NBA 2K2 (Playstation 2)

The graphics are great, the physics are spectacular, and the gameplay feels real. Quite possibly the best hoops game ever. Of course that doesn't mean there aren't flaws. Some of things that annoyed me are the lack of offensive rebounds, the complete uselessness of tall man in the lane, and the difficulty of hitting the outside shot. Stephon Marbury easily dunked over Shaq in one game, despite Shaq clearly having position. Also, players tend to stand around, despite calling certain plays. Pick and rolls are difficult to do because your fellow player sometimes won't cooperate

Another thing was the difficulty levels. Easy is too easy, medium starts off too hard, then becomes too easy, and by the time you reach hard, you're sick of re-inventing your game for another difficulty level. They should eliminate easy and add more practice elements, and have only difficulty level, a cross between hard and medium. That way you won't have to adjust your game. For example, on easy, you tend to take more 3 pointers, and let bad shooters on the opposite team take open shots, but in hard, you have to do the exact opposite. It screws you up, especially when playing two players.

All that said, this is an excellent game. I played a season with the Lakers, and by the end, I was rolling. The post moves of centers is pretty good, despite the ease of defensive steals. Screens sometimes work, Kobe's got the moves, perimeter defense works well. The player movements are silky smooth, and really look like the actual players. As you played against different teams, you develop different strategies and call different plays to exploit the team's weak points. It's a great game that rewards reflexes and thinking.

Overall, it's a great, great basketball and should be bought by any sports game enthusiast.


This video game is cool   June 29, 2002
I asked my cousin if I could play his video game and he said yes. When I started to play this game, it was great, including they have all-stars, and basketball players from the 70s and the 80s, I give this ***** (5 out of 5).


BEST NBA GAME I"VE EVER PLAYED   June 11, 2002
My fellow ballers, you know how other basketball games allow you to hit some shot over and over. Well, don't look forward to that in this game. It's just like reality. You won't just throw up something and make it. You have to set up in order to hit a good shot.

The graphics on this game are amazing. I felt like I was watching a game on TBS or NBC. Trust, it is that graphic. It has player introductions and even shows the coaches after introducing the players! How many NBA games actually introduce the players and the coaches? THe player come out and slap hands with other teammates and then get crunk before gameplay begins. Now, on to the gameplay. Of course, it starts off with a tipoff. It has ankle breaking shakes, signature moves, and the stars are as close to their real life game than on any other game. You will occasional hear the coaches shouting strategies, if you will. This game is the CLOSEST to perfection as you will get. You will enjoy the gameplay and, for all you Iverson fans out there, the man is damn near unstoppable. For Kobe fans, like myself, he is also hell!


A FUN, ADDIKTIV GAME   June 9, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I am a big ea sports fan, and I still am, but nba 2k2 and nfl 2k2 have gotten me into sega sports as well. At first, I didnt think much of this game, but now, I feel it is the best basketball game out there right now.

NBA 2K2 has great graphics, and they have narrowed down the player detaills right to the tattoos, so you can make out a player without looking at his number.I also liked that NBA 2K2 has the new rules like the 5 second bak to the basket, and the new zone defensse. Something else that took me by surprise was the challenging AI. In other basketball games, I could just find a hole in the defense and slam it in.This game really makes you use strategy to win against the AI. But now I really have to work for the points. The defenders stick to you like glue, and you have to pass to find the open man. I also liked the new free throw shooting technique. Before, making free throws was easy, but now, they require some practice.

I also enjoyed playing on the street courts, which are also new to the series.

One thing that could have been better was the commentary. To sum it up, it was good, but sometimes(or usually), they were calling plays that were one play before the actual one. For example, Kobe gets blocked, and the other teams scores. Bu the time the other team scores, the commentators will say, "What a block!"

Other than the commentary, I think this game will appeal to the NBA fans, and people who just want to try it out.