Review: NBA 2K6 (PS2)

Gamestyle is confused by sports games. If you enjoy a sport why not go outside and play it instead? And if you’re not very good that’s still no excuse: it doesn’t stop Middlesbrough F.C. playing every week. Frankly, the idea of shelling out £30-40 for what is essentially the same game you bought last year doesn’t really sit well with us. However, with NBA 2K6, Visual Concepts has tried to change the control scheme enough to make the game quite intriguing to play, but if you’re anything but a big fan of basketball there isn’t really anything strikingly new to entice you.

Straight down to it: the new control scheme is possibly the most exciting feature of NBA 2K6, as instead of shots being limited to a tap of the square button, they have been mapped to the right analogue stick of the PS2 pad. This is a very good system with each direction corresponding to a different type of shot. It allows for a modicum of strategy as you choose the best shot available for the situation. When in defence, the right analogue stick becomes the ball stealing control, allowing you multiple ways to take the ball away from your opponents. While this may seem like a rather bland feature to discuss, it really does affect the gameplay and makes the whole experience a bit smoother. However if you find the shock-stick obtrusive or pointless, the square button is still there for your use.

Graphically the game is pretty decent despite everything seeming a little off, and everything having an unnatural sheen to it. The players aren’t especially detailed, and the backgrounds are just plain ugly. Animation wise, the players move realistically and quite surprisingly differently from each other. This is something that Gamestyle feels has been missing from sports games, as more often than not developers just stick a players face on a generic template, so every character acts pretty much the same. It’s a testament to Visual Concepts' dedication to creating a realistic simulation that they’ve tried to instil a sense of individuality in the players. Unfortunately not the same can be said in crowd shots, since often you’ll see the same person standing next to themselves- though to be fair one was wearing a hat.

Ultimately NBA 2K6 is not a game for the casual player, and this is emphasised by its impressive simulation and team-management aspects. The Association mode is where most of the time will be spent and it really is quite daunting to the uninitiated. Fans on the game however will be spoiled for choice as to what to do with their team, for hiring and firing new members, scouting out new team members, seeing which players work together the best, and then being able to take this team (or the default ones) into the online game. The online mode works well for the system it is on (i.e. not Xbox Live) but at the moment of writing, opponents are few and far between, but perhaps that will improve with time. Meanwhile the Road to EBC mode allows you to create your very own player and mould him into a champion one on run player, facing off against “famous” faces, many of whom which Gamestyle has never heard of.

The main problem with NBA 2K6 is that it feels just like all the previous versions of the game with some minor tweaks. Perhaps if you’ve been following the series and notice the subtle changes that overall improve the simulation modes, but to us the game just felt…sterile. Oh sure, it does the job find and dandy, but there is a distinct lack of excitement and fun that made the game feel like a chore rather than a pleasure.

If you’re really into basketball, NBA 2K6 is an excellent choice, and the inclusion of online play only adds to its appeal. For those of us with nothing but a casual interest in the sport, you’re probably better off looking at the likes of NBA Street. Still, NBA 2K6 provides an impressive simulation game, and a definite alternative to EA’s Live series. If you’re a hardcore basketball fan, you’ll garner some enjoyment from the simulation modes and extensive management options. Casual fans however, might as well steer clear.

Rating: 6 / 10

Words by Garry Webber