ESPN NFL 2K5 ps2

24.) ESPN NFL 2K5

Developed by: Visual Concepts

Published by: SEGA

Released: July 20, 2004

Some have called it the greatest sports game ever made. We'll certainly admit that 2K5, the last of Visual Concepts' officially licensed NFL games before EA took their exclusive pigskin ball and went home, was amazing. No doubt fond nostalgia always plays a part when it comes to these games, but we're not discounting the impact of 2K5 by any stretch of the imagination.

Solid playbooks and animation, tighter integration with ESPN and a more professional, broadcast-like presentation all won plenty of people over. It also served as the first salvo that SEGA had fired at EA when the two were still competing head-to-head, debuting at under $20 new. It was a move that may have worked out, if only the NFL license hadn't gone exclusive.