The Big Debate: Madden 2004 or Sega's ESPN Football 2004? (1 Viewer)

[Chris Rock]

I've been a Sega Football Fan since NFL2K. I got Madden in 2002 and loved it, but went back to Sega with 2K3 on the XBox. I'm probably going to go with Madden this year, but I haven't totally made up my mind.

And no, I won't consider getting both....unless I got Madden for Ps2 and ESPN Football for XBox. That will go against the grain for me, because my multi-platform releases are almost exclusively XBox purchases.

They both look great, though I'll admit the "Cribs" idea in ESPN Football is a little silly.

What's on everyone else's mind about this yearly choice?

 

[Chris Flynn]

ESPN Football for me. I refuse to buy any EA Sports games until they add support for XBL.

 

[Paul_Fisher]

Ditto what Chris said, except I accidentally bought NCAA 2004. :frowning:

 

[Ian_Fisher]

I like Sega's game better, so I'd be getting that even if EA wasn't leaving XBox Live out in the cold.

 

[Ricky Hustle]

Sega for me too. I just like their brand of football better than the Madden series.

EA gets none of my dollars anymore. If I MUST sample an EA game, I wait and buy it used. And those times are few and far between.

 

[Damien]

If you buy Madden 2004 xbox, you are getting an inferior product for the same price, but the PS2 version will take up a bunch of memory. IMO you should buy Madden if you are interested in franchise and mini camp modes. The commentary, presentation, and graphics will be much better on ESPN xbox(EA doesn't use the xbox, they port the ps2 code, so you can bet the colors will be subdued), especially with the HDTV's you guys use.

 

[MikeAlletto]

Are there any facts to back up the "inferior product" statement? I haven't seen any reviews of madden 2004 yet to make a judgement call.

 

[Tim Markley]

I'm not sure what I'll buy but I know I won't be buying Sega. I used to be a huge fan of the NFL 2K series but I was extremely disappointed in NFL 2K3. I have Madden 2002 on the PS2 and thought that it was a much better and more realistic football game. I'm gonna wait to see what the ESPN game is like but I'll probably choose Madden.

 

[Marvin Richardson]

Unless things have changed drastically, and I do mean drastically, if you want arcadey football that isn't as unrealistic as NFL Blitz, but not nearly as deep as Madden, by all means go with ESPN Football. I'll be sticking with the killer 1-2 punch of NCAA 2004 and Madden 2004 until I see it proven that Sega knows how to make a simulation football game with the stat tracking, deep franchise mode with control over every aspect of the team, together with the ability to import your draft classes from a college game that is worth a damn. I tried NFL2K3/NCAA2K3 last year, got burned, and sold both within a month to buy Madden and NCAA. Nothing comes close, although I do appreciate how easy it is to pick-up and play Sega's variety of football.
I guess I can understand people with Xboxes boycotting EA and getting Sega so you can play Live. I've got Gamecube, Xbox and PS2, but I'll be going with PS2. Graphics are nice, but I'd rather have the depth of Madden on the console it was designed for, rather than what seems like a port (even if it isn't).

 

[Damien]

Are there any facts to back up the "inferior product" statement? I haven't seen any reviews of madden 2004 yet to make a judgement call

whoops i was referring to xbox owners aren't getting any online modes from the ps2 version of madden 2004 when they sell for the same price.

 

[NickC]

Madden 2004 for me as well

 

[Mike Pattee]

I'll be getting espn 2k4, madden is just the same thing every year with roster updates. They make small changes but usually skip out on fixing what is actually wrong (db AI, blocking). Sega is making strides and last years game was a heck of a lot of fun as long as you didn't play it like it was madden.

 

[Marvin Richardson]

To start, Madden 2004's franchise mode aims to be the biggest and deepest ever created. In addition to all of last year's franchise features, Madden's now-famous minicamp mode has been fully integrated into the franchise mode. In it, you'll be able to train certain players on your team during the preseason training camp, using the minicamp minigames. If you manage to accomplish all of the necessary goals, you'll be awarded an upgradable stat point for that player. You can either just use that stat point to improve your player or risk it by upping the difficulty level and playing through the mode again, this time with the promised reward of double the stat points.

 

[Dave Falasco]

Madden does have some nice features, but the gameplay is far less engaging than the Sega series IMO. Even if they did offer XBL support, I would skip it and go with Sega's more realistic approach.

Yes, I said MORE realistic! When my nephew can beat the computer on medium difficulty with only three plays, that just ain't realistic.

In my opinion, Madden would be the one I categorized as "fun to pick up and play", but Sega's game was the one that inspired me to actually buy books about football so I could learn formations and coverages.

So yeah, Sega for me.

 

[Keith Frederick]

EGM reviewed all these games, I've posted another thread with the details. They loved Madden, liked ESPN, disliked Fever. If I buy a football game this year, it will probably be ESPN. Once you go online, you can't go back, and ESPN is the only way ride.

I am not a "sim" guy, I am more into the gameplay, presentation, online play, and general experience. I've always disliked the Madden presentation and gameplay (I tried Madden 97,98,99,2000, 2001 on the PC and compared to NFL 2K3, those were total trash).

 

[Christopher Cheadle]

I've never been a fan of franchise modes and the like; I pretty much prefer to just play a simple season or go online and play around. Therefore, if I do get a football game for the Xbox, it will be Sega's offering all the way.

 

[Graeme Clark]

I'm not sure what I'll buy but I know I won't be buying Sega.... I'm gonna wait to see what the ESPN game is like but I'll probably choose between it and Madden.

You do know that the ESPN games are from Sega right?

 

[Marvin Richardson]

When my nephew can beat the computer on medium difficulty with only three plays, that just ain't realistic.

I've seen the same thing with every football game ever released with the exception of last year's Madden. The NFL2K series is not as realistic in the level of control you have over the plays, the playbook, the pass, the kicking game, calling audibles or any part of the on-field game, at least in my opinion.

 

[MaxCarr]

Sega all the way.

There is something very 'the same' in Madden (plus EA is so arrogant), it has not changed much from '99 (yes, '99).

By the way, I am biased towards Sega; I have always felt that their sports line up has always been better than EA's.

 

[StevenK]

Madden for the PC and Sega for the XBox.