NBA 2K13: Gameplay Impressions from New Demo

How many times can you play one five-minute quarter with the same two teams? I don't know, but I'm approaching some sort of record, I'm sure.

I am a self-professed fan of the NBA 2K series, and basketball is my favorite sport. Needless to say, I've been waiting on NBA 2K13 like Ray Allen calling for the ball, wide open for a corner three. Thanks to the demo that released in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday, I'm getting a taste of what I want.

The demo features a one-quarter rematch of the 2012 NBA Finals. You can select either the Miami Heat or the Oklahoma City Thunder. The commentators aren't included, but you can play online.

The biggest and most noticeable difference in gameplay is the shot stick. The game begins with a short tutorial during the loading screen. I highly recommend you pay attention to that. The more you play the demo, the better handle you'll get on the shot stick. I'm already starting to see how much more control you can have with it.

Getting acclimated produces more pretty basketball sequences. It is kind of cool that you have to learn the nuances of the shot stick to completely employ it.

In this game, I was controlling the Miami Heat. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade threw down a few nasty jams. 

The teams seem to play styles that are consistent with their real-life counterparts. The Thunder looked to run whenever Russell Westbrook had an opening, and for the first time in the series, I felt pressure to get back on defense against the CPU.

The play execution is nice as well. The CPU looks to run a variety of screen and rolls, and other plays to free up shooters and scorers.

So far, I'm pleased with what I see—2K Sports has done a great job increasing what was already a healthy amount of anticipation.

The official release is October 2, and I'll have full coverage including a review. Check out the video for a taste of the gameplay.

Follow Brian Mazique and Franchiseplay on YouTube and Twitter for reactions, analysis and news from the world of sports and sports video games.

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