NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

[XuanWu]

Graphics - Decent. Honestly I think we've hit the ceiling for this gen of consoles. That being said, it isn't like the graphics are bad, I just wish they'd fix these players' faces...MY GOD.

Gameplay - Perfect pace. Nice depth, lots of great spacing and player movement (the Czar is right). However, WTF happened with Isomotion? It's totally clunky and nonresponsive...hopefully this doesn't carry over to the actual version and is a "demo only" issue. The ONLY advantage Live has over 2K at this point is dribbling. In the Live demo, it was clear to me that they spent a lot of time tweaking their dribbling system...I wish 2k would do the same with Isomotion...it's just too clunky, slow, and unresponsive. I don't feel like I can actually 'break ankles' in 2k...


Conclusion - For the 9th year in a row 2k is the best basketball game available. That's not really a surprise... I just hope that 2k's dominance doesn't make them rest on their laurels. I still feel like the offensive system in 2k could use some MAJOR tweaking to make dribbling, shooting, and passing more smooth and responsive. In all fairness though, the shot stick is pretty nice this year...I might actually use it every once and a while.

[GoldenGlove]

Did they take out the directional passing? Or is it performed differently now?

[H to the G]

Everyone has pretty much summed it up as far as the pros and cons go, so I won't bother. Anyways, is there really a way to jump into your defender when they bite on the fake? I've tried it against the CPU and on a dummy controller but I still got nothing.

[Nodima]

Quote: Originally Posted by H to the G

Everyone has pretty much summed it up as far as the pros and cons go, so I won't bother. Anyways, is there really a way to jump into your defender when they bite on the fake? I've tried it against the CPU and on a dummy controller but I still got nothing.

There has to be because Kobe did it to me 3 plays in a row last night. I can't figure it out though.


Just saw another nice reaction shot where I went up with Kobe and his hip hit Rondo in the shoulder and he was getting up gingerly favoring it and it shows Rondo mouthing "you OK?".

Damn, never noticed this before, but during Odom's free throw routine Garnett is just waving his hands talking all kinds of **** at him.

[jyoung]

Quote: Originally Posted by H to the G

Anyways, is there really a way to jump into your defender when they bite on the fake? I've tried it against the CPU and on a dummy controller but I still got nothing.

I'd hope note because that should be a no-call in real life, or an offensive foul, if anything.

That type of foul is only supposed to be called when the defender jumps into the offensive player, not the other way around.

[OneBadMutha]

Quote: Originally Posted by Stumbleweed

I haven't seen any of that PG domination. I was giving Rondo looks by playing him loose all the time and he only took one of them (missed). I left Fisher open a few times and he'd hit the open shots probably 80% of the time, but I haven't had any issues with him taking ill-advised shots or dominating the ball. One game ended 8-8 and it was nothing but Kobe sonning me (as Ray Allen) in the post with fakes and step-throughs. The games are really varied so far in terms of who scores and the tempo of the game, but the teams still play like themselves with the Lakers primarily going through Kobe and the Celtics passing it around more and working through KG. I watched CPU vs. CPU also, and this was the case there as well... nothing raised my eyebrow at all really.

I played multiple games and there are way too many possessions where Kobe doesn't even touch the ball for a second. I was even trying to defend Fisher differently in order for him to give it up quicker but if Fisher passed the ball, Gasol was his #1 option in multiple games. There is definitely no logic in the game that tells the computer A.I. who to give the ball to the most and who to run plays for. It's been that way for years and it doesn't take long to see there was no change in that computer logic.

[AuburnAlumni]

Quote: Originally Posted by XuanWu

Graphics - Decent. Honestly I think we've hit the ceiling for this gen of consoles. That being said, it isn't like the graphics are bad, I just wish they'd fix these players' faces...MY GOD.

I'll simply say...


"Whaaaaaaatt??!!"

The graphics are incredible on this game. I have no clue what you are complaining about.

[Stumbleweed]

Especially THE FACES of all things... they look nearly perfect. I can see issues with the court or textures I guess, but the faces are awesome. I thikn the game looks great and it's a noticable improvement over 2K8 even in the demo.