NBA 2K6

Prior to the launch window for Xbox 360 in the United States, the fact that two basketball games were to be released raised a few eye-brows. 2K had boasted for a while that their NBA sim is the number 1 and would presumably start strongly on the next gen front. So imagine my surprise as the rest of the world were told they would have to wait for NBA 2K6 for a few months, and then a few months more. This was a risky move.
 
Much like its NHL cousin, 2K6’s late spring release has actually coincided with the end of the regular season. Sure there‘s the 6 weeks of playoff action, but smack bang in the middle of that will be E3 - where NBA2K7 will be making an appearance.

So was the delay worth it?

It was a refreshing surprise to see the game modes are so deep. Despite the April release, it is initially a launch title and could’ve shared the inadequacies of the other launch sport titles with a “stripped to the core” list of game modes. The Association is a fairly basic franchise mode, where gradual improvements can be made to your team’s abilities and chemistry over the course of a season. The V.I.P system is where a previous opponent’s skills and habits are loaded into A.I players, to help you improve against that kind of opponent. Street hoops fans are also catered to in the 24/7, where a campaign involving street basketball and NBA stars takes place. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may see the odd celebrity too.

Playing well in either online of offline matches, and crib points are earned that can be used to redeem items for your, well, crib! We aren’t just talking fancy paintings on the walls, there’s coin-ops that launch into mini games and also extra jukebox tracks.

For someone who regularly watches basketball, I can tell you that the presentation blows hot and cold. The menus wouldn’t look out of place on a NES, and the crowd shots and coach animations are shoddy at best. Other than that, it’s difficult to resist becoming fully immersed in the NBA experience. As the game loads, the announcer introduces the player over the PA system as you wait. Just before you hit the court, a cut scene to the fans in the concourse and buying snacks adds to the realism. As your players enter the court, banging beats are being pumped through your speakers and the crowd build up a steady atmosphere. Your commentary team gives you the run-down of the key players as you watch them warm up. No second is wasted.

NBA 2K6 is as detailed or not as you want it to be. The playbook is there if you need it, and complex plays can be drawn up for you to use, or you may prefer to play “run and gun” basketball. The latter being by far the most entertaining route, and what you will find when you take games online.

The AI when you are on offence is smart and CPU controlled team-mates rarely stand in one spot for too long. If you are patient enough, an open team-mate will eventually appear. However, the defensive end of the floor is less sophisticated. Unless you are controlling the defender, players will not swipe to steal the ball or even jump to block shots.

The controls have been smoothed out compared to previous versions, and you can pretty much pick up and start playing the game as soon as you load the disc. The more complex moves can be picked up as you go.

When in possession, the right-stick can result in more elaborate shooting maneuvers when close to the rim, or you can stick to plain X and release a jump shot and dunk. When defending, the same stick will result in your player taking a hefty swipe at the ball in an attempt to knock it free. The Y button will raise your player up to try blocking jump shots, and your A button is either pass, or without the ball, change man. The right trigger gives you a rather generous boost, resulting in players being able to cover the whole floor with relative ease.

As is the norm with basketball games, your controller will vibrate when slamming dunks, and taking free-throws. When playing an online game, your opponent can shake your screen making it very difficult to land any free-throws at all.