On the court this game is exactly what you'd expect and hope for, adding extra speed to the real thing, while preserving the realism of an NBA match to please both the adrenaline junkies and the basketball enthusiasts. The action is silky smooth and the animations are so cleverly designed that any NBA fan would instantly agree that the resemblance to the authentic actions of a professional basketball player is uncanny.

Picking the better team is no longer sufficient to overwhelm the opponent and even a player starting as underdog now has a decent chance of winning if he chooses the appropriate tactic to annihilate the rival's strong points. The line between offense and defense is very thin in NBA and as a result a gamer with a more defensive approach can shut down the opponent if he manages to close the gaps and nullify each player individually.

Never before the difference between players has been so important and it pays off to focus and determine which one is a better 3 point shooter, who can dunk the ball and which players are lethal at the free throw line. Guys like Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant etc may look a bit overpowered but the truth is they are simply outstanding in the real life as well so instead of complaining it's wiser to research a bit and find ways to reduce the danger they pose. NBA.com is the main source of information and for those willing to take on a franchise quest, this site will provide all the facts and figures needed by a team manager.

Association 2.0, as this new program is named has been greatly improved and updated to assist the players in their chase to create a prominent franchise out of scrap and to make trading and contract signing more intuitive. The "Larry Bird" rule has been introduced to keep the game management as close to the real thing as possible and although it further complicates you mission is a welcomed addition for a title that intends to offer the most realistic NBA experience.

{pagebreak}

Preserving the delicate balance that exists in each sports team and keeping players happy inside the club is far more difficult than it seems, and there are some crucial facts you'd like to take into consideration before making a move. Some players are willing to depart for a rival team just because they pay better, while inconsistent result could lead some of your starts to join a winning squad and of course some players will be difficult to acquire because they feel a strong bond between them and the team they are currently playing for. Knowing these tendencies is extremely useful because only if you are fully aware of a player's intentions you can make an appealing offer to prevent him from leaving as well as seizing the chance of transferring a promising player who is discontent with his present team.

The gameplay remains rock solid, but even those gamers familiar with the controls and attacking schemes should prepare for a challenging experience because the AI is better than ever and there are new commands to be mastered as soon as possible. It's useless to try and weasel your way with a single player, no matter how skilled he is and how good his stats are, because the defensive effort the AI puts up is impressive. The best thing is that the computer controlled opponent will gradually adjust to your style, so passing a lot and waiting for the right moment to shoot is vital. Sometimes players fail to retreat for the defensive play after scoring and unless you work a magic turnover quickly, the AI will have a 5 vs. 4 advantages and he is unforgiving.

Shooting for three points is of course a very tempting option because you no longer have to find tiny breaches in the other team's defense and there is also the possibility of scoring an extra point per attack. Nonetheless except for a few players who are equally deadly inside and outside the paint, the percentage of the average player is nothing to shout for and even the AI opponent is smart enough to try blocking those particular sharp shooters. On the other hand the frustrating errors committed by tall players just below the rim are no longer a threat as one will find it easy to make the layup after establishing a firm position.

A very interesting and quite demanding shoot is the one taken from the free throw line, because each player has his own timing for the shooting animation so until you get accustomed with it, there are going to be a lot of points wasted here. Otherwise it's pretty easy to score from action once you receive a precise pass, and a player jumping for a layup will be almost impossible to stop without committing a fault. Players react exactly like they would in real life, shaking heads, arguing with the referee and contesting the decision, but fair play is also on the menu, with players picking each other up after a hard fault.

{pagebreak}

Conclusion:

When competition is fierce it is always hard to make it to the top and it's even tougher to defend your crown, but 2K Sports does it for three years now and at least for the moment NBA 2K9 is simply too good to be overtaken as the best basketball simulator on the market. If you are even remotely interested in the NBA action and are willing to take a break from the MMORPG, FPS or RTS routine to experience the adrenaline rush of a highly contested basketball match, this is best choice.

Gameplay: 88

There are really very few flaws to affect an otherwise outstanding gameplay which is guaranteed to impress the hardcore fans and the newcomers alike, insuring a long lasting appeal to a game that has been just slightly improved since NBA2K8. The resemblance to the real deal is striking and thanks to a considerably improved AI each game will be challenging enough to leave the gamer hungry for more.

Graphics: 86

While the gorgeous animations are the main visual attraction of this latest addition, I couldn't help but notice the significant improvements made in portraying the NBA players and imposing arenas filled with frantic fans. Compared to the previous titles where some players looked downright hideous, in NBA 2K9 most of them look stunningly realistic after the skin textures were greatly improved.

Sounds: 85

The sound effects are as good as ever, with an enthralling soundtrack that fits in brilliantly and immerses the gamer into the match atmosphere, and appropriate comments from Clark Kellogg and Kevin Harlan, while Cheryl Miller occasionally intervenes as a sideline reporter. The crowd's reactions are equally impressive as the public will make an active participation encouraging their favorites when playing at home and even turning on them after a string of bad plays.

Multiplayer: 83

Besides the traditionally powerful multiplayer NBA 2K9 features an innovative system, the five-on-five systems where each player is individually controlled, which means no less than 10 guys will be playing the same match. It's definitely the most challenging multiplayer mode possible, because it requires excellent timing and good coordination and although the game is not as free flowing as in the single player it's very entertaining.

Hardware: 80

Occasionally the frame rate drops but this happens mainly during free throws or replays and considering the fact that NBA 2K9 looks terrific and the game runs smoothly, this appears to be just a minor inconvenient.