Madden vs Espn

[TexSkin]

Ok now that we got this new Forum......lets slug it out here! :D

I personally like Madden more because it feels more like a Sim and has alot more features. The only con from Madden is Madden himself. After all these years of listening to him on these games. He is starting to get on my nerves hehe.

[Chief Seeway]

I've never played ESPN, nor have I seen anyone play it. So I guess I side with Madden.

[HollywoodKolt]

I would side with madden as well, however I will say that I was dissapionted in Madden this year. After all the big new additions playmaker control, and all that. It's not a very fun game to play. While the other EA sports title NCAA football is tremendously enjoyable, much better than madden. Playing Defense in NCAA is actually fun while in madden it's just a chore.

[NCskinsfanatic]

I have NCAA also HK love it.I play with my man Phillip Rivers and the Pack of course.Madden gets my vote.Ive played madden since 94(i think?)and havent ever played anything better.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

I've played both, and ESPN seems outdated by about five years compared to Madden. No contest.

[TexSkin]

So where are you ESPN lovers out there?

[GolfFreak]

I actually have ESPN and at first I loved it, but now not so much. At first I was playing on the easy difficulty, but after moving up to make more competitive I can’t complete any passes (maybe I just suck at it).

My brother has Madden which is why I didn’t get it.

ESPN has a feature where you can view from inside the player’s helmet. It was fun on defense, but very hard on offense. I mainly had to do running plays and I wasn’t really sure which direction I was going. Everything was happing so fast that it was hard to follow. Needless to say I won’t be trying that again.

I want to start a season w/ the Skins, but need to be able to complete more passes on the harder setting, otherwise my defense would keep getting sacks all game and it would be petty lame.

I’m sure it’s the same w/ Madden, but the Skins players are super fast (Coles, Morten, Candidate …).

[rskinsfan10]

Originally posted by TexSkin
So where are you ESPN lovers out there?

I'm here. I haven't played Madden since I bought ESPN, and I'm pretty sure that I will not be buying Madden anymore.

[TexSkin]

bah I wont let you off that easy..why do you like it...it seems too arcadish for me. I also think the helmet cam is gimmicky.

[Keino]

I've never played ESPN, so I don't have an opinion, from what I hear though, the graphics on ESPN are Much better than Madden.......Something I didn't think was possible

[rskinsfan10]

Originally posted by TexSkin
bah I wont let you off that easy..why do you like it...it seems too arcadish for me. I also think the helmet cam is gimmicky.

I like the graphics better for starters. The stadiums are more realistic, more detailed. FedExField on ESPN looks like the real thing (exceot they don't have the band sitting in our spots and of course no Funky4 in the 3rd qt in the end zone :D), where as to on Madden I can tell that not alot of thought went into that aspect of the design.

To me, the player movements are more realistic and life-like. When I want to change direction or make a sharp cut or turn on ESPN, it seems to respond better then on Madden.

[TexSkin]

Good answer! :)

Your making me want to try ESPN

[rskinsfan10]

What I've found is that alot of folks are so used to Madden that when they try ESPN, they aren't really playing it with an open mind. They are looking for things to diss about the game, instead of just sitting down and trying to enjoy the game.

As a former Madden man myself, I didn't expect to be converted. But when I started to play the old Sega 2k series, I just saw some things in it that made me say "with some tweaks, this game could give Madden a run for it's money." IMHO, it is the better game now. I think that Madden gets by more on rep alone right now. It is the reigning king, no doubt. I think that EA Sports will have to step it up now and not just think that it will not be challenged because of its longevity.

[truant]

Exactly Kenny.

I was a Madden guy on Genesis ages ago. But after getting a dreamcast, i'm a total ESPN guy.

The game is more fluid and plays more real in my opinon. It's more fun and intuitive.

I liked madden's training and drills, but other than that, I'd go ESPN all the way.

[suppitty]

2k3 came very close to beating madden, but in 2004 madden blew espn away. took espn completely by surprise with all the new features that come with owner mode while espn wasted its time with 1st person mode. now espn will be playing catchup and always be 1 year behind. i agree with hk ncaa is better then madden and in my opinion is the best ea sports game. recruiting is excellent.

[SkinsKY]

The Stadium Details and presentation of ESPN are nice, but when I want a football game, I want to have real football. The AI and gameplay of Madden is better IMO. The AI plays fundamental football for the most part. the playmaker controls offer so much control over the presnap game that I miss when I play other games. I still have a couple of issues with Madden (like assigning Champ to guard a player of my choosing regardless of where he lines up among others), but Madden has the better gameplay and that's what I have to side with.

[Death_Venom]

Madden is predictable, less than quality graphics........I have played Madden and it IS OUTDATED-simple as that........As far playing a REAL FOOTBALL game-go get ESPN and don't whine about how easy it is playing on "Rookie" or "Pro" level........Come on crank up the LEGEND level and tell how "easy" it is.......The passing game is so much more realistic than Madden-and your RB's dont "ice skate" when they move........

Keep Madden........Archaic.....

[johnnyirish]

Madden is the best---it goes all the way back to sega genisis--man too bad they didn't have these games when I was a kid.

[TexSkin]

I remember the first Madden....Cunningham for the Eagles was a god!

[joethefan]

All about John Madden....!!!!

[lb56blitz]

My complaint about ESPN is when the players are running they stand straight up and look as though they have a board strapped to their back. the movements are just too fake. also no playmaker control = crappy game. its just not the same without it.

[Skinsfan1906]

Originally posted by JoeDaSchmoe
I've played both, and ESPN seems outdated by about five years compared to Madden. No contest.

My thoiughts exactly. Madden wins this one easily. I played my brother in ESPN once (since he had the game and was singing its praises). I had to quit at halftime. Too much of an arcade feeling to it. Madden is EASILY better.

[Death_Venom]

I would still take ESPN over Madden anyday of the week..........

[TwistyNiblet]

ESPN is more exciting, but Madden is more realistic. I'm sticking with Madden.

[UKredskinsfan]

Originally posted by TexSkin
So where are you ESPN lovers out there?


I have both ESPN 2K4 and Madden 2004 on the XBox so here's my personal lowdown...

Madden has really impressive Franchise and Owner modes, with good roster depth and malleability.
ESPN's Franchise mode is ok, but nothing to shout about!

Madden's graphics are quite grim! Players may move more realistically, but still look naff!
ESPN's graphics are far better IMO, although as someone mentioned, the movement, especially of the RB/FBs could be better.

Madden's gameplay and control isn't the best. Offence is good fun, but Defence is a chore. I find it very difficult to affect the gameplay on defence!
ESPN has IMO much better control and gameplay. As has already been mentioned, forget rookie and Pro modes, start on All Pro and then Legend mode (in medium/fast mode) and its a corker to play... both Offence and Defence are great fun!
Perhaps Madden IS more realistic, but greater realism doesnt always equate to better gameplay IMHO

Madden needs to greatly improve its graphics and 'play.
ESPN needs to drastically upgrade its Franchise mode, have more malleable rosters and tweak its players movements.

Which do I prefer???


Well, I have Madden 2004 sitting on my bookshelf gathering dust, whilst ESPN is in the XBox permanently, for when I get the chance to have a game!!

ESPN 2K4 all the way! Looking forward to 2K5 !!!! I really hope they improve the Franchise mode!

Cheers :D

[Skinsfan1906]

Originally posted by lb56blitz
My complaint about ESPN is when the players are running they stand straight up and look as though they have a board strapped to their back. the movements are just too fake. also no playmaker control = crappy game. its just not the same without it.

Yeah, since Madden came out with the 'playmaker' controls, that is something that no football game can match. So much so, that I popped in Madden 2003 not to long ago (just for kicks) and found my self using playmaker functions (by nature)................just to realize that I forgot that 2003 doesn't have any. ESPN is not nearly as good as Madden.

[badpigs442]

Madden is the best. It would be ultimate if some how they made defensive capabilities more accessible for dominace.

[RichardBradley]

The thing that gets me is the injury situation...You can go a whole season on Madden without loseing a player for a game it just insnt realistic.

[IndianBaller27]

i would say madden... cuz i was playin madden 2003 for the whole year until '04 came out... i ordered madden '04 on the internet and i was playin it when the doorbell rang and the fedex people dropped it off... i have espn 2k4 as well but i dont like its offseason mode... it doesnt have as many features as madden... AND JOHN MADDEN'S COMMENTARY PISSES ME OFF!!! just the things he says are sooo stupid

[JoeDaSchmoe]

AND JOHN MADDEN'S COMMENTARY PISSES ME OFF!!! just the things he says are sooo stupid

See? More realistic. ;)

[badpigs442]

The thing that gets me is the injury situation...You can go a whole season on Madden without loseing a player for a game it just insnt realistic.

Do you want your players to go down? I hate when my players get hurt.

[SkinzFan4Life]

Do you want your players to go down? I hate when my players get hurt.


Yes, because then its real. I have Madden and would never buy ESPN, just dont like it. But if Madden had a better disparity between great players and poor players then it would matter. For instance the Giants last year had a terrible O Line because they were all injured In madden it seems like you can plug almost anyone in and do fine.

But anywho...the info for this Madden 2005 looks good, someone was talking abotu d-fence and it looks like this year they have spent a lot of time on it. Playmaker and the hit stick. As long as they keep developing the offseason this game will be the ultimate

[SkinsKY]

Yes, because then its real. I have Madden and would never buy ESPN, just dont like it. But if Madden had a better disparity between great players and poor players then it would matter. For instance the Giants last year had a terrible O Line because they were all injured In madden it seems like you can plug almost anyone in and do fine.


I agree. I love Madden, but I can hardly count the times I have been able to shut down Brett Favre only to be carved up by Doug Pederson. In my franchise, there has been one career ending injury in each season (TO, and McNabb both suffered one), although my team's injuries seem to be less than average.

If I could pick one problem with Madden, it's the lack of variance. You either shut down down a running back entirely or he runs for 150 yards. When the computer averages 4 yards per carry it's because he runs every ball four yards, not because you locked him down and he broke one. It's certainly not a perfect game, but it's my favorite.