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NBA 2K7
NBA 2K7 arrives on the PlayStation 3 that
promises similar gaming dynamics as the XBox 360 version, however with
the addition of new gameplay mechanics, this version is easily one of
the better basketball games on the market at the moment thanks to its
new game modes, reprogrammed artificial intelligence and amazing next
generation graphics.
Features
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Be a Sharpshooter –
The award winning technical achievement of 2K6 is new and vastly
improved. Take complete control of all of your shots with the shot
stick.
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Run the Streets –
Hit the street courts and showcase your playground game with
completely all new streetball mode.
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Virtual Identity
Profile - Learn the play style of your friends and foes with the
V.I.P. System.
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The Association - Be
the GM of your NBA team with the deepest Franchise Mode around.
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The Online Advantage
– 2K Sports has the best online play and the most comprehensive
online feature set anywhere.
For those of you who find this type of thing important, the title has
all the trappings of the real NBA and major sponsors and the like are
fully represented in all their glory. I like the fact that they are
featured as it helps with lending an air of authenticity to the game and
also helps stadiums look like the real deal too.
The artificial intelligence in this
title is something that you will have to really keep an eye on as these
guys have been programmed to mimic their real life counterparts to a
point that it’s scary. The title has been really looked after in terms
of authenticity and you will find that many of the teams actually
perform in a similar manner to that real life team’s behaviours which
will benefit fans of the game who take note of these things.
Going deeper into the game is the Franchise mode which lets you take
over the running of a team and also helping with the selection of
rookies and making sure that they fit into the team okay. This level of
management is something that possibly only the hardcore basketball fans
will delve into, however it is really neat that it’s been included.
Also featured in the title, is a mini
game that is played out with a card type interface to determine the
outcomes of single games. I found that a bit hit and miss, not because
it didn’t work, I just didn’t enjoy it that much. However it does
increase the replaybilitiy of the title.
With that said, the gameplay revolves
around a solid physics engine and the sheer amount of depth regarding
on-ice options and various game modes. When controlling a player,
everything feels just about right; he has weight and momentum, he can
change directions easier when moving slower, he responds quickly and
effectively to commands, and the AI is quite good for the medium
difficulty levels.
Several of the features have returned,
including crease control, enforcer, icon passing, and on-the-fly
play-calling, and they're essentially identical to what we saw in 2k6.
Still, it's always good to have them, especially because these features
allow you to play at your own pace, with your own style. Being able to
control the flow of the game, as well as your team's progress, is a huge
benefit, and one that should appeal to any hardcore hockey fan.
The PS3 version also sports the extra use
of motion sensitivity in the Sixaxis controller. You can grab control of
your goalie and angle the controller to get in the correct position, and
you can even line up a massive check by tilting the Sixaxis in a certain
way.
However, both techniques are a bit tricky
to learn and even trickier to master, which means you'll probably end up
using the traditional control format. It's an intriguing option to have,
certainly but it simply doesn't enhance the gameplay to another level
due to the inherent complexity.
NBA 2K6 is also playable online and
was a great deal of fun to play a quick game or 10 with other people
from around the planet. It was the single player or just hacking around
with a friend that I found to be the most rewarding overall though.
Ultimately this is a game for someone who is prepared to put the time in
and really loves their basketball enough to be bothered to learn all the
moves that you can do. The sheer level of attention to detail demands
nothing less than this. I think that it might alienate some casual
gamers but greatly reward those for whom it is intended. This is an
extremely solid package from start to finish and will be a great
addition to your collection. |
