First Encounter

Unless your name is Amare Stoudemire, chances are NBA 2K6 is the closest you'll ever come to rubbing elbows with basketball luminaries like Vince Carter and Paul Pierce. But that's OK—as one of the top sports titles for Xbox® this holiday season, you might as well have a courtside seat at every game. Despite having already proven that the franchise can hang with the big boys, developer Visual Concepts feels compelled to make a point with the series' latest installment. Namely, that the company's highest flyer simply keeps getting better with each passing year … and this season, audiences are in for a real treat.

Dunkin', but not for doughnuts.

Shot Stick Specials
You immediately notice several treats in the form of sweeping upgrades, beginning with the "shot stick." Here's the scoop: Using the right thumbstick, dynamically select whatever type of shot best suits each situation. Rather than let the program itself make the decision, you execute finger rolls, lay-ups, three-pointers or stunning fadeaways on demand. Much the same way real athletes do, you've got the option to change up styles on the fly. Lean around defenders, aim above rivals' flailing arms, or just pop off quick jump shots—the choice is yours. In the end, the shot stick doesn't just make the action feel more authentic, it also helps improve the game's pace. Naturally, it also offers experienced ballers greater command over the proceedings.

Kiss the turbo button goodbye too; now you're playing with aggression. Seriously—mash the right trigger, and suddenly your standard arsenal of dunks and dribbles becomes way fancier. No more charging up the lane like Carl Lewis on a Red Bull binge; instead, pull off flashy techniques such as behind-the-back passes, whirlwind spins, monster rebounds, and ego-crushing rejections. (No finger-wagging allowed, though.) Activating these functions turns basic lay-ups and other point-scoring attempts into acrobatic feats, and blocks into brutal shutdowns capable of hamstringing anyone's hot streak. As with shot stick functions, the enhancement rewards skill versus spastic sprints towards the hole.

Give and go, go, go!

Back Up Your Trash-Talk
As you might guess, realism is at a premium here, not arcade-style antics. Additional proof lies in the "strip-n-rip system," which provides players the opportunity to steal the ball or force turnovers by diving into the way of oncoming passes. Knock the rock out of the hands of carriers by swiping with a specific hand, swat shots off target, or literally wrench it right from the opposing player's grip.

Serious strategists will appreciate the realism, especially when combined with new dual player control mechanics. Identify individual teammates for a specific job and issue them orders, calling for fast breaks, picks, or players to plant themselves in the paint, and computer-controlled comrades quickly respond. Chain sequences together, and swipe the ball and send it bounding down the hardwood right into the waiting arms of a teammate, who punishes the opposition with a sizzling slam dunk or alley-oop.

Not so smooth behind the controller compared to buddies? Chill. V.I.P. features nicked from ESPN NFL 2K5 assure you'll get the jump on them soon enough. Compete against a friend, and you can record their performance to a profile that accurately mimics your pal's personality, tendencies, and favorite moves to a fault. Step your ball-handling ability up by squaring off against these digital doubles, or by downloading additional gamers' profiles online.

Goaltending? The hell you say!

Coach Your Way to the Finals
Franchise mode also gets an overhaul. Hire trainers and assistants, spend months scouting potential draft picks, schedule workouts, and trade players as the mood strikes … you're in total control. A wealth of statistical detail is also offered, including info on injuries, winning streaks, and team- or athlete-specific attributes. What's more, simpler menu navigation and snazzier presentation elements (the cutscene you'll spot upon winning the finals comes to mind) will further delight couch coaches.

Pile on a personalized crib complete with mini-game challenges, enhanced audiovisual effects, and licensed music by hip underground acts like Blackalicious, Jean Grae, and RJD2, and you've got an All-Star in the making. Never mind a newly added appearance from the Entertainer's Basketball Classic, plus celebrity cameos by Flavor Flav, Redman, and Method Man. NBA 2K6 is all showbiz to begin with. Grab it and see for yourself … from where I sit, it's genius in gym shorts.

By Steve Richter