NBA 2K10 Xbox 360 Review

I had an epiphany the other day.

I have been writing on the Bleacher Report for more than a year now, and have had a great run with it.  I was thinking about how much fun it would be if I had the opportunity to write about video games, another thing I enjoy a great deal. 

Then it hit me.  My favorite games are sports games.  Why not use the Bleacher Report to review some of the sports games that I play?  I will start with one of the more recent games, and will go from there.

I was supremely excited about the release of NBA 2K10.  It has been my second favorite sports series (behind Madden) since I began playing it.

With this year’s iteration, I may have a new No. 1 favorite series.

Graphics:

NBA 2K10 is the most impressive looking sports title I have ever seen.  The player’s models are highly detailed, and look very comparable to their real-life counterparts, especially stars like Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. 

They move realistically, especially in the paint.  The arenas are rocking, and the crowds look much better than in most sports games. 

There are a few graphical glitches that keep this game from being one of the best looking games of all-time—most notably, there is extreme frame rate issues at certain points in the game.

There is also a strange glitch that occurs at the top of the key.  If someone attempts a steal and misses, most players should be able to move around the defender, especially in an iso situation.  The player will get cleanly around the defender, and go toward the basket...only to suddenly reappear in front of the defender.  It is strange. 

Graphics Score: 8.5/10

Gameplay:

The gameplay is really good.  Everything that you could possibly want put into a basketball sim is there.  Everything from play-calling, to iso moves, to moves in the paint work here.

The shot stick has always been great, and it seems even better this year.  You feel like you have control over the shot, unlike some other games where you just press a button and see what happens (cough, cough, NBA Live, cough, cough).

The only problem that occurs is during those frame rate issues.  Since the shots are timing based, it makes it next to impossible to hit a shot when the frame rate drops, and that usually happens when you are on a fast break at a critical point in the game. 

Silky smooth controls lead to a great NBA experience.

The dunk competition is awful, though.  Too much going on takes away from an arcadey feel.  You end up just flailing the sticks around, and it has a hard time reading certain dunks. 

Gameplay Score: 9/10

Sound:

The sound shines in this game. 

I am playing a game as the Charlotte Bobcats, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

It is 87-85 Cleveland, with three minutes left.  The crowd is ROARING due to a LeBron James dunk to take the lead.  I take the ball down the court with Raymond Felton, and call a pick-and-roll to Tyson Chandler. 

Chandler sets the pick, I run by, and he cuts toward the basket.  I shoot him a pass, but Shaq steps in between him and the basket.  This wouldn't be a great opportunity to test him, since he has been a beast the entire game.  Chandler passes back out to Felton, who was left wide open beyond the three-point line.

Shot up... Swish!

The crowd goes SILENT.

It was one of the most amazing auditory gaming experiences I have ever had.  To hear that roar over a set of surround sound speakers and then nothing...sweet, sweet music. 

The announcers are fantastic, as are the court sounds.  However, the real star here is the intelligent crowd and stadium noises. 

Sound Score: 10/10 

Multiplayer:

There are so many solid options here to play with friends, both online and off. 

My personal favorite?  Five-on-five with 10 people.

The lag time is horrible here, but there is something awesome about playing a position and sticking to it. 

Problem is, most players tend to just swarm the basket like a bunch of idiots who know nothing about the game.

It is still a fun and solid experience.

There are also the standards basketball modes available for multiplayer, as well as pick-up games and dunk contests. 

Multiplayer Score: 10/10

Overall Score:

This is the best basketball simulation of all-time.

To be great at it, you must learn to run plays and control the game like you would as a coach.  It is great fun, and the atmosphere and sound make it one of the most awesome sports gaming experiences around.

Overall Score (not an average): 9.5/10