NBA 2K11 Review

Reviews from Gamespot and ign for NBA 2K11. Enjoy!

NBA 2K11 Review
Michael Jordan comes out of retirement for one last championship run.

It's fitting that NBA 2K11 prominently features Michael Jordan. After all, His Airness is the greatest basketball player of all time and NBA 2K11 is the greatest basketball game ever made.
2K Sports has delivered the most finely polished and fully featured sports game I've ever played -- and I've played a lot of sports games. The amount of work put into 2K11 is staggering -- perfect recreations of Jordan's historic games, streamlined controls, NBA teams that play and feel like their real-life counterparts, a franchise mode that includes sensible GM logic and intelligent team building.
This is one of the most incredible year-over-year improvements of a game imaginable. Madden, EA's NHL series, MLB 2K, and just about everyone else has been served notice. There are no more excuses for half-assed annual updates. Bring it every year or you will get booed out of the building.
NBA 2K11 is where amazing happens. When you first start the game, you get a slick visual treat hyping the greatness of Michael Jordan. And then the game transports you into the tunnel of Chicago Stadium for Game 1 of the 1991 NBA Championship. Jordan turns to look into the camera, right at you, and asks, "Are you ready?" Then he turns, runs out onto the court and the magic of NBA 2K11 begins. Before you ever see a menu, ever create a franchise, ever even get a whiff of all that 2K11 has to offer, you're playing in the finals with the Bulls, battling Magic Johnson and ushering in a new era in NBA history.
Unquestionably, the highlight of NBA 2K11 are the Jordan Challenges. MJ's greatest games are legendary and you get to relive them, tasked with equaling his stat lines. Can you average 11 assists in the '91 series against the Lakers? Or drop six treys and score at least 35 points in the first half against Drexler and the Trail Blazers to earn the famous Jordan shrug? Or light up the Knicks for 55 points in Jordan's return from retirement?
2K Sports created each of these 10 memorable moments with a surprising level of detail. The commentary for every game is custom-fitted with discussions on Jordan's potential in "The Arrival" game and talk of how much John Starks has frustrated Jordan in the "Double Nickel" game in Madison Square Garden. Each game is a window into NBA history and won't just give you an appreciation for No. 23's greatness but the quality of teams he went up against. Magic, Ewing, Dominque -- they play as they did in their prime. No opponent is a chump, even if Michael is destined to beat them all.
Complete all 10 Jordan Challenges and you can play a special version of the My Player career mode, bringing a rookie Michael Jordan into the current League to develop his talent and see how he stacks up against today's greats. Put him on the Heat if you want to be really unfair to the rest of the League.
The quality presentation continues outside of the Jordan-specific elements. There's a slick half-time show that accurately sums up the game and a really hot Player of the Game presentation when the final buzzer sounds. My favorite, though, is a fairly hidden (but awesome) feature you can find at the end of games called Pressbook. This is a slideshow gallery of photos (usually around 50) from the game. These snapshots often pick the best moments at compelling angles and can be uploaded for others to see. Posterize someone online? You've got a snapshot of it waiting for you at the end of the game.
More importantly, most of the NBA has been accurately captured. There are hundreds of unique animations for players and so many nice little touches that a big-time hoops fan like myself couldn't have loved the experience more. I was playing against the Lakers, and Kobe threw down a slam but landed off-balance. As he regained his balance, he extended his arms and did his little airplane move he throws out on very rare occasions. I watched Greg Oden shuffle down the court like an old man who'd lost his cane. I'm not trying to knock on Oden, but that's exactly how he checks out of plays when he's crashed the boards on the other end!
This isn't the first hoops game to throw in some flair on marquee players, but the unique traits extend to the bench. I know we toss around the phrase, "It looks like a real game" too often, but this time I mean it -- I watch probably a hundred NBA regular-season games a year (I'm hardcore, baby), and 2K Sports got this right.
Sure, there are a few mishaps along the way. Don Nelson looks like a melted marshmallow and Kobe looks like an alien, but the good far outpaces the bad. Add to the mix dynamic crowds that slowly fill in during the first quarter or don't even show for a Bobcat's game and you have the most accurate portrait of the NBA to date. And that 2K Sports got not only the current era but a decade's worth of MJ's history right is pretty impressive.


Of course, none of this means squat if NBA 2K11 plays like crap. Presentation and a cool Jordan mode didn't absorb all of 2K Sports' time. Plenty was done to refine and improve the gameplay. I have to imagine the goal was to fool you into thinking you were actually playing in the NBA. Mission accomplished.
If you've played past NBA 2K games, you're in for a shock when you first play NBA 2K11. This game is no joke. The AI has been upgraded even on the lower difficulties to keep you on your toes. These guys are ball hawks and will snatch errant outlet passes, clog the passing lanes, and make it tough to get the ball inside. And if your defense isn't solid? You're gonna get destroyed.
Some of this is a bit artificial. Unless I missed it in the Hornets' media guide, Peja Stojakovic is not psychic. So it's probably impossible for him to have his back to a passer, running full speed across midcourt and know instinctively to stick out his arm and grab a well-thrown outlet pass -- and yet he can in 2K11. If there's anything that frustrates me about 2K11, it is these few little moments when the game is clearly overcompensating for the way people want to play. Yes, people throw long passes. But, you know what? So do some fastbreak teams. Denying that part of the game, making it too easy to snatch balls going through the lane, breaks the beautifully crafted realism of 2K11. It's cheap, and it makes the game harder than it should be.
That said, once I got myself in the mindset of playing a bit less up-tempo and a bit more under control, the rest of the NBA 2K11 experience is something special. The level of challenge (which extends far beyond pass-snatching defenses) is necessary in order for NBA 2K11 to pull off its greatest feat -- making a game play exactly like the real thing. Players make proper defensive switches, key on mismatches on offense, and generally bring it all four quarters.
Switching (when two defensive players swap who they're guarding to gain better defensive positioning) has long been the Achilles heel of basketball sims. No one has done it right (most don't do it at all), but 2K11 does. And if you aren't active with this when you're controlling the defense, you can get burned. The AI takes advantage of defensive mismatches with regularity. When Steph Curry accidentally ends up face guarding Dwight Howard, it's a scary moment as a player. I actually said, "Oh s---" right before Howard plowed over me for the dunk, the foul and the Pressbook screenshot.
Playing against the Lakers feels different than playing against the Mavericks, not just because of the personnel, but because of the way these two teams play. Because of their coaches. Because of the way they sub and how they set up their offenses. Last year's NBA 2K10 did a solid job of getting the individual players right. This year, 2K11 got the teams right.
Also improved are the control mechanics. There have been a ton of tweaks and a simplification of things like IsoMotion -- for breaking ankles -- but the basic gist is that you now have 1-to-1 control over every movement and you won't find yourself making moves you didn't intend to make. The days of easily shaking a defender out of his shoes and dunking on every play are gone, but the level of control is outstanding. And most of the time, when I screw up, it's because I made the wrong choice, not because the game boned me.
The one exception is the stick passing mechanic. Selecting a target and passing, works well, but it's a bit loose. Sometimes I think I'm aimed at the player I want and then, because of the slight movement of my thumb against the stick, I veer off and throw the pass to someone else. When you mix in the ridiculous ball-hawking nature of the AI, well, I got hosed a few times. Fortunately, you can also use icon-passing for better accuracy, which helps a lot when using the easy (and great) play-calling system.
I'll also warn that there are still a few bugs out there and times when the AI will do weird things, but these are pretty rare. Dominique caught a pass at the arc, then took two steps back and shot one of the dumbest three's in history for no apparent reason. On a fast break, Tony Parker stopped at the foul line to shoot a jumper (that he missed) even though no one pursued him past mid-court. NBA 2K11 plays like a dream 99 percent of the time. But there's still that 1 percent when things go sideways.

This "real NBA" feel carries over into the other modes. The Association mode has a stylish new look and, more importantly, working trade AI. The virtual GMs build teams based on their coach's style and are smart enough not to trade their best player for some scrub. The Heat won't trade D Wade just because you throw some draft picks and some random talent their way. But the Trail Blazers will gladly give up Oden or a pick if you can offer them a player they feel is the missing piece that can make them true contenders. Three team trades are in and free agents have different motivations for signing -- so you can't just throw money at everyone and expect to earn their John Hancock.
I've gone through a few different seasons with different teams and tested the smarts of a number of GMs. I have to say, I got swindled once on a draft-day deal by the AI. Usually in NBA 2K games, the League looks like a joke by year three, but not this time. No team had five starting point guards. The Nets didn't suddenly win the Championship and the Heat didn't trade LeBron to Minnesota for Wesley Johnson, Michael Beasley, and the rights to Paul Bunyan. This is as good a franchise mode as I've played, even though there's little recognition by the commentators to previous NBA champs or MVP winners as the years go by.
On the surface, the online functionality is similar to last year, with leagues available as well as the ability to create "crews" to play with online. The important things is that online play has been improved over last year's version, which had some serious performance issues. In the games I played, things ran smoothly, though it's hard to say what will happen once NBA 2K11 is out with the masses and there are thousands on 2K's servers at once. We'll update you on the status of online play and how the Leagues are shaping up a week after NBA 2K11 has been in the wild.
And lastly, there's My Player. And I say lastly because it's really the only mode that isn't up to snuff. There have been a number of improvements this year, including tracking of fan support for your created player, but there's a lot of work to be done to make My Player great. It takes far too long to get your player to the NBA and even longer still to get him some decent skills. I want to play as a young stud in the NBA, not as a desperate D-Leaguer hoping for a shot. The path should not be getting to the NBA, but where I take my career from there.
I doubt many will bother to stick it out with the slow-paced My Player mode. It's too bad, because once you do make it, a lot of cool things happen. You get press conferences where reporters ask valid questions like "How do you feel about Kobe taking the last shot?" or asking you to comment on rumors that you demanded a trade. You choose the type of response you want to give and that affects how your teammates feel about you, how the fans around the League view you, and if your home crowd supports you. This can lead to teammates refusing to pass you the ball if you're a jerk and fans chanting "Trade him!" if you seem ungrateful.
As your star rises, you earn spots on posters and billboards. You can even be handed a shoe contract by Michael Jordan who allows you to create your own custom kicks. Continue to rise as a star and you'll see other players wearing your Jordans on the court. And to think, you'll probably miss it because the lead-in to the NBA is just so slow, dry, and boring.

Closing Comments
NBA 2K11 is a love letter to basketball fans. If you don't follow hoops, a lot of the subtleties will be lost on you. And if you are looking for a loose, fun, crazy dunkfest experience like NBA Jam, you're going to get hosed. But if you are serious about basketball, this will fill a long-standing void in your hoops-loving heart. This is the NBA. No one else has come close to representing it in such great and accurate detail as this.
Honestly, the stuff with Michael Jordan is reason enough to pick up NBA 2K11. The fact that 2K Sports did so much more with this game and improved it so greatly over last year's title is stunning. This isn't just the best basketball game ever; it's the best sports game of this generation.


IGN Ratings for NBA 2K11 (PS3).
Rating Description
out of 10 Click here for ratings guide
10 Presentation
Unparalleled recreation of the NBA. The Jordan Challenges bring historic moments to life with incredible detail. Pure awesome.
8.5 Graphics
Great animations, it runs smoothly in every mode, and many of the player faces look solid. A definite ding for botching Kobe and a few other stars.
9.0 Sound
The custom commentary for the Jordan games is fantastic. Even regular season games are solid, though there's some repetitive dialogue. The soundtrack is sweet.
9.0 Gameplay
Just about nailed it perfectly. A few bugs and AI blips, plus an overly aggressive defense are the only issues.
10 Lasting Appeal
The Jordan stuff could be a game in itself. Then you get an awesome franchise mode, the slow, but rewarding My Player mode and solid online play.
9.5
OVERALL Incredible
(out of 10)







NBA 2K11 Review
Authentic presentation and a number of gameplay improvements make this the most realistic NBA game yet.
The Good
Overhauled controls give you a wide assortment of offensive moves Outstanding presentation Improved AI on both ends of the court Classic teams bring back fond memories.
The Bad
Online play suffers from lag Replaying Michael Jordan's best games isn't much fun.

Who could have ever imagined that Michael Jordan would be the weak link on the basketball court? The six-time NBA champion makes his surprising return to the virtual court in NBA 2K11, but his presence is overshadowed by improvements in just about every other facet of this great round-ball simulator. Impressive artificial intelligence makes you work for every scoring opportunity and punishes you for every blown defensive assignment, and nuanced controls give you an unprecedented level of say in how your player shoots and dribbles. Upon first and even second glance, it's easy to confuse NBA 2K11's stunningly lifelike presentation with the real thing, but not every shot can be a swish. There are still troubling issues with online play and players often exhibit the court awareness of a disinterested J.R. Smith, but not even His Airness could be great all the time. NBA 2K11 is the most realistic and in-depth basketball simulator around.

Even though Michael Jordan is no better than a benchwarmer in NBA 2K11, it's impossible to ignore his presence. Upon starting up the game for the first time, you're introduced to #23 as he walks onto the court for the player introductions to the 1991 NBA Finals. It's odd that the first time you take control of Jordan in NBA 2K11 is in a game he lost in real life, but there's a nostalgic tingle to see these classic Lakers and Bulls teams re-created. This blast from the past extends much further than the opening tip. There's an entire mode devoted to replaying Jordan's most memorable games, and seeing those hallowed Knicks, Hawks, and Celtics teams in 2010 is a welcome reminder of the NBA's glorious past. Unfortunately, The Jordan Challenge mode isn't much fun. To come out victorious in each of the 10 games, you have to reach a certain statistical milestones. For instance, against the Jazz in The Flu Game, you have to put up at least 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists and win the game. If you come up short in any area, you have to restart from the first quarter. By forcing players to conform to specific statistical goals instead of greatness that extends beyond the box score, it devalues Jordan's achievements and forces you to play like a selfish ball hog.

Stumbling down memory lane may lead you to believe that NBA 2K11 falters in other key areas as well, but the on-court action is a realistic and satisfying representation of the real thing. Defense has been drastically overhauled from last year's edition. In NBA 2K10, guards could penetrate to the basket with such stunning ease that it stripped away any semblance of strategy. But this game steps up its defensive presence to such a high degree that newcomers will suffer through Dikembe Mutombo-like rejections until they finally adjust their style. You have to run your offense intelligently to score. Pick-and-rolls are a breeze to pull off, but you have to utilize your entire playbook if you're going to keep your opponents on their toes and take high-percentage shots. The lock-down defense can be frustrating at first, and the computer does occasionally cheat to thwart your success. For instance, long passes are frequently intercepted even when defenders aren't looking. But, by and large, the improved AI works great and forces you to approach every possession with the strategic care of a real player.

Thankfully, NBA 2K11 gives you all the tools you need to overcome this swarming defense. A new control scheme gives you a huge array of different shots, post-up moves, and dribbling techniques in which to gain the upper hand against your defenders. Using the right stick along with the triggers allows you to lean in specific directions, so you can duck under an opponent's arms to swoop in for a layup or fade away to give you the extra inch you need to get a shot off. Dribbling is just as diverse. You can go behind your back, through your legs, or pull off an ankle-breaking crossover with ease. But the biggest improvement comes in the post-up game. In real life, most offenses are run through a big man in the post, but this aspect of the game was often ignored in the digital re-creations. In NBA 2K11, however, everything starts on the block. There is real weight to your movements, so you can slowly back your opponent down, square up for a short jumper, or quickly pass out of a double team. The nuanced controls make this feel just like the real sport and give you a huge number of ways to score.

Unfortunately, there are a number of online issues that can derail your fun. Lag is present in every mode. When you challenge just one other player for basketball supremacy, the occasional hiccup can be annoying, but it won't impede your chance for success. But things become problematic when you try to take on more than one other player. In Team-Up mode, which can be played with up to nine other players, NBA 2K11 sputters and stops with such frequency that it destroys any chance of being precise. Trying to hoist a game-tying free throw when your player is stuttering is nearly impossible, and this issue crops up in a number of matches. There are also a few odd quirks that hurt the impression that this is the real thing. Players move with intelligence away from the ball and even understand how to switch and rotate on defense, but they are clueless in loose ball situations. On long rebounds or steal attempts, they will frequently stand idly by while the ball rolls away from them. Also, layups and point-blank shots are still too easy to miss. These small issues don't crop up too often, but they can be maddening in critical moments.

Even though the gameplay in NBA 2K11 doesn't always mirror the real thing, the excellent presentation is close to what you get watching a game on your television. From the chilling moment when Michael Jordan is introduced with his raucous fans to the joyous celebration when you win the big game, NBA 2K11 exudes the excitement and energy of the NBA. There are tons of little touches throughout the game that engender this feeling. For instance, sideline reporter Doris Burke loves dropping inconsequential stories in the middle of games that have little to do with basketball, and though it's just as pointless here as it is in real life, it adds a layer of authenticity. The play-by-play commentators are spot-on with their calls and do a good job of setting up the action while providing the occasional insight to make them sound believable. Rafters shake, buzzers blare, and players show the wide range of emotions you would expect. This is an impressive-looking game that does an incredible job of bringing the highs and lows of the sport into the virtual world.
NBA 2K11 is a huge improvement over last year's edition. Just about every facet has been improved or overhauled, which makes this a richly rewarding experience with enough depth to make even diehard NBA fans feel like rookies. It's easy to lose dozens of hours improving your game in practice, working your way through the ranks in My Player mode, or creating a dynasty in franchise play. It's a shame there are still some hiccups that prevent this from truly soaring, and the online inconsistencies are downright crushing when you want to show off your skills to the world. But the core mechanics are so well realized and the presentation so lifelike that it's hard to keep away once you get sucked into the tantalizing ebb and flow of an NBA game. NBA 2K11 is a great realization of the sport that makes the hard work it takes to succeed well worth the commitment.