NBA 2K8 Review
A Review - By Gaetano Prestia
NOTE: Before you read this review, I thought it would be wise to fill you in on something. This review refers to two basketball video-games: One is NBA 2K8 and the other one IS NOT NBA 08. Sony's NBA 08 has such a little influence down-under that we see the basketball video-game contest as a two-horse race. I don't want to name-names in fear of being hunted down, but I'm sure you all know which basketball game I'm talking about. I'll give you a clue anyway; it has the word LIVE in its title somewhere.
NBA 2K8 returns for another year across the PS3, XBOX 360 and PS2 and yet again it gives gamers who have a craving for hoop-games a realistic sim that thrives on consistent gameplay and a solid presentation. However, it's not without its issues. NBA 2K8 could have been the best basketball game in years but minor problems bring the game down a notch and keep it on-par with the previous years' entries.
What's it all about?
NBA 2K8 has always been considered as the "other" basketball video-game. While its competitor struggles to find the hoop both with critics and gamers it still succeeds from a sales standpoint and flies off the shelves while 2K's better and more realistic game never quite sees the same success. Unfortunately, this is the case with the video-game market these days and while the 2K series is always noted as being the "better" of the two (again, we're not talking about NBA 08) it can never quite find its feet.
But that's where I come in. Granted, many gamers out there fail to connect with what some video-game critics tend write these days but in some instances I really need to be listened too. Not because I want you to buy this game, but because the other basketball game available absolutely sucks arse. The way we see it, NBA 2K8 should be the only basketball sim you should consider buying this year. This doesn't come from some sugar-filled, forum-invading 2k fanboy who hates Live (whoops, I said it). It comes from someone who has played Live since 95 and even played through last years disgrace of game. That's right, I chose Live over 2K last year. I thought that, as a loyal gamer, I would stick with Live and play through its bad times as tthere was no way it would be bad two years in a row right?
NBA Live 08 sucks and NBA 2K8 is a good game. That's all you really need to know. I could end this review right now, hoping that I've convinced you to choose 2K8 over Live.
But I'm not going to do that. Because I want to tell you about this game and where it's good and where it's not so good. Also, I really enjoy bashing NBA Live so expect some more of that as well.
The Good
The same ol' 2K style gameplay is back and it offers a realistic and less arcadey gaming experience. The post-game gives you more opportunity and freedom to pull off strong post-moves, be it the dunk, turn-around jumper or hook shot. If you have a player with superb post-moves then it'd be wise to get it into him as often as possible as there is such a vast array of moves to mess around with. The post actually acts as its own gameplay feature; yes, that's how deep it is.
The animation system this year has been reworked to look, and feel, more realistic and thorough. One rather annoying aspect of last years game (and something has been present in Live games for the past 6 years) is that the dribbling motions were too unrealistic. Your player would often do a wide-range of dribbling skills and moves that just didn't seem right. This year you have to guide your player along the court which will then set off a range of dribbling skills to get them around their opponent. It comes off a lot more solid and grounded and when your point guide literally pushes his way down the middle of the key for a lay-up, you get a sense of a pleasure as you've just pulled off a realistic and challenging move.
The crowd animation is fantastic and gives you a feeling of actually being in the crowd. From the peanut man walking through the rows of people, to the man wearing a Lakers jersey in the 4th getting up to take a leak, the involvement of the crowd is intense and realistic and adds some depth to the overall presentation of the title. The team jerseys flop around too wildly for their own good but this is hardly a set-back as it often looks cool. They have also been touched up to look like authentic silk jerseys that the players actually wear. The bench and coach have been given an upgrade this year as well and have more interaction with the game. Have a player run into the coach and he'll struggle to push himself around him so as not to bump into him. While not important to the gameplay, it adds to the look and feel and is cool to see.
There is a fantastic new addition for people who have struggled with set-plays and now you will have a guided, on-court "tutorial" to help you through the paces. You must guide the PG to a marked position on the court and follow the arrows which direct you to either pass, dribble or shoot. It also has directions for screens (which are automatically set by the AI) and you're able to pull off some actual plays without having to pause a few times to go through the motions.
The sounds in-game are exceptional and the crowd really get into the game as its played. If the game is close towards the end, you'll know it as the crowd noise intensifies and adds a little bit extra to the tight contest. There's nothing better than playing on your home court with 22,000 fans screaming and egging you on towards victory. If you're away, well you have quite a task a head of you. It can get loud!
Association Mode, the games franchise mode, has been revamped. NBA 2K8 has a deep and solid player-personality system that uses player moods and feelings to perfectly implement a handful of different personality types: Laid Back, Neutral, Expressive, and Unpredictable. Players are given roles (Starter, Sixth Man, etc.) and a sub-role to further define that position. Furthermore, if you meet a players demands this also reflects their personality. This whole concept has been developed from the ground-up perfectly. If you fill a team with a group of players who are all laid-back, chances are you won't win the NBA Championship. But have an Expressive superstar, backed-up by Neutral side-kicks with Laid-Back veterans and unpredictable rookies and you'll have a good team to work with.
The mode also has a more realistic development system and you'll find that breaking up a team to fill it with superstars and high draft picks isn't necessarily the pathway to success. Instead, making the right moves at the right time will assist you and your players and make it that much easier to win a Championship.
Online is yet another fantastic aspect of the title. You can play tournaments as well as leagues with up to 30 teams. There's a rating system as well as lobbies to separate the newer players from the Hall of Famers.
The Bad
The animation at times, while reworked to look a lot better than it has in the past, has its fair share of jarring and stutter. It can be fairly unattractive but it is off-set by the fact that the animation as a whole works pretty damn well. This is as minor of a setback as you can get.
A new addition the the defense, Lock-On D, is far too unrealistic. In order to activate Lock-On D, you position your player in front of the ball-handler and press a button trigger which sets off an automatic defensive match-up. While it does create some intense battles, all you have to do is push the thumbstick in the direction of the ball-handler and the AI will do the rest. While it works in some aspects, it's been implemented to work with any player, so you can use it with a player like Yao Ming and watch him guard Kobe Bryant with ease. That just ain't gonna happen in a real-life situation. While this feature is original and creative it should probably be limited to particular players only as its current form isn't something that should be in a game that is meant to simulate real-life basketball.
In this years game the popular and long-lasting 24/7 street-ball mode has been replaced by Blacktop mode. Here you can still play some street-ball but with no actual story and development, 3pt Shootout, a game of 21 (a popular backyard basketball game) and the Slam Dunk Contest. Unfortunately, none of these game-modes even come close to the deepness of 24/7 and even as a whole they still leave a gaping whole in the re-playability market. The Slam Dun Contest is worth a try though and isn't anywhere near as hard as the difficult Slam Dunk Contest in NBA Live 08.
The defensive AI is nothing to write home about and you'll become increasingly frustrated at how poorly your CPU-controlled teammates defend the court. The PG far too often dominates a match and this downfall brings it down to Live's level in terms of the AI defense.
Overall
NBA 2K8 is by far the best basketball video-game on the market. It doesn't allow you to drop in 140 points per contest and the gameplay is as realistic as a basketball sim has ever gotten.
Graphics and Display - 7.0/10
Nothing outstanding but the crowd and bench animations are fantastic. The players often look a little strange and the jerseys flop around too much. There is some occasional stutter and the players faces can definitely be improved for next year.
Gameplay - 8.0/10
It's miles ahead of its nearest competitor, Live, and once you get used to the controls you'll be playing like a pro. Defensive AI is a disappointment and something that needs to be smoothed out, as does the encouraging Lock-On D feature which has potential.
Sound - 7.5/10
Great crowd effects and commentary is brought down by a decent, at best, soundtrack. There are some gems in there but sometimes it sounds like you're playing an early 90s basketball video-game from Techmo.
Value - 8.5/10
While the disappearance of the 24/7 mode is disappointing and missed, the deep Association and online modes will keep this basketball game in your console for most of the NBA season and beyond.
The Final Verdict - 7.5/10
There shouldn't be any debate on which basketball sim to buy this year. If you're floating around Live and 2k8 for either your PS3 or 360, you really shouldn't go past this title. While it has its problems with gameplay, it looks and sounds good, plays like a basketball sim should and gets you as close to be a real-life team owner as possible.
Submitted by Gaetano
08/01/2008
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