So Good, It Belongs in Canton: NFL 2K5 Review (PS2, Xbox) | Hazy Bit #3

Welcome to the third edition of Hazy Bit!

Hazy Bit dusts off the ol’ video game collection with retrospectives, reviews, and other nostalgic content sent directly to your inbox on the 1st and 15th of every month. If you enjoy what you’re reading, subscribe and follow me on Instagram and Threads!

This week’s retro releases:

• Syberia (PC, September 1, 2002, NA)

• Front Mission 3 (PS, September 2, 1999, JP)

• Metal Gear Solid (PS, September 3, 1998, JP)

• Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball (Genesis, September 4, 1995, NA)

• Yakuza (PS2, September 7, 2006, NA)

• Shenmue II (Dreamcast, September 6, 2001, JP)

• Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (GBA, September 7, 2004, NA)

Check out this list on GameFAQs to see other titles released this week.

Imagine some of the greatest rivalries in NFL history: Steelers-Ravens, Cowboys-Eagles, Bears-Packers. These games are a blast to watch, even for casual football fans. They’re the best matchups that the game has to offer and I think I speak for a lot of gridiron nerds when I say they’re always worth watching, even if one of the teams is having a down year.

At one time, football video games had a similar rivalry brewing, one that could have matched the intensity of the real-life sport and brought out the best in both competitors. The teams in this rivalry? You had Visual Concepts, Sega, and their NFL 2K series on one sideline, and EA Sports with Madden on the other.

It was a battle that seemed destined to go on for years. Just when it seemed like the 2K series was getting the upper hand with superior presentation and a $20 price tag, the budding competition was ultimately cut short due to EA’s deep pockets and an exclusive deal to publish NFL-licensed video games.

The last installment before EA signed the agreement that made Madden the only football game on the field, NFL 2K5, turned 20 in July 2024. Despite being two decades old, it still stands as arguably the greatest football game of all time. So throw on some shoulder pads, strap on your helmet, and let’s open up the playbook and see what made this title a championship contender. (I’ll try to lay off the football puns, I swear.)

Primetime Presentation

As soon as you fire up NFL 2K5, you’ll notice that early 2000s ESPN aesthetic slapped on everything, from the menus to the music. A version of the iconic Sportscenter theme plays as soon as you reach the main menu, which is decked out in the classic ESPN font. It’s more than just superficial though.

Once you hop into a game, it feels pretty damn close to an actual broadcast on ESPN. Each matchup starts with a quick preview featuring ESPN legend Chris Berman - better known as Boomer - followed by shots of fans and profiles of a star player from each team. It’s strange, but small things like this make even a random exhibition game seem like it has a story, a setting, and a little bit of drama. In Franchise mode it’s even better, with a halftime recap of other games happening around the league, and weekly recaps of how other teams and storylines are progressing throughout the season.

It’s the presentation details that give NFL 2K5 its staying power. The ESPN and Sportscenter branding certainly help, but how many times in a recent Madden has the chain gang come out to measure if you gained a first down? Cut to face-painted fans wearing jerseys of the player you just scored with? Had a CPU coach with the smarts to challenge (and win a reversal of) a questionable call made by the refs?

You’d be hard-pressed to find a football title that does the cosmetic stuff better than NFL 2K5.

Buggy but fun football gameplay

So, how about the actual football part of NFL 2K5? It’s still good, even 20 years later, but it has some flaws. If the presentation is Tom Brady and Bill Belechik’s Patriots, the gameplay is more like Jim Kelly and Marv Levy’s Bills, consistently great but not quite reaching championship level.

For the most part, the gameplay works. It’s easy to call audibles, make new hot routes, or switch up defensive coverages presnap. When the ball is in your hands, your player controls relatively well. 2K5 nails the feeling of a well-timed spin move or lowering your shoulder to plow through a defender (though the lack of a hit stick is a bit jarring as a longtime Madden player).

But some inexplicable moments in NFL 2K5 can feel frustrating or like you’re cheating the game. On the frustrating side of the spectrum, sometimes a wide-open receiver will drop a perfectly thrown ball, or a well-covered throw will zip right through a defensive back’s hands. On the other hand, it can be super easy at times to get a sack if you’re controlling a defensive end, almost like a pro lining up against a JV player.

There are enough good moments and cool features, like First Person Football and the VIP system, to make up for the random bits of bad, though, so on the whole, NFL 2K5 offers a solid football gaming experience on the field.

How does 2K5 stack up against Madden today?

I’ll be honest, the last Madden I played was Madden 22. I thought it was a fairly good entry in the series and made some nice additions to Franchise mode, which is the mode I play the most in football games. While I can’t say exactly how 2K5 stacks up against the newest entry, Madden 25, I can say that based on my most recent Madden experiences, the competition is a lot closer than it should be.

While Madden feels like a series that does the bare minimum to justify a $60 a year ticket price, NFL 2K5 seems like a breath of fresh air. The presentation and solid gameplay give 2K5 personality and charisma that’s simply lacking in modern Madden games. I’ll be the first to say I hope that when EA’s exclusive deal ends in 2026, it isn’t renewed, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Competition improved both series and a return to that can only benefit football fans.

A fan favorite 20 years later

Perhaps what’s most amazing about NFL 2K5 is the passionate and devoted fanbase that has built up around it, a fanbase that rivals that of any great team. There’s a free mod out there, created by three gamers working in their spare time, that has updated NFL 2K5 with modern rosters, better graphics, and an updated UI. Not many defunct franchises can claim that level of dedication from their fans.

Should I play NFL 2K5 in 2024?

Considering that I got a complete copy of the game in July for less than $7 and that it’s one of the best, if not the best football video games in history, the answer is clearly yes. Even if you’re just a casual sports fan, it’s a great game to play with friends whenever the mood to toss the old pigskin around hits. Hell, some people even prefer it to Madden these days, given the uninspiring state the franchise currently finds itself in.

I know I do.

That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoyed the review of NFL 2K5. If you did, don’t forget to like the post, drop a comment, and subscribe if you feel so inclined. If you didn’t, drop a comment telling me how wrong I am! I love talking games with readers.

Next week, I take a look at the first video game I ever played: the original Super Mario Bros.