NBA 2K11 – A must buy and here’s why

NBA 2K11 is truly a masterpiece.

I bought this game after learning it was ridiculously good and having only played an NBA game a few times before on PlayStation 2, I decided to take a chance and buy it while it was on sale. I was not disappointed.

Smooth, clean, and highly addictive would be my first words to describe 2K11’s gameplay. After playing around with the controls for some quick matches and lowering the difficulty, I finally got the basics down. Coming from someone who generally tends towards first or third person shooters, I can happily say that the controls aren’t too hard to learn, so if you’re new to this genre don’t be afraid of the learning curve. . . Players who have played previous titles should be well into their comfort zone, and while there are some tweaks since 2K10, the fundamental mechanics are the same.

There are so many elements to this game that describing them all in a short review is almost impossible, but I will briefly describe the modes that I really enjoyed. First of all, the My Player mode is a great addition to this game. Right off the bat, the customization is surprisingly deep for a sports game, giving you plenty of options in terms of character appearance and style. You only play as your player, so getting drafted into an NBA team is initially quite a challenge if you don’t have consistent overall performance. There is a good sense of development in this mode, as you will see big changes in your player’s performance if you invest in their skills with points earned in games.

Another modality worth mentioning is the Michael Jordan Challenge. The name of the mode explains a lot, as the ten games you play as the Bulls require specific stats to achieve, like rebounds or points, meaning you really have to focus on what’s happening on the court. This mode also serves as a great tribute to MJ himself. The last major mode is multiplayer, where you can play head-to-head against your friends online. Shooting 3-pointers, nailing your opponent, and most importantly, winning all lead to bragging rights among your friends. 2K11 is packed with content that will leave all NBA fans happy for a long time and I have only mentioned the three main game modes.

Everything about the game is well done; even the way the matches are presented and the comments make it more faithful to reality. The individual NBA players are beautifully captured, each with their own style and special qualities, and the teams themselves depict realistic team chemistry and interaction. The only negatives I can take from this game are the little graphical glitches that occur, such as the oblivious attitude players seem to display, bumping into each other when walking during close-ups, and referees occasionally sliding to get to the ball when a crowd is call.

Other than a few minor tweaks here and there, this game is simply brilliant. I would recommend it to just about anyone, whether you’re a seasoned fan or a newbie. In my opinion, NBA 2K11 is one of the most impressive titles in the sports genre to date because it does a lot of things well and overall offers a rock-solid gameplay package. If you weren’t sure about buying this game, do yourself a favor and grab a copy ASAP.