SEGA NBA 2K3 - PS2 REVIEW

SEGA NBA 2K3 - REVIEWED ON PS2 @ www.contactmusic.com
SEGA NBA 2K3 - REVIEWED ON PS2
Since Sega has thrown the towel in on the console market they have been concentrating on their games development. They have been making games for the three main competitors Sony's PS2, Microsoft's X Box and Nintendo's Game Cube.

After taking a year out to refine their games and hopefully come back to the fore front of the games market. Sega are hoping their latest releases will regain them their games crown, which Sega have failed to achieve since the Sonic years.

NBA 2K3 is one of their first releases of the new breed of sports sims, along with NFL and NHL, they seem to have the bases covered for the American sports fans out there. But is it any good?

Sega have introduced a number of new features to this their latest basketball offering. Graphically the first impressions are good with the advanced animation system the players move naturally and appear more lifelike than in previous Sega offerings.

Adding to the atmosphere of the game are the enhanced area environments, which include animated crowds, dancing mascots, chanting and band noise. Another nice addition is the sound of the players' trainers scuffing on the court. Tying the game together are the ESPN commentary, which is pretty much standard nowadays. However this is the best commentary I have heard on any sports simulator. The commentators actually talk about the game, play by play, no random comments, aka pro evolution soccer.

SEGA NBA 2K3 - REVIEWED ON PS2 @ www.contactmusic.com
SEGA NBA 2K3 - REVIEWED ON PS2 @ www.contactmusic.com

In addition to normal game options there are a number of other game modes, street, a two on two game in the park with differing weather conditions, league mode and the all new franchise mode, where you manage the team buy and sell players, scout for foreign talent and develop young new stars, as well as playing the matches.

There is also an on-line option, but on the PS2 this is not in use as yet.

So it looks great, sounds amazing, and has all the features any gamer could wish for, but does it play well?

It may take a few plays to get use to all the controls, but once mastered the game is a joy to play. There are no excessive back board smashing slam dunks, this game is a simulation, and very realistic it is to. The passing is smooth and shooting is a real art, you cannot just press the shoot button and expect it to go in, you can adjust the fight of the ball and the players actually adjust their movement in mid-air based on distance from the hoop and defensive pressure. The game has great longevity as even on the easiest level setting it is a tough hard fort battle with the computer opponents. In two player mode it excels, take on a friend and battle it out or team up to take on the computer.

All in all if you liked any of the previous NBA's you will love this. It is by far the best basket ball game out there.

8 out of 10

 

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