Where to put this? ESPN 2k5 vs Live

[tsherkin]

So I routinely mouth off about ESPN because I've hated it every year it's been out and have returned it every time I've purchased it.

Except this year.

I'm a big Live fan and still am but ESPN is starting to catch my attention. 2k5 was really good, except for the following problems:

The controls are f'g shyte. I HATE IsoMotion and passionately dislike the inability to friggin' dunk from a standstill. It's so hard to just get my players to dunk except on a fastbreak!! ARGH!

The IsoMotion dribble controls suck, they're terrible. There's useless moves in there from streetball that are totally unnecessary and crap and they are all so damned slow.

Now, that said, I like the pace of the game, the graphics are improving (Live still owns) and the jumpshot animation isn't as terrible as it has been in years past but if they fix their terrible dribbling controls, I might switch over...

[tsherkin]

Also, a more extensive rating system would be nice... and the ability to change the position of existing players (Dorell Wright is NOT a SF, for example).

[tsherkin]

And yeah, MUCH better post controls would be great.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Well since it has the name ESPN in it, it should be in the Other Games section. Also, you didn't have to have 3 posts, you could've edited your first post so please remember that in the future.

[J@3]

I like ISOmotion in the way that it's so unuseable that you don't overuse it, ala Live's freestyle control... which seems to become the only half decent way to score, pick, crossover, drive etc.

I can dunk easily from a standstill, it took me a while to actually figure dunking out but once I did I actually changed the sliders because I was dunking almost everytime I got the ball. I guess it's like a soccer game where you've got to learn how to direct the control stick to get the ball where you want it to go, you've got to do pretty much the same with dunking. I prefer Live's shot animation but the ESPN one is cool in the sense that if it actually goes in it's somewhat rewarding lol.

And yeah, MUCH better post controls would be great.

? The ESPN post controls are a billion times better than Live... some of the fakes and stuff you can do in the post are just awesome, and it depends on their ability aswell. Like you can't go low with someone like Jake Voshkul and fake someone out in the post, he'll turn around and do a hook shot instead. If you take someone like Brad Miller down there he'll fake them and go to the basket, I reckon it's great.

[cklitsie]

The Association mode from ESPN 2K5 is soooooooooooooo much better than Dynasty mode in NBA Live.
Only thing I really, really hate about ESPN is that you can drive past your defender to the basket by only pressing like 1 button.

[GloveGuy]

Now, that said, I like the pace of the game, the graphics are improving (Live still owns).

[J@3]

I played Live again today for the first time in months and nearly had an epileptic fit in the first 30 seconds. The players sprint around like they've all been going through Shawn Kemp's car for the last 5 years. I turnt the game speed right down and they still ran around like they were in fast forward. Hopefully they'll fix that.

[tsherkin]

Well since it has the name ESPN in it, it should be in the Other Games section. Also, you didn't have to have 3 posts, you could've edited your first post so please remember that in the future.

Yeah, I totally blanked on that, which is odd because I've been using PHP forums for years and years... Brain-fart!

I like ISOmotion in the way that it's so unuseable that you don't overuse it, ala Live's freestyle control... which seems to become the only half decent way to score, pick, crossover, drive etc.

I can dunk easily from a standstill, it took me a while to actually figure dunking out but once I did I actually changed the sliders because I was dunking almost everytime I got the ball. I guess it's like a soccer game where you've got to learn how to direct the control stick to get the ball where you want it to go, you've got to do pretty much the same with dunking. I prefer Live's shot animation but the ESPN one is cool in the sense that if it actually goes in it's somewhat rewarding lol.

If I could figure that out, I would probably choose 2K5 then, because that's one of the few things that really irritates me. The IsoMotion is so bad it's unbelievable, except for one or two animations that are much more realistic than the terrible Live "I'm ALWAYS in front of you, biyatch!" animation that the defenders benefit from.

? The ESPN post controls are a billion times better than Live... some of the fakes and stuff you can do in the post are just awesome, and it depends on their ability aswell. Like you can't go low with someone like Jake Voshkul and fake someone out in the post, he'll turn around and do a hook shot instead. If you take someone like Brad Miller down there he'll fake them and go to the basket, I reckon it's great.

Schwa? I've been using Shaq and have experimented with Kareem, TD, all kinds of players. It's brutal. The hook shot is nice but I have an incredibly difficult time doing pump fakes and spins and what-not. The controls have really been brutal.

[tsherkin]

How do I dunk from a standstill? ARGH!

[J@3]

tell you what, I've been playing alot of PES so I haven't touched ESPN for a while but I'll go and play it later today and try to give some sort of step by step on how to dunk. Are you using Xbox? The post controls are so easy with that, it's all about timing and using the right analog sticks

[Ruff Ryder]

How do I dunk from a standstill? ARGH!

Turbo+shoot usually does it.

[tsherkin]

:lol: tell you what, I've been playing alot of PES so I haven't touched ESPN for a while but I'll go and play it later today and try to give some sort of step by step on how to dunk. Are you using Xbox? The post controls are so easy with that, it's all about timing and using the right analog sticks

I'm using PS2.


And Remy, Turbo doesn't seem to work at all.

So far, I've been met with limited success using the right analog stick and hitting shoot but we'll see. So damned irritating... where are all the POWER moves? Forget fading and shooting hooks... Argh.

As Bill Walton says, "Throw it down, big man, throw it DOWN!"

God, a Bill Walton quote was actually useful for once...

[zmac]

I think ESPN 2K5 is quite good. I bought it at the same time I got Live - on XBOX that is.
I played Live more at the start but then I played a full season of ESPN and I couldnt get enough, thats all I did, play ESPN.
I disagree with Tsherkin that Isomotion sucks. I think it is just as good if not better than Live's freestyle. Also the shooting style is quite good but the turnarounds really suck!
Also I like when you are driving past a guy and you are bumping into each other as you go thru, thats cool.
Another thing is the occasional around the back passes and also that there isnt as many dunks, so that when you get one you are psyched!
Overall Live 05 is better than ESPN 2k5, but only just and the main reason is because its on PC and you can patch it!

[J@3]

You have to make sure you've got Turbo held in BEFORE you press the dunk button. That's the big mistake I was making, I was either doing it at the same time or just after.

[tsherkin]

I'll keep that in mind, Jae, thanks.

[J@3]

One more thing, keep turbo held throughout the entire dunk. I don't know why, but it seems everytime I release it too early it turns into some pussy lay up which undoubtedly misses.

[tsherkin]

One more thing, keep turbo held throughout the entire dunk. I don't know why, but it seems everytime I release it too early it turns into some pussy lay up which undoubtedly misses.

Good to know, thanks man.

[akd]

I really don't know how to use the Isomotion. It seems as first you have to press the right stick and then use the left stick, but I always get caught with a charge. And the blocking is also hard in that I always get caught with a reach-in, thing that does not happen in NBA Live. Another problem I have is that when I am one on one, it is very hard to get through the player, thing that does not happen in Live. Anyone have any tips?

[tsherkin]

This dunking thing is really hit or miss; it depends very much on how you're facing and where people are, etc. It's almost as irritating as IsoMotion.

I really don't know how to use the Isomotion. It seems as first you have to press the right stick and then use the left stick, but I always get caught with a charge. And the blocking is also hard in that I always get caught with a reach-in, thing that does not happen in NBA Live. Another problem I have is that when I am one on one, it is very hard to get through the player, thing that does not happen in Live. Anyone have any tips?

Here's the problem list with IsoMotion:

- dribbling is way too goddamn slow
- the moves are ridiculous, useless and mostly unused (or illegal) in the NBA
- THEY'RE TOO F'G SLOW!!!
- you get called for a charge for no good reason far too often
- the slightest bump makes you lose your grip on the ball and pokes it away

It's terrible.

[akd]

That is true what you are saying, the same thing happens to me....but in all honesty, I wish this game had the gameplay of NBA Live with its graphics. For me, the graphics are superb. The free-throw shooting is ridiculously hard, and the sound just sucks....

[zmac]

That is true what you are saying, the same thing happens to me....but in all honesty, I wish this game had the gameplay of NBA Live with its graphics. For me, the graphics are superb. The free-throw shooting is ridiculously hard, and the sound just sucks....

I think the sound is fine and also the FreeThrows are harder than live but quite easy once you get the feel for it.
And it would be silly if it had the same graphics as live because then it wouldnt be different from live. IMO.

[Ruff Ryder]

That is true what you are saying, the same thing happens to me....but in all honesty, I wish this game had the gameplay of NBA Live with its graphics. For me, the graphics are superb. The free-throw shooting is ridiculously hard, and the sound just sucks....

I think the sound is fine and also the FreeThrows are harder than live but quite easy once you get the feel for it.
And it would be silly if it had the same graphics as live because then it wouldnt be different from live. IMO.

He meant Live's gameplay but ESPN's graphics. I figured out how to use isomotion effectively without getting called for a charge. Push it (we'll say) right, then midway threw the crossover or so, pull it back to a step back, then push it in the opposite direction (left) and you'll get by just fine.

[J@3]

Free throw shooting is piss easy. You've just got to be coordinated or in my case ambi-dexterous or however you spell it. The post moves are easy to do, but explaining them is another thing alltogether. You've sort of got to back your man down, quickly push the right thumbstick to the right then quickly push the left thumbstick to the left and they'll headfake the guy and spin to the basket.

[BrotherJRB]

I played and enjoyed ESPN 2k5 far more than I did with Live this year. ESPN had the CPU using real plays!! Also the pace of the game is real....I think ESPN...now 2k games are far closer to representing the NBA than Live. If 2k can fix the post moves, all the layup and dunk animations and fix the bugs from last year I imagine that will be the game I will play in the future. Live just doesn't change year to year....at least 2k games have some variability game to game in a franchise or season mode.

jr

Also 2k must fix their end game logic....it is frustrating to play a great game that comes down to the stretch and the CPU doesn't foul or doesn't take a 3pt shot down by 3 with seconds remaining.