I bought Madden 2003 today at CC and recieved a $10 gift card. I played both Madden and NFL 2K3, and I like Madden's "feel" and gameplay better than NFL 2K3. To me, Madden is more realistic. But that's just me

I picked up both Madden 2003 and NFL 2K3 for the Xbox yesterday. Graphically, Madden looked much better than NFL 2K3 on my 51" TV (via component input). I haven't played them enough to know which has the better gameplay, although I did seem to have more initial success (w/my Vikings vs. Packers) on 2K3 than I did on Madden. FWIW.

Gamespot did a solid 20 minute video football round-up for all games on all systems:


http://www.gamespot.com/live/index.html#feature

Madden for PS2 - on-line play.

With all the controversy, I decided to RENT both games in question. Now I've been buying Madden since the first Sega Genesis version. I was also blown away by NFL2K for Dreamcast.

Here's the skinny, which is just my opinion:

NFL2K3:
GRAPHICS-Up close, the graphics look good, especially the mesh jerseys, but for gameplay, they seem like they don't have real good detail.
GAMEPLAY-Seems kind of awkward and choppy to me.
PLAY SELECTION-I had easier times figuring out Trig problems. Move the little cursor over the play, then move the cursor.... I don't like the fact that your opponent can see exactly what play you're picking.
MENUS & OPTIONS-I thought it was very confusing trying to get through the menus, especially once you enter the franchise mode.

MADDEN2003:
GRAPHICS-Awesome during gameplay and replays, upclose isn't quite as good as Sega.
GAMEPLAY-Very smooth. My only gripe, and it's a big-one...seems to be a flaw-passing to X receiver, it throws to B receiver (has this happened to anyone else??). It happens alot, with different receivers. VERY FRUSTRATING!!
PLAY SELECTION-Classic Madden. Easy to read and cycle, plus you can "hide" which play you call.
MENUS & OPTIONS-Well laid out, easy to maneuver.

...In a nutshell, I would drive to Walmart right now and BUY Madden if it wasn't for that flaw with the receivers. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I've been playing Madden for years, plus sometimes the passing works, sometimes it doesn't. Madden is a football simulator, in my opinion. It has alot more realism than Sega's, which for me, is exactly what I'm looking for. I guess I'll check out NFL Fever next...

You can hide your plays for SEGA's, and its much better than Maddens as it is more encompassing.. You simply hold A after selecting your play, and then you can move through all the plays or even hit B and go to the main menu, so there is no play on the screen. They'll have to watch when you hold down A and know exactly what play it was that you hit A, which is really hard to impossible to do.. (Trust me, I used to try and cheat in NFL 2k by watching this..)

Not sure what you mean the graphcis are great except for parts of the gameplay?

And dont think the play is choppy personally, but to each his own..

but the play calling doesnt have to be obvious to your opponent if you dont want it to be, simply hide it.. it should be in the manual too.

-Jim

Just bought Maddens 2003 for the PS2 today and have been since 92 and its by far the best one to date on any of the consoles,and about the pressing X and goes to the B receiver,my PS2 version does not have a B receiver and have never had a problem with throwing to the right receiver,what I press thats where it goes,passing is a bit harder in this version which it should be,DBs are alot smarter this year to,online play for the PS2,updated rosters,bigger franchise mode,mini-camp,101,make your own plays makes this the best football sim ever.

My brother and I have been debating all week which game to get. last night he played NFL 2k3 at a friends's house and came back and gave me the his report. Basically he said it was a good, fun game but it had some infuriating flaws. One, recievers drop the pass every time they are hit. Two, if you complete a pass versus a biltz it's probably a touchdown. I don't see how someone could enjoy a game like that -- I know I couldn't. So today we went out and bought Madden. The $10 gift card from CC sealed that deal no problem. I do not regret my decision one bit. The main reason I didn't really want Madden was because I thought it would feel just like NCAA Football 2003 which I already have. It doesn't though. The games feel different enough and certainly sound different enough to satisfy me. My only complaint about Madden is the whack ass music but since most music sucks I can't really blame this game in particluar.

Final verdict -- Get Madden. It's a solid all-around game just as it has been for like a dozen years now. NFL 2k3 is probably pretty good too but just like the last 3 iterations it sounds to have some flaws that ruin an otherwise nice package.

To anyone who's interested, Circuit City has the same deal with 2K3 this week that they had with Madden last week - $10 GC with purchase of either the PS2 or the XBox versions.

I'm glad I got Madden now... I initially liked much of the NFL2K series but the fact that receivers dropped almost every pass after being hit, discourged me from getting NFL2k3.... It's hard to believe that they didn't correct the flaw in NFL2k3. The review at gamespot says the same thing about dropped passes. I'm surprised that it got such a high rating. To me a major gameplay flaw makes a potentially great game just average. I played Madden all day yesterday and love every aspect of it..... EA you've won me back (for now at least )

I have been playing alot of NFL 2k3 and they only drop the pass if they get hit perfectly when the ball is about to enter there hands, like in the real NFL.. getting it moments later after catching will sometimes knock it out, but not always.. just like real NFL.

I think Madden has a major flaw in having MADDEN do commentary.. it sucks! I also hate the play calling system, as well as it being a bit slower than NFL 2k3.

NFL 2k3 is still the way to go here, and the XBox version to boot.

-Jim

Have you played Madden 2003? Al Michaels does most of the talking and he's fantastic. Madden doesn't really say all that much. The commentary in the NFL 2k games suck ass and nuts anyway so I don't see how that's a good point on your part.

Madden 2003 is the only way to go this year.

I agree with Kellehair that Michaels does most of the talking anyway. Quite honestly, I turn off the commentary once I start a season on every football game I've ever had. I think a major game flaw is a much bigger issue than a commentary problem (if there even is one).

Receivers dropping almost every pass when hit is not realistic in the least. NFL players are hit quite often right away and usually hang on to the ball. Yes, players do drop balls every game in the NFL even when untouched, but not almost every time they are hit. Thats just my opinion.

I'm sure everyone appreciates you making that decision for all of us.

It would be more interesting if the NFL 2k3 reviewers in this thread identified themselves, such as 2k veterans or 'Madden gamers' trying it out for essentially the first time. (The reverse wouldn't hold because everybody's familiar with Madden.)

*****

Finally, Blockbuster got in the football games (thank you, gaming pass ), and I grabbed 2k3 first. I had been reading the reports about dropped passes, and I indeed did finally see them. However, what I also had read about was that timing is essential (both in release of pass and in manual button-press of catch button). Practice truly does cut these drops down.

As a 2k and 2k1 veteran (only rented 2k2 on Xbox, thank goodness), 2k3 seems VERY impressive. Thankfully, that previous experience means I'm a little further up on the learning curve than Madden refugees... and make no mistake, this is one football game with a learning curve.

I'd advise anyone who has, but doesn't like, 2k3 to wait as long as possible before giving up on it. At the Operation Sports football forum, just about everybody who gives it time increasingly likes it. Many there absolutely love it, and it's not just those who loved it after the first game out of the shrinkwrap.

*****

Now, hopefully Blockbuster still has Madden in stock as I return the second game I had out. It's so unusual feeling like we're ripping Blockbuster off; the whole universe has been tipped on its head.

Kellehair, you think the commentary in NFL 2k sucks "ass and nuts"? You are in the extreme minority in this, as basically EVERY review says NFL 2k's audio is amazing, thats including its commentary..

ANd in NFL 2k3, they only drop if hit EXACTLY at the same time the ball would be hitting their hands.. which in most cases is a dropped pass.. If they hit right after the ball hits there hands, its a toss up, like it should be, depending on the skill level of the player.

And Kellehair, I enjoy NFL 2k3 much better, so what does that mean about your statement Madden 2003 being the only way to go this year? Are we in a twilight zone, an alternate reality?!?!?!

TELL ME KELLEHAIR!!!!! TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!!!!!!

-Jim

Well, the first thing he'll tell you is to get rid of your Xbox.

Hey. I was just countering this statement...

The guys they get to do the commentary suck. They sound like Opie and Anthony or something.

By the way, I completely forgot that 2k3 has sliders now... too many dropped passes for your taste? Just adjust it to make it more realistic.

As for Sega's commentary, I can't believe someone can complain about it. Their previous football and basketball efforts have easily destroyed their competititors', and 2k3's is only an improvement.

Funny preview of madden 2003 by billl simmons of espn's page 2.


http://espn.go.com/page2/s/simmons/020814.html

Its one way to go. There is also NFL 2K3 which is the way I went.

The only way not to go is with 989 Studios.

Here's my take after buying both for Xbox, and playing on a cheap, old 27" TV:

Graphics: winner 2k3 I give 2k3 the big edge here, much crisper, and I think the character models much more realistic.

Player Animations: wash

Presentation: winner NFL2k3 In-game replays (I cannot emphasize how MUCH better than Madden the game is in this area), weekly recaps, cool ESPN-like menus. Madden? Menus are bland and statistics screens have a really annoying tendancy to pop up and block your pre-snap view, and it has cheerleaders which look like they were taken right out of the original DOA for the PSX.

Commentary: winner Madden, only because it annoyed me slightly less. As far as music goes Madden sucks. I DO NOT want to here Bon Jovi while I'm going through the menus on my football game

Playcalling: wash. Standard setups return for both games. 2k3 is MUCH, MUCH better if you play by yourself, the opposite is true if you play against other people (hiding plays gets tedious in 2k3)

Extras: Madden It's got mini-games, football 101 and unlockable stuff compared to 2k3's umm...

Franchise: ? I haven't put in the time to say yet

GAMEPLAY: Madden is simply a much, much deeper game when it comes to pre-snap adjustments. Once the ball is snapped the running game is also much more enjoyable in Madden. Passing however belongs to 2k3. Once you master maximum contol passing in 2k3, it becomes almost unbearable to pass the ball in Madden. I haven't mastered defense yet, but I'll give Madden the edge because of pass defense (DBs can look back for the ball, plus knock down and intercept are two different buttons).

Overall: If I had to keep only one, I'd choose 2k3, but it's very close. My ideal football game would be 2k3 with Madden physics, and DB gameplay.

(This maybe covered somewhere in this thread or elsewhere in the Video Game Talk forum, but...) Those of you who are good enough to play at the most difficult skill levels on any of the EA or Sega football games, do you ever achieve anything that resembles realistic rushing numbers (100 yard rushers, reasonable yards per carry, etc...)? Are you able to get sweep plays to work, maybe by using men in motion to pick up outside defenders? Are you able to get play-action to slow down the pass rush? On my ventures into the highest levels it seemed like it might take some of the realism out. I understand that some of you might have developed a system for winning at these levels but is it like real football or more like some arcade game where you figured out the secret?

How come no one's putting in a plug for Gameday?

NFL2k3 all the way. I use to be a Madden fan until they didn't make a Madden for the DC. Now I will never go back to Madden. NFL2K3 is a better game.