I just got it for the xbox and have mixed reviews. The graphics and player animations are MUCH better than madden, lots and lots of tackling animations, but some things about the gameplay are iffy. like NO SACKS. I am about 14 weeks into a season and I have 2 sacks total. The O line is an impenetrable wall on passing downs. The substitutions kind of suck too. Why the hell is jonathan wells always my default return man? also NO fumbles. I went fourteen weeks and have fumbled twice, haven't forced any. and that stupid b/w buttons. THat's more xboxes fault than anything else, but its hard enough to pound four buttons with your thumb let alone the awkward b/w buttons to stiff arm. I haven't played Madden 2003 yet, but I imagine the gameplay is the exact same as the old madden. ALthough I must say NFL 2k3 is growing on me as I improve. I evn had 99 yards rushing last night, which is amzing considering it was james allen.
Madden 2003 claims the crown as best NFL game this season hands down. mini-camp mode, and create a playbook are awesome, the gameplay is very realistic (you can't juke your player left and right to make people miss). Graphics are nice and smooth. and also Online play is good as well (download updated rosters). I give it a 9.5 out of 10.
They put Brian Urlacher on the cover, so I almost bought it. But I held back and haven't even rented it, I just didn't think it looked very good. Guess I saved a few $$$. I haven't really been playing my XBOX or Madden 2003 very much, no time. Actually the little time I get I have been playing Battlefield 1942 on the PC, badass.
I think it's as good as madden, but the faults you listed, do need to be improved. If you do your special moves you will get sacks on occasion.You can also get them in the Bear defense if you blitz a corner down the middle. I looked up how to do sacks on the web but have forgotten the special moves. I always drop back in coverage. but more sacks by computer controlled guys would be nice. The default special teams does stink. But the draft destroys madden. I'd say it's as good as madden in sum.
I rented both and played them. (madden and 2k3.) For some strange reason, I liked NFL2K3 better. I just liked playing it more. The franchise, imo, is also at least the same as Madden. The only thing that really got me about Madden was the Create-a-play. That thing was cool. I think one season, I didn't get many sacks. But the next, I got a few more. Not league leading, but ok. As far as the buttons go, I played it on the PS2 so I had no problem. Oh btw, if you want more fumbles, run with Michael Vick. Every time I ran with him, I had to go out of bounds in fear of fumbles. I ranked 2k3 slightly ahead of Madden. (btw, this was my 1st 2k. I usually play with Madden.)
Both games suck, but Madden is better because NFL2k3 sucks more. I rented the game for 7 days at blockbuster, and only played it the night I rented it.
I just got to the 2k3 draft; it's really cool, it's just like a real draft. all that's missing is the commisioner handing out caps. Pretty cool. Too bad you still can't sack anybody.
Damn, y'all aren't helping me at all to decide which game I should get: NFL2K3 or Madden. It seems like it's almost 50/50 on this board. I think I'll just get NFL2K3, just because I have a soft spot for Sega and the Dreamcast...the most underappreicated console ever!
If anything, you can spend an extra $10 and rent both. (not each, but total.) That what I did. To tell you the truth, I don't think you can really go wrong with either. Both franchises were really good and hook you on them. I just found NFL2K3 more to my liking.
