NBA 2K9

By Mike Norton – (PrototypeMike)

Platform: Xbox 360 (Also available on PS3 & PS2)

Publisher: 2K Sports

Developer: Visual Concepts

ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone

Genre: Basketball

Pros: Living rosters; solid presentation; plenty of modes; excellent gameplay; fast load times

Cons: Controls aren’t exactly intuitive…

As always, 2K really shines when you get out on the court. The controls aren’t the most intuitive you’ll find – there are several pages worth of commands in the instruction manual and they don’t quite cover everything – but once you get the basics down and learn a few moves you are good to go. The complicated controls are a big part of why NBA 2K9 is so realistic, and it just wouldn’t be the same game without dual player controls, the deep list of moves in the post, iso-motion ball handling, and all the rest. Pretty much anything you see happen in a real NBA game can and will happen in 2K9. Players are animated to move and shoot and behave just like their real world selves. And the A.I. generally does a good job of playing realistically although there are a few hiccups here and there. When you get everything figured out and learn how to play well, NBA 2K9 is incredibly satisfying and just plain feels right

As far as the presentation goes, NBA 2K9 is a very nice looking game. The animation is absolutely top notch and is definitely the best in the business. The arenas and crowd also look really good, and the default camera angle makes the game look exactly like a real event. The only issue with the graphics is that the players don’t quite look right. Star players have pretty accurate faces, but most players only kind of, sort of, look like they should. This has been a problem for a while now with 2K basketball and really should be fixed.

But where this game really shines is in its online community and living rosters. Similar to EA’s Live 365 updates, NBA 2K9 has Living Rosters that will constantly change throughout the season with trades or injuries. Player ratings will also change as the season goes on and new animations will even be added to make the players play more like their real world counterparts. All in all, NBA 2K9 is a great basketball game that is highly recommended. The presentation is great, and you just can’t beat the sheer number of features and modes available. The controls can be a bit overwhelming for new players, but once you get everything figured out it plays like a dream and offers the most realistic and satisfying basketball gameplay you’ll find on the Xbox 360. NBA fans, NBA 2K9 is well worth picking up

Overall I have to give NBA 2K9 a 5 out of 5 rating!