NBA 2K10 Take 2 Interactive
PlayStation 3//Xbox 360/Wii 8.5 out of 10
For the past few years true b-ball gaming aficionados only ball up with 2K Sports’ NBA 2K franchise. Year after year, the developers manage to top themselves and push out the most realistic basketball simulation.
Visually, 2K10 boosts the best graphics of the three NBA releases –EA Sports’ Live and Sony’s NBA franchises being the other two– with an amazing detail. Since it is basketball, with all those cuts, crossovers, and jukes, you’d might expect some delay from controller to onscreen movements, but the overall animation isn’t clunky or glitchy (unless you are playing the 360 version, more on that later). NBA players look like their real-world counterparts, right down to tattoo placement and move fluidly as 2K went out of their way to recreate player’s signature moves and cadences.
This wasn’t simply a graphics overhaul, there are a lot of added details that improve the overall gaving experience. First off, the on the fly menus are a great, no longer do you have to wait for a timeout or stop the game to change matchups or pressure an opposing player. The play calling is a lot more in depth as well, there are multiple offensive plays designed for each position on the floor and defensive plays are split up into two categories. Lastly the on the court play is more realistic, players can easily step out of a post up now and you can also face up and box out any player without the ball.
Since we are playing an NBA game, mad props for the game’s TV-style broadcast presentation. Besides perfect camera angles (something under appreciated when it comes basketball games) 2K10 manages a perfect blend of on-court gameplay versus distracting off court TV presentation. But it’s 2009, can a sports game for once actually perfect the play-by-play. Too many times the announcers are stiff, wooden, and repetitive. After a couple of hours playing with the commentary on, it even becomes annoying and is bound to frustrate some players.
Of course, NBA 2K10 features all of the various modes, including a full season, All-Star Weekend, and the playoffs. Thankfully you can still customize the season length, number of games to playoff series, and realign the conferences to your liking. Besides straight season/franchise mode, they’re also various challenge, practice and unique setup modes to improve your game. Even for those familiar with the NBA 2K franchise you won’t run out of things to do.
When it comes to game play, sideline ball players that are accustomed to running on the Pro difficulty setting, will find the AI is mad cheap. If you’re relentless defender that stays constantly in your opponents face and space, you should hold your own and even win early games. But you rooks, don’t expect to roll out the ball and run through a team, especially the elite NBA teams. It takes a lot to force the AI into bad passes and shot selections; and the fouls are ridiculously ticky tack. On the flip side, once the AI gets their stroke at the 3-point line, it’s over. Advice: ‘D’ Up, learn to run the pick n’ roll, and play tight!
For 360 users there are some choppy gameplay issues you will or have already experienced when the action gets heavy. There had better be some kind of software patch coming for this but until then download the game to your Xbox hard drive and play it from there.
Nothing more needs to be said. If you’re going to cop a NBA game, 2K10 is the one to get. The fatigue and rotations will take a bit of time to get used to (lay off that turbo button), but 2K still holds the hoops crown for the tightest controls, sweetest graphics, and most addictive gameplay. “Gametime…Hooh!!!” –A. Kennedy & B. Peters
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