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**23InetrySypekek** · 05-20-2006, 08:00 AM

ESPN -

Has better presentation, by far. It makes sense, considering that this is a game with the network's licensing all over it. I love the SportsCenter stuff and the highlights from other games. The weekly training structure is a nifty gimmick to have, but first-person is just stupid.

ESPN just has a lot of things that are nifty as extras, but they aren't make or break points on the game (like the contracts, which I love). Their window-dressing is good, but the big stuff (like player ratings) need a LOT of work.

And their announcers are awful.

MADDEN -

Has the goods with gameplay and nobody does it better on franchise mode. I'd like more flexibility on contracts, but virtually everything else is still there that an obsessive slappy like me could ask for. (Except expanded preseason rosters, why can't we get this going?)

Hands-down, the best part about Madden for me is that you can import classes from NCAA. I do all the work of editing NCAA rosters, so when I get a draft class, it really will have Braylon Edwards and Cedric Benson and Derrick Johnson in it. No matter how much Mel Kiper you have, no matter how cool the gameplay might get, ESPN will never have that function unless they get a college football license. As long as Madden sticks close to ESPN in everything else, the tiebreaker is college draft classes, and that's EA Sports all the way.

I've been playing Madden for a couple weeks now, and as far as improvements go, defense is king! I love the defensive playmaker, and the AI is vastly improved. The old habit of finding one money play and running it over and over again doesn't work. The in-game radio show with Tony Bruno is a nice touch, though I think they need to work out some bugs with things like position battles and morale (good ideas, just not quite perfected yet). Position switches were something I'd wanted for years. I'd like to see them add in NCAA's in-game momentum swings, where a hot QB gets a rating boost for a drive or two if everything is clicking. Overall, it's a solid game, but they need to step up their graphics, presentation, and variety of Al and John's commentary to hold off ESPN.

05-20-2006, 08:00 AM	#9
23InetrySypekek Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 516 Senior Member	ESPN - Has better presentation, by far. It makes sense, considering that this is a game with the network's licensing all over it. I love the SportsCenter stuff and the highlights from other games. The weekly training structure is a nifty gimmick to have, but first-person is just stupid. ESPN just has a lot of things that are nifty as extras, but they aren't make or break points on the game (like the contracts, which I love). Their window-dressing is good, but the big stuff (like player ratings) need a LOT of work. And their announcers are awful. MADDEN - Has the goods with gameplay and nobody does it better on franchise mode. I'd like more flexibility on contracts, but virtually everything else is still there that an obsessive slappy like me could ask for. (Except expanded preseason rosters, why can't we get this going?) Hands-down, the best part about Madden for me is that you can import classes from NCAA. I do all the work of editing NCAA rosters, so when I get a draft class, it really will have Braylon Edwards and Cedric Benson and Derrick Johnson in it. No matter how much Mel Kiper you have, no matter how cool the gameplay might get, ESPN will never have that function unless they get a college football license. As long as Madden sticks close to ESPN in everything else, the tiebreaker is college draft classes, and that's EA Sports all the way. I've been playing Madden for a couple weeks now, and as far as improvements go, defense is king! I love the defensive playmaker, and the AI is vastly improved. The old habit of finding one money play and running it over and over again doesn't work. The in-game radio show with Tony Bruno is a nice touch, though I think they need to work out some bugs with things like position battles and morale (good ideas, just not quite perfected yet). Position switches were something I'd wanted for years. I'd like to see them add in NCAA's in-game momentum swings, where a hot QB gets a rating boost for a drive or two if everything is clicking. Overall, it's a solid game, but they need to step up their graphics, presentation, and variety of Al and John's commentary to hold off ESPN.
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