NBA 2K3

THE BAD:
Takes a bit of getting used to.
Not as easy to pick up and play as 2K2.
Still has some strange, annoying glitches.

SUMMARY:
Where to start with Sega's NBA 2K3... Well I should probably start by saying that developer Visual Concepts has made an improvement on 2K2 in most areas. But not all.

The first thing people will notice is the totally re-worked front-end, now sporting the ESPN layout and color scheme thanks to a license aqquired in the off-season. This new layout and color scheme has a surprising effect in Franchise mode, as it helps to immerse you even more so into the game.

Game modes offer your everyday season, playoffs and exhibition game modes, and the street mode also returns this year, beefed up with several new courts. The Franchise mode has had much work applied to it and now offers the most comprehensive and in-depth simulation of a basketball franchise found on any console.

A myriad of options help you determine what rules, presentation and general difficulty you wish to apply to the game. Then there are the additional 'Gameplay Sliders' which are designed to give the user complete control of the games difficulty dependent upon their skill. These settings take a while to adjust properly, but once you get them right you'll notice the difference in realism and overall fun of the game. Recommended settings can already be found on internet sites, and these can be used as a basis for you to adjust to your own ability.

When you actually get out on the court, you'll find that the visuals have improved vastly over last years offering, much due to the fact that 2K3 has been developed solely for the true next-gen consoles, and not for the now defunct (And unfortunately so) Dreamcast.

The easiest comparison to use with 2K3 is EA's NBA Live 2003. While EA have the reputation for stunning graphics, they've always been lacking on the gameplay aspect, in all their major sports titles other than Madden. Nothing has really changed this year. While EA's Live 2003 offers superior visuals, 2K3 offers the gameplay. Not to say that the visuals in 2K3 are bad. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Player models are pretty (As pretty as hulks like Shaq or Ben Wallace can be) and stadiums adequete. The whole front row is now modelled in 3D, although not to the same detail as the on-court players for obvious reasons. If you look closely, you can even see each teams mascot at the end of the court, although they usually look disappointingly static. As the game goes on, players begin to glisten with sweat, particularly obvious on the bald heads of MJ or Vince Carter. The uniforms seem to have some movement in them, for once looking as though they are not safety-pinned to the plyers skin. While the effect is not blatantly obvious, if you're the type that looks closely you will see.

Gameplay has changed in several ways from last years game. While the general controls are similar, many new animations have been included which ads a new element to the game. These animations also add a new way to play the game, as on certain shots (Layups and Dunks, mostly) you can alter your shot mid-way to get the ball round any defenders that may be hounding you. You can also now find your player diving off the court to save the ball, lobbing it back onto the court and occasionally falling into the front row.

Passing remains slightly awkward, as the game still tends to randomly throw the ball to any player if you try to use the D-Pad to direct your pass. Icon passing works far better and enables you to run plays more smoothly and efficiently.

The defensive end of the game has changed more significantly, as the AI will exploit your weaknesses with a ruthlessness never before seen in any basketball game. Blocks have become a little easier since last years effort, but still maintains realism by not allowing too many. The AI will challenge you with crossovers far more now and will spend more time looking for the open man.

The sound is easily described as 'enough'. The soundtrack is merely mindless beats that repeat themselves in the background, but they do the job well enough. A killer soundtrack isn't top of the list of priorities in a basketball game anyway! Commentary is pretty good but does sometimes get on the repetitive side. Having said this, the commentators do analyze your play and pick up on your strong and weak points, normally being correct in the points they make. On-court sounds are pretty good. You'll hear all manner of squeaking shoes and grunting players, but you'll also hear them talking, almost constantly communicating with one another. Its a nice touch and helps you to get more involved.

Overall, 2K3 is a fantastic game for anyone who wants true basketball, and is willing to fiddle with the intricate difficulty settings (Or Gameplay Sliders) to achieve an accurate simulation. Once this is done, you won't want to stop playing.