Twelfth time’s a charm.
PlayStation 3
Released in 2010 by 2K Sports
Grade: A
Basketball is the toughest sport to recreate in video game form, but 2K finally got it right.
Where it falls in series
It’s #12 in the 2K series and the fifth on PS3. Earlier versions showed a ton of promise but couldn’t put it all together (and neither could any other series). This is the first one that’s great all around. NBA 2K12 is a slight step down, and luckily NBA 2K13 is a step up.
Praises
Offensive controls are tight, intuitive, and full of depth, allowing you to perform genuine basketball moves all over the court. The defender acts like a real defender, and offensive success relies on reacting realistically to the situation.
There are a ton of plays that actually function like real plays. You can opt for the game to diagram the plays as you run them, which is super helpful.
The combination of rich AI and strategy settings makes each game tactical. The CPU will adjust quickly if your star player is scoring too easily. Late in games, they’ll rush or stall depending on whether they have the lead. You have the same level of control and can implement strategies effectively.
Players and teams actually play a lot like their real-life counterparts. They don’t have just unique skills, but unique tendencies. This makes every team different to play as or against.
Where 2K11 really improves things is in the wide variance of collision detection happening in the flow of the game. Players fight around screens, absorb contact as they dribble, and battle for rebounding position. This all looks and feels right, and makes defensive control a whole lot better.
The playcalling system is a bit easier and quicker to use than before. There are a ton of plays, and you’ll actually want to use a lot of them, so this is a key ingredient.
Graphics are also a step up. The players have a smoother look and they blend in harmoniously with the environment. Some of the animations are also noticeably more natural.
There’s a “Jordan challenge” mode, allowing you to control MJ on different Bulls squads from the past. The mode itself focuses on ridiculous statistical achievements, but more important, all the teams are playable in exhibition games. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, and more are all here. I don’t usually go crazy for added features like this, but keep in mind that this game does a great job making teams play with unique styles, so this adds legitimate depth. The one caveat is that the bench players are made up of generic players. Later versions added more teams with more complete rosters.
Gripes
The CPU eventually becomes pretty beatable for a skilled gamer. The same few tricks are easy to execute (although discovering these tricks is quite fun and will take a while). This is partly due to a few extra tight controls, like a quick crossover that jukes the defender more than it should, that were toned down for 2K13.
Passing still isn’t perfect. Sometimes you’ll scream, “Throw a goddamn bounce pass!” But that’s unavoidable in basketball games, although 2K13 smoothed passes out just a touch.
I could really do without the endorsement nonsense going on, but overall the presentation is fantastic.
I can’t not mention a horrible glitch that can cause you to lose your progress in a saved franchise mode. I think this only affects the PS3 version and not the Xbox 360 version.
Top teams
This came after another title for the Lakers, this time in 7 games over the Celtics. They’re both loaded, but you’ve also got the first Heat superteam here, and the Mavs, Spurs, Magic, Nuggets, and Thunder are tough teams as well. In 2011, the Mavs topped the Heat in the Finals.