I've been playing basketball games for too long a time, such that I decided to quit buying them in 2005. I don't remember the last time that a sports game received game of the year honors. I don't know if it has ever happened actually. After all, most of the time, sports games are just rehashes of the previous iterations, with a few new tweaks and adjustments, an additional game mode here and there, a little bit better graphics, etc. This is the definition of a sports game, most of the time.
NBA 2k11 is in the realm outside of that.
This game, when compared to other basketball games that have come and gone, can't be included in the same category. There has never been, and likely will never be (more on that later), another basketball game as good as this.
When I read the glowing accolades that most gaming sites were giving to it, I didn't believe them initially. Now that I've played it, lost sleep over it, and earned vengeance from my girlfriend because of it, they're right. They're absolutely right.
First of all, the Jordan challenges are just absolutely beautiful. Even if you're not a basketball fan, you know the name. Everyone knows the name and the legend behind it. NBA 2k11 could have been the best basketball game ever based on just pure nostalgia alone at the wealth of Jordan content behind it. It was a masterful move to get Jordan's partnership with the game. Every year, basketball fans who are also gamers from the world over go and buy the yearly iteration of their favorite basketball game. This year, all sports fans, even those who have never played a sports game before, will buy this game. My 37 year old brother who doesn't play games bought a PS3 just for it. My fat friend who doesn't play sports games bought it. I, who promised never to buy another sports game again after 2005, bought it.
And the reason? Michael Jordan.
MJ, along with the legendary teams and players he played against (Bird, Magic) would have been enough for me even if 2k didn't add anything else to the game. But as I soon realized, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
The gameplay is as close to reality as anyone can get. The key phrase was best said by my brother when he played a basketball game for the first time: "it's hard to score". Basketball games have always been dunk-fests. No matter what adjustment the game companies make, it was always far too easy to score. I'd take Kobe Bryant even on the highest difficulty setting on a 50 point barrage in a 5 minute per quarter game consistently. In 2k11, you'd have to be a complete master of the game to do that, and only possible in a 12 minute game. And you'd most likely shoot below 40%. And you'd most likely lose.
The AI in the higher difficulty levels is extremely good, and they don't cheat either by just making impossible shots. They genuinely run plays and get you off balanced with back screens and the like. Defense is easy to do in this game, which makes you need to actually learn plays too in order to succeed. For the first time, defense switching targets actually works. Before, the AI never knew how to react to a pick and roll. Now, it looks like screens are so well done that you actually need to practice how to set a good one. You can't just take Lebron and run like hell to the rim and hope to score at a high percentage. It's hard, realistic, and intelligent.
The modes have been tweaked very well from last year. The dynasty mode (or whatever it's called, I forget) is very well done, with the AI initiating and accepting or rejecting realistically to trade options, unlike before when they were completely willing to give away Kobe for 4 useless bench warmers. The my player mode was riddled with errors before, but now it has been polished sufficiently. It's harder to please the team management, so it's an unexpected joy each time you score a basket or whatever it is you did. Brand endorsements and post game interviews are also welcome additions, and they add to the feeling of "hey, I did great!", which makes you want to play more. All in all, the modes and the changes to them are very satisfying.
One of the most impressive things about these modes is the commentary. During each game, the commentator frequently references what happened to your previous game, or your season so far in general. For example, if you lost by 20 points, the commentator would say something like "during their last game in New York, Gilbert Arenas had a horrible game, shooting xx% from the field. They need him more tonight to produce", which adds a feeling of immersion that you're actually in a living, evolving NBA team where your accomplishments and failures are recognized. This little touch is one of my most favorite things about the game.
There are some negative things though that could have been done better. For one thing, some players' faces are just completely garbage. Gasol looks like some kind of beggar on the street. Kobe looks like an alien (seriously, like E.T.). Magic looks like he has down's syndrome. The graphics in general are ok, though are looking rather dated too.
While the AI is generally smart, it is not by all means perfect. They still sometimes take weird shots, such as Chuck Hayes taking a three pointer (he's a power forward with no shooting skill whatsoever). Sometimes an AI player suddenly runs to the back court line. Other times a point guard would shoot in front of a seven footer. These are small things, but they can get annoying while you're playing.
Some sites have complained about the AI being too good at defense. As a lifelong NBA fan with tons of basketball game experience, I say this is not a bad thing. I'm already able to beat a Superstar (2nd highest difficulty) opponent after playing the game for a week, but it's still competitive. Those guys complaining just don't know how to play properly. You need to learn how plays work in this game. It's hard, and the difficulty makes it realistic and rewarding. Before, I could just waste the AI by 30 points in a 5 minute game. Now, for the first time in my life as a gamer, I'm playing 12 minute games because it's just that damn good.
Buy the game. It's damn good. Even if you don't care about Jordan (which I seriously doubt), you won't make a mistake with this game. This is, no matter what happens to the rest of the year (except for GT5...), is my game of the year (again, depending on what happens with GT5...)
9.7/10
Oh yeah, about the "there will never be another basketball game better than this"... think about it. There will never be another player with a greater career and thus can give a greater feeling of nostalgia than Jordan. When 2k makes another basketball game next year with Lebron or Kobe on the cover, wouldn't that be a letdown? You can't get any higher than Jordan...
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