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Xbox 360 | Sports | NBA 2K6

Boxart for NBA 2K6
NBA 2K6 42 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 4.5
  • SOUND: 4.0
  • CONTROL: 4.5
  • FUN FACTOR 4.0
  • AVG USER SCORE n/a
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.0

Review: NBA 2K6

Review by Master Bones | 12/07/2005 | 14:36:04 PM PST

Pick up your sticks playa and get ready for the sweet B-ball action of NBA 2K6.

With stiff competition in the NBA games arena from EA's long-running NBA Live franchise, NBA 2K6 puts up a tough fight with gorgeous character models, deep franchise mode and gameplay options, and a silky-smooth shooting control scheme. Though a few weaker points keep it from reaching amazing new heights in the B-ball genre, NBA 2K6 remains a fine example of what a high quality multiplayer launch title can be.

Kings of the Court
For the most part, 2K6 packs a powerful graphical punch that's sure to drop more than a few jaws when gamers behold the incredibly life-like player models (complete with accurate tattoos and convincing faces) and hyper-realistic animations that even account for the weight and movement of the uniforms! The incredible lighting and crisp visual presentation set the stage for some excellent on-court action, as NBA 2K6 boats a number of diverse and entertaining play modes. All the genre staples are present and accounted for here (franchise mode, practice, fantasy draft, Xbox Live, tournament, season) as well as a few beefy extras like the addicting street ball mode and quirky mini-games like air hockey and darts to be played in your star's high-class crib.

But 2K6's true strengths lie in its dead-on control and smooth-shooting. By using the right analog stick for shooting and free throws, players now have a new level of delicate touch and finesse to match the myriad of easy moves and quick shakes at their disposal when moving the rock. The new dual player control also makes it easy to set up plays and attack opposing defenses, which is no easy feat considering the clever and competitive A.I. on both sides of the court. And while the ghetto-fabulous rap tunes grow tiresome quickly, the pro commentary and trash-talking insults help bolster the audio presentation.

Play On, Player
NBA 2K6 doesn't have many low points, but a few gripes tend to stand out when juxtaposed against the stellar presentation and addictive gameplay. Although the graphics are certainly one of the game's best features, the ugly polygonal crowd members and coaches (and pretty much anyone and anything not on the court) are a tacky reminder of early Xbox titles, and jar with the rest of the aesthetic splendor. The constant replays are annoying but forgivable in light of their beauty, while the shameless in-game advertising saturating the game will likely disgust conscientious players and gaming purists. These complaints (along with a few sloppy audio hiccups) certainly aren't enough to dampen the fun, but with the Xbox 360 version costing $20 more than the other console versions, multiplatform gamers who don't care about high-def visuals might do well to check this one out on the other systems first.


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