There’s a key moment in NBA 2K11 that let’s you know what you’re in for – and it’s right at the beginning of the game. When you start up 2K Sports’ latest hoopster, it’ll be at the start of the Chicago Bulls/L.A. Lakers championship series. The crowd will be on its feet in the arena, while Michael Jordan stands in the alleyway, prepping to hit the court. He stops for a second, turns around, and asks you, “Are you ready?” That’s not just a preparation for your match-up, but the game itself. Because even if you think you know what NBA 2K is all about, nothing can prepare you for the awesomeness that’s ahead. 2K Sports really dialed up its game with NBA 2K11. Most of the nagging problems that have been players for years have been improved upon, to the point you might not even be prepared for it. Furthermore, some new features are sure to blow your mind, even if you don’t give a damn about Jordan. And if you do, chances are you’ll be even more amazed by what you’ll experience here. Let’s start with gameplay. 2K Sports has always had this dialed down to some degree, but this year, it goes all out. Along with being able to hustle with IsoMotion features and try to get yourself open in the lane, you’ve also got improved ShotStick abilities, in which you can head to the basket and go for a lay-up or dish to a waiting man outside for a possible three-pointer.
You can use traditional button controls if you prefer, but utilizing the right analog stick for your shooting and juking really is nice here, even if on occasion you don’t quite make the shot. Hey, no one’s perfect – even Jordan admits that sometimes. But unlike other sports titles, if you miss something, chances are you didn’t read the play properly, or you were trying too much to be a hotshot. The AI is a bit to blame as well. 2K Sports really pushed opposing teams when it comes to difficulty, and even on the game’s easier settings (you can adjust sliders any way you please here), you’ll find they aren’t pushovers. They’ll follow you down the court and read incoming passes (sometimes telepathically, which is a slightly minor inconvenience – but it’ll also teach you to calm down on “wild” passes) and almost know every time you’re going for a jump shot. Fortunately, you can get in your own key plays, once you get a hang of the control set-up, so it just about evens up. It’s great to see players react with some real hustle, rather than stand around and do nothing – or, worse yet, sport a Jesus pose like in the recently delayed NBA Elite 11. If you really want a challenge, though, you can head right into the Jordan Challenge mode.
Here, you’ll recreate the legendary Chicago Bulls’ player’s ten greatest games, from the time he played with the flu (and still scored a crapload of points) to the game where Jordan gives an all-knowing shrug. Each one has specific stats you need to meet with number 23, and sometimes it can be real difficult, depending on who you’re playing and your difficulty settings. Still, it’s one well worth tackling, if only to see how accurately 2K Sports remakes these match-ups in digital form. Just…wow. You get an even greater reward awaiting you if you defeat these challenges. A new feature in the My Player mode opens up, where you control a young Michael Jordan and guide his career any way you please. Instead of sticking with the Bulls, what if Jordan were to play for the L.A. Clippers? Can you imagine him as a Denver Nugget? How about a Knick? The possibilities are endless. It does help more if you’re a fan, because, if you’re not, you’ll stick with your own player creation. But this is a great mode that lets you create your own destiny with number 23, wherever it may lie. NBA 2K11 has a variety of other modes to choose from. The online experience is still second-to-none, with plenty of league options and quick match-ups to take part in, though some of the folks we went up against completely schooled us. (Damn pros.)
Fortunately, you can adjust settings to your liking, should the league you’re currently in be too damn good to handle. My Player once again makes a return, letting you guide a player (Jordan or not) through their NBA career, through its ups and downs. Dedicated fans will also want to dig into Association Mode, where they become a virtual general manager and try to create a championship-caliber team. What’s great about this mode is that the AI has been bumped up when it comes to trades, so you won’t score someone like LeBron James without ultimately paying the price. These guys aren’t stupid – and we can appreciate that. With this NBA series, the presentation simply has never been better. A lot of people picked on our impressions because they couldn’t notice a difference in how this game looked compared to previous NBA 2K releases. But just sit back and take a closer look – we dare you to find a better-looking basketball experience than this one. The crowd actually displays some energy as they stand on their feet and cheer for their home team, and the courts themselves are outstanding as well, right down to the dancing mascots and the entertaining half-time show.
As for the players themselves, they’re mostly outstanding, especially Jordan, rendered almost to a life-like state. There are occasional player models that aren’t quite as realistic (Bryant, for instance, is a little out-of-place), but it seldom happens. The menu system is easy to navigate and the flashy replay system is remarkable, really bringing you that much closer into the game – especially with the camera close-ups on Jordan dunking over the Boston Celtics defense. Authenticity is the name of the game when it comes to sound, too. The running commentary is smooth throughout, with only a few mild repeated lines here and there. The team really gets into each game, and 2K Sports even goes for some authenticity with older Jordan affairs, rather than staying in the here-and-now with basketball terms. It’s pretty cool. The other effects including squeaking sneakers, arena sound samples (“Wah-wahhhhh!”) and a terrific soundtrack, fit the NBA 2K standard. We wouldn’t expect any less – and we don’t get it. With NBA 2K11 striking up such a balance between gameplay, presentation and extra features, we’re wondering if EA Sports delayed NBA Elite 11 out of fear that it simply couldn’t keep up with such greatness. No matter. You’ll get enough of your basketball fix fulfilled with this game, and even more so if you’re a fan of Jordan. Grab a copy and bask in the greatness.
