Scoring in the post is hit and miss in 2K9, and you’ll often find that anything inside feels somewhat clumsy.
Unfortunately, the stumbling block on offense is the low post play. Perhaps most importantly, the game seems to run at a much more natural pace than last years version, and I never felt like my players were either plodding or speeding around the court. Offensively, the game seems to have made some improvements as well, and the game seems to accurately force you to make good shots and run plays on the defense.
It takes players speed and size more accurately into account now, so if you try and cover that speedy point guard with your lumbering center, you’re going to get burned in a hurry. The lockdown feature returns on defense, albeit much improved. Once you hit the hardwood, you find some very solid gameplay that is a noticeable step up from last years game in many ways. This balancing act adds a great deal to the overall feel of “managing” the club, and adds a needed degree of weight to the often tedious roster management found in most games. To this end, trades have also been fleshed out, and allow for an amount of control unseen to this point. Unhappy players may demand to be traded, or make trade talks difficult. Morale plays in to each players individual goals and ambitions, which affects not only their play on court, but their actions off it. Higher morale leads to better on court performance, and lower morale has its consequences. Depending on how well you balance the individual desires of each player on your team, their individual morale (and thus your team morale) will rise or fall.
You can select from different levels in your starting rotation, assigning players statements such as “I want you to be the star for this team” and “You’re a starter, but replaceable if an upgrade comes along”. Within each of these roles, you’ll have the option to be more specific with regards to the players actual standing on the team.
You have the choice to set a player as a full time starter, a sixth man, or a roleplayer off the bench. As GM, you’ll set roles for each of your players. However, it offers more depth than most standard franchise modes, especially in terms of player interaction. Like all franchise modes, the Association puts you in the shoes of the GM of a team of your choice. Unfortunately, the off court presentation doesn’t hold up as well, mostly due to a very clunky menu system that never really feels like it clicks.Īll of the expected gameplay modes return for this years version, most notably the Association (now dubbed Association 2.0). Each player has a wide variety of animations both on offense and defense, and you’ll very rarely notice an immersion spoiling hitch.
In terms of visuals for sports games, animations are the most important, and I’m pleased to say that 2K9 nails them. It plays out just like the bookend highlights you see while watching the NBA on TV, and adds a great sense of realism to the presentation.
2k has incorporated a highlight reel generator, which saves in game video of big plays, then splices them together into a montage that plays after the quarters. The presentation on court is also very slick. The players look good for the most part, with the exception of some occasional fuglyness in the facial department. The overhauled crowds are some of the best in the genre, and they’re reactions are very realistic. For the most part, they succeed although some frustrating elements keep NBA 2k9 from living up to it’s full potential. 2k has responded to this competition by making some great changes to their already winning formula, once again attempting to secure their place at the top of the ladder. This year’s version attempts to defend that title against competition that seems to be getting stronger year after year.
2K Sports ups the ante with their latest b-ball title.Īfter several years of being kings of the hardwood, the NBA 2k series has proven itself the champion as it relates to professional basketball games.