When I dished out $60 for my copy of NBA 2K10 two weeks ago, I thought I was just getting a clone of last year’s game with an updated roster.
Boy, was I wrong.
While 2K10 does retain many of the same characteristics of previous NBA 2K series installments, it has many new features that give it a unique flavor. One of those features is the My Player Mode.
In My Player Mode, you start out as an undrafted rookie, play in the summer circuit and try to earn a spot in an NBA training camp while only controlling one player on your team instead of all five.
Doesn’t that sound interesting?
Also new to this edition is an improved energy system. In previous installments, you could hold down the turbo button all game pretty much without consequence. But in 2K10, the more you use the turbo button, the quicker your player tires and he gets subbed out.
My favorite part of the game is the presentation. There is a certain level of realness that you can only get with the NBA 2K series. For example: Gilbert Arenas comes equipped with his signature free throw shooting style, Allen Iverson has his killer crossover and Shaq lumbers up and down the court, well uh, like Shaq. The game even features LeBron James’ famous pregame ritual of throwing “pixie dust.”
But, the game still has its flaws. Occasionally, the AI will mess up by leaving an opponent’s player completely unguarded with a clear path to the basket. But that is a minor flaw and not one that a good gamer can’t get around.
I give the game two thumbs up. It is available on all third generation gaming consoles and I suggest to anyone that likes sports games to pick up and give it a try.