ESPN NFL 2K5 Thread

[2GOLD 0]

But, does anyone notice how easy it is to end up on the injured list in this game ? I've got somebody from my defense go down at least 1 time a game. I have 4 players on the injured list, 1 out for the season. My defense rating has gone from 88 to 71.

 

Simple question:

Is prep mode on or off?

 

If it is on, you are possibly working guys too hard during the week and leaving them open for injury during the game.

 

If it is off (or heck, even if it is on), well all I can tell you is four injuries a year would actually be a blessing in the NFL for the real teams. Plus broken arms can be "immobilized" and the guy will play with a cast on. I had Ronald McKinnon break his arm, I immobilized it two times over two weeks and suddenly he was back on the field WITH a visable cast. He went from "out for the season" to out for two weeks, bless his soul.

 

The only downside I have hit so far is....well.....ok, I haven't but I am waiting and expecting.

[NoCalMike 0]

The gameplay is extremely different the madden and takes awhile to get used to after years of Madden Football, but once you get the hang of it, I think it is great.

[Cartman 0]

I'm with Mike.

 

This game is awesome!

 

Thank you Sega, Thank you ESPN.

 

I have seen the light.

[Angel_Grace_Blue 0]

Bah @ you people just now seeing the light. I saw it back in 00, on the Dreamcast, NFL2K, and every Sega/Visual Concepts/whatever game since then, so there is no gameplay change. I've never played Madden on any of the "next-gen" consoles and such.

 

I do think it is odd that the cover athelete has changed so much. I mean, from 2K - 2K2, it was Moss. Then we had Urlacher, Sapp, and now TO. Wonder who'll be next, yet that's neither here nor there.

 

Oh, and Frigid, so far, of the players I've unlocked (Berman, Trey Wingo, Steve-O, and Arquette), all but Boomer have been half backs. I don't know who else is unlockable, so you might have the runningest team ever.

 

Ah, I miss the days of Kage Maru, Wolf Hawkfield, and Beat, with their crazy face accessories. Not only them, but the old school players, like Payton, Lott, Taylor, and the like. But yet again, that is neither here nor there.

[KingPK 0]

You can edit players. Just go to Features, Roster Manager, and View Rosters. Just press X (on PS2) and you get a little menu that lets you choose to edit the selected player.

[starvenger 0]

This game seems like it is really good especiallya t a price tag of $20 dollars, but Madden sounds better to me. With the new hitstick and the better D along with players actually having personality now. Especially if youg et the collectors version.

Got this yesterday at Fry's ($18 until Friday) for PS2 but only opened it today (had to try Karaoke Revolution 2 first). I'm very impressed, and it definitely lives up to the hype.

 

Believe me, for $20 you can't go wrong.

[Guest Flyboy]

This game seems like it is really good especiallya t a price tag of $20 dollars, but Madden sounds better to me. With the new hitstick and the better D along with players actually having personality now. Especially if youg et the collectors version.

The only thing I'm willing to give Madden this year is their Franchise Mode. It just looks incredible -- but, Hit Stick? Please. Until EA fixes the "drop back 20-yards and complete a pass between 5 defenders" that it's had for years... I'll stick with ESPN.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Madden's Playmaker controls made those passes even easier. Have him run through the 5 defenders, then have him run straight while the defenders run into one another like Looney Tunes characters.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Though arguably the running game is extremely easy on ESPN as passing is on Madden. One great thing I like about ESPN is having a custom difficulty. Still challenging while allowing for something to not be so ridiculously difficult. I'm finding it a little hard to get a hang of the passing controls, since I'm used to a faster, more arcadey type feel with Madden. I also think I knew all the animations down pat so I knew what situation a sack or tackle one would occur, and sometimes I'd end up with ridiculous stats.

 

As for me, I'm 3-0 with the Packers, and had a wonderful first Monday night game against Carolina, where I came back from being down 14-3 to win it in the fourth 21-14. After that, I absolutely slaughtered Chicago 66-0, and Indianapolis got whomped on due to a ridiculous number of Manning interceptions in the first quarter and I beat them 68-3, and now I'm going up against the Giants. I like how pass defense is realistic in this game, I was so frustrated with how I'd be playing awesome defense against an opponent in Madden and they'd still light me up in the 2nd half after being down huge at halftime. In ESPN, they pay for that with multiple interceptions.

 

The ONLY thing I miss from Madden is playmaker mode. Twice on accident I moved the right thumbstick on offense (Especially for changing directions in the running game) and the other was scrambling out for a run and trying to make something happen. Other than that, Madden can suck it, this is the first year in which ESPN/NFL 2k series has really overtaken EA in the gaming department. I could see paying $40 next year for it (I have a difficult time paying $50, I usually wait for a price drop) if that happens.

 

So is anyone going to answer my question from earlier about whether guys improve permanently in the offseason and if playing time does increase their stats permanently? And what else does?

[Exslade ZX 0]

If it is off (or heck, even if it is on), well all I can tell you is four injuries a year would actually be a blessing in the NFL for the real teams. Plus broken arms can be "immobilized" and the guy will play with a cast on. I had Ronald McKinnon break his arm, I immobilized it two times over two weeks and suddenly he was back on the field WITH a visable cast. He went from "out for the season" to out for two weeks, bless his soul.

You can actually let them play injured? How exactly..like under what options would I go? And is this only for a broken arm? Because right now I have some injured players..none with a broken arm though.

 

I know Patten's out with a broken foot. And there's nothing I can do about it.

[2GOLD 0]

If it is off (or heck, even if it is on), well all I can tell you is four injuries a year would actually be a blessing in the NFL for the real teams. Plus broken arms can be "immobilized" and the guy will play with a cast on. I had Ronald McKinnon break his arm, I immobilized it two times over two weeks and suddenly he was back on the field WITH a visable cast. He went from "out for the season" to out for two weeks, bless his soul.

You can actually let them play injured? How exactly..like under what options would I go? And is this only for a broken arm? Because right now I have some injured players..none with a broken arm though.

 

I know Patten's out with a broken foot. And there's nothing I can do about it.

 

You'll want to go under rehab in weekly prep and select the player you want to rehab. BEWARE that the high rehab ones can cause more harm than good and you'll probably only want to use it for guys out for the season.

 

A broken foot, try the immobilize feature under low at least once a week. I can't say if a player can come back from a broken foot, but the rehab is meant to speed up the player's return.

 

Sore muscles you'll want to try the whirlpool and some of the ones under medium that could help with strains and such. Figure out the right rehab and the player could easily go from "out" to "probable" in a week or two.

[2GOLD 0]

Since it double posted, I will say the only issue is that the rookies have pictures for all of them. The problem with this is the rookie report has two guards with the SAME FACE.

 

Been cool if they had the same last name, then they could have claimed they were twins and I would have drafted them.

[Guest Flyboy]

I know the former is a "yes" and I'm wagering to bet the latter is as well just not as sure.

 

Though arguably the running game is extremely easy on ESPN

 

Speak for yourself -- I'm sucking with running on ESPN. Just plain sucking at it. I can get around 110 yards with Deuce McAllister, but it feels like I EARN every yard I get. In Madden, I was getting 300 yard games with Deuce on All-Pro with sliders favoring the computer.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I know the former is a "yes" and I'm wagering to bet the latter is as well just not as sure.

 

Though arguably the running game is extremely easy on ESPN

 

Speak for yourself -- I'm sucking with running on ESPN. Just plain sucking at it. I can get around 110 yards with Deuce McAllister, but it feels like I EARN every yard I get. In Madden, I was getting 300 yard games with Deuce on All-Pro with sliders favoring the computer.

I hit 220 yards with Michael Turner (rookie from Northern Illinois) every game in LT's absence in San Diego.

[Guest Dumb Fuck]

I've FINALLY got some good sliders for my Bills franchise... and this game is a BLAST!

 

Like Flyboy said, I'm actually earning the running yards, and passing yards I'm getting. And defense actually matters. Play calling actually matters.

 

I enjoy winning 17-14 hard fought contests.

 

It's such a pleasant change from Madden.

[Exslade ZX 0]

Ok..if this is a football term sorry for being dumb lol (Not the hugest pro fan)

 

What exactly is all this about sliders? For instance the above post..what is he talking about? lol :/

[Angel_Grace_Blue 0]

It adjusts the difficulty of various aspects of the game. When you go to change the difficulty, you'll notice the red bars move. At rookie, it's like 100% for everything in the "human" category, which means the player will run better, fatigue slower, etc. and the sliders under "CPU" are at 0%, so they play poorly. Up the difficulty, and the sliders change.

 

Adjusting sliders basically means that say pro is too easy, but all-pro is a bit too challenging, so you manually adjust the sliders to something that feels right.

 

And this goes to the person who's complaining over all of the injuries sustained, just lower the injury slider, and things should be better.

[Agent_Bond34 0]

I'm sucking with running on ESPN. Just plain sucking at it. I can get around 110 yards with Deuce McAllister, but it feels like I EARN every yard I get.

Ditto.

 

Except, I don't use Deuce McAllister, though.

[Guest acnx]

I know the former is a "yes" and I'm wagering to bet the latter is as well just not as sure.

 

Though arguably the running game is extremely easy on ESPN

 

Speak for yourself -- I'm sucking with running on ESPN. Just plain sucking at it. I can get around 110 yards with Deuce McAllister, but it feels like I EARN every yard I get. In Madden, I was getting 300 yard games with Deuce on All-Pro with sliders favoring the computer.

Same here. I got 75 yards out of Kevin Jones on around 20 carries, and felt like every inch was earned. I remember going for 14 and I started yelling.

 

I love using the right analog stick for juking and stutter stepping...makes it a lot of fun, I think.

 

I also found some very good sliders, if you want to check them out, just go here. They take some time to get used to, but I've played some really fun games with them, worth a shot if you are looking.

[Agent_Bond34 0]

I also LOVE the fucking shoulder-charges.

 

Out in the open-field, then shoulder-charging a defender and running it for more yards, is just plain great.

Edited July 28, 2004 by Agent_Bond34

[starvenger 0]

The ONLY thing I miss from Madden is playmaker mode. Twice on accident I moved the right thumbstick on offense (Especially for changing directions in the running game) and the other was scrambling out for a run and trying to make something happen.

I gotta agree there. It's probably something I'll get used to not having over time.

 

Couple of questions - How do you switch a QB from pass to run on a busted pass play? And can you make the clock speed up after you choose a play (similar to how Madded will run the clock down to 19 for you after choosing a play)?

[Guest Flyboy]

How do you switch a QB from pass to run on a busted pass play?

On the Xbox, you hold down the right trigger. Might be the same for the PS2 as well.

[Exslade ZX 0]

The ONLY thing I miss from Madden is playmaker mode. Twice on accident I moved the right thumbstick on offense (Especially for changing directions in the running game) and the other was scrambling out for a run and trying to make something happen.

I gotta agree there. It's probably something I'll get used to not having over time.

Wait..how did Playmaker work in Madden? (Haven't played since it came out)

 

I thought it worked the same as Hot Route does in Espn...?

[BX 0]

Couple of questions - How do you switch a QB from pass to run on a busted pass play? And can you make the clock speed up after you choose a play (similar to how Madded will run the clock down to 19 for you after choosing a play)?

Hold down R1 until you pass the line of scrimmage, when you can just run like normal. Press R1 again if a pass opportunity presents itself.

[KingPK 0]

So I got to the offseason last night after losing the Superbowl to Green Bay.

 

- Yes, there is player progression based on age, season performance, etc.

 

- You can actually try to convince retiring players to stay by offering him a huge short-term contract.

 

- Some of my players are fucking money grubbers. Joe Andruzzi wanted something like 4 yrs, 25M, and he would not budge on it, even though I didn't have much cap room to give him that big a contract. I like how if you give the player a deal he doesn't like too many times, his demands rise. He'll even break the negotiations if it's too low.

 

- You can trade draft picks for NEXT year as well as the current year. I didn't know that when, to free up some more cap room, I traded Ty Law and my 1st round pick to the Lions for a 1st, 3rd, and 4th, since I probably would have asked for a 1st or 2nd NEXT year as well.

 

- You have 45 days to sign free agents, and you can see the three best offers for a player and try to top them. Guys can take forever to decide, though. Andruzzi wound up in St. Louis for about what he asked of me.

 

- The scouting combine is pretty cool. You have 4 days, and 7 hours a day to look at possible draftees. You can spend one hour to get a basic look (which ranks his abilities from Excellent to Poor), two to get a more in-depth report, and three to get a full look (which includes projected number ratings, but not an overall one). You can look at a Big Board which ranks the top prospects and wether their stock has risen or fallen as the days go by.

 

- Before the draft, you can watch a special SC where Mel Keiper Jr. pretty much runs down who he'll think will go in the top 10, sleepers, etc.

 

- The draft is simple. You'll have all your information from the combine with you, and even a PDA that gives you suggestions. Then after the draft, Mel is back with a wrap-up, where he gives opinions on the picks and looks over your draft (although he said I was going for offense when the only offensive players I picked were a guard and a FB).

 

- There's no "Training Camp" or anything, like in Madden, you go right to the preseason (or the season, if you turned off preseason games).

[Guest Vitamin X]

The ONLY thing I miss from Madden is playmaker mode. Twice on accident I moved the right thumbstick on offense (Especially for changing directions in the running game) and the other was scrambling out for a run and trying to make something happen.

I gotta agree there. It's probably something I'll get used to not having over time.

Wait..how did Playmaker work in Madden? (Haven't played since it came out)

 

I thought it worked the same as Hot Route does in Espn...?

No, hot routes are in Madden as well, they have been for quite some time. I'm not a particularly huge fan of Hot Routes as they've done me more harm (interceptions) than good. In playmaker, before a snap on a running play, you can change the direction of the run quickly without shifting the entire offense so the defense doesn't know what you're up to in case they have the line stacked in the direction you want to run. After the ball is snapped on a passing play, when you roll out, you can change the direction the closest receiver is going to get open for a play by moving the right thumbstick. Awesome especially if you just chose the absolute dumbest route to run and he's getting double teamed and a defensive end and linebacker is chasing you down so there's nowhere to run. On defense, the key is you can cheat your whole defense to run or pass as long as you press the right thumbstick in the corresponding direction within 5 seconds of when the ball is snapped.

 

That strategy alone pretty much crushed any team's hope of running well against me, including any human players I played.

[2GOLD 0]

I just got SCREWED by the NFL officials...in Seattle no less.

 

I came back from down 31-3 in the snow in Seattle to tie the game 31-31 with the ball with less than 45 seconds remaining at the Seahawks 42. One pass and I'd be able to run into position.

 

My quarterback drops back to pass and he is hit WITH HIS ARM THROWING THE BALL which every other time was ruled incomplete. THIS TIME it's ruled a fumble which the Seahawks recover and take back for a touchdown. No damn booth review and I couldn't challenge.

 

So now I'm locked into a battle with the Eagles for homefield instead of wrapping it up with the win in Seattle.

 

Nothing is more frustrating than charging back from 28 points down in one half to LOSE ON A SCREWJOB!

 

Ok, venting done. Love this game but if I had a curse out the NFL officials and risk a fine feature then Dennis Green would be dropping more F bombs than Joe Pesci in Goodfellas.

[Guest Dumb Fuck]

I'm 6-7 with the Bills so far. Been killed by the 'Fins twice. And I'm loving it.

[Rendclaw 0]

I still CANNOT believe this game has all of this gameplay and looks great and costs 20 bucks... I have pretty much sucked on football games since they changed them to be much more realistic (I still kick ass on CFUSA 97, but thats about it), but I think that I simply HAVE to get this game, even though I am setting myself up for a lot of frustration and controller-throwing.

 

I liked ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4, and if they make an improved game at $20 price point, I think I will be a fan of them for life.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I'm 2-0 with the Chargers. My rookie halfback Michael Turner is making San Diego forget about LaDainian Tomlinson (478 yards rushing in two games).

 

And my receiving corps is something to salivate at (Kevin Dyson, David Patten, Brandon Lloyd, Dez White and Tim Dwight).