2K3 Passing is Flawed...here's why

[dave41082]

Ok, this is not a rant from someone who just picked up 2K3 and didn't give it a chance. I'm a huge fan of 2K1 and 2K2 and I can't believe I won't be buying 2K3 after renting it. There are some minor problems with the game I can definitely live by and I think it's the most realistic basketball game ever. I love the game, but the passing sucks...

I gave it a week and I learned how to pass. I can still handily defeat the CPU on all-star, but the adjustments I have to make aren't reasonable. My biggest problem is with the bullet chest passes right into your defender. If I hold down pass in the direction of a guy and my defender happens to be in the way, what I want is a bounce pass around him. I wouldn't mind if someone like Dikembe Mutombo threw a sloppy pass and it got stolen, but I want my guys to TRY to get the ball around the defender. Don't just throw it at your man. How many times in the NBA does the guy who is right on you defensively pick off your pass?? Hardly ever! So, because of this, I have to adjust and throw too many lob passes. Bullet chest passes are only reliable along the perimeter or maybe in transition. Even Jason Kidd will just chuck it right at his defender.

Now, since I think there's a big problem here, I want to offer a solution for passing that I hope NBA2K3 or another game implements. Here's how it works:

- Icon passing is replaced by "Lock-on Passing." This new feature utilizes the right joystick. You use the right joystick to point to the guy you want to pass to, but it does not throw the pass immediately. We all know passing with the joystick is unreliable so it highlights the guy you are "locked on" to and then you have to click down the right joystick to actually throw the pass. I like this better than icon passing.

- Regular passing with the A button wouldn't be changed under my proposal, but it would just stop throwing the ball right at the defender and make a darn effort!

Other minor things:
- On free throws, the rebounders need to go into the lane when the ball is released!
- Put in some kick balls...especially with more bounce passes.
- Have players sitting at the scorer's table and don't have players morph into each other when they sub.
- Better help defense, especially in transition. If a guy is the only one back, pick up the ballhandler, don't just let him get a layup because its not your man.
- Less missed dunks. There's a bit too many.


Overall, I really think 2K3 was a huge step forward, but the passing just turned me off.

[neovsmatrix]

Re: 2K3 Passing is Flawed...here\'s why

You can always just the number of missed dunks, though I think they're just fine. It forces you from trying to dunk on every single possession and try to keep from driving into a crowded lane to dunk or do a layup.

[Brando70]

Re: 2K3 Passing is Flawed...here\'s why

Honestly, I'm having few issues with passing. About two or three times a game I'll throw a lob when there should be a bullet, but otherwise I'm not experiencing an inordinate amount of turnovers. I use icon passing about 80% of the time, with the stick for quick passes to an open guy. The stick is very unreliable when you have a group of players together, but excellent when you have a clear target (i.e. someone breaking to the basket).

[wwharton]

Re: 2K3 Passing is Flawed...here\'s why

Yeah, your suggestion isn't a bad one at all, but the current passing is fine. If Deke is posting up then Kidd wouldn't try to throw a bullet pass to him...not even a bullet bounce pass. He'd either lob it over the top or fake high and pass low (which happens 90% of the time if you just do the pass fake first). You have to be smart with your passes. The game puts this in YOUR hands which I like a lot. It's one of my big beefs with ID2003. Too many unrealistic passes through traffic.

Is it perfect? Nah. Sometimes when cutting to the hoop you wanna give someone a bullet bounce pass in transition. That one's not in there. It'd also be nice if there was a way to throw a bounce pass rather than it being random (another beef with ID2003) but the fact that you are in control of your turnovers from passes is great.

[DueceDiggla]

Re: 2K3 Passing is Flawed...here\'s why

Dave if you didn't already you should put your suggestion in the Wishlist forums. Thats where I think the VC guys will look on this site before changing anything.