First Encounter
By Alex McLain
SEGA® Sports recently announced that the ESPN line of sports titles will ship at the budget price of $20 instead of the usual $50 for a top-shelf game. Budget-priced games are fine and dandy, and many of them are good games, but typically they do not shine (rightly so for the price) with same production value as other titles. That rule could not apply less to ESPN NFL 2K5. In fact, I dare you to find a sports title that outshines the production value and overall quality of this game. I’ll put it to you plainly:ESPN NFL 2K5 is the best football game I’ve ever played. Actually, no, let me rephrase that: ESPN Football 2K5 is the best sports game I’ve ever played. Period. End of discussion.
Looking sharp.
That last point might be a bit aggrandizing, but I don’t think so. I’ve only just scratched the surface of the game and all the glittering goodness beyond my initial reach can only add to the experience. Now, we all know what football games are supposed to be about, and we all know the basic features (season, franchise, online, create-a-team, create-a-player, etc.), so let’s chat a bit about some of the major features ESPN is adding to the experience this year.
V.I.P System™
As you can see, it’s trademarked, so you know they’re banking on this feature. The V.I.P System allows you to save how you and your friends play the game. You see, while you’re playing, ESPN Football 2K5 is actually tracking what plays you call, how you run them, what your general tendencies are, what you do in specific situations, and so on and so forth. The game is actually creating a virtual version of your play-style. You can save your friends V.I.P after you play them or even upload your own V.I.P for friends and complete strangers to download and play against. In fact, if your friend is playing against your V.I.P and your profile runs into a situation you’ve never been in, it will make an educated guess and choose a course of action that is in keeping with your overall style. Of course, it’s constantly updated, so the more you play, the more complete your V.I.P will be.
In the midst of chaos.
Maximum Tackle
It may seem like a bit of a small change, but you’ll soon find that the strategic element that this feature allows really changes the way you play and look at defense. Maximum tackle allows you to choose between exploding with a big hit, to knock the ball-carrier down (but possibly allow for a broken tackle) and grab him with a good solid wrap-tackle (which may allow them to drag you for a couple extra yards). This choice becomes relevant on nearly ever single defensive play. Snap judgments will have to be made. It adds a sense of urgency and tactical realism to the game.
Weekly Preparation
This feature has been added onto the Franchise mode. In essence, it allows you to prepare your team, just as a coach would on the days leading up to the game. You can have players watch film, do specific workouts or drills, treat injured players in an attempt to hasten their recovery, hold team meetings (and even select the tone and purpose of the meeting), give them a day off, and a few other options to boot.
It will feed any football fanatic's need to feel even more in control of a team. Also, the decisions you make will not only affect the skills of your players for the next game, but it will affect player morale as well. Balance is the key. You need to work your players, but not exhaust or irritate them. What’s more, if you don’t really feel the need to be that hands on, you can turn the option off and not worry about it. It’s up to you.
Banter between plays.
ESPN Twenty-Fifth Anniversary
This year is, after-all, ESPN’s Twenty-Fifth Anniversary. To celebrate the occasion they’ve added this feature into the game. What is it? Well, it’s a series of user-controlled reenactments of football’s most glorious moments. Want to see how you would handle the Ice Bowl? Now’s your chance. Care to see if you can recreate the Immaculate Reception, The Catch, or even John Elway's miraculous “Drive” from 1987? You can do that, too. There are, naturally enough, 25 different historic moments waiting for your personal touch.
We’ve left out a host of smaller upgrades, we haven’t talked about any of the online options (don’t worry, we’ve got a whole article on that coming your way), I’ve probably ignored a few other big editions as well. But, the bottom line is: You won’t find a finer football videogame experience on the freakin' planet. For 20 bucks, this is the best deal I’ve ever seen in the industry. Don’t waste it!
Comments about this article?
