NBA 2K10 Review

Greetings Basketball fans; it’s that time of year again! No not to study for midterms or to try to find that scarf you took to the bar last night (never really made it home did it).

Nope. It’s the start of the NBA season at the end of this month and to ring in the new season, 2K sports has released it’s anniversary edition of NBA 2K10 for ball fans around the globe.

Let’s start with the basics: visuals. NBA 2k10 most certainly is the most polished basketball game ever created, and it shows. From the realistic cheering fans in the arena down to the sweat coming of Kobe’s brow when he knows he needs to hit a buzzer beater; the graphics are unreal.

The development team has always made a point since 2K5 to motion capture the movements of the star players in the league, but fans this year will be pleased to see that even their favorite scrubs (who double as water boys) resemble their real-life counterparts, and generally shoot like them too.

Beats wise, NBA 2K10 has a stellar list of some of the most talented up-and-coming rappers, pop players and beat producers. Not to mention the list of recognizable names that signed on for the game like The Game, Flo Rida and Kanye West. With the ability to customize a custom playlist for the game, fans can be sure to hear only the tunes they want to hear.  The newest and most ballin’ feature this year is the ability to upload your favorite song as the intro music for your squad as they come into the arena. This…is…AWESOME!! There’s something about hearing Lebron walking out to Jay-z’s “IZZO (H.O.V.A.) that makes for an exciting upcoming game.

However, all of these things are extras. Fans of the 2K series buy these games year after year for the gameplay, and this year, things have never been better. Remember when you did a two-handed dunk and hung on, but your fingers weren’t even touching the rim? That’s been fixed. Tired of having to double a hot shooter but no other defender switches over to cover the wide open sniper on the arc? That’s also been fixed. NBA 2K10 has the most realistic gameplay of any basketball game. EVER. Rip hamilton runs through a myriad of ball-screens to get a wide open shot. CP3 runs the pick and roll game perfectly for Emeka Okafur. Derrick Rose on an isolation play will 100% break the ankles of whoever defends him when he stops on a dime. The play is so beautiful that I’ve even sat back and watched the CPU play and marveled at how the teams play just as in real-life. Yes, the Bobcats still suck. Yes the Celtics defense is suffocatingly good. This year, it’s going to take more than just running up and down the court with the ball to stay within 30 points of the CPU when playing on Hall-of-Fame difficulty.

In closing, NBA 2K10 is the best thing to happen to a basketball fan this year since Stephon Marbury decided to take the year off playing ball. With a newly polished menu that facilitates easier integration to online play, the 2K sports development team should be commended for a job well done. For those still on the fence in deciding between NBA 2K10 and NBA Live 10: don’t be stupid. 2K sports has once again proven that it is still the King of the court.

Rating: 9.5 pitchers out of 10 (Sorry the bartender took a sip before serving; asshole).