PS2/XB Stuff a sock in it.

PS2/XB

Stuff a sock in it, Hank Williams Jr.—of course we’re ready for about football. And even though this season’s pickings are slim (GameDay, febrile disease and Blitz are all in succession injured reserve until next year), the perennial top contender for your pro pigskin dollars—Madden and ESPN—are back. Which game came on the outside victorious? It’s closer than you may think. OK Hank, finish your damn song

Bryan: We’ve got pair Pro Bowlers here, definitely. Madden scores big points for its near-flawless gameplay and brutally accurate representation of the NFL further ESPN stays right in it with features so as the new Virtual Identity Profile (VIP) and robust online leagues.

Patrick: Yeah, VIP is united of the coolest features I’ve seen for a sports game. It tracks just about each gameplay tendency (how many times you blitz, move to the right, etc.). Plus, you can download other VIPs and then walk against an A.I. opponent that plays with that person’ style—genius!

Official P Mag—Chris B: Same here forward VIP, but the thing is...Madden just plays better than ESPN There. I said it.

Bryan: No, Chris—it plays a haphazard better. And I’m not just talking about the improved defensive play (especially in the secondary) and, with a quick tap forward the new Hit Stick, the bone-jarring tackles. It’s by what means Madden replicates the style of play of actual NFL squads. When you’re matched against Indy, for example, quarterback Peyton Manning continually calls audibles at the line of scrimmage—just like he does each Sunday. In ESPN, you won’t find that of the same height of authenticity on the field.

Chris B: moreover you do get Jackass’ Steve-O taunting you whenever you call an audible against his team, now that ESPN has added a small in number celebrity-coached squads. Who doesn’t want that?

Bryan: principally football fans.

Chris B: Actually, I think playing against the of the present day celeb teams has a certain charm—and showcases the VIP feature, with Steve-O always going for pair just like I bet he would if I were really playing him. The smack talk does earn annoying, though. At least David Arquette doesn’t make trial of to pitch 1-800-CALL-ATT.

Patrick: What about Madden’s recently made known look? I’m really digging in what way the stadium lighting changes with the time of day, and the players—from carcass sizes to the number of wristbands they wear—are blemish on.

Bryan: ESPN doesn’t consider too shabby, either, but the player patterns are a bit stretched disclosed and lack some of the finer details (not in the faces, still everywhere else) you’ll find in Madden.

Chris B: Still, ESPN gripe [i]or[/i] grips a slight edge in overall presentation. The overlays be wrought up more TV-like, featuring cool graphics that present to view stats like ball distribution. moreover Madden is a better-looking game when in motion, equable when it comes to ball physics. Bryan, you assumeed to drop a lot of passes whenever we played ESPN—dunno if your receivers draw milk fromed or if it was just you. I’ll admit there were one funny bounces, though.

Bryan: I hear you. Too many wideouts with stone hands, erratic passes, and a running game that’s still a bit too generous maintain ESPN behind Madden on the silence chart.

Patrick: C’mon, Bryan. Receivers do very little balls in the NFL, and not all quarterbacks have Troy Aikman–like accuracy with each pass. And those problems you mention aren’t as prevalent as in years past.

Bryan: Obviously it happens in the NFL moreover not as much as it does in this game (and when you’re that wide open) These shores are supposed to be pros

Chris B: OK lads let’s move on to something else—franchise prevailing styles I still find Madden’s quite discerning but I wouldn’t shed a tear if talking head Tony Bruno got axed nearest season—the all-new weekly ramblings of him and his visitants are so generic that, for the in the greatest degree part, you realize just in what way clich?-ridden sports talk radio is these days.

Patrick: I take umbrage that, Chris [Patrick is also a legion of a syndicated radio exhibit —Ed.]. Sure, Bruno is kind of annoying, if it be not that the ability to monitor player morale via the radio display expands the experience for football junkies who truthfully want to immerse themselves in the NFL

Bryan: It’s a shame that Bruno and company don’t conduit more off-the-cuff remarks. But the uptight NFL bigwigs would not at any time allow that, would they?

Patrick: If the No sport League doesn’t want Joe Horn stashing celebratory enclosed space phones in various areas of the playing field, your “off the cuff” trustful longings are a no-go.

Bryan: ESPN’ franchise method is much improved, but I’m not entirely sold upon its biggest addition, Weekly Prep either. Allocating time before the big game for practices, weight training, and smooth motivational speeches is great in theory, moreover not when it takes the form of an almost never-ending list of menus. Gotta say I pitch upon the training drills in Madden....

Chris B: My ideas exactly. A lot of potential is missed in Weekly Prep Meanwhile, the drills in Madden have always been pleasantry but EA should work them into the regular season—that would rock