LOWER BUCKS- The
NBA 2K series has always
been a series aimed to please
the mind and thumbs of basketball
enthusiasts. It’s
important to the game’s
developers to better the yearly
title, so every penny of the
consumer’s $60 will count.
While this year’s changes
are not drastic, its additions
advance game play and competition,
said game analyst
Nate Ahearn. The game has
focused its revamping of the
game on the virtual court.
The big changes that come
in 2K9 take place in the
game’s play modes such as
NBA Blacktop, the
Association and Dunk
School. “2K8 had many
issues,” Ahearn points out,
“the game was too slow
because of flawed mechanics
in the creation of the game’s
defensive setting. The
defense has been improved to
keep consumers playing
without frustration.”
PlayStation 3 and Xbox
buyers can no longer simply
slam the left trigger expecting
to form a help defense. The
gamer must now use the right
trigger to see the ball and the
left to move the players in the
right area for defensive transition.
Bucks nursing student
Chris Miller rarely plays NBA
2K games because he felt the
game’s defense was too slow,
but after playing 2K9 his outlook
has changed. “I hate
pounding the right and left
controls and nothing happens.
At least now I can use
both controls; one to see the
ball and the other to move my
defender.”
The lockdown stick is
much better than last year’s
because it allows gamers to
pick out tendencies of opposing
players and exploit their
moves. The new Living
Rosters mode allows PS3 and
Xbox consumers to have upto-
date rosters, which is a
new aspect to the yearly title.
The 2K9 insider is a feature
that allows updates and
access to current NBA rosters.
Bucks Business major
Edwin Maldinado
has played all 2K
titles since 2000. He
finds 2K9 to be the
best. “I enjoy playing
2K9 because the
game brings out
every player’s signature
movements,”
Maldinado said. “I
love playing the
improvements to
the on-line gaming;
now 10 players can challenge
each other for an unbelievable
multiplayer experience.”
The game’s on-line
improvements help players
compete across the country.
Another improvement is the
shot-stick, which now lets
gamers change shot direction
in mid-air. It may look different,
but the new shot-stick
can get off the last-second
shot even in the tight quarters
of the virtual court.
As in all NBA 2K games,
the realistic animations are
great to watch. 2K9 also offers
a high-definition experience
that displays all the expressions
of the players, coaches
and fans. The physical reactions
are when players get
knocked down and help each
other up are so realistic. It’s
these details that keep gamers
playing NBA 2K season after
season.