Title: NBA 2K7
Genre: Sports - Basket
Platform: Xbox 360
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports
Release Date: 27th October 2006
Image Gallery
We're at the beginning of a new and great NBA season. New teams are rising and Miami, with Shaq, has a title to defend.
This NBA season seems very interesting as we'll have the possibility to admire Kobe Bryant (just raised to the second position in NBA history for number of points realised in a single match: 81), Jason Terry, Vince Carter and Rockets magic couple McGrady / Ming.
However, 2K Sports has succeeded in translating this incredible league into a terrific title: NBA 2K7 which, even if it can be seen as an upgrade of the previous episode (NBA 2K6), is able to leave us with our mouth hanging open...
Let's start from Shaq
2K Sports has chosen Shaquille O'Neal, one of the less unpretentious player of the whole NBA, as testimonial and he said to have enjoyed the time spent in playing the video-game. One thing is sure: maybe Shaq is not such a great gamer and maybe he's not the typical testimonial, but he was right when saying that NBA 2K7 is the best basket game currently on the market.
In fact, the simulation level has been enhanced respect to the previous episode, the game-play is, as always, direct and convincing and player animations are simply terrific. Almost every player has his own style, a result achieved thanks to a deep study of NBA past season matches.
In the previous episode, the Visual Concepts product suffered from the easiness of counter-attacks even when the two teams were as slow as the Spurs and the Grizzlies. Fortunately, NBA 2K7 seems to have solved the problem.
Moreover, even the AI (Artificial Intelligence) is convincing both during the attack schemas - bonus situations are usually well managed by the AI - and applying the defensive ones - the strongest teams will have an almost insuperable defence -.
Furthermore, there is no need to say that one of the key points to win matches is to correctly use superstars' "energy", as an exhausted man won't be able to defend and we'll have to substitute our best player.
Return to the past
After having played a quick match, let's focus on a more detailed description of the game. First of all, it's worth to highlight the return of a mode that had been removed in the previous episode: the 24/7 mode.
Thanks to a complete editor we'll be able to create our digital alter-ego and start a USA tour trying to conquer victory on the most important play-grounds. In every city there are several challenges as, for example, 1vs1 matches and 4vs4 with some special rules as shots with casual score values.
In order to help newbies, it is not mandatory to win all the matches, but we'll have to gain a certain experience level and then we'll be allowed to challenge some NBA stars.
The creation of our own player, available also outside the 24/7 mode, has undergone a change in this year edition. Modifiable parameters are now more than 50 and this only for what concerns the physical aspect: practically, we'll be able to model our character in every single aspect. Genial the idea of letting us choose the style our player will use, styles all "cloned" from real NBA stars.
Going further into details, there are many single-player modes such as Quick Match, Season, Street Ball, Play-offs, Training and "Situation". This latter is a mode in which we'll play a match already started: thanks to the enormous number of options - score, faults, time-outs, etc. - we will easily set-up the match in what-ever "situation" we want.
With the joy-pad in our hands, NBA 2K7 is a game able to let us dream showing a strong upgrade from the 2K6 version. As already anticipated, the development team has enhanced the game-play extending the game modes and raising the difficulty of some actions.
It has never been so simple to improve
Even if 2K6 showed a great technical-graphical realisation, 2K7 has been able to raise the standard also from this point of view.
First of all, NBA 2K7 has the Signature Style, has improved the animations level and has inserted new strategies with an enhanced AI which makes the overall experience really "next-gen". All this allows to re-create in the game the NBA stars' styles that were a little choked in the 2K6 edition as all seems very standard and the stars moves were not able to emerge. On the contrary, now we'll be able to perform Shaq's famous 2-hand smash, to dribble the entire defence with Nash and to imitate the "inimitable" Iverson style.
The graphics has, especially, been enhanced outside every different play-ground and new light effects have been inserted helping in maintaining the atmosphere of every single arena. Furthermore everything surrounding the match has been improved: the crowd, their animations, the team mascot performance, the live report and cheerleaders' choreographies.
Eventually, it's worth saying that the players have been perfectly modelled in their muscles, tattoos and sweat: the only regret is that faces are not as polished as the ones from NBA Live 07, but this is the only point in which NBA 2K7 loses in a direct comparison against the EA Sports title.
Final Comment
It's not so easy to find issues in a title like NBA 2K7 and even after having succeeded in finding one, we won't be able to hate this title. Currently, NBA 2K7 is, with no doubt, the best basket simulation in the market, also thanks to its exceptional sound, great graphic realisation and amusing game-play.
NBA 2K7 is definitely a new title with all the 2K6 issues removed and it is a game every basketball fan should buy.
Evaluation
Presentation: 8
Shaq is on everything... is it possible to ask for more? Moreover, the game menus are original and well-realised. Will we be able to resist to the temptation?
Game-play: 9
As in every team game, victory can be achieved only with speed, balance and team play. Visual Concepts guys seem to have learned the lesson and the game they developed is almost perfect.
Graphics: 8.5
NBA 2K7 is even better than 2K6 for what concerns graphics. The only "issue" of the title are too static players' faces.
Sound: 8
Every sound you'll hear in a real arena is well reproduced in this 2K Sports title. Even the match report is good.
Longevity: 8.5
The game can seem infinite... seasons, 24/7 mode and multiplayer are only some ways with which we'll enjoy our time.
Multiplayer factor: 7.5
On Xbox Live, the game allows 4vs4 matches and several different modes.
Overall Evaluation: 8.5
Currently the game is the best available basketball simulation title. Nothing more, nothing less.