On a crisp autumn afternoon, two rugged warriors set foot before the cool blue glow of a television screen and prepare for battle.
One, a seasoned veteran ready to defend his place atop the standings, exudes a quiet confidence as he plugs in his video game controller.
The other, a young upstart with hopes of dethroning the champion, eagerly follows suit.
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Surely, this match-up will echo in the annuls of video game history.
While some may never fully understand the magnitude of this rivalry, for others there's no greater debate this fall than this: Which is the better football video game? Madden NFL 2005 or ESPN NFL 2K5 ?
To answer this question once and for all, insider copy editor Todd Clausen (the seasoned veteran) and I (the young upstart) go head-to-head.
We weren't seeking to find who is the better video game player. It's almost unquestionable that Todd would mercilessly house me.
Instead we were test-driving both games to compare each game's graphics, gameplay, special features and whatever else is needed to sustain gridiron junkies on days not named Sunday or Monday.
Todd is an unabashed Madden proponent.
And Mike McAnany, 19, manager of Game Stop at The Marketplace in Henrietta, says he's not alone. McAnany has even been a national finalist in the EA Sports Madden Challenge — a tournament to find the world's top player.
“Madden is definitely more popular and sells more copies,” he says. “It's a tradition for a lot of people.”
I, in my unyielding and unexplainable need to keep from conforming, have embraced ESPN .
So after the opening whistle sounded on this most arduous of assignments, Todd and I got to work unscientifically testing Madden on a Playstation 2 and ESPN on an Xbox.
Our findings are in the chart at right.
And you'll see that it was close.
Too close to call in many instances, in fact.
We ended up in a dead heat, and with no Electoral College to declare a winner, neither game receives an overwhelming victory.
Both have their attractions and shortcomings, and, depending on whether you're looking for authentic team playbooks or realistically contoured cheerleaders, you'll probably need to try them both out for yourself.
So in video games, as in life, maybe there are no clear winners.
Except, of course, for me and Todd.
We've finally been paid to play football video games.
How the games match up
ESPN NFL 2K5 — “The cocky, upstart rookie.”
Madden NFL 2005 — “The perennial all-star and future hall of famer.”
Price
ESPN - $19.99 (5 footballs)
Madden - $49.99 (2 footballs)
Graphics
ESPN -
Fluid, realistic players and authentic-looking stadiums. (4 footballs)
Madden -
We're split on the realism of the players, but the stadiums look awesome. (4 footballs)
Presentation
ESPN -
If your friends walk in, they'll swear you're watching a real game on ESPN. (5 footballs)
Madden -
Substance over style. (4 footballs)
Commentary & Analysis
ESPN -
Intuitive commentary and appearances by the network's own Chris Berman and Suzy Kolber (4 footballs)
Madden -
Play-by-play by the venerable Monday Night Football team of Al Michaels and John Madden. (4 footballs)
Gameplay
ESPN -
High-flying, smooth and offense-oriented. ( 4 footballs)
Madden -
Down in the trenches, ultra-realistic game with countless pre-snap options. (5 footballs)
Music
ESPN -
Authentic stadium sounds and (for Xbox) the ability to customize soundtracks. (5 footballs)
Madden -
Music? What is this? My Fair Lady? Let's concentrate on hitting. (3 footballs)
Franchise mode
ESPN -
Impressive but not as extensive as Madden's. (2 footballs)
Madden -
You can micromanage down to the price of stadium hotdogs. (5 footballs)
Ratings on a 1 to 5 scale; more footballs equal a higher rating. Source: Tim Karan
