Intro

Sega's games have always placed 2nd to EA's games. The same stands with this game. I mean im not saying this is a bad game but Madden just is better. You would expect it too because this time around Sega's game is 20$ and Madden is 50. For a budget game this is the best you can get. It’s a good game but with just enough problems to make it only a 3 star game.


Graphics

These are semi-ok graphics. All the players look very well designed especially with the faces. The character models are nice and smooth. The frame rate is fine with no issues but where my issue is, is in the shading. I mean the shading nowhere compares to Madden. Its like a solid color of the team compared to a solid green of the field. Everything looks real good except when you get to the colors of the game. They are just to bright to look real. But I did like the detail in the beggining of the game when you see the fans get ready for the game. I thought that was I nice touch
6.9

Audio

Personally I think the audio was very well done. I love the sound when the runner is on a run away and you just come from the side and smack them one. Its so satisfying when you just crunch them so hard you pretty much hear their bones crack. The audio is soooooo cool when you tackle them because it sounds real ignoring the shading. Also it is cool that you have the real ESPN newscasters do the commentary for the game like Suzy Kulber and Chris Burman. Also, when the quarterback is yelling commands that i don’t understand it sounds like what they yell on TV.
9.9

Gameplay

The game play is just as good but definitely not better then madden. Its just like every other football game gameplay. BUT!! There are a lot of other stuff other foot ball games don’t have so listen. One of the cool things is how the play selection system is so easy for me to understand!!! I no longer just pick a random play like I used to in Madden. With each defensive play it SHOWS YOU WHERE THE PLAYERS DEFEND!!! This was a godsend to me because no I can pick defensive plays wisely. Another cool thing with this game is that now you can OWN A CRIB! Yea you heard me right get a house and put stuff in it. It is the coolest thing, you get "crib credits" when you do big things in a game like get a field goal over 55 yards. You use your "crib credits" to buy furniture like air hockey and couches. You can ACTUALLY play the air hockey. Now to the football part. Its your basic football game. It runs fine but has some minor flaws here and there. Like it seems the if the reciever is not exactly at the point he is supposed to he wont catch the ball. Also its a little bit too easy to do field goals. Like it automaticly lines you up to the post so all you have to do is time it perfectly which is for the most part easy. The wind never really came into play in my games. For the most part the playing football part is ok with some flaws. The animations are standard level and the replays are very cool but they dont have a key for your replay system to show you the controls on how to use it like most other games say how to use it on a key at the bottom of the screen. the only thing that really stood out for me was the ability to be able to challenge plays. But I was disapointed that there was no weather control or arena creation. Also there is a mode called First Person Football in which you play the game from the first person perspective. The controls are the some but just in 1st person. I honestly thought that it sucked but some people might like it. I thought it was terrible because it was hard to know where to go and it was confusing. Also the passing in it was very hard to do because you cant see if the guys open or if your about to get sacked. Also there is like a history mode where you can replay historical moments in football like the snowbowl. There are also situation where you can set the game to a certain situation, Tournament when you play a tournament, and practice where you can uhhh practice. I was upset that in the franchise mode you cant just play a season. You also have to manage your team which some people (like me) don’t like. I mean it took me 10 minutes to even find out how to get to play the game because it is swamped with options. Some might like that but I dont. So all in all it was gameplay OK if not worse.
6.0

Controls

The controls were just as average as the game. They were nice and fluent and good. I had some problems with throwing the ball on a rush because when I pressed the button to pass it would not pass. So the buttons are semi-good but no great. But everything else was just off par with Madden's controls.
5.5

X-Box Live

Sorry I don’t have X-box live for another month and a week :( so no score.

N/A

Overall

Overall it was not as good as Madden but for less then half the price this is a must buy for some of you cheapos out there. Very good for a budget game

ESPN 2K5
Final Score:7.0 or 3 1/2 stars













Recommended: Yes