Follow-up to a Classic

Published October 5, 2007

For many, NBA 2K7 represented not just a great basketball game, but a landmark achievement with its jaw-dropping lifelike shot animations and spot-on feel for the ebb and flow of pro ball. It wasn't just an NBA videogame, it was a re-creation of the sport. In short, NBA 2K8 had a lot to live up to.

New cover star Chris Paul.

Animated Perfection
The good news is the latest title in this vaunted series has eclipsed its predecessor in every way. Where last year, Allen Iverson's jumpshot looked absolutely dead on, this year just walking up the court with Denver's point guard is stunningly evocative. From Kevin Durant's wind-up tomahawk jam to LeBron's fadeaway three, nearly every shot, dunk, layup and rebound is player-appropriate.

Don't think this applies to just the star players either. Even the shots of role players are faithfully recreated, heck, even the fans get involved. Luke Ridnour's textbook jumper look just right, but the home crowd will also chant his name when he takes a shot, just as they do in real life. The varied, smooth and entirely authentic repertoire of animation in NBA 2K8 is simply staggering.

Play calling is crucial, and now you don't have to be an NBA fanatic to run them correctly.

The Blacktop
Also new to NBA 2K8 is NBA Blacktop, a series of All-Star Game-like challenges, including a three-point contest, pickup games, and everyone's favorite, the slam dunk contest. Where pickup games, a game of 21, and even the three-point contest use traditional controls, the dunk contest is a mini-game all its own.

The dunk contest utilizes a three-tier system. First, press in a direction or make a motion with the right control stick to perform a "gather," which determines how you launch into the air. Immediately after your gather, flick or motion the right stick again to determine the in-air style, such as performing a windmill. Lastly, a timing meter appears, determining whether the dunk jams home or rattles off the rim.

You can add props, including a barricade, tires, or even a car, and alleyoop to yourself to increase the difficulty of the attempt. Taken just on its own, the dunk contest represents hours of diverting gameplay, and as a whole, NBA Blacktop mode offers up an exceptional breath of fresh air from the main team vs. team gameplay.

Fear the beard. Baron is dangerous.

Gameplay Tweaks
Scattered throughout NBA 2K8 are some gratifying tweaks and improvements to core gameplay.

• Performance bars: Beneath every player are five vertical bars similar to what you might see on a cell phone. Depending on who you're controlling and where you are on the floor, these bars let you know how likely the player is to hit a shot. The color of the bars highlight whether the player is hot (red or orange) or cold (blue or purple). This isn't just basic data letting you know how good a player is at three-point shots. It actually calculates a player's hit and missed shots from all over the floor, so while Bruce Bowen may not hit a three at the top of the line, you'll see his accuracy improve from the corners.
• Get open: Hoping that your A.I. teammate breaks into the open is a thing of the past. In NBA 2K8, order a teammate to make a move without the ball. It may seem a small feature, but it goes a long, long way towards playing the game the way it was meant to be, with your point guard distributing the ball and your playmakers driving to the lane or circling around the defense to get open.
• Play markers: Calling a quick post up is simple, but running complicated plays requires a bit of direction. If I call Beluba Screen, the game will highlight where I need to be to start the play, which direction to run, and where to pass the ball. Play calling is crucial, and now you don't have to be an NBA fanatic to run them correctly.
• Lock on: Previous games have always suffered from players having a hard time staying in front of slashing players, such as Kobe Bryant or Manu Ginobili. In NBA 2K8, use the left trigger to lock onto a player. It won't guarantee success, but it does work as a helpful and realistic assist and is much appreciated.

Replay Anything
Let's be honest, half the fun of a well-played game is enjoying the spectacular highlights. If you throw one down with Durant on Yao Ming, you're going to want to see that again. If you rained threes all day with Ray Allen, you want to sit back and enjoy the show.

NBA 2K8 has a beefy replay system. The game hand picks the three top plays from the game and highlights them on the end of game menu. But the game also allows you to replay and save any play from any time in the game. The Signature Highlights option provides the opportunity to pick out your favorite player and watch every jumper, layup, dunk, rebound, and blocked shot he performed the entire game.

Of course, you can still expect all the same great features that you've come to know and love from previous games. Both the Association (franchise mode) and Season mode are alive and well, and you can still organize practices and even perform drills to improve your players. Likewise, tournaments and leagues are available online as well as the NBA Blacktop challenges.

NBA 2K8 proves that you can improve on a legendary game in even just a single year. Every nook and cranny of this NBA masterpiece is filled with subtle detail and refined mechanics. Now take control of your favorite franchise and grab hold of your own stunningly recreated NBA glory.

Article by Ryan Treit