Sports Gaming Nirvana.

Welcome to the Digital Sportspage forum.

Moderators: Bill_Abner, ScoopBrady

Post Reply
User avatar
PhiPsi1
Mario Mendoza
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:00 am

Sports Gaming Nirvana.

Post by PhiPsi1 »

Just wanted to start a thread here seeing what game in each sporting genre gives that "gaming nirvana" feeling and really emulates the play on the athletic field to each console (for the last 3 years or so)...i'm getting ready to travel overseas and want to compile a library of sports games before i leave...
anyways, here are my choices.

soccer: WINNING ELEVEN 9 (ps2)
college football: NCAA FOOTBALL 2004 (with "named" rosters); (ps2)
college basketball: ESPN COLLEGE HOOPS 2k6 (XBOX 360)
nba: ESPN NBA 2k6 (XBOX 360)
nfl: not sure ----- need some feedback
baseball: MLB06:THE SHOW (ps2)
hockey: not sure ------ need some feedback
boxing: debatable ------- FIGHT NIGHT 2004 (ps2)
golf: not sure ------ need feedback

anyways, these are the genres i wanted to get some feedback on and just wanted to give my game choices....

feel free to post your "ultimate" sports game choices.
User avatar
Zeppo
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 7517
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2002 3:00 am
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Post by Zeppo »

Winnign Eleven is the only one that deserves any such moniker. It's in a class by itself, both as an individual game (pick a year) and as a series. It's not perfect, but what is? Certainly not any modern video games (OK maybe one or two).

The only other game I would consider for such a list is NHL Rivals online in 3 on 3 NHL style hockey with guys who understand the basics of hockey. 2 on 2 NHL style in Rivals online would also qualify. I do have fond memories of NCAA Football '04 online, but for me the CPU is an empty experience in that and any football game.

Anyway, that's what I think.
User avatar
ddtrane
Starting 5
Starting 5
Posts: 912
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:00 am
Location: Midland County

Re: Sports Gaming Nirvana.

Post by ddtrane »

PhiPsi1 wrote:Just wanted to start a thread here seeing what game in each sporting genre gives that "gaming nirvana" feeling and really emulates the play on the athletic field to each console (for the last 3 years or so)...i'm getting ready to travel overseas and want to compile a library of sports games before i leave...
anyways, here are my choices.

soccer: WINNING ELEVEN 9 (ps2)
college football: NCAA FOOTBALL 2004 (with "named" rosters); (ps2)
college basketball: ESPN COLLEGE HOOPS 2k6 (XBOX 360)
nba: ESPN NBA 2k6 (XBOX 360)
nfl: not sure ----- need some feedback
baseball: MLB06:THE SHOW (ps2)
hockey: not sure ------ need some feedback
boxing: debatable ------- FIGHT NIGHT 2004 (ps2)
golf: not sure ------ need feedback

anyways, these are the genres i wanted to get some feedback on and just wanted to give my game choices....

feel free to post your "ultimate" sports game choices.
I don't play all of the sports mentioned above, but the ones that I do:

Soccer, WE9 no contest.
Football, NCAA, love the college game moreso than the pros.
Basketball, see above.
Baseball, MLB the Show.
Hockey, not even close NHL 2K6 hands down.
Golf, for me its a no brainer, Links 2004.
gamertag: ddtrane65
User avatar
ddtrane
Starting 5
Starting 5
Posts: 912
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:00 am
Location: Midland County

Post by ddtrane »

Zeppo wrote:Winnign Eleven is the only one that deserves any such moniker. It's in a class by itself, both as an individual game (pick a year) and as a series. It's not perfect, but what is? Certainly not any modern video games (OK maybe one or two).

The only other game I would consider for such a list is NHL Rivals online in 3 on 3 NHL style hockey with guys who understand the basics of hockey. 2 on 2 NHL style in Rivals online would also qualify. I do have fond memories of NCAA Football '04 online, but for me the CPU is an empty experience in that and any football game.

Anyway, that's what I think.

Man I miss those Rivals nights. When I play Rivals, that gives me the most pleasure on XBLive.
gamertag: ddtrane65
Inuyasha
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 4638
Joined: Sun May 16, 2004 3:00 am

Post by Inuyasha »

soccer: International Superstar Soccer 64 (N64)
college football: NCAA FOOTBALL 2004 (ps2)
college basketball: N/A
nba: NBA LIVE 97 (ps2)
nfl: NFL2K1 (DC)
baseball: HH2003 (PS2)
hockey: NHL2K3 (XBOX)
boxing: N/A
golf: Tiger Woods (pc)
User avatar
GTHobbes
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 2873
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 4:00 am

Re: Sports Gaming Nirvana.

Post by GTHobbes »

nfl: ESPN2k5...no brainer for me.
baseball: The Show (PS2 and PSP)
golf: I'd go with Hot Shots for PSP, personally.

Those games would get me by for a good while.
User avatar
Boom
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 1491
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2003 4:00 am
Location: : Denver, CO

Post by Boom »

soccer: N/A
college football: NCAA FOOTBALL 2004 (ps2 online)
college basketball: College Hoops 2K6 (360)
nba: NBA 2K6 (360)
nfl: Madden NFL 06 (XBOX / PS2 Online)
baseball: MLB 06: The Show (PS2) / MVP 05 (PC w/ 06 Mod) / HH02 (PC)
hockey: N/A really, but if had to pick I'd say NHL2K3 (XBOX)
boxing: N/A
golf: Tiger Woods (pc)
User avatar
EZSnappin
Starting 5
Starting 5
Posts: 978
Joined: Tue May 10, 2005 3:00 am
Location: Dallas,TX
Contact:

Post by EZSnappin »

It's not on your list of genres but I think any list of top flight sports games would be incomplete without a shout out to Rugby 06. I haven't even gotten around to picking up WE9 because Rugby seems glued into the tray.

I'll add yet another recommendation to NCAA 04 for College Football.

I've become unable to tolerate the little things that are incredibly off in all of this years (and last years) Basketball games, to my great dismay, so will point you toward Inside Drive 2004, funky graphics and all.
User avatar
pk500
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 33871
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:00 am
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Contact:

Post by pk500 »

Winning Eleven 9, Rugby 06, Football Manager 2006 and World of Outlaws Sprint Car Racing, hands down.

TOCA 3 might not be the perfect simulation of vehicle physics and handling, but it's a superb racing game. It also has pretty damn good physics and a great variety of cars and classes. The only things that keep it from nirvana are the idiosyncratic flag and penalty system and that some classes -- sprint cars, for example -- are poorly done. The little things, such as the pit exit "blastoff" at Indy and the pole winner starting on the outside of the front row at Indy, also show a lack of attention to certain details.

NFL 2K5 is superb, with a catch -- NickChew's roster edits and sliders. Those make the game come alive with more realism, big time.

I would have said NHL 2K6, but the more I play that game, the more I'm convinced the game engine is just flat-out broken. From the unimaginitive, one-timer based offense on Pro, to the ridiculous CPU speed cheats on All-Star, to the inability of the CPU to score in shootouts, this game engine is hurting. After playing WE 9 or Rugby 06, I can't even play NHL 2K6 for more than 10 minutes because the glaring flaws piss me off so much. I'm probably going to sell it this weekend so I can devote more time to Rugby 06 and WE 9.

I understand the love for Rivals, but it's not a very good hockey game at its core. Not at all. The only thing that saves Rivals is the multi-multiplayer on Xbox Live, as so many have mentioned. Rivals is not a fun hockey game; the multi-player camaraderie that it breeds is insanely fun.

I must co-sign Snappin's last post. Rugby 06 is the best sports videogame I've played this year, and that includes WE 9 and TOCA 3.

I shake my head and laugh when I think that arguably one of the top five team sports video games I've ever played depicts a sport I knew nothing about roughly five weeks ago. Once you get the hang of it and understand what the hell is going on, Rugby 06 is fantastic.

My only wish is that it was online. Otherwise, it's fused to my Xbox tray, much like Snappin.

Take care,
PK
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles

"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature

XBL Gamertag: pk4425
User avatar
Dave
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 3553
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 4:00 am

Post by Dave »

PK, I'm with you on the "if only Rugby 06 was online" stuff. It would be a blast to compete against people and figure out how others are playing. I tend to play a defensive-type game (which is why my inability to take possession from the CPU is frustrating).

It and ToCA also led to me getting rid of NHL 2k6. Fun game, but with the Wild tanking my lack of hockey interest helped push the flaws to the fore.

No racing game has put it all together as well as World of Outlaws. All the other great ones have too many *ifs* to match that level. If IndyCar 2005 didn't have bizarro online racing or if ToCA had better flag implementation...etc.

I defer to the experts for soccer. WE 8 is still fine by me.
xbl/psn tag: dave2eleven
User avatar
JackB1
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 8124
Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2003 4:00 am

Post by JackB1 »

lets do a Rivals Revival Night!!!! I still have it!
who's with me?

ddtrane wrote:Man I miss those Rivals nights. When I play Rivals, that gives me the most pleasure on XBLive.
User avatar
DChaps
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 3682
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2003 4:00 am

Post by DChaps »

The little things, such as the pit exit "blastoff" at Indy and the pole winner starting on the outside of the front row at Indy, also show a lack of attention to certain details.
What in the hell? I had not seen that yet. Stuff like that annoys the crap out of me. Damn you guys need to get some IMS folks in on the Codies beta testing team. :)

Speaking of World of Outlaws, Why couldn't someone just buy World of Outlaws PC source code, port it to Xbox, and make it XBL compatible for 12. Man that would be fun as hell. I still play the PC version occassionally, but no one is online to race anymore.
User avatar
ddtrane
Starting 5
Starting 5
Posts: 912
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:00 am
Location: Midland County

Post by ddtrane »

JackB1 wrote:lets do a Rivals Revival Night!!!! I still have it!
who's with me?

ddtrane wrote:Man I miss those Rivals nights. When I play Rivals, that gives me the most pleasure on XBLive.
I can't tonight, maybe sometime on Mon, Tues, or Wed night, Perhap? :D
gamertag: ddtrane65
User avatar
ddtrane
Starting 5
Starting 5
Posts: 912
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:00 am
Location: Midland County

Post by ddtrane »

JackB1 wrote:lets do a Rivals Revival Night!!!! I still have it!
who's with me?

ddtrane wrote:Man I miss those Rivals nights. When I play Rivals, that gives me the most pleasure on XBLive.
I can't tonight, maybe sometime on Mon, Tues, or Wed night, Perhaps? :D
gamertag: ddtrane65
User avatar
10spro
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 13936
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2002 4:00 am

Post by 10spro »

WE9 hands down. Just recently playing Topspin2 online, there's such a pumping fist "OH YES" feeling when you outrun your opponent and just hit an impossible shot back just when your opponent thinks that you're down and out.
User avatar
Airdog
DSP-Funk All-Star
DSP-Funk All-Star
Posts: 1160
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2002 3:00 am
Location: LaSalle/Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Post by Airdog »

pk500 wrote: I would have said NHL 2K6, but the more I play that game, the more I'm convinced the game engine is just flat-out broken. From the unimaginitive, one-timer based offense on Pro, to the ridiculous CPU speed cheats on All-Star, to the inability of the CPU to score in shootouts, this game engine is hurting. After playing WE 9 or Rugby 06, I can't even play NHL 2K6 for more than 10 minutes because the glaring flaws piss me off so much. I'm probably going to sell it this weekend so I can devote more time to Rugby 06 and WE 9.
I've also just about met my end with NHL, but I still play it with my friends (offline, sitting next to each other).

But there's good news for next year - apparently Kush isn't planning on a whole lot of "new features" but are instead working on tightening up and strengthening what they currently have. That gets me a lot more excited than new features that don't mean much when the basic engine needs a lot of work.
- Rob
PSN: smearobe
Post Reply