I just got my madden. I should be pulling an all nighter, doing my homework, but I've played madden for most of the night.

It's good 'ol madden. I love all the little things they did this year.
-when you scramble, it still lists the buttons over the recievers heads.
-no more easy lob passes. They've limited the qb accuracy at long range. Wind plays a bigger factor.
-Kicking has become extremely hard.
-the graphics are pretty close to the same from far away, but the players look better zoomed in.
-the hit stick is great. Defense needed the 4th level of tackle.
-the strip ball button is amazing now. less facemask calls on it too, but it's easier to evade.
-momentum is even more of a factor now.
-the tutorials are even better. the instructions are clear. (are you suppose to tap or hold for turbo? hold) (tap or hold for strip? hold)

the defensive play calling is a little tough to work with. when you choose a zone play, there are red and yellow circles for your short zone and blue for your deep zone. the problem is the blue. they put it against the green field and its a little difficult to see. my buddy is color blind and he's really pissed off at the game. thats my only gripe so far.

Great game. I just have to get the 2k5 buttons out of my head. I keep hitting black and white for stiff arm, and my timing is all off for everything.


Online worked flawlessly right away. I experienced lag in every game of 2k5, I was starting to think my home network was all messed up. Zero lag in madden. Absolutely none at all. One problem with online though. If you click the right analog, you mute your mic. It's great for the ps2, but the xbox has a mute button on the headset. If I get really into it and I slam on the hit stick, my mic goes mute. It's pretty annoying.


going back to madden makes me miss some of the 2k5 gameplay features. reading defense and finding holes in 2k5 is so much easier. madden needs some work on running up the middle. the rb has to be a bit smarter when you hit the hole just a little off. instead of hitting your oline and stopping, they should add the rb assist that 2k5 has.

espn players will never like madden. if you're an espn player, only pick up madden if you have a lot of patience.

Franchise mode in Madden easily destroys ESPN. However, ESPN is getting better in that department.

Wait...it's out NOW?!?!?

The 'tenative' date is Thursday, but stores can sell them as soon as they get them in. Games are not like movies, where you have to sit on them until a certain date.

My impressions are exactly opposite I like the EA gameplay better, but ESPN's franchise and presentation are fantastic. I give Madden the edge, but I'm glad to own both games.

I don't know why peps would be waiting in lines of hundreds when they can just go to a local retailer like Best Buy, Circuit City, or Wal-Mart and get the same game without all the lines a pre-order or else stuff. My Wal-Mart store got the game yesterday, 120 for the PS2, 12 PS2 Coll. Ed., 80 XBOX, 12 Cube, and 6 GBA. Also went to Best Buy yesterday to pick up a few DVDs and they had lots of Madden there. Personally I'll be happy with my $20 dollar NFL 2k5 purchase, but I might give Madden a try.

Even the Best Buys around me have it! Weird... they usually don't get new games until a month after they've been released.

True indeed. Plus you have to keep in mind that for a lot of these people, the updated sports games are the only games they buy every year. I know a lot of people like that around my college. Just by Madden, NBA Live, NHL etc. and nothing else and play the hell out of them and are super excited each year when the new ones coming out.

Any word on if PS2 version is better than the X-Box or any difference between the game on the two systems?

My friend says the X-Box version has better graphics. But if you get the PS2 version you can spring for the collectors edition. Other than that there are no differances in gameplay or game modes.

iT WAS OUT YESTERDAY

do you guys have graphical problems with your copies of madden (xbox)? my players change colors and tear pre-snap.

Any gameplay flaws like NCAA has?

None that I've noticed. The 16x9 slowdown that NCAA had isn't an issue either.

Just picked it up today...can't wait to play!

Endzone dance

No problems here, and I haven't heard of any problems on any other videogames forum, so it is most likely a defective disc.

When I was in Gamestop a couple of weeks ago (picking up 2k5) the clerk told me Madden 2005 would also be available at $19.99 if you brought in 2004 as a trade in. Any truth to that? I haven't seen anyone in this thread mention it.

The only deal I know of is if you trade in NCAA 2005 you get a $30 credit towards Madden.

HAHAHAHA...no.

Does anyone know where to get Madden Codes? I didn't see them on the EA site.

What is hte problem with NCAA that everyone keeps referring too?

The deal was, trade in NCAA 2005 by 8/16, and get Madden 2005 for 19.99

The problem? As in... just one?

Pick your favorite from the many listed here: http://www.utopiafootball.com/forums...3&page=1&pp=20

Does anyone know where to get Madden Codes? I didn't see them on the EA site.

Well I picked up Madden 2005 for the X-Box the other day and I'm really liking it.

One of my best friends (Josh) and I just had the MOST AMAZING game we've ever had.

Basically, in all walks of life we're pretty much evenly matched. In basketball, baseball, videogames, we're the same height, same shoe size, we're evenly matched. We once had the most amazing match in NCAA '96 for the Sega Genesis, it was madness...I don't remember the details, but it was 54-52 with a second remaining and I kicked what was a 50 yard fieldgoal with time expiring...only to have it bounce off of the bottom cross bar and out, final score, 54-52. It was amazing, a great win for him, a heartbreaking loss for myself. So today we pop in Madden, and I'll be damned if we didn't top that one.

I was the All Steelers team, he the All Vikings team.

It was back and forth all game, tit for tat. I missed an extra point, then blocked one of his. I ran back a kickoff for a touchdown, on the ensuing kickoff, he runs it back to my 25. Finally, he stops me on 3rd down and I kicked the fieldgoal. He comes back with two minutes left and scores again, I'm down by 10 with two minutes left.

I throw a few long passes to set up a score with 1:30 to go. Onside kick time. I go for the onside, and RECOVER. Down by 3.

A long run and I'm down to the goal, I score with just 40 seconds left. I try for the squib kick on the kickoff, considering he was getting consistant long returns. I wanted the ball to shoot out of the endzone. Instead, it shoots out of bounds!

He starts at the 40 with 40 seconds left. A few long throws and a few time outs...with 3 seconds left, he's on the 3 yard line. Time for one more play.

He drops back and throws to a receiver cutting across the middle and HITS HIM, but he's not in the endzone, he's on the one...my guy dives to trip him, he breaks the tackle and walks in.

He wins, 61-58. Greatest game ever.