NBA 2K10

We are in the midst of probably the greatest era of videogame hoops ever. While NBA Live continues to rebuild into a contender, the NBA 2K franchise has been the 1990s Chicago Bulls of console basketball. Not since the old Lakers vs. Celtics days on the Sega Genesis has simulation basketball been this good — and this may be 2K’s 72-win season.

The pace and flow of digital hoops are its key components — with team and opposing A.I. both falling under this umbrella. Once again, NBA 2K nails it all. Fast breaks feel right without games turning into track meets, the post-up game plays just how it should (guys who can’t go to their left in real life, for instance, are also unable to do so here), and the inside-outside and mid-range games are rewarding to pull off — complemented by a streamlined on-the-fly playcalling system that shows you how to execute your sets by painting them on the floor.

2K has also matched Live’s innovation from a year ago with NBA Today, an up-to-the-second stat tracker that lets you play with real-life stats automatically downloaded from the previous day’s action. Folding into this are the five-on-five online “crews” (teams), complete with league support. Playing with four other guys who know what they’re doing against an equally smart all-human group is incredibly satisfying, and it’s certain to be a staple of the genre.

Lastly, this series has always been known for its presentation — particularly its animation — and 2K10 is no exception. Big and small, the movements are all so perfect now that the occasional gaffe jumps out only because it’s a reminder that you’re not watching a real NBA game. The announcers, meanwhile — led again by Kevin Harlan — have plenty to say and are right on top of everything, even interrupting their own thoughts for an immediate “OHHHHH!” following a big dunk or alley-oop. We’re also happy to see a desperately needed redesign of the front-end menus. They’re still not perfect, but they’re light-years better.

Still, even the ’95–’96 Bulls lost 10 games, and 2K10 isn’t perfect either. Controls are again not ideal: we’d sometimes get layups or short shots when we wanted to attempt a dunk. Also, we noticed occasional slowdown coming out of timeouts, but it’s nothing that detracts too severely from the gameplay experience.

Another ring for the reigning champ? Yes. Though NBA Live 10 is hot on its heels, NBA 2K10 remains a $60 courtside seat you shouldn’t miss.