Review: NBA 2K8, Xbox 360, PS3
Rating: 4.5/5
NBA 2K8 is the latest basketball video game from 2K Sports and is undoubtedly the king of hoops simulations.
It is loaded with broadcast-quality presentation details that uncannily convey the excitement of an NBA match, and at its core offers some of the most realistic and engrossing gameplay sports fans can experience with a controller.
NBA 2K8’s most striking quality is that players are intelligent in defensive and offensive situations, which means calling plays – a major part of basketball – finally becomes an integral element of the video game interpretation of the sport.
The game’s visuals are polished and accurate, and player movement is momentum-based, meaning the animations are true-to-life, and agile players are more likely to weave through traffic, while heavier players will crash through it.
NBA 2K8 has a serious attention to detail, with sweat beads, veins, and muscles visible on players. In NBA 2K8, the sidelines are choc-a-bloc full of action with floor-moppers, television cameramen, team mascots, and spectators shuffling from their seats to an aisle adding a streak of realism previously unseen in sports video games.
Beyond NBA 2K8’s spectacular presentation is a wealth of options and game modes. These include online play, an offline franchise mode known as The Association, and a fantastic Slam Dunk Contest that in itself will occupy a few hours of time. In multiplayer, NBA 2K8 shines brightly. Grab a mate or two, a few drinks and some pizza, and you are guaranteed a fun night in front of the television with plenty of close games to talk about for days afterwards. The only gripe I had with NBA 2K8 is that the shooting is initially too difficult. Even at the peak of a jump while open, a released shot that in last year’s version would have – and should have – gone in, would hit the rim and fall into opposition hands.
Also, the game speed is significantly slower. But NBA 2K8 is fully customable and the game options allow you to tweak the probability of landing shots, as well as increasing the game speed. After tweaking the settings to my liking, I ended up with a game that was challenging, yet still rewarding and fun.
