The player models could use some work, as some of the faces actually aren't recognizable at all, unless you're looking at a marquee player. You will see some canned animations cycling back through from time to time, but overall they are sufficient. The animations are what you've come to expect from 2K-solid, though somewhat repeating. The controls are much tighter and more responsive, and, overall, it's simply much more fun to play. Overall, the gameplay is excellent, and takes the cake in this area over EA's NBA Live 09. It just works, and if you like playing online quite a bit, you'll be happy to know you'll be able to do so smoothly. You can now even play five-on-five with only one person per console, which is a really nice addition. Online play is even better than last year, with the gameplay staying smooth throughout our time online. Other game modes offered this year are Blacktop, which is largely unchanged from last year, exhibition, practice, and online play. The cumbersome menus really do hold this mode back, and though it is largely unchanged from last year, a better interface would really help it take off. NBA.com has been integrated into the mode this time around, and it adds a nice touch. The menus are cumbersome, and it's much harder than it should be to get around and choose your options.Р”Р„ssociation is indeed back as the main mode in which you will spend most of your time. The presentation and interface this year takes a real backseat to NBA Live. This is strictly a technical problem, but it does manage to be very frustrating-it happened to us once or twice in the first week of play. There are widely reported issues with freezing in Association mode. NBA 2K9, in all its splendor, still has its hang-ups that detract from how entertaining this game is. One more point of importance is that the strange phenomenon of players like Kobe Bryant missing easy shots they would never miss is pretty much fixed-for the most part you'll make the shots you should make. Hopefully the fast break will continue to improve in future basketball games, as it has been a consistent omission as a realistic aspect of the game of basketball. Fast breaks are the real game-breakers in the NBA, and the increased pace helps to make the fast break a viable and powerful tool in this game. The game also moves a bit faster than it did last year, which doesn't change much, but it does make the experience more exciting and frantic-in a good way. They will now help you rebound, set effective picks for you, move without the ball, and so on and so forth. You'll need to use your offense, and most importantly, your teammates who, consequently, have been heightened a bit in the AI department too. You won't be able to push a crossover button, take two steps, and dunk every time down the court. On offense, you'll have to work for everything you get. The computer controlled players will pose much more of a challenge overall. The AI, overall, has been improved in all aspects of the game. You can't just jam on the button and shut down Kobe-you'll have to adjust to and work for it too. The AI has been improved as well, and will react much more realistically to this method or defense. Mismatches will actually be mismatches this year, which is great news for anyone who likes to utilize screens to create them. The lockdown defense is back this year, and it has been adjusted to be more realistic and effective. The gameplay is better, the pace is faster, the lockdown defense is more realistic, and the AI is better, not to mention it looks a bit better than last year. This year is no different, with NBA 2K9 being the go-to performer on the virtual basketball court. The last few years have seen 2K Sports at the top of the leaderboard, achieving unanimously higher ratings than EA's NBA Live series. EA Sports and 2K Sports have become bitter rivals since 2K joined the craziness that is basketball video gaming a few years back.

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