I've played both and prefer Madden over ESPN. This is the 3rd year that I have bought Madden for the XBOX and I am totally impressed. Great game.

Madden 05 is incredibly better than this espn game. The espn game has barely made improvement in the last several years. There is no comparison, Madden is an extremely better football game.

Madden 05 is far more superior in over all game play but ESPN NFL 2k5 is the best value at $19.99 for 2004. You will have to wait till this time next year to purchase Madden 2005 at that price

madden is far more better than that wack game espn nfl 2k5 it shows by how much it costs madden is worth the money you pay for it. madden has way better plays on both sides of the ball. i prefer madden over any football game out there i been on madden since i was able to play video games

i have both games and i can definately say that ESPN NFL 2K5 is alot better than madden 2005 ESPN is better features, gameplay, sound, and better graphics.. the madden does not even have the challenge feature which comes it quite handy sometimes

madden is the same, exact game that was released 3 years ago, with marginally better graphics. ESPN has been built from the ground up for the xbox and looks, plays, sounds, and has a better online than Madden. The gameplay in ESPN buries Madden, the presentation buries Madden, the depth buries Madden, the replays are a GREAT touch and the commentary actually matches the plays and players, unlike Madden. Madden, like most of the ps2 library, is tired and uninnovative, not better than ESPN, and certainly not worth $50. EA has already stated they reserve the discontinue the online servers at their discretion. EA has already discontinued service for their Madden 2004 online. How long til they quit the service for Madden 2005? with espn, you'll never run into this problem. ESPN is the true football fans game. Maddens tends to be for teh "button mashers". to each his own, i guess.

I don't play games other than racing sims much, but at $20, I had to pick it up. I haven't played football games in a long time, and I think the game is pretty good so far. The crib thing is sorta interesting, but I haven't wasted any time checking that out yet. Just trying to get through the franchise mode. I like the graphics, and the plays, especially the level of control I have over my defense, I'm not sure if Madden has the same level, but being able to call up my individual backs before a snap and assigning them to double team a specific receiver or stunt, or moving my entire defensive line or backs before the snap gives you a LOT of control.

If anything this title has peaked my interest in football sims in general. The only problem I have with this game is that the audio commentary lags behind the plays...

I think I might rent Madden after I grow tired of ESPN so I can see what differences there are between the games.

dude i brought madden the day it came out and there were like 10 people waitin outside the store for it i doubt espn did. and madden has way better owner mode then espn madden is the best game period.

ESPN 2K5 is an absolute gem. Madden appears to be improved, but remains basically the same as in previous versions with minor tweaks. If only the 2 parties could incorporate each games special components into one (ie, players interest level based on weather, location, prestige, etc..)we'd be living the high life. In the end you can not argue the quality of gameplay for the price when it comes to ESPN 2K5.

I purchased ESPN 2K5 only 1 week after it's release and have been hooked ever since I put it in my console. I have bought every Madden game since PS One and they only seem to change slightly year to year. However, last year with the first person feature I chose to also purchase ESPN 2K4. I wasn't impressed with it over Madden last year, however, this years version is amazing. There are drastic improvements in graphics, gameplay and features. Ever since owning this new and improved version I have yet to find a reason to put the same old boring Madden football games in my console. It's awesome and for $20 bones you can't beat it. I recommend this game over any Madden football game any day. Madden needs to come correct or they're going to loose a lot of their gaming fans to this new and improved game produced by Sega. Don't waste your money on Madden, rent both of them and you will truly see who has the upper edge... ESPN 2K5 without a doubt.

Ive been a madden fan for many years and have loved playing this franchise. However ESPN has really earned my respect and ultimately my money, ESPN 2K5 blew me away! The Graphics are Awsome the presention is great and the sound quality beats madden hands down. Madden just hasn't taken the leap forward in any of these catagories, that I had come to expect.
Thanks for the memories Madden, but it's a free market system where quality and price ultimately mean sales. Lets face it EA got beat. ESPN has got the goods.

ESPN far more better than Madden because of the Crib mode and the grapics that kick ASS!!!

Madden is streaks ahead in terms of graphics, gameplay is pretty even except the occasional lag in commentary i've experienced with ESPN2k5
Madden gets my vote because of 2 simple words...
Hit Stick
the most revolutionary adjustment to ne recent football game
GO MADDEN!!!!

I've been playing Madden for the last 6 years religiously. Last year I tried ESPN 2K4 and wasn't really impressed much. This year however, 2K5 is awesome! You have the option of making the franchise mode really in depth with the whole weekly preparation. I didn't have time to mess with it between games so I disabled it. The running game is way better on 2K5 then Madden. Like some of these other post this years Madden seems like the previous years Madden. Play them both and you'll see...

Got to give it up to 2k5. I played the 2k series before, but was never impressed enough to leave Madden. The 2 games are very similar but I found a wealth of options before the snap on both sides of the ball in 2k5, that just don't exist in madden. Maximum passing is alot more responsive than the passing in Madden. I usually skip 1/2 time and post game shows, but in 2k5 the video clips of important plays with the commentary to match, make the presentation hard to skip. I just like 2k series better. I will probably still buy madden just so I can crush the competition no matter what their preference, but my preference for the more exciting experience is 2k5.

people are jumping to conclusions that madden is better but i dont take their word for it until they had tried nfl 2k5,madden is probably a good game but i bet nfl 2k5 has it beat in a lot of catagories.

Sega's NFL 2K5 Is a blow away purchase! At $20 it shreds Madden 2005 for ten reasons:
1.The controls are solid. The amount of features that Sega has added to the control system is a massive improvement over last year's offering. 2K4 lacked defense adjustments which Madden has had for two years now. Sega however has done a better job of it this year than Madden has. Madden has only slightly improved in this area from last year's game and has added the new hit stick which causes way to many fumbles. Sega's maximum tackling however works better in terms of realism though it does lack the feel that Madden gives you. Defensive controls allowing you to make changes on the fly is great. LB's and DB's respond to my inputs and actually think for themselves leaving me the freedom to focus on what I want to do. Finally a defense that has a brain!
2.On offense Sega has the maximum passing that allows me to lead my reciever depending on the type of throw. Another cool thing is you can't abuse the bullet pass like you can in Madden. Throwing to many heaters results in dropped passes just like in real life. Ask any NFL wide-receiver what it's like trying to catch a bullet pass and he'll tell you it hurts. Bullet passes travel as fast as 65 MPH! Plus it is easier to block bullet passes in real life than lobs and Sega's game replicates this wonderfully well. If you look at real life stats on NFL QB's and the average pass completion % is around 56% or so. Even Payton Manning's average is under 70%. With the running game toned down from last year's 2K4 you see much more realistic numbers all around. Remember that Sega is very sim heavy and realistic as opposed to Madden which is all about speed and big plays and 100% pure fun. But Madden 2005 has forgotten its roots and now it's niether realistic or as fun as last year's game. If you have Madden 2004 you can skip 2005 all together. If you have to have this year's football than get Sega's NFL 2K5. Its only $20 and more than worth it.
3.Sega's Graphics has Madden beat hands down. From the player models to the ultra-realistic animations to the details as sutle as shading on the uniforms Sega has graphics that fooled everybody in my neighborhood into thinking they were watching the real thing on TV. The use of ESPN in the license has been boosted big time over last year's 2K4 and has the best over all presentation. Madden 2005 has its players looking like gorillas and what's up with the wierd arm swing on Madden's players? I want to know if EA has deliberatly screwed their game up because 2004 didn't look this bad. The specular highlights on Madden's players looks over used and is even distracting in a way. But that's just me. Most of my friends thought it looks cool. Player movement on Sega's 2K5 actually look like they are planting their feet when turning where as Madden still has that unnatural floaty look to the running game. Can somebody please tell me why Maddens tackles look like recycled version of last year's stuff? They are stiff and sometims don't seem to follow real world physics. Some stops look like you ran into a wall and others look downright silly. Sega's tackles look like the real thing right down to that last desperate grab at the runner's feet as he goes by. I've never seen that in Madden. Wrap tackles actually work like they should and hit tackles connect hard and affect both players realistically and take into account speed, velocity, mass, and even the angle of the hit. Madden's hits though more robust and aggressive looking, tend to be rather generic. In Sega's game I hardly see the same tackle twice. Madden's seem almost random, but random at the CPU's discrestion. You get the hit and the animation seems dead on or way off at an inconsistant rate.
4.The ESPN 2K5 audio system is way way better than Madden in every aspect. The commentary is so lifelike that if it weren't for the mild to moderate repetiveness I could swear I was watching a real game. Madden himself never even use the players names and Al Michaels sounds stale and broken. Sega has Chris "Boomer" Berman giving halftime and post game shows and Susan K. interviewing the star player after the game. The replays saved in the game stats menu after the game lets me review any and every play of the entire game. Way cool! The sound effects are awesome and the player chatter on the field has these guys actually taunting eachother by name!! They even get on eachother case after a botched play and it is even situation specific! Whoa! Madden has none of this, instead Madden has the same old stuff from last year, and the year before that, stale. John "I state the obvious" Madden's commentary show why he needs to retire or go work for Sega because they have a way better sound team. They could actually make him sound good. EA has him do his recording sessions and then a while later Al Michaels does his. Sega has their guys do their recordings together just like a real broadcast. And Boomer is always awesome!
5.The stat logic for Sega's players is more sophisticated than Madden's stats system. Sega tracks things like Composure, Pass Read Coverage, Scramble, Leadership, Consistancy, Agressiveness, Coverage, Run coverage, Pass Rush, and even Run Style. Madden misses all of these. Sega even adjusts these ability scores in franchise mode depending on how you train your players and how you use them in the game. Even benching a lackluster starter for a few plays will actually smarten him up and make him play better, not just replenish his energy. I like this attention to realism. Very impressive.
6.The player creation proccess is quite amazing givin the fact that as doesn't have as many options as Madden yet I can create a very real looking player all the same and it is much easier to do. Team creation is also a snap even though once again Madden does have more options than Sega, Sega's game gives you more in the long run. You get a fully themed stadium complete with current logos and even a name for the stadium that is actually used by the in game commentary. Angry Dog Park has a logo that looks just like the Georgia Bulldogs except that it's red instead of white. Cool!
7.And finally the VIP system is the coolest feature I've ever seen in a game. Playing against myself was cool and down right spooky!! It mimicked my style of play exactly right down to what moves I used when running and even how often I lob passed vs. bullet passed. My play calling tendencies was matched as well, I would select my play by holding down its button and continue scrolling through the plays and switching their directions several times before letting go of the button with the original play I had selected being the one I actually used. When I played vs. my own VIP I found that my play style was very unpredictable. I never knew what was coming next and yet it was exactly just the way I did it myself. Playing vs. me online will be quite the battle indeed! Bring it on! Madden needs to right back to the drawing board!

mike speaks the truth. i can't think of a better football game than ESPN. it's crack.... can't....stop....playing....

I have an Idea for the next X-Box. Three words; Wildcat Realism 800 8x AGP accellerator. Features: Loaded with more technology than even Bill Gates could deal with. 32 sample superscene sub-pixel anti-aliasing. Open GL support at the industrial level. Tons of light-scourcing capabilities. It's even used by the likes of Pixar studios, Industrial Light and Magic, and Dreamworks. Firepower that makes the PS2 look like the Atari 2500. Think "Finding Nemo" in realtime 3D with no slowdown. Imagine playing ESPN NFL 2K6 that looks better than the real thing. Details so lifelike that even the QB's fingerprints could be seen. Every inividual hair, strand in their eyebrow, facial hair, ect. rendered in exact detail. The players uniforms rendered with every ripple and sutle nuance, even the shoe laces will be there. Each player's eye color will be precise and acurate, complete with pupils that dialate in realtime reactions to light. 1,000,000+ animations per position, not including celebrations! Even the grass will be fully 3D and volumetric. And last but not least, the crowds will be fully rendered and animated complete with closeups that could fool any viewer. Bill Gates!! Hey!! Get the Wildcat!! Yeeeeessssss!!!!

Oh yeah and my other three reasons.

8.First person perspective mode. Major improvement when it comes to how you can switch from third person to first person on the fly. Sweet! Control has improved only a little in the passing game and the running game still suffers from the lack of peripheral vision. But on defense it is absolutly AWESOME!!!! My new favorite position is Defensive End! I'm on the field lined up staring straight at Kurt Warner like he's a steak! He actually looks at me for a split second, I saw fear in his eyes!! FEAR!!! YES!!! He hikes the ball and drops back, fakes the handoff to Marshell Faulk! But I don't buy it!! I use my swim move and then ripp past offensive tackle, Luke Petitgout shoving his 6'6" 310 pound mass out of the way as I bear down on Kurt! His eyes desperatly reading the field looking for an open man, but my boys have em' all covered! I jam on the tackle button and see my F#&%!ng hands reaching out for him, one more inch and he's all mine!! POW!! I hit him like a runnaway frieght train!! As we both tumble on the ground my vicelike grip holding him so he can't get away!! I hear him cryout from the collision, his voice is strained with pain!! Then I realize for the first time in my life, ever, what it's like to take a man down, make him fall! The adrenaline rush is exhillerating, and I'm right here in my living room!! Madden has never made me feel this way! Never!! I can't go back to Madden any more cause I'm addicted to Sega! Crack, Heroin, none of that could come even close to this!

I have not weighted in on the whole Madden Vs ESPN debate. Mainly because I have yet to play this year's Madden. I will say this though, everything I've heard is so great about the Madden defense (adjusting individual coverages, blitzes, reciever double teams, hit stick (x), Qb spying, etc.) exists in ESPN 2k5. Why has no one brought this up before? I just brought this up to balance the arguement about how you can do so much more on Madden defensively. Horses for courses I always say. My course is ESPN 2k5. (It's just too hard to learn to different systems ways of performing manuevers)

The ninth reason ESPN 2K5 is better than Madden 2005, is on comparing the two games side by side, (Hooking up two TVs with both mine and my friends X-Box's together in the same room right next to each other. Not easy to do in my small living room, trust me.) I've noticed that Sega's games portrays a football game more realistically in terms of scoring, game logic, and so on. We set up Madden and ESPN with simulated games featuring the Denver Broncos vs. the Atlanta Falcons. The game settings for both Madden and ESPN were as close to being exactly the same as possible. ESPN settings were as follows:
Denver as home team at Envesco field.
Quarter length: 15:00 minutes full regulation.
Time: Day
Weather: Clear
Difficulty: All Pro
NO CUSTOM MODIFICATIONS TO EITHER TEAM WAS MADE.
Madden settings were the same as above.
*Note: Madden's time was set to 2:00 pm.
As the two simulations progressed we noticed that Madden's simulation had the Falcons blowing out Denver 28-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Madden's simulation had Michael Vick complete all but 7 of his passes out of 41 attempts, and had him scramble for 102 yards rushing. He had one rushing touchdown and two passes completed for touchdowns. The Falcons kicked a field goal halfway through the first quarter from 43 yards out. Denver fumbled the ball away 4 times including the first kickoff! That was how Mike Vick scored his touchdown on his first play on offense. Hike, run, and score!
ESPN's simulation had the two teams end the first half with the score tied at 7. The game seesawed back and forth with Denver maintaining a slight advantage in rushing yards at 68 yds to Atlanta's 61 yds. Passing game was about even with both teams scoring passing touchdowns.
Will update later on the final results of who won and by how much on each version. Madden vs. ESPN.

Well as we suspected, Madden NFL 2005 showed us how unreal scores can get in a football game. Final score in the Madden simulation...45 Denver, 89 Atlanta. Vick rushed for 236 yds. passed for 478 yds. and threw 2 interceptions. Atlanta fumbled the ball 5 times. Denver scored all of its touchdowns in the last half of the game 4 of them from turnovers. Denver's offense rallied in the last 7 minutes to score 2 more times, a touchdown and a 31 yard field goal. Aside from the simulation being this outrageous in tirms scores, but it really showed off Maddens fumbling issues quite clearly. Why? Because the broncos running back Garrison Hearst fumbled 11 times!!! 11 TIMES!!! This cannot be Mike Shannahan's fabled running game, even without Clinton Portis, Denver's running game is not this bad in real life is it? ESPN had Hearst lose the ball only twice fumbling. He ran for 218 yds. in the ESPN simulation and that's with 15 minute quarters! that sounds about right for him in real life considering who he's playing for and who he's playing against. there were very few HUGE breakout plays in Sega's game that made you wonder about what the defense was doing. Madden had so many plays that looked as if the cpu just simply decided when players would do their jobs and when they would just stand there and let the play unfold around them and not do anything. One replay had Kieth Brooking just stand there as Garrison Hearst ran right past him! Then he turned and chased Hearst
for 9 or 10 yards and stop suddenly as DB DeAngelo Hall made the tackle. Then Kieth made three stops behind the line of scrimmage to force the three and out. Totally inconsistant.
ESPN had a total of 6 pass interceptions, Vick threw 4 and Plummer threw 2. The ESPN final score was 28 Denver, 31 Atlanta. Atlanta's Jay Feely kicked the game winning field goal to break the tie in 4th quarter with only 1:06 left on the clock. Denver started their drive on their own 27 yard line and executed a drive of 7 plays to move the ball up field to within field goal range, on the Falcons 28 yard line. With just 6 seconds left in the game on 3rd down and 8 yards to go, Jake Plummer threw a Hail Mary pass down field to Adrian Madise. Only to get picked off in the endzone by Hall. What a nail biting heartbreaker!! Than listening to Chris Berman give the postgame show reviewing key plays of the game made us all feel like we had just witnessed a playoff game! We sat here for like almost two hours reviewing plays. Now this is real football when you can watch a video game simulate a full length regulation game and pull off something this convincing that I believe now in my heart that EA has lost touch with what football is all about, the challenges, the successes, the failiars, the triumphs, and the heartbreaks. Without question I'm convinced that Sega knows its football.
The tenth and final reason ESPN is better than Madden is in Sega's willingness to make such a huge sacrifice to bring such a wonderfull piece of programming to gamers for only $20.00. For those who pass up ESPN NFL 2K5 for Madden this year are truly missing out on some truly great if not the absolute best football game ever made! Period! As for me I'm taking this Madden 2005 back to Blockbuster. I have Madden 2004 and that'll do for now. Sega's ESPN is going to get all the playtime in my X-Box this year however.
Nuff' Said!

Wow, Mike...I might have to throw on some sim games of my own! This forum has been really been helpful! I will try my hardest to get a credit from Best Buy for a wasted game. Out of 8 games on Madden (X-Box Live), 5 games were frozen up due to Disc Damage, 1 game for a conroller disconnect...and I actually got to play out 2 (losses...sniff, sniff). That's 0-8!! My Did Not Finish (DNF%) is so high, that I am almost embarrassed to play online! It is not in my personality to quit. 2K5? No problems whatsoever. I had a few problems dropping (because of my personal wireless network issues) in the beginning, but the problems have been resolved. You can't beat Sega/ESPN's presentation, and the realism is there. Mike was right about the players in Madden looking like Gorillas (on steroids, it seems), with their arms swinging around. There's really only three features that I liked on Madden, but wouldn't be enough to stack up to 2K5. 1) Real-time Sports ticker 2)Regional lobbies (which includes players talking trash with some sort of unique quick messaging system) and 3) the Hit Stick...all are interesting, but all must Hail to Boomer and ESPN...they have outdone EA Sports this time...and I have been an EA fan forever! (One of my son's first whole phrases was, "E-A-Sports...It's in the Game!") But with the lack of the Challenging system, the implemention of a Fair Play system (where you wouldn't be able to even have the option to try a fake punt...I would never anyways, but you never know), and the Madden's Cartoony graphics, I feel like I would of been better off spending my $52 towards a keg and hosting an NFL 2K5 party/tournament at my house!!

"If it's in the Game...ESPN has got it!"

I'M A BIG EA SPORTS FAN. I'VE BEEN PLAYING MADDEN FOR ABOUT 4 YRS NOW. BUT...I'M SOLD ON SEGA'S ESPN 2K5! ALOT OF MADDEN FANS ARE NOT SOLD--MAYBE THEY DON'T LIKE CHANGE. MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO LEARN THE NEW BUTTONS? I GUESS SEGA SAW THIS COMING AND THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE LOW PRICE OF ONLY $20. THEY KNEW, IN THE SHORT TERM, THEY WOULDN'T MAKE AS MUCH $$ AS THE MADDEN SERIES. BUT THEY ALSO KNEW THAT THEIR GAME IS MUCH BETTER AND WOULD CAUSE A BUZZ. THEY'LL EVENTUALLY TAKE THAT #1 SPOT FROM MADDEN. WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF SEGA'S SALES & MARKETING IS A GENIUS. SO..TO ALL YOU DIE-HARD MADDEN FANS: EMBRACE CHANGE..AND THE REALITY THAT SEGA'S ESPN 2K6 WILL BE STUCK IN YOUR CONSOLE NEXT YEAR.

i have played both espn and madden and see that they are pretty close. Espn makes u feel like you are actually watching a game with its presentation and interviews aswell as the half time and post game shows. Player models are almost perfect with the exception of the faces and tackling takes into consideration angle speed and area of contact. Also the way the ball looks going through the air looks just like an actual game.
Madden is not without its strengths either. the franchise mode is unbelievable deep. with owner mode making a return and now ea sports radio. The newspaper is a nice touch too. gameplay is about what u would expect from madden with defense being improved from previous installments. The hitstick is good but tends to get too hard to use and is not worth using. Player models do look better than last year in cut scenes but in actual play look about the same. tackling animations have been varied more than last year and do use speed and angle on the hit somewhat.
If u want the best deal get espn 2k5 if u want the game that the most people are gonna have and talk about get madden if u want the best game get both.

I have recently picked up espn nfl 2k5 by sega for the ps2 console. This game is much bettter than Madden 05. The graphics are way better. Madden has spent too much time on the game play and not enough on the grapghics, like they always do. I have played both games so i can compare them without question. The sportscenter, halftime, and postgame shows are a great feature in the 2k5 game. it updates u on the great plays u have made and shows u trades, free agency pick ups, injuries, and wins-loss record of the other teams around the leauge. This is a great feature because it makes u feel like u are in the game. Like u are watching a monday or sunday night game on espn. I was a die hard madden fan. It was only madden all the time. I just ould not play any other football videogae. But, when this game was refered to me by a friend i had to go pick it up. For only $20 ($30 less than madden 05) i was hooked on it. So i advise u to go get this game. For $20 u get your moneys worth, believe me!

The P-I's Arts & Entertainment section ran a review of Madden '05 today from the Arizona Daily Star:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/videogames/186490_hotpick17.html

SO - I heard the buzz about this ESPN 2K5 game as football season approached and thought I'd check it out. Wow, I'm glad I did. I wanted to wait for Madden 05 to come out to compare the two, now that I have seen/played both -- without question ESPN 2K5 is the better game. I played Sega Sports games way back in the Genesis era, then switched to EA/Madden when the PS1 came out. ESPN 2K5 is a breath of fresh air this season. I feel Madden is so the same every year. Even though the game does see minor improvements/options added every season, it just doesn't have what ESPN has in 05. With ESPN I look forward to play game after game as my season progresses. It's fun! Being a busy person I don't have much time for video games, but this game is definitely worth it for an hour a day.
ESPN 2K5 has better graphics, color, commentary, player animation/characteristics, and the multimedia effects make it a lot more realistic. Just compare for example when they show a player's stats through out the game -- ESPN's really come at you -- while Madden is in plain text. Plus ESPN's halftime and postgame show are a nice feature. You feel like you're playing a football game being watched on TV. I think ESPN just has more of the little things that make it a better game.
Don't get me wrong, Madden is a great game, but ESPN beats it this year -- and that $19.99 tag was to attract some Madden users to test it out --I have, and now I'm hooked. When it comes to basketball games however, EA has it down. But if you are someone deciding between these two great football games -- give ESPN a shot, you can always play Madden at your buddies house. But I'll tell you, as you play Madden at your buddies house, you'll really look forward to getting home to play this year's winner -- ESPN 2K5.

"Since competition is sparse, there's no real need for vast improvement each year in John Madden's football video game."

this is the problem with madden and ea in general. they the believe the gaming industry should only improve and innovate when THEY think it's time.

i'm glad espn didn't wait for ea's permission and decided to innovate. They succeeded splendidly and have provided a much superior game than madden.

the ai is unbalanced, the ai d-line is a joke, the pass rushers a ineffectual, all players have very, very similary body types (linemen and runnin backs the same size..?). These are only some of the issues not addressed since last version of madden and the ones before that.

since they refuse to provide the gamers the best possible product, i'll go with the game that provides the superior product: ESPN Football 2k5

Maddeen is slow, the graphics are dull, the comentary sucks, the gameplay is boring, the hits are weak, and the sound is terrible, compared to ESPN 2K5. ESPN2K5 is the future of football games. The graphics, gameplay, comentary and sound blow the historic madden away. Its like comparing digital cable to HDTV. The franchise is way more detailed. You'd be a fool to still play madden. Ray Lewis is on madden's cover, but I saw him playing ESPN 2K4 on a ESPN video game special, on players who play video games. Besides ESPN is the WORLD WIDE LEADER IN SPORTS.

I been a Madden for years. I've owned every Madden game to date. I tried ESPN 2K5 and it took football to a new level. ESPN beat Madden in gameplay as well as graphics. I expected more from Madden. EA Sports got some work to do.

Who ever says madden is better than espn is stupid. I mean first off even if they were exactly the same espn is still better because it is only $20. Madden 2004 was very good because it felt diffrent from 2003 however 2005 starts to feel like 2003 again but with the features of 2004. if madden wants to beat espn they need to do wht they did that put then on top and thats be innovative. Right now they are just riding their reputation. EA needs to step it up with their game or lower their price because they are about to lose alot of fans and by the way espn basketball 2k5 is only gonna be $20 too so check it out it might be better than live

I have always been a football sim fan and have always been slightly partial towards the Madden series. But this year is different. I bought both ESPN NFL 2K5 and Madden 2005, and I ended up returning Madden to the store. Sega's 2K5 is, in my opinion, a more soild game in terms of both graphical presentation and gameplay. You can argue that Madden offers more depth both in the franchise mode and on the defensive side of the ball, but in reality ESPN offers most of the same features along with new inovations that the Madden lacks (and will always lack if you take a look at the progression of the Madden franchise in recent years).

ESPN NFL 2K5 vs. Madden 2005

ESPN NFL 2K5 bar NONE.

I picked up NFL 2k5 first before madden because of all of the speculations I have been hearing...One thing i will say ESPN has an advantage over is the graphics (cause hell my kicker olindo mare on the dolphins is as big as ray lewis) the presentation on espn is nicer, and madden...what the heck is up with all the tip balls going down field...I swear this no named cornerback with a speed of like 87 for the browns was keeping up with Torry Holt with a speed of 97 on a bomb down field...this no named guy did a michael jordan to knock the ball down!!! Come on madden, lets be more realistic. On the other hand ESPN, i need more control over my players on defense. But the two things that matter to me is a BIIIG dissapointments on both ends. I will call it a tie, but if im forced to go wtih one...Congradulations ESPN.

You'll find that after 15 years in the business Madden Football has an incredible loyal fan base. Most Madden fans refuse to believe that anything could be better.
Unfortunately for them, ESPN 2K5 has caught and passed Madden this year. Both are great games, but ESPN 2K5's stunning graphics, gameplay and presentation make it the top game of the season. It's the best football game at any price.

I had picked up a copy of ESPN 2k5 not long after it was released. At first it was really hard to find a copy at stores since I did not preorder.

Took this game home and played it with some buddies of mine. The graphics floored all of us! The ambient light of the setting sun made this game look real! And dome games had that weird flourescent lighting you expect in those games. This game so fun even to watch. My friends and I must have spent at least 3 hours watching the computer play each other while we rooted for our favorite teams. With the awesome presentations, it really seemed like watching a real game.

A few weeks later, Madden 2005 came out and I picked it up from Blockbuster. I've played the Madden games over the years and felt I was better playing EA games than Sega's. Well I popped it in when my friends were over and the experience has been just a major letdown. I think the cartoony colors and the disproportioned players was the MOST noticeable difference. By this time we have been too spoiled by 2k5's realistic graphics and just couldn't go back to Madden. I took my Madden copy back to Blockbuster for credit as a result. EPSN, thank you for making this football season very special.

So does anybody have any suggestions for ESPN NFL 2K6?
Can't wait for XBOX 2!:D

I dunno...i think i am a die hard madden fan cause thats basically my game this year. But I also have Espn 2K5 which i think is great. I love the releastic play with chris berman and susy kolbert and the game higlights rock! But if that doesnt convince you...50$ to 20$. Espn.

Madden is better b/c i like the create a fan and stadium!!!

I think that ESPN is much better than Madden because it has better graphics and it has a "Crib"
with mini-games.

just what i was searching for. Best whises for all we live together and we live together <a href="http://www.welivestogether.net">http://www.welivestogether.net</a>

just what i was searching for. Best whises for all we live together and we live together http://www.welivestogether.net

Madden 2005 is way better. 2K5 just doesn't have the graphics, offensive control and defensive control. I wasn't impressed with the 2k series. You can do more stuff on Madden than on ESPN football games.

Madden 2005 is way better. 2K5 just doesn't have the graphics, offensive control and defensive control. I wasn't impressed with the 2k series. You can do more stuff on Madden than on ESPN football games.

Madden 2005 is way better. 2K5 just doesn't have the graphics, offensive control and defensive control. I wasn't impressed with the 2k series. You can do more stuff on Madden than on ESPN football games.

if u losers have nothing more to do rather than debate over video games, YOU ALL ARE FU*KING LOSERS, omg you people need to get a life.

witch do you think is better? Madden 2005 or NFL 2K5?

I ordered Madden 2k5 about a year ago and I'm totally hooked on it! I also bought this years Madden as a after thought, trying to see how it compares. Well needless to say Madden is nothing compared to Espn when it comes to gameplay and graphics. I mean the players on Espn look better than in Madden. Madden is clunky and slow and you have less control over the gameplay than in Espn. I can say one thing positive about Madden though, it has better music and features than Espn. But overall I'd choose Espn just for it's gameplay. Also, it's franchise mode is off-the-chain.

All right... I've been a Madden fans since the beginning... Even before NFL QB Club 98'... thoses were some good times... Well.. this year my brother bought madden 2005 for ps2, but I have an xbox... So you know I was pissed!!! Cause it's not the same... Xbox has way better graphics than ps2.. everyone knows it.. So wut did I do? I was going to the store to by Madden 2005 ofcourse... but something along with espn 2k5's price told me to try it out... so I went ahead and bought it. As soon as I got ajusted to the controls and game play, I was hooked.. ESPN 2k5 is one of the most realistic, heart racing, suspense pumping sports game I ever played... I CAN"T WAIT UNTIL ESPN 2K6 hits store... I will be on the band wagon waitin for it.. But I also feel that this battle between Madden and ESPN will change the way we look at football sim completely... By the way look out for these teams next year... (Panthers, Falcons and Eagles)the Patriots needs to stop winning, but they can't forget about the superbowl next season...

I have been a Madden fan since football games hit the shelves. This year, I have played both games and I can safely say that ESPN 2K5 is the better game. I understand that the franchise mode is deep in Madden....but this is a football game...not a franchising game......In terms of gameplay, ESPN is way better than Madden. The control you have over the Running back is amazing. The throwing is way better than in Madden with precision mode adding to the challenge. I really cannot wait for ESPN 2K6 to hit the shelfs.

Like everyone else I was skeptical of Espn 2k series. From what I have heard of the last couple of years, Madden totally dominated. But I took a chance and at least rented the game. Before I knew it I was at the store buying the game. The game seems real to me in the aspects that you can't have one player totally dominate the game like you can on Madden. Usually on Madden my quarterback would pass for 6000 yards and run for another 2500 yards which is totally unrealistic. On Espn the numbers are great but they seem real, Even though I may throw for 60 TD's I am going to throw some interceptions as well. Running in Espn is a challenge especially when you are playing a top ranked Defense. I also like the off-season mode because you can bargain with free-agents and make trade offers to teams and if they don't like it that team offers a countertrade. It is without hands down the best football game I have played since the Techno bowl games in the late eighties.

Can't wait for ESPN 2K6

all yall haters on espn 2k5 yall know that espn is way better than madden 2005 its certanitly not worth 50 moneys

OK,This is what i know...Madden is an ok game if you like the first zelda that came out on nintendo....the players look like crap until you go to replay, atleast espn makes the players look real and closer so you can see the players WHILE YOUR PLAYING i like the route running better and catches by the wideouts......and love the QB pivots...also the rookies accually have faces...
EA quit messing around with the radio crap and focus on graphics.....and tell Madden to put down the hotdogs .....all he ever talks about is musturd on QB throws.

I hate both games. I much prefer NFl Blitz. Get out of my face. Yeah!!!!!!!!!

the madden chearleaders are much sexier than the 2k5 ones. GO MADDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Madden is horrible. You cant make an interception. MVP Baseball 2002 is a better football game then Madden will ever be! Go MVP. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I BEEN PLAYING 2K SERIES SINCE DREAMCAST. I NEVER LIKED MADDEN, I FUKING HATE DAT GAME. I HATE MADDEN TO DA FULLEST.WHY IZ EVERYBODY ON MADDEN DICK.WE KNOW DAT ESPN WON THIS YEAR AND BLOW MADDEN AWAY.LET ME TELL U DA REASON WHY I HATE MADDEN CAUSE ITS UNREALTIC ESPEACLLIAY DA FAKE TACKLES,WHICH IZ SO FUKKING ANNOYING.ALL THESE COLLISIN TACLKES AND WHEN RUN UP TO SOMEBODY THEY JUST TOUCH EACH OTHER AND FALL LIKE THEY JUST BODY SLAM EACH OTHER FOOL.MADDEN 2004 ITS A BETTER GAME FOOL.HIT STICK DONT WORK ON DA CPU ON ALL-MADDEN.BUT WHEN U PLAYING UR HOMEBOY U FUMBLE ALL DA TIME.ONE TIME I PLAY MY HOMEBOY HE THROW DA BALL UP FOR GRABS, TY LAW GETS BOMB BY MINNIS ON DA DOLPHIN. WAT DA FUK GETS ,BOMB BY A SIX STRING RECIEVER.I HATE WHEN DA O-LINE JUST LOOK AT DA DE RUN RIGHT PAST DEM LIKE DEY JUST DONT GIVE A FUK.I FUKKING HATE DAT. DA O-LINE GIVES U NO BLOCK IT DONT MATTER WRONG OFFENSE LINE U HAD.SHIT,EA SPORTS DONT GIVE A FUK DEY JUST ADD LITTLE NEW FEATURES AND DEN SELL DEM AND U DUMBASS BUY IT.OOOOOOOO ITS MADDEN I GO BUY IT.DEY COULD HAVE PUT HIT STICK ON 04 EVEN 03.I ALSO HATE DA UNREALTIC CATCHES ON MADDEN. DA RECEIVERS CATCH WITHOUT LOOKING BACK ONCE.LIKE DEY ARE MUTANTS OR SOME SHIT. DEY CATCH DA PASSES LIKE DEY JUST CLAW ALL DA BALLS.I HATE DA BODY PARTS MOVIN INTO EACH WHICH HAPPEN TO MUCH.I HATE MADDEN SAY DA SAME SHIT OVA AND OVA AGAIN.CHEERLADERS DA SAME FROM 03.DEY DONT GIVE A FUK.JUST PLAYMAKER,HITSTICK,AND OWNER MODE AND WITH MUSIC.DATS ALL MADDEN GOT ESPN IN.I FORGOT TRAINING CAMP WHICH ESPN HAS OF DER OWN.I FUKKING HATE MADDEN.I HATE WAT DEY DID FUKKING UP ESPN AND UR FANS WITH BUYING DA RIGHTS FOR DA NFL.OOOOO WELL NOW IM FUKKING FORCE TO PLAY THIS MADDEN FOR FIVE STRAIGHTS YEARS.NO MORE NFL 2K6.NFL 2K6 WOULD HAVE BEEN A KILLER. FUK MADDEN FUK DEM MADDEN FANS

There should be a retirement option in franchise mode. It sucks when you rush for 20,000 + yards in Legend mode and your guy disappears after your done. Records should be held until broken in video games too!!!!! Each franchise should give the option to retire numbers and hold team and NFL records.

I've been a Madden fanatic ever since Madden came out. I was so disgusted with madden after 2k4 I switched over to xbox along with espn 2k5 and man let me tell you I havent looked back ever since espn nfl 2k5 is a far more superior game than madden. The graphics and the reality of the game is off the chain fo shizzle. You cant go wrong with espn if steve madden do not step up there game there going to be in big trouble this year. Espn will be #1

Madden is a joke compare to espn nfl I hope espn does come out with 2k6 not only for me but for all the players who play.There nothing like espn the graphies is far more better and it sure isn't cartoon form like Madden which just a plain JOKE!Please bring out ESPN NFL 2k6 we NEED that game!

espn 2k5 makes the new madden stink. Anyone who prefers madden should be shot.

Whichever game people prefer, you should not take the advice of people behind the counters of EBGames or Gamestop, or any similar places. They have agreements with the makes of NFL 2K5, and are paid to push 2K5. They will do it to the point of forcing it down your throat. I personally like Madden, but if you decide to try 2K5, I would buy both, and decide for yourself. Don't be sold by the salesclerks.

come on madden that just sad...madden...its the same thing from 10 years ago just better graphics thats it...espn 2k5 and ho espn 2k6 that's football...if you all madden lover's wnats to throw money away send it to my better...
madden lover's change its not always bad...believe me...this year get the espn game please...

I think ESPN 2K5 is a way better game than Madden
ESPN just blows Madden out of the water, when I saw that price tag for $19.99 come on I had to buy it and boy do you get your moneys worth. I rented madden and I was disappointed because the graphics look gay they look like your watching the Looney Tones or something and Their is just no realism to it at all. I mean come on do you want a game that is so stupid that you can't even run faster than the freaken defense, I mean the come on the guys speed is like 50 and your running back or recievers speed is like 97 and the defensive guy keeps up with you and tackles you before you get to the endzone. I mean the guy like a freaking turtle man how can he keep up with a wide reciever. ESPN 2K5 gets my vote.

It sucks that they won't come out with A ESPN 2K6 I just want to go down to that place where they make ESPN and slap them in the face for letting Madden take over.

You guys say that Madden hasn't improved? When i first got my PS2 my first game was Madden 03. I borrowed my freinds Madden 05 and WOW. (Hey Big-D) It has improved so much, like relocating the stadium, more create-a-team logos. I am a die hard BYU cougar fan and when i want to make the cougs for fun in 03, its got a goal post bein' the closest thing to a Y! And the hit-stick. I loved hittin my Dad's kick returner and runnin back the fumble! Back to the create-a-team. When you make the stadium in 03 u pick the kind of stadium (bowl, dome, etc.) and if you have turf or grass. In 05 you choose the lights, the stand border, etc. etc. etc. Go Madden!

Miami3054life, take off the caps i want 2 read wat u say

Anyone who thinks madden is better is on weed.It's gameplay is very unrealistic and the controls are whack. It doesnt have crib or 25th anniversary either. Go sega and screw madden.This yr there will be no sega cuz madden signed deal with Nfl and that just pisses me off. Go sega and Kevin Jones for the Detroit Lions

かわいい素人娘１８歳が運営する最強エログ！

かわいい素人娘１８歳が運営する最強エログ！

espn is the best game i have ever played in my life and madden is the dumbest game i have ever played and the reason why i like espn is because in this game when the WR jumps in the air for the ball u can tacle him in the air but in madden when it happens the WR drops to the ground and thats when u tacle him

Get real, Madden has been the same for the last few years with minor changes. "ADJUSTABLE HOT DOG PRICES!!!" WOW "HIT STICK!!!!" *yawn* it doesn't really do enough to be mentioned as a great feature. EA Sport has been known to have the weaker gameplay that the 2K series so they just add a bunch of little side options that still don't change the fact that gameplay wise they aren't in 2K's league.

2K5 is way better than madden. Its alot more phiscal. Like shoulder charging and breaking takles. In Madden its like ok ill just go down now but in 2k5 THEY accully try.

2K5 is way better than madden. Its alot more phiscal. Like shoulder charging and breaking takles. In Madden its like ok ill just go down now but in 2k5 THEY accully try.

2K5 is way better than madden. Its alot more phiscal. Like shoulder charging and breaking takles. In Madden its like ok ill just go down now but in 2k5 THEY accully try.

2K5 is way better than madden. Its alot more phiscal. Like shoulder charging and breaking takles. In Madden its like ok ill just go down now but in 2k5 THEY accully try.

The telltale sign that even madden developers knew espn was much better, and would eventually phase madden out, is that madden bougth the rights from the NFL to all the teams and Players. Meanings, espn cannot make a 2k6. i played the new madden game, i payed 50 bucks for it, played it for 5 minuts, and gave it to my cousin. i will no longer be able to enjoy football for my playstatoin. espn 2k3 is better than madden 06, talk to any programmer, even those who program for EA. you wont ;get any dissagreement from them. espn 2k series was a much better game than madden

The telltale sign that even madden developers knew espn was much better, and would eventually phase madden out, is that madden bougth the rights from the NFL to all the teams and Players. Meanings, espn cannot make a 2k6. i played the new madden game, i payed 50 bucks for it, played it for 5 minuts, and gave it to my cousin. i will no longer be able to enjoy football for my playstatoin. espn 2k3 is better than madden 06, talk to any programmer, even those who program for EA. you wont ;get any dissagreement from them. espn 2k series was a much better game than madden

The telltale sign that even madden developers knew espn was much better, and would eventually phase madden out, is that madden bougth the rights from the NFL to all the teams and Players. Meanings, espn cannot make a 2k6. i played the new madden game, i payed 50 bucks for it, played it for 5 minuts, and gave it to my cousin. i will no longer be able to enjoy football for my playstatoin. espn 2k3 is better than madden 06, talk to any programmer, even those who program for EA. you wont ;get any dissagreement from them. espn 2k series was a much better game than madden

The telltale sign that even madden developers knew espn was much better, and would eventually phase madden out, is that madden bougth the rights from the NFL to all the teams and Players. Meanings, espn cannot make a 2k6. i played the new madden game, i payed 50 bucks for it, played it for 5 minuts, and gave it to my cousin. i will no longer be able to enjoy football for my playstatoin. espn 2k3 is better than madden 06, talk to any programmer, even those who program for EA. you wont ;get any dissagreement from them. espn 2k series was a much better game than madden

The telltale sign that even madden developers knew espn was much better, and would eventually phase madden out, is that madden bougth the rights from the NFL to all the teams and Players. Meanings, espn cannot make a 2k6. i played the new madden game, i payed 50 bucks for it, played it for 5 minuts, and gave it to my cousin. i will no longer be able to enjoy football for my playstatoin. espn 2k3 is better than madden 06, talk to any programmer, even those who program for EA. you wont ;get any dissagreement from them. espn 2k series was a much better game than madden