ESPN NFL 2K5
ESPN NFL 2K5
ESPN NFL 2K5, développé par Visual Concepts et édité par Sega ainsi que Global Star Software, est sorti le 20 juillet 2004 sur PlayStation 2 et Xbox. Ce jeu de simulation sportive propose une expérience de football américain présentée sous la forme d'un bulletin télévisé ESPN en direct, avec les voix et les apparences numériques de plusieurs personnalités de la chaîne. Sixième opus de la série NFL 2K, il s'agit du dernier titre bénéficiant d'une licence NFL officielle avant la sortie d'une suite non nommée en 2021, et du dernier jeu développé par Sega. Sa publication est intervenue peu avant qu'Electronic Arts ne signe un accord d'exclusivité avec la NFL, faisant de Madden NFL la seule série officiellement licenciée.
L'accueil critique a été très favorable, le jeu obtenant une note moyenne de 91,31. La presse a notamment relevé l'intérêt du système VIP, étudié par Stuff comme analysant les habitudes de jeu pour en tirer un profil, tandis qu'Operation Sports a salué une intelligence artificielle évitant les erreurs grossières en gérant les temps morts et le jeu rapide en fin de match. Certains joueurs sur Metacritic ont exprimé leur enthousiasme en qualifiant le titre de l'un des meilleurs jeux sportifs de tous les temps pour sa présentation et son simulation, voire de simulation NFL parfaite.
Médias
Avis des critiques et joueurs
Critiques de la Presse (Metacritic)
« You just never know how the AI will react, but at least they do take the timeouts and run the hurry up offense when they are down. It doesn't play dumb. In fact, the AI will go into a no-huddle offense, just to throw you off occasionally. How cool is that!! »
« The biggest advancement is the VIP system, which studies your habits on the field and develops a profile based on how you play the game. »
« This year, the design guys as Visual Concepts have turned ESPN NFL 2K5 into the most entertaining show in video-game football. [Sept 2004, p.98] »
« But the graphics and game play have been juiced up, too, with improved passing, a slightly tougher running game, and lots of combo-move action via manipulation of the right analog stick. »
« For a mere $20, Sega's game is every bit as deep, feature-rich and addictive as EA's powerhouse. I'm not saying that 2K5 is better than "Madden"...but it's just as good - no joke. [Sept 2004, p.84] »
« Sure, there are thousands of die-hard Madden fans who will remain in denial and line-up for their copy of "Madden 2005" like the Lemmings they are, but anyone who plays ESPN NFL 2K5 will know the truth after their very first game. »
« The best sports game I have ever played. The graphics, immersion, and mechanics are all near-perfect. »
« ESPN NFL 2K5 is the single greatest football game ever made. Even with a $49.99 price tag, this game would surely have been a huge seller. However, the $20 price makes this game a steal. »
Avis des Joueurs (Metacritic)
« Has to be one of the best sports video games of all time, beautiful broadcast presentation, fun gameplay, fun but challenging simulation, features that we still don't even see in modern football games. Still fun to just pick up and play. »
« This is THE perfect NFL simulation. Nothing before or since has really even come close to the feel of playing in an NFL football game. This is elden ring if madden was assassins creed. Its just on another level. The game play never gets old, even 20 years later. There is no better feeling than reading a defense, calling an audible, adjusting your routes and easily performing pre-snap motions. Madden has been bad lately because there is no competition. Madden was at its peak in 2004 because of this game. To me, this is the only place to turn when I crave NFL football. Being able to emulate this on steam deck is another huge bonus. Playing this on the train is exactly what you think it is.. DANGEROUS! they will steal your deck in minutes. Anyway this is the greatest NFL football game of all time. I pray for one day having a new 2K NFL football game in my hand. »
« Best football game ever »
« Simply THE Best NFL Videogame Ever Made! For $20 (or less if you buy a used copy like I did) you get sooo much content and fun that it absolutely stomps all over the awful sports games of today that cost 10 times as much! Create-A-Player, Team Creator, The Crib, the fantastic Career mode, highly accurate physics, superb graphics, excellent controls, loads of fun extras including an awesome SportsCenter Halftime show, and so much more await you in this gem of a sports game that's still getting fanmade roster updates almost a full 20 years later! For those tired of the greedy asinine modern Madden titles, dig out and/or buy an old OG Xbox and play through this spectacular masterpiece to get your American Football fix! »
« The premier sim football game even after nearly 20 years. Unlike Madden, where the meta is to run backwards 20 yards and throw it to deep crosser routes, the gameplay and presentation of NFL 2K5 actually resemble football. Modders still regularly update the game with current rosters/uniforms/stadiums/face scans. »
« Coming from the trashy modern madden games, this game plays amazing!!! The presentation, gameplay, depth, its absolutely amazing! I am only 14 and once I was able to get my hands on this game I fell in love with it. Absolutely fantastic. The ability to play a version of yourself, and also the updated rosters sums it up for me. Perfect score all round. »
« This game could be the best sports video game of all time with amazing presentation and gameplay an incredibly deep and addictive franchise mode along with the crib and vip profiles this game also has the best ai ever in a sports game heck with your vip profile you can play yourself or friends if theirs was saved on yours that’s right you could play your friends even if they weren’t there »
« This is the best football game of all time, period. The game is so much more immersive than any Madden you'd get nowadays, the presentation, the AI, the animations, everything. Any flaws the game has is easily overshadowed by the extreme highs. It's a timeless classic. »
