Over the
past few years, simulation basketball games have taken a backseat to NBA
Street and NBA Ballers. The slick style, faster gameplay, and superior
mechanics have pushed the arcade series several notches above the rest.
Trying to
keep up, NBA 07 and NBA Live 07 moved away from their simulation roots in
search of entertainment. The results weren’t all that memorable, but could
prove to be a good starting point for future iterations.
As
disappointing as that may be, those who have managed to snag a PS3 (and don’t
have aspirations of selling it on eBay) can count on one basketball game to
fulfill the dream of equal parts realism and entertainment: NBA 2K7.
Nearly
everything about it is next-gen. Baller mechanics have the players flowing
together like instruments in a symphony. The transition from player to player,
whether a steal or successful pass, is seamless on all spectrums. Physically
the ball sails with instant feedback. Not force-feedback – you won’t get that
from a SIXAXIS – but gameplay feedback as you go for the next move.
Visually the
ball is grabbed by the player with unique animations and individual subtleties
every time. Analyze the game closely enough and you’re bound to pick out
repeated animations. But in an average game with average player performance,
you’re going to see an immense amount of graphical depth. The animations are
more than just fluid. They’re more than lifelike – a word that, once you see
what the artists at 2K Sports have come up with, will seem irrelevant in its
previous uses.
Motion
Free Throws
Here it is
gamers – the moment of truth. Does NBA 2K7 use the SIXAXIS’s motion controls,
and if so, do they rock?
The answers
are "yes" and "well…"
On the other
consoles, including Xbox 360, free throws were triggered with the analog
stick. You push down to get the player into position, then quickly push up
just as his elbows start to bend. It’s a timing game that isn’t that hard to
learn.
PlayStation
3 exchanges the analog stick in this area for motion control. Instead of
pushing up and down, you hold the controller flat as normal. Quickly tilt the
controller toward yourself (no need to flail the game pad, just tilt it). When
the player’s elbows are bent, tilt the controller forward back into its
original position. The ball is shot, dives toward the net and swoosh – nothing
but net.
It’s awesome
that 2K has gone the extra mile and added SIXAXIS functionality when most
wouldn’t bother. But the results aren’t innovation, nor are they a test of
what the controller can do. It’s just a different way of implementing the same
mechanic.
NBA a la
Mode
NBA 2K7’s
mode selection is on par with the competition. Answering the call of NBA 07’s
The Life, NBA 2K7 has 24/7: NEXT.
You control
a no-name baller without any street-cred. A free throw game with Shaq changes
your luck, giving you the opportunity to play in a game against a couple of
thugs. Keep playing, score as required, and you’ll crawl your way to the top.
Comparatively, 24/7: NEXT has the better gameplay and the better graphics. But
the Life Vol. 2 features better voice acting, better characters, faster load
times, and a deeper, more meaningful story. NBA 2K7 has a lot of polygons to
load, but the wait is rather extreme. You’ll have to withstand several seconds
of loading before and after every scenario, even if it’s a non-interactive
story segment.
Whether you
want a game or a movie – that choice is yours. As it stands now, neither mode
(24/7: NEXT or The Life Vol. 2) is an all-around winner.
The
Association is NBA 2K7’s main game, covering every aspect of EA’s Dynasty
modes but with exclusive features and superior presentation. When the game
boots up, it takes you to a quick game lineup of two teams whose logos are
projected on the sides of two skyscrapers.
Players will
be able to control several different aspects within The Association, including
team chemistry, trades, three team trades, team personnel, rosters, contracts,
the hiring of scouts and trainers, a glance at the prospect list, access to
free agents, and so on. The events calendar looks good with bright colors,
team logos, and big text that’s easy to read. Simulate games you’re not in the
mood to play. Set up specific training routines, and adjust the player lineup,
and nearly anything else could think of.
What You
Crave
NBA 2K7’s
unrivaled physics and mechanics are emphasized by new next-gen visuals. The
star players – Shaq, Billups, Parker, Wallace, etc. – are impeccably
realistic. Shaq is the cover athlete and is featured in the 24/7: NEXT mode,
so you can count on players to examine every poly of his character model. The
detail in his face –- his eyes and his expression — are what the next
generation is made of. His muscles, and the shape of body are very close to
the real thing.
That’s
during a player close-up. When the game is on, and the camera is a positioned
for TV-style coverage, you could glance at NBA 2K7 and swear it’s the real
thing. The audience’s brief and less predictable movements cannot be dissected
from far away. Also, the textures, lighting and shadows – they blow the last
gen out of the water.
There is one
flaw you’ll have to contend with – not all characters are given equal
realistic detail. I can understand this coming from the 24/7: NEXT mode, where
new characters are created for the purpose of this game. But when one of the
pros lacks facial detail, or has something else about him that’s a little off,
it takes a little away from everything else the graphics have achieved.
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Gameplay: 8.5
The best in next-gen
b-ball is also the best basketball game of the year. I’ve played ‘em all, and
none of them can compare to 2K7’s controls, physics, or mechanics. The SIXAXIS
debut won’t be remembered two years from now, but its inclusion shows how
dedicated the developers are to making use of every technology available –
even when time is limited.
Graphics: 9.2
Shaq is back and
there’s no mistaking it. Seriously – you won’t mistake him for another player.
The detail applied to his character model is out of this world. And he’s not
the only pro to benefit from 2K’s efforts – there’s a lot of beauty to go
around this court. You won’t soon forget the first time you see this game in
action.
Sound: 6.0
Above-average
voice acting is offset by a below-average soundtrack. All rap, no variety.
Difficulty: Medium
NBA 2K7’s shot
mechanism is wholly visual – that is, you watch the players’ animations to
figure out when you should release the button (which causes the player to
release the ball). It’s the easiest system to learn, and is vastly superior to
those with shot meter.
Concept: 8.0
A much more
polished game for you to sink your thumbs into. NBA 2K7 is one of the few PS3
and Xbox 360 games that looks and plays like a next-gen game should.
Multiplayer: 8.5
Just as addictive
as the single-player gameplay. Jam with six others offline, and nine others
online.
Overall: 8.5
Love basketball?
NBA 2K7 is all you need. It’s faster, more realistic, and more naturally
executed than the competition. But even if the competition were better, they’d
still have a hard time matching, let alone surpassing, what 2K Sports has
achieved. Pick up the controller, take one shot and you’ll know that this is
where next-gen gaming is at.
