MADDEN vs ESPN NFL2K5

Should apologize before I begin as have written two reviews for movies but haven't finished editing them to less than 500 words yet so in the meantime I felt that had to share this with everyone.

I hadn't played my xbox 360 in a long time so I thought that while am waiting for the latest edition of "MADDEN" to arrive why not dust off my copy of "ESPN NFL2K5". Well, it was the most nerve wracking game I had played to date: let me elaborate...my mouth was dry and adrenaline was pumping; was the last 45 seconds, the Colts (my team) were down 9 to 14 against New England. It was the 3rd down for me and I swear I could hear my heart beating over the sound of the virtual crowd: came out in the gun formation and decided to run the last 15 yards. Hut hut hut....ran clock down to 15 seconds before hiking the ball. Time stood still for me as I made for the opening created by my offence, jumped over the first defender and then spun around the second and made a dive for the touchdown. Got tackled but slid the last yard or so into the endzone. Yes! I did it I did it, my hands were shaking because of the rush I felt, now why don't I feel the same rush while playing "MADDEN"?

EA took away that when they signed exclusive deal to NFL rights. How I wish that that wasn't the case and EA was more open to the prospect of competition, "NFL2K5" was and still is a brilliant game in its own right (don't blame EA for feeling threatened) that captured virtual American football perfectly. EA did come back with an answer in the form of “NCAA 06” but for some unknown reason decided that wasn't enough and wanted total domination. I've been playing American football games on and off from the early 16 bit era (I know...I'm old) and have some very fond memories of “mutant league football” and “Bill Walsh college football” on the megadrive and mega-CD. After that, there was a gap as was too involved in studies and jobs until the xbox came along. Only had a few games namely “Fahrenheit, NFL2K5 and NCAA 06” out of which the latter two were my favourites and saw much use. Then came the 360 and with it “Madden 06”. I played all of them 2006 through 2014 and the most fun I had was with the 2010 and 2012 versions (recently played Madden25 at a friends house and thought it would be a worthy purchase). But like they say, old is gold; and thankfully the 360 is backwards compatible and does play my much used 2K5. Damn...why don't they make football games like that any more? Even the latest “madden” doesn't even begin to touch the gameplay/presentation of the 2K game plus the afore mentioned game (I think) is a tad too easy. The most recent version of “madden” IS a step in the right direction but I am dumbfounded why EA is so afraid of having any kind of competition. Even I have heard that their contract with the NFL was up but it looks like they are not relinquishing their hold as of yet.