2k5 versus 2005: Looking back - headsigh's Blog

headsigh's Blog

2k5 versus 2005: Looking back

Posted on July 24, 2009 at 12:31 PM.

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Well, I guess I'll start by saying I'm not a specific fan of either the 2k or Madden series. I enjoy both, but my heart still beats for Tecmo Bowl. I just felt like looking back- a lot of people went, "OMG 2k5 IS WAY BETTER THAN MADDEN" and others went "NO U STOOPID MADDEN BLOES 2K5 OUT DA WATTA!!!one", and I still disagree to this day. I won't say one was better than the other as one game excelled in some categories while the other was better in others. I guess a chart is in order.

Gameplay: 2k5
I don't believe there was a more fluid gaming experience on the current-gen consoles than seen on ESPN NFL 2k5. Madden's Hit Stick was implemented in 2005, and that did change the way things were in that series, 2k5 was simply impressive. The breaking in and out of tackles and animations blending into each other ways realistic, and so was the drop-back passing system. At times the AI was spotty for both games, though.

Graphics: Madden
I cannot call myself a true gamer if I cannot confess the 2k5 graphics engine, compared to the newly unveiled Madden 05 edition, was godawful. Perhaps I am spoiled by the new next-gen, shiny and lifelike textures and models, but I still find the 2k5 graphics 2002-quality, maybe something I'd see on the original Playstation. Snow weather was especially bad. Madden broke the mold with their new graphics system.

Presentation: 2k5
EA is only now embracing the ESPN integration into their games. 2k5 hit it right off the bat, making every game feel like a complete Monday Night Football broadcast (or Tuesday, or Wednesday, or whatever day you popped in the game disk). Madden's presentation was okay with Tony Bruno and the newspapers and everything, but Sportscenter and ESPN.com were equally as engrossing. What puts 2k5 over the top for me was First Person Football - for it's time, it was revolutionary and something unique to the franchise, and sports games itself. Only now do you see much implementation of a first person view (NHL 10's fight camera comes to mind), but 2k5 made it real- and real it was. I played football and I was dumbfounded at how great it was. I'll stop gushing over FPF for now, that's for a different blog, I suppose.

You can pull lots of reasons for why one game was better than another, but the truth is- both were games, and both were fun. There's nothing debatable about that.

Comments

# 1 JerzeyReign @ Jul 24

I'm a Madden fan to the heart, but 2k5 was the best football... hands down. It was so realistic, EA has just caught on with 2010 to do some of the things that 2k implemented 4 years ago. But the best thing about it, an Eagle on the cover (T.O) and it was only 20 bucks for a great simulation game.