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NFL 2K5: A Present-Day Take On An All-Time Classic

01:03 PM - July 20, 2014 by RaychelSnr

When it was released in 2004, NFL 2K5 was one of the best playing and best presented sports games you could find. For the bargain-bin price of $20, you could get gameplay and features which rivaled any full priced sports game at the time — if not wholly surpassing them.

Fast forward 10 years and there are still aspects of NFL 2K5 which have aged pretty well — but there are also things which would be cardinal sins to sports gamers today. NFL 2K5 definitely wasn’t a perfect game, but it was about as good as you could imagine a game could be 10 years ago, which is one of the highest compliments you can give a game.

Read More - NFL 2K5: A Present-Day Take On An All-Time Classic

Game: ESPN NFL 2K5Reader Score: 9.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / XboxVotes for game: 84 - View All

Member Comments

# 61 twenty3 @ 07/21/14 11:02 PM

One of the things I feel go unnoticed about 2k5 is their challenge system. Only 2k gave people the option to challenge what they wanted to challenge...where as madden never gave you an option to challenge anything.

# 62 kehlis @ 07/21/14 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twenty3


	One of the things I feel go unnoticed about 2k5 is their challenge system. Only 2k gave people the option to challenge what they wanted to challenge...where as madden never gave you an option to challenge anything.

And it's one of the few things they did incorrectly.

When a play is challenged the entire play is reviewable. Still don't understand why this isn't understood.

You hear announcers saying what they think the coach is challenging but it's irrelevant.

# 63 Skyboxer @ 07/21/14 11:20 PM

Loved... Loved 2K5.
Other than my PC games which I still have (FPSFB etc..)
As far as consoles I only have kept 2K football (all versions) and Madden 2K5.
So yes 2K is a classic for me.

2K was great in many ways at the time. Yes lot's hold up but there was plenty that it wasn't great at either. Same with most games.

What I'd like to see in future games is the D hot route system that was in 2K which IMO was one of the greatest things about the game.. and tiered play calling.

Great memories with 2K.

# 64 kehlis @ 07/22/14 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectralThundr


	The "War" ended a long time ago when 2k conceded nearly it's entire sports line to focus on their only remaining sports title NBA2k imo.

Hey Realm, don't you think they should have kept up with the NHL2k series?

# 65 ggsimmonds @ 07/22/14 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehlis


	And it's one of the few things they did incorrectly. When a play is challenged the entire play is reviewable. Still don't understand why this isn't understood. You hear announcers saying what they think the coach is challenging but it's irrelevant.

Better than what the other game does. There have been times I went to challenge a play, say a fumble, and the game cuts to the "review" and shows footage of the recovery as if that was being challenged even though it was a clear scoop up and run.

Good times.

# 66 kehlis @ 07/22/14 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggsimmonds


	Better than what the other game does. There have been times I went to challenge a play, say a fumble, and the game cuts to the "review" and shows footage of the recovery as if that was being challenged even though it was a clear scoop up and run.

For sure.

Doesn't mean it was right though.

# 67 GlennN @ 07/22/14 11:43 AM

2k5 was an incredible game, really the most I have ever played any sports videogame, but it did certainly have its limitations. One I didn't notice mentioned in franchise is the fact the computer would only draft OL, QB, RB or DL in the first round. No matter how great a CB, WR, OLB, etc were, the computer would ignore them. This drove me nuts (but a flaw I overlooked given how much I loved playing the game).

# 68 bcruise @ 07/22/14 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennN


	2k5 was an incredible game, really the most I have ever played any sports videogame, but it did certainly have its limitations. One I didn't notice mentioned in franchise is the fact the computer would only draft OL, QB, RB or DL in the first round. No matter how great a CB, WR, OLB, etc were, the computer would ignore them. This drove me nuts (but a flaw I overlooked given how much I loved playing the game).

It was mentioned in the article (not specifically):

Quote:


	However, this is one area where NFL 2K5 has without a doubt shown its age. The financial model in the game is incredibly basic, with no way to manage anything but player salaries — but you are able to go all the way up to the cap with no issues from any fictional owners, which don’t really exist. Many of the contract types made for interesting financial management, but they actually are against the real-NFL rules and thus, unrealistic. The draft presentation itself is pretty cool, but the drafting A.I. lends itself to extreme exploits as the computer never drafts certain players in the first round.

# 69 Culture Rot @ 07/22/14 01:34 PM

Strangely, 2k4 was the superior game

# 70 B0X836 @ 07/22/14 06:25 PM

Madden was best in the super Nintendo era after that 989 sports Gameday 98' 99 dominated the playstation in the late 90's follow by Blitz and QB club and tecmo bowl if u think about it all this games were superior to EA madden then NFL 2k came out for the sega dreamcast and change the video game industry 2k gameplay and smooth animations made the gamers forget about madden Sega and visual concepts gave gamers what we always want it in sports games I dont care how good Madden 15 looks bc honestly the game is Boring to me the Fun factor is not there I rather updated the Rosters on espn NFL2K5 and play the franchise mode why bc is Fun thats why !..

# 71 bmj2k7 @ 07/22/14 08:13 PM

Best football game ever made. If they could get the license Im sure they would put EA to shame like they do with NBA2K, compared to NBA Live (oh wait) its dead AGAIN!

# 72 killer miller31 @ 07/22/14 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmj2k7


	Best football game ever made. If they could get the license Im sure they would put EA to shame like they do with NBA2K, compared to NBA Live (oh wait) its dead AGAIN!

NBA Live is coming out in october..anyways i miss NFL 2K So bad!!

# 73 steelwes76 @ 07/23/14 12:07 AM

I remember I was going to the store to buy Madden and the sales clerk handed my NFL2k5..The rest is history..Yes this game is a classic..It showed that a company (2k) other than EA Sports was better at making sports video games (other than boxing) until this day..Exactly why EA brought the rights to the NFL for their football game..smart move but also showed EA waving the white flag...

# 74 Blzer @ 07/24/14 11:54 PM

Is this the same one from last month?

EDIT: Yup. It's nice, but no one important is going to pay attention to it and nothing will change as a result sadly.

# 75 gpsingh @ 07/26/14 06:19 PM

Hey guys I have a question? How do you fix the freeze glitch on franchise mode, its a common problem. I was in my second season on week 12 and my game keeps freezing after kickoff. Does anyone know a way to fix this?

# 76 Wildcat Victory @ 07/28/14 12:43 AM

I use to only purchase the 2k games over Madden. Personally always thought they were better

# 77 Blzer @ 07/30/14 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nfl2k5updateroster


	ESPN NFL Football is better than ESPN NFL 2K5? I'll have to see for myself. What makes it better presentation, gameplay, etc?

Better DB awareness, inside run game, better formed pocket, and more bullet passes. Probably better drafting AI in franchise as well.

I though 2K5 was the overall superior game though. Maybe it's because I went from 2K4 on PS2 to Xbox on 2K5 so the graphics also had their big jump, but I just thought 2K5 was so stellar in every facet, minus some of those gameplay quirks.

# 78 Fist Of Kings @ 08/04/14 04:25 PM

This is my 2nd favorite game ever, only behind GTA: SA. Both of those games are the only reason I still have my 360. I got tired of waiting for yearly updates, so now I'm using my roster of mainly made up players, though I didn't change the names of every player to avoid freezing in franchise mode. Al Bundy at rb for the Bears is my personal favorite, and the game is still fun no matter who the players are.

I've always watched 2K5 more than I've played it since I like cpu vs cpu so much, and it's fun to see my ratings actually matter on the field.

# 79 chuckg313 @ 06/29/15 09:30 PM

Best Football game ever

# 80 chuckg313 @ 06/29/15 09:42 PM

I've edited 2k from day one many of the gripes in this article have been worked out with later coaching,roster and slider editing, no way would you tear through the defense playing my rosters with my sliders.I will say though its based on expert players you cant just come up to the line and wing it you have to read the defence and use audibles.

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