October 21st, 2009 at 11:29 am - by SpaceBarZ

Every year companies like EA and 2K Sports unleash a barrage of new sports games upon the world with just enough upgrades to keep die hard fans coming back for more and to attract a few noobs here and there. I myself am no exception to the rule. I own Madden ‘95, ’98, ‘06, ‘09, and ‘10 but the truth of the matter is I haven’t bought a basketball game since NBA Shoot Out (1996). This year I got my hands on a copy of NBA 2K10 for the Playstation 3 and I must say though it’s not perfect it is a damn good sports sim.





NBA 2K10 is an action packed basketball game that puts gameplay at its helm and graphics a bit further down in priority. Upon initial review it appeared to lack polish. The graphics are a bit jagged on the menu screens and in the game but once you sit down with it and begin playing through it you begin to realize how much attention to detail 2K Sports put into this game. The crowds and stadiums look amazingly realistic. They are actually some of the best environmental models I’ve ever seen in a game. The players themselves still look a little odd during close-ups but while the action is going on the frame rate is surprisingly smooth. Star players also display signature moves and show their unique personalities for example Lebron James does the whole baby powder in the air thing that he has become popular for doing. Another element of the game that really stood out for me was the play-by-play commentary. The broadcasters Kevin Harlan and Clark Kellog did a great job of capturing what its like to watch a basketball game on television. They even drop little known facts about players and teams that had me saying “I didn’t know that” on more than one occasion.




This year 2K Sports decided to revamp the turbo system in the game. Unlike most other basketball games from prior years where you could simply hold down the turbo button and endlessly zoom around the court like a track star now you have to be conscious of the turbo meter which depletes if you abuse it. As someone who hadn’t owned a basketball game in some time, this took some getting used to, especially when playing against the computer who in my opinion always seemed like they were mashing turbo. Another thing that frustrated me about this game was the shooting. I found myself missing easy shots and lay-ups that I know should have been butter. Even in practice mode I would attempt mid range 2 point shots and miss even though the screen would display that I had a perfect release. It made me feel as though some of your ability to hit and miss shots wasn’t totally up to your skill but rather chance.

This game is loaded with enough features to keep you playing all year. If you’re connected to the internet during the basketball season the main menu screen will show you what games are going on in the NBA today and will allow you to play one of tonight’s match-ups. In my opinion this is one of the best innovations I’ve seen in a basketball game in a while, rather than spend 5 minutes trying to decide what team I can beat with the Hawks or what superstar I wanted to dunk on I just played one of the leagues match-ups. NBA 2K10 also features an interesting street ball section that allows you to play a game of 21. It has some nostalgic value to it but it gets kind of boring having to wait for the computer to shoot free throws. It also has a half and full court mode that allows you to create your own teams ranging from 1on1 to 5 on 5 and has some celebrity star power including Kanye West who is a crappy point guard.



Overall, I think NBA 2K10 is the way to go if you’re a basketball enthusiast trying to decided between this and EA’s NBA Live. It’s the closest gaming experience I’ve ever had to actually watching a live broadcast. Its overall presentation trumps not only other basketball games but Madden and other sports games in the market as well. I can safely give this game 4 out of 5 stars.