March 07, 2009

Basketball-obsessed PC gamers haven’t gotten a lot of quality stuff lately. But unlike EA’s recent crappy NBA Live for PS2, National Basketball Association NBA 2K9 is a treat, with the kind of broadcast-quality and presentational polish that EA used to be renowned for.

The most impressive part is the player animation, which is full of character, varied and fluid even during actions as straightforward as dribbling the ball. No longer a mysterious dark art, defense in particular feels like a leap forward for the genre because of how well the game handles physicality and obstruction.

Scoring points is no longer a piece of cake, mind you! NBA 2K9 features a nefarious AI (artificial intelligence — in case you were wondering!) that knows how to hold up play if the shot-clock is on their side at the end of a quarter, and even intentionally foul if they’re scrambling for points as the seconds run out. Awareness of the greater flow of a match is something that’s rarely seen in sports game, and it makes a noticeable difference.

However, it won’t be fair if I didn’t mention some of the usual hang-ups in the game: the game is pretty difficult to play without a game pad, so it would be a struggle to get to grips with more advanced moves with your keyboard. The interface is also a bit befuddling, quite unlike the simple layouts of the previous series.

However, despite all the flaws, powerful graphics and laudable sound quality make this version the best so far. You also have the option of building your own team with customised player agility after earning the requisite points. You have the option of saving the game and continuing from where you left, which is highly useful given the frequent power outages! It’s easy to say that this is a basketball fan’s best bet in the face of very limp competition, but NBA 2K9 is a great sports game in its own right. Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s fast, fluid and authentic in every area, so go book an order at your nearest CD shop.

— Muhammad Jalal Awan