ESPN Video Games: Top 25 Sports Games of All-Time & 5 Games We Want Back

[JBHuskers]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0502/play_split1x_576.jpg

Do today’s sports games feel stale to you? If only we had some of these titles to help spice things back up.

NFL 2K: EA’s exclusive NFL license is about to run out. Competition fuels innovation. Bring back NFL 2K!

MVP Baseball: “The Show” remains brilliant on PS3, but Xbox gamers desperately need an upgrade.

TNA Wrestling: You’re telling me a game with Hulk Hogan, Sting, Jeff Hardy, and the Aces and Eights wouldn’t sell?

NBA Ballers: One-on-one hoops complete with combos and yachts.

Mutant League Football: Watching your running back blow up or fall through a hole in the field never gets old.


Top 25 Sports games #25-#21 - http://espn.go.com/espn/playbook/story/_/id/9233140/jon-robinson-ranks-best-sports-video-games-all

16-20: Coming Tuesday, May 7
11-15: Coming Wednesday, May 8
6-10: Coming Thursday, May 9
1-5: Coming Friday, May 10

[bdoughty]

NFL Street in the Top 25? When Jon Robinson gets paid by EA for a review he follows through to the end of time.

Seriously read his IGN review of the game (http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/10/nfl-street-3)

NFL Street is the game that out-blitzes Blitz to revive the arcade football genre to a status worthy of the legends strutting their attitude across the asphalt.

Honestly how can anyone say this without having EA stroking your cock at the same time.

[CLW]

Funny that ESPN sued EA back in the day for "EASN". I either didn't know that or completely forgot.

[JBHuskers]

20-16 (http://espn.go.com/espn/playbook/story/_/id/9233141/jon-robinson-ranks-best-sports-video-games-all)

15-11 (http://espn.go.com/espn/playbook/story/_/id/9233142/jon-robinson-ranks-best-sports-video-games-all)

10-6 (http://espn.go.com/espn/playbook/story/_/id/9233143/jon-robinson-ranks-best-sports-video-games-all)

[JBHuskers]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0425/play_e_rbi11_200.jpg

:nod:

[gschwendt]

This is where it was at... especially for NES baseball.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0425/play_baseball_stars_200.jpg

[JBHuskers]

NFL 2K5 at #8. That will cause an uproar :D

[JBHuskers]

This is where it was at... especially for NES baseball.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0425/play_baseball_stars_200.jpg

Fun game...but I was definitely an RBI guy.

[CLW]

My favorite college football game:

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0425/play_ncaa04_200.jpg

checks in at #17

and my favorite college hoops title:

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0425/play_e_college8_200.jpg

checks in at #16

:smh: should have been rated higher ESPECIALLY 2K8

[JBHuskers]

I dunno (or remember) why, but I liked 2K7 better.

[CLW]

I dunno (or remember) why, but I liked 2K7 better.

Has to be the most awesome cover in the history of sports video games:

http://i.neoseeker.com/boxshots/R2FtZXMvUGxheXN0YXRpb25fMi9TcG9ydHMvQmFza2V0YmFsbA ==/college_hoops_2k7_frontcover_large_L6ON0aQz3K2CO66 .jpg

[JBHuskers]

It definitely wasn't cuz of the cover :D :down:

[I OU a Beatn]

A travesty to have NCAA '04 at #17. They better have '07 in the top 5. No NCAA game has come even close to equaling those 2 in terms of quality and game play.

[CLW]

A travesty to have NCAA '04 at #17. They better have '07 in the top 5. No NCAA game has come even close to equaling those 2 in terms of quality and game play.

07 would have been a great title BUT FOR that RIDICULOUS momentum meter. Was 07 the one where you started out with the ugly/fat girlfriend and then gradually "upgraded" as you progressed on campus?

[I OU a Beatn]

07 would have been a great title BUT FOR that RIDICULOUS momentum meter. Was 07 the one where you started out with the ugly/fat girlfriend and then gradually "upgraded" as you progressed on campus?

Not sure. I never played football games offline and have only done so in recent titles to get trophies. On the PS2 days, I never played offline. But in terms of balance and sheer quality of game play from a player vs player online perspective, '04 and '07 are heads and shoulders above all the other ones, including all the ones for this gen as well.

I thought '06 was the one that had the momentum thing, but I could be wrong.

[JBHuskers]

07 would have been a great title BUT FOR that RIDICULOUS momentum meter. Was 07 the one where you started out with the ugly/fat girlfriend and then gradually "upgraded" as you progressed on campus?

The girlfriends were the best :D

[CLW]

Not sure. I never played football games offline and have only done so in recent titles to get trophies. On the PS2 days, I never played offline. But in terms of balance and sheer quality of game play from a player vs player online perspective, '04 and '07 are heads and shoulders above all the other ones, including all the ones for this gen as well.

I thought '06 was the one that had the momentum thing, but I could be wrong.

Just checked and according to wikipedia 07 had the momentum meter. that thing was WAY over the top and ruined an otherwise solid title. i'm pretty sure they canned the whole concept after 07.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Football_07


The girlfriends were the best :D

Yeah it was 07 too:

The dorm room also featured a picture of the player's current girlfriend, with the beauty depending on the player's success; this feature was removed for the NCAA football 08 edition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Football_07


I was thinking the exploding endzones was in 07 too but it must have been 08.

[JBHuskers]

:D :D :D :D :D

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18c4k6nfwqsuhjpg/xlarge.jpg

[CLW]

:D :D :D :D :D

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18c4k6nfwqsuhjpg/xlarge.jpg

back at the site that shall not be named i remember some classic career modes being posted with multiple HILARIOUS stories about these fine fine ladies.

[JBHuskers]

I remember the top prize looking like Trish Stratus. :D

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kmIHGDi2Lss/TUCAX_ZayJI/AAAAAAAADBc/G8upwPY31xc/s400/Trish-Stratus-wwe-diva-49.jpg

[souljahbill]

I remember the top prize looking like Trish Stratus. :D

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kmIHGDi2Lss/TUCAX_ZayJI/AAAAAAAADBc/G8upwPY31xc/s400/Trish-Stratus-wwe-diva-49.jpg

I never had '07 but that chick, top-middle in the blue shirt is something serious.

[bdoughty]

This is where it was at... especially for NES baseball.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0425/play_baseball_stars_200.jpg

Not even the best SNK baseball game for the NES. Ninjas and Monsters, boring... It was all about Texas beating the evil Chinese Taipai.

http://i.imgur.com/vkKq0ic.jpg

[CLW]

Not even the best SNK baseball game for the NES. Ninjas and Monsters, boring... It was all about Texas beating the evil Chinese Taipai.

http://i.imgur.com/vkKq0ic.jpg

No! It was about assembling your team of robots to battle for intergalactic supremacy:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QG1B73r90KA/TJJmrrL0RxI/AAAAAAAAADo/4csi4weeo_k/s1600/Base_Wars_cover.jpg

[JBHuskers]

:D I remember Base Wars

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[bdoughty]

No! It was about assembling your team of robots to battle for intergalactic supremacy:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QG1B73r90KA/TJJmrrL0RxI/AAAAAAAAADo/4csi4weeo_k/s1600/Base_Wars_cover.jpg

Or assembling a team of humans with superhuman powers. Photon Ball ruled all.

http://i.imgur.com/OELY7XV.jpg

[gschwendt]

#notsim

[bdoughty]

NBA Street V2 should have made top 5, it was that good. If Virtua Tennis (Original Dreamcast version) is not in the top 5, the list is void.

[I OU a Beatn]

:D :D :D :D :D

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18c4k6nfwqsuhjpg/xlarge.jpg

Are those actual images from the game? I can not believe I missed something like that. I'm going to have to stop telling people NCAA '07 was the best. :D

[gschwendt]

Are those actual images from the game?
Yes.

[I OU a Beatn]

Wow, I played '07 every day from the day it came out until the day '08 came out and I never once knew about that. I guess I'll start saying NCAA '04 is the best. :D :fp:

[gschwendt]

Wow, I played '07 every day from the day it came out until the day '08 came out and I never once knew about that. I guess I'll start saying NCAA '04 is the best. :D :fp:
That said, some loved the concept and still ask "when are they going to bring back the dorm and the girlfriends?"

[souljahbill]

#notsim

Greatest post in the history of the interwebz!

[JeffHCross]

#s 1-5: http://espn.go.com/espn/playbook/story/_/id/9233144/jon-robinson-ranks-best-sports-video-games-all

Five best video game fictional athletes: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/tech/post/_/id/4743/fast-5-best-video-game-fictional-athletes

[bdoughty]

NBA Street V2 should have made top 5, it was that good. If Virtua Tennis (Original Dreamcast version) is not in the top 5, the list is void.

The list is officially void. A Wraslin' game in the top 5? Fake Wraslin' is not even a sport. :fp:

[JBHuskers]

Top 3 is hard to argue with though.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[CLW]

Actually cannot complain about any of the top 5 really. No Mercy was just an insanely good game. I personally don't think MVP was EVER anywhere near as good as The Show has been but it does seem to have a cult like following.

[bdoughty]

Top 3 is hard to argue with though.


Top 3 is fair. Hard to understand throwing in a wrestling game yet completely omitting racing games, when only one of them belongs in the Sports Game genre. The other should be Fighting Game>Soap Opera>Men In Tights.

[GatorfanStovy]

Very interesting list. I'm not sure I like the top 5 or not. Played all those games not sure if they are worthy of top 5 of all time.

[GatorfanStovy]

Tecoma bowl and NHL 94 are the only ones worthy of the top 2 spots!

[morsdraconis]

I'm sorry, but it should be Super Tecmo Bowl not Tecmo Bowl. Fuck Tecmo Bowl.

[bdoughty]

I'm sorry, but it should be Super Tecmo Bowl not Tecmo Bowl. Fuck Tecmo Bowl.

Super Tecmo bowl does not exist, at least by that name.

There was Tecmo Bowl, the original for the NES (4 play call screens, limited teams) and then Tecmo Super Bowl for NES and SNES (8 play call screens, all the teams, season mode etc). The guy picked the second one which was the far superior game.

[morsdraconis]

Super Tecmo bowl does not exist, at least by that name.

There was Tecmo Bowl, the original for the NES (4 play call screens, limited teams) and then Tecmo Super Bowl for NES and SNES (8 play call screens, all the teams, season mode etc). The guy picked the second one which was the far superior game.

Wow. I totally failed at that... I thought he picked Tecmo Bowl and I actually meant Tecmo Super Bowl. I played the FUCK out of that game for the NES.

[JBHuskers]

Top 3 is fair. Hard to understand throwing in a wrestling game yet completely omitting racing games, when only one of them belongs in the Sports Game genre. The other should be Fighting Game>Soap Opera>Men In Tights.

I don't have a problem with wrasslin' games in there. It is odd there are no racing games. I don't know if he was only looking at games that actually are tied to a sport like NASCAR or F1 or Indy; which there aren't many good ones ever made. Gran Turismo or Forza, they're not tied to a racing organization 100%, so maybe that's why they're not on the list.