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NBA2K2 Review
Mark Simons
00/12/0000
We take a look at the Xbox outing of Visual Concepts latest Basketball title.
Already released on the Dreamcast NBA2k2 from Visual Concepts is benefiting from release on other formats. Now the series which has produced some of the best basketball games around, is now available on Xbox, to a wider audience and with some increased power behind it.
Being the third in the series NBA2k2 is a refined and polished experience; the basic gameplay has always been a rock solid foundation of the franchise. Both defence and offence are implemented well requiring skill and tactical awareness to be successful against the impressive Artificial Intelligence and human players. Patience and an eye for the situation are whatâs needed to succeed and you can be sure that any mistakes are your own, given that the control system has been implemented so well. All of the Xboxâs are used but in such a way that it is not convoluted or frustrating but allows you to have a huge array of moves, offensive and defensive, at your disposal whenever you need them.
Perhaps the best praise you can lay upon any sports game is that when you play, it just âfeelsâ like youâre participating in an event where the result is not certain and you have to work to win. When you are dominating a match you have a palpable sense that whatever you do will result in success, however if you get complacent or sloppy you will find that the opposition score rapidly creeps back up and every basket becomes crucial. This results in every game, from exhibition or play off final, being a very enjoyable experience, you donât play the game to complete more, you play because you want to improve your skills and score ever more impressive shots and improve your defence.
Aside playing a great game of basketball NBA2k2 has various gameplay modes that will cater for any situation. You have the standard exhibition matches for the quick blast against a mate, with the nice addition of a street court mode where you can play from two on two up to full five on five. Slightly relaxed rules and a change the change of scenery offered by the courts that range across the US make for a refreshing change from the hi-octane stadium games. Changed uniforms and increased banter between the characters, as well as the lovely design of the courts really adds to the atmosphere of this mode.
The season mode is pretty standard fare; it is done well and gives you the highs and lows of a basketball year, however it pales in comparison to the 20-season franchise mode. Only for serious basketball fans with a lot of time on their hands, this mode offers the full experience dealing with injuries, wages, trades, retiring players and building your side up to be the best in the world. If youâre a basketball fan this probably has the ability to take over your life, watch out for it creeping up on you.
With solid gameplay and lots of different modes of play NBA2k2 is topped off with the presentation. Animation is perhaps the most impressive feature and is some of the best to feature in a sports game. Individual players have their signature moves and there is a subtleness, which makes everything appear very life-like, and a joy to watch. Replays of impressive dunks and three pointers allow you to see the animation up close and to appreciate the detail that has gone into the player models. Each player has fully modelled facial features and you can see the frustration or elation on their faces as they make, or miss, shots. Obviously this doesnât affect the gameplay in any way, but, damn, it looks cool and coupled with the peripheral details such as substitutes, coaches and a very impressive crowd it just adds to the overall immersion.
Perhaps the most impressive part of NBA2k2âs presentation is not the graphics, sumptuous as they are, but the audio. The commentary in this game is wonderful, the best in any sports game to put it simply. Relevant, amusing and just very slick it really adds to the atmosphere, you find yourself just not noticing it because there is very little repetition or errors it sounds natural â“ which is about the best praise you can give to commentary really. Let us just hope that Konami learn a thing or two from Visual Concepts in the commentary area...
