drill/ 1/ 3rdteam/ Partial Pads

Wednesday:
7 on 7/ 3/ All/ Partial Pads
Full Drill/ 1/ 1st team/ Partial Pads
Pos Drill/ 1/ All QBs/ Routes and Combinations
Pos Drill/ 1/ All HBs/ The Gauntlet
Pos Drill/ 1/ All FBs/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All WRs/ Wide Receiver Release
Pos Drill/ 1/ All TEs/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All Cs/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All Gs/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All Ts/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All DTs/ Get Off The Ball
Pos Drill/ 1/ All DEs/ Get Off The Ball

Thursday:
7 on 7/ 3/ All/ Partial Pads
Full Drill/ 2/ 1st Team/ Partial Pads
Pos Drill/ 2/ All OLBs/ Beat the Block
Pos Drill/ 2/ All ILBs/ Beat the Block
Pos Drill/ 1/ All CBs/ Backpedaling
Pos Drill/ 1/ All SSs/ Backpedaling
Pos Drill/ 1/ All FSs/ Backpedaling

Friday:
Full Drill/ 1/ 1st team/ No Pads
Full Drill/ 1/ 2nd team/ Partial Pads
Pos Drill/ 1/ All QBs/ Routes and Progressions
Pos Drill/ 1/ All HBs/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All FBs/ Tire Relay
Pos Drill/ 1/ All WRs/ Pattern Depths
Pos Drill/ 1/ All TEs/ Tire Relay
Pos Drill/ 1/ All Cs/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All Gs/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All Ts/ Run Blocking
Pos Drill/ 1/ All DTs/ Get Off the Ball
Pos Drill/ 1/ All DEs/ Get Off the Ball
Pos Drill/ 1/ All SSs/ Backpedaling
Pos Drill/ 1/ All FSs/ Backpedaling
 
I've been playing ESPN since the day it came out. The gameplay is perfect, it is dead on NFL action. But the game itself was obviously rushed and was not tested enough. Here are some of the more serious bugs/glitches:

Clipping Glitch: Let's say Davis runs for 8 yards, but Pitts is called for clipping. The computer will take the yards rushed (8) and penalty yards (15) and subtract 23 from your RB's stats.

Draft Glitch: The CPU will only draft QB's, HB's, OT's, and DE's in the first round. No matter how highly ranked a player at another postion is, the CPU won't draft him in round 1.

Substitution Glitch: If you pull starters to play back-ups during pre-season games, the CPU will keep your backups as starters. Also, it will not let you sub your starters back in. (Not ever in some bad cases.)

Position Glitch: You can't change a player's position. You can sub some guys to thier right spots. (Coleman to FS) Others you can't. (Pitts to LG) In addition to that, many players are in the wrong position, and alot are completely missing from the game. (R. Walker, D. Armstrong)

Freezing Glitch: This hasn't happened to me thankfully. People are having serious freezing issues. Some people can not even play 5 minutes in bad cases. Other times it will freeze during the draft and you entire franchise is lost because you can not progress beyond that point.

Trading Glitch: The CPU makes outrageous trades. I've seen Moss traded for Stahan, Lions traded Roy Williams in week 4. Huh? Very unrealistic. I like Madden's approach on this one, it doesn't happen in the NFL so it's not on the game.

I wasn't planning on buying Madden this year, but now I think I may have to.
 
Ramon Walker is in the game. He was a free agent when I started my franchise, so I think the ESPN game people thought he'd be cut before the season started. Armstrong is missing, and so is Faggins. The trades can become a little crazy, but it seems when you initiate a trade that terms become a little bit more realistic. Most teams want a draft pick and a player in return, etc. The draft feature is kind of strange. If you run your own draft, then the setup is a bitt off and you're more rushed to make a pick. You can't seem to make a list of prospects in order of what round they're projected to go so you're guessing at best. On the other hand, if you have the computer run the draft for you, then you get better players. However, they often don't match the system you're using. For example, my first round pick was DE who was smaller than Babin. It would've been ideal size for a 4-3 scheme, but we run the 3-4 and demand bigger DE. I managed to get a good CB, DT, and C in the late rounds when the computer ran the draft for me. So either way you get a trade off. It's still fun, but there are definite glitches. I'll still be getting Madden, but I had planned on getting it anyway. With the 20 dollar price ESPN was a no brainer.
 
texasguy346 said:
With the 20 dollar price ESPN was a no brainer.
Click to expand...
Especially if you get it at Best Buy and use the $5 off coupon in the back of the free GamePro magazines they have in the store! (The coupon is good for XBOX Live Starter Kits or Live games) $16 out-the-door is hard to beat! :hehe:
 
i was going to buy it today...went to best buy they had a little tv set up with it...played it...and hated it...this game is almost identical to the sega dreamcast games nfl 2k2...the graphics are horrible...i mean arms look out of place the facemasks look to be odd...can't really describe how bad the facemasks looked...umh...the play calling is horrible...it's not entirely clear what routes players are running...and to make it worse their formation names are just plan unreal...no one runs a jacks formation...it's a trips formation...just thought espn would get that right...it played ok once the ball was snapped but player movements are akward...tackling is better than madden though...for 20 bucks it's a good game...especially if you don't want to dish out 50 for madden...i will just simply stick with madden 04 for now
 
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