NBA 2K10

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2K and Live b-ball hasn't been a contest in the last few years, as 2K has always been the one to buy. I was really hyped up for this year's version, especially after the amazing trailers.

Unfortunately, 2K Sports released an unfinished game full of glitches to meet the deadline. I will only list some of the glitches I've had happen: player moving backwards 8-10 feet, like a teleportation; getting a traveling violation after a scored basket; the inbounder running backwards in place until you get a 5 second violation; made dunks not counting count and everyone keeps playing; the game clock freezing at the end of a quarter; graphics displays, like the current conference standings, taking up the screen so you can't see (while the ball is in play); delays in the crowd noise reactions to plays. A lot of the glitches will be fixed with downloadable patches, but I'm reviewing the game as it is now.

For the positives, the graphics are much improved over 2K9. Online, there is less lag than there was before. The pre-game rituals, such as Lebron's chalk clap and Sasha pumping up Kobe are nice, but I looked at those the first few games and always skip it now. What really matters is gameplay and I wish more time was spent on that. Some of the things that need attention: defenders standing like drones around the rim, while a PG blows by for an uncontested layup, even with help defense bar maxed out; players having their stamina drained 2 trips up the court and then having to sit for an entire quarter; the ridiculous low post game and automatic skyhooks; guys missing uncontested lay-ups too often; players going into automatic post up, for no reason.

The "My Player" feature is pretty fun building up your character. If you played team-up online, you are familiar with the grading system. There are major gripes here, as well. My teammates also play very stupid defense, constantly leaving everyone, including superstars, wide open. When you are playing as a team in the regular game, you can switch and "babysit" your defenders, but you will be frustrated with the stupid play in this mode. There are also frustrating glitches in this mode like the graphic blocking the screen so you can't see for about 15 seconds and the way too frequent backcourt and out of bounds violations, when there is no defensive pressure. I watch a lot of games and I see a backcourt violation maybe once every 10 games but it happens usually 3 or more times here, again, with no defensive pressure.

If you need your annual NBA fix, with updated rosters, this is still ahead of Live (and I have played Live 10 for a few hours). If you're only a casual player, and just want a fun game regardless of whether rosters are current, stick with 2K9, at least until they fix the major bugs.

UPDATE 11/9: I'm finished with this game until a patch comes out. Supposedly, one is coming out this week, but judging from the 360 patch feedback, it's severely lacking and causes more issues. It's been over a month since release and it's unacceptable.

Here is what pushed me over the edge: In My Player mode, I was in the first round of the playoffs as the #2 seed, with Golden State. The Mavs shot 70-80% EVERY game, the vast majority of which were perimeter shots with a defender in their face. I managed to take it to game 6 somehow, but in the last game, my teammates would take it up the court, dribble out the clock, and shoot a 3 with 1 second on the shot clock. I would set a screen, move around frantically, call for the ball, ANYTHING, but they just stood there dribbling (we were down on the scoreboard and this was infuriating). Still somehow, I made it close by working for high percentage shots. With 10 seconds it was tied, Dirk hit a contested 20 footer with 5 seconds left. I drove to the basket and was fouled making 2 free throws to tie it with 2 seconds. On the next inbound, Jason Terry tosses up another 20 footer with a defender in his face and of course makes it. I wasn't surprised because Dirk and Terry hit literally 90% for the series. That was it. 2K, fix your broken game. I've always bought 2K games on release day but I learned a lesson here. I will never do that again and after this experience, I may never even buy a 2K game again.

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I played the heck out of NBA 2k9, so I was excited about NBA 2k10, especially because of the My Player mode.

However, the one thing that ruins sports games for me is the bread and butter play...you know, the play you can use to score every time? Well, NBA 2k10 suffers from the same thing (ironically) that's plagued the Live series for years, dominating point guards. Even on Hall of Fame difficultly, I can take Jason Kidd and score 60 against the Lakers. I've adjusted sliders, but to no avail in fixing the issue. What I usually do is start on the wing drive toward the top of the key, do a quick hesitation and then blow by the defender and down the lane for an easy lay-up...it works every time.

And when I get tired of that, it's really easy to exploit the AI defense. Just keep passing around the 3 pt line until a guy goes down low for an easy lay-up. It's that simple. I'm serious on this too, and I'll say it again, sliders don't fix anything. The AI defense is really poor. It's unplayable for me. It's not fun to dominate this easily.

There are some framerate issues, particularly in post play, but I haven't noticed it enough to piss me off or anything. Supposedly they're worse on the 360 version.

Outside of the poor defensive AI, the other big complaint I have is that the action is kinda choppy, not fluid at all. Passes are great, but ball-handling and driving the lane animations are unnatural. I played the demo for Live 10 and it's much more fluid, so I may try it, though I suspect it's not outstanding either.

The graphics remain good, but not great. The players don't really look much like themselves, especially Dirk. They're really shiny, and move awkwardly in the cutscenes. It's annoying.

Players miss the easiest lay-ups around the basket. Blocks from behind are uncanny. If the AI breaks free and heads down court for the easy lay-up, you can turbo your PG and catch him almost then attempt a block as the opponent is performing the lay-up and block it almost every time. It's unfair. I wish you could turn them off.

I'm really, really disappointed. I'm struggling to point out what's really good about this game. I can't think of any part I've really enjoyed. Hopefully a patch will address a number of these issues. It's just too easy.

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I was an NBA Live fan up until 2k9. I've heard other 2k's before that were better than Live but I was too loyal, hoping maybe one day NBA Live would get it together. 2k9 was soo much better than live I felt deprived. Now 2k10 in some ways isn't better than 2k9 but the "My Player" mode is what NBA games have been lacking for a long time. Yes you could lock to a certain player but it really didn't do much since it wasn't really tracked as far as how well you were playing the position. My player brings that challenge to work day in and out. After playing a regular franchise you get bored but to make accomplishments as an individual has really got me playing this game allot more trying to get better. It's not perfect but I'm loving it so far.

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Initially, I was taken back by the complete change in feel and gameplay in 2k10 compared to previous ones. I actually thought of posting a 3. Then, I went back and spent more time in the game. It has indeed changed, but for the better. It is much more REALISTIC. No more reach and steal your game to the easy finish as was the case in HOF mode in previous 2K games. The "Pro" mode (3 levels lower than HOF) is harder than HOF in previous ones.

Gameplay is much more difficult and realistic. It is lot harder to defend in this game. The controls do feel completely different but I got used to it. Graphics are incredible but I like the more realistic feel to the game. It definitely is not as easy as just put the ball in an allstar hand and just blow by everyone. Its much more offensive set oriented.

I think many people that posted negatively will change their opinion once they played more than one or two game. It takes some time to get used to this version. I have had played the 2K Bball series from the first to the tenth. This one is the most feature rich, robust, and realistic.

This game is not for players that like arcade-like feel games. It does make you think the game more like Madden does. Realistic gameplay for the real bball fans not the casual ones.

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Excellent game vs cpu/opp. HORRIBLE ONLINE!!! Lag kills ur timing. I also keep hearing rumors that cheat codes can be transfered online to make players shoot 90% from the field. AI's defense is awful....just awful. NBA Today feature is awsome however. During ur normal gameplay i normally take gameplay and player quickness down to 37. it makes the pace more realistic. if not, players will run 75mph with turbo. ull feel like ur playing nba jam and might violently throw ur controller. overall good game. still a long way to go.