Madden 2006, no ESPN 2K6. Do you care???

[Fivespot]

It's that time of year again. Another new Madden title with little upgrade from the previous year yet offers the same great gameplay for $50. Worth it? How about the fact that no ESPN 2K6 will be released due to EA buying the NFL rights. Will Midway's Blitz The League title compete with Madden?

It's really quite a different year with respect to console football titles. I personally preferred the ESPN game last year and was disappointed when EA tore them away. However, I'm also a Madden fan and believe its a great game especially when playing a friend online.

Madden to those in the know with a passion for the game will probably agree with this next statement. Madden football is more like a strategy, sim football game and players that understand the game of football and excel in that understanding; are really friggin hard to beat. For that reason alone and many more, Madden is a great game and I'm looking forward to the new entry.

New modes this year include Superstar Mode where you take an NFL player from infancy in the league and evolve him into a MVP or Movie Star or whatever. Then they have My Mansion which seems like a direct rip-off of ESPN's My Crib. Also some new passing mechanics and truck-stick which is supposed to be an offensive version of the hit-stick.

Would I be playing Madden if an ESPN 2K6 were released? Yes, probably mainly due to many friends and family also playing it online enhancing my enjoyment. I'd still also own the ESPN game to play single-player & My Crib, etc. The FPS football was cool as well.

Not really interested in the Midway Blitz the League title at this point although I'm intrigued.

Go Pack Go

[Cuddly Knife]

Yeah, I'll stick with my 2K5. I probably would've gotten 2K6 if it would've came out for cheap, but no dice.

[Fivespot]

I've read that Visual Concepts is going to make another football game and are currently enlisting hall of fame player rights to use some of those personalities/players in the game.

EGM talked about them using Jack Lambert (COOL). I believe that you may have a team captained by a hall of fame player with that team modeled after the style and gameplay of the veteran - from what I've read.

I seriously doubt that it will be released until next year at the earliest so it certainly won't be available this football season.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

If there were an ESPN 2k6 and I had to choose just between these two, I would rather get Madden. ESPN had better presentation, and the SportsCenter showing clips from games was great. Madden's presentation was kind of bare bones, overall. When it comes to sports games, presentation alone just doesn't cut it. I tried ESPN 2k5 a couple of times last year, and it just wasn't as good as Madden's gameplay. I thought the passing game in ESPN was good, but the running game and playing defense left a lot to be desired.

Now, if I had to choose between any football game this year, it would (will) be NCAA 06. I always found recruiting new players more challenging than signing free agents and drafting.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

I played mostly ESPN last year because the online was great. I ran a great league and participated in 2 others.

Madden looks sweet this year they seem to have a solution to the Elway glitch (the ability to run full speed one way and stay accurate throwing back across your body) I'll have to wait for the 360 version though.

NCAA I will pick up this tuesday still don't know which system I'm getting it for. I may go ahead and just get the Xb version this year.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

NCAA I will pick up this tuesday still don't know which system I'm getting it for. I may go ahead and just get the Xb version this year.

Which system do you usually get NCAA for?

[$till LegendaryU2K]

To tell you the truth, i wouldnt mind a 2k6 game, but i am happy with the old series, so no biggie to me...Madden fell off after 98 on psx, so ever since i played 2k on dreamcast, i been hook on the 2k series and it continues.

[Fivespot]

It will be interesting to see how Madden 360 evolves console football gaming. Madden 07 may benefit from next-gen more than this year's version due to much more time on the hardware, but the 360 version should be an evolution nonetheless.

So far it appears as though only the graphics have been tweaked. However, some of the previous button issues from the last gen Madden have been fixed (like turboing the QB while still in the pocket without having to give up passing to do so - Madden fans prob know what I mean by this).

Go Pack.