-In franchise mode...the whole system for generating player ratings appears to have been tweaked. Generated rookies ratings are actually in line with their position. No kidding. For example...an early second-round center might have 74 inside scoring, 73 offensive rebounding, 77 defensive rebounding and 80 shotblocking. The late second-round picks seem to be able be junky at anything but for the most part the ratings seem less randomly generated. Our 3rd string point guard on my franchise team has 84 speed, 78 passing, 80 dribbling and 75 offensive awareness. He's terrible at pretty much everything else (except a 75 jump shot) but he can actually play limited minutes as a point guard. In 2001 and 2002 the ratings seemed completely random. Getting a player with 96 quickness and 73 speed was a regularity, but now quickness is usually close to speed.
-I've been playing on All-Star and will move up to Superstar soon
-I think my favorite move right now is the step back (down on the analog stick). You can use it for setting up a jumper or getting behind the 3-line...but it's a LOT more fun on the run because it makes for a SWEET looking hesitation move and creates space for you to keep running or bust another crossover. My roommate is a 2k3 fan but he watched one of my replays with that about 10 times.
-Once you get used to the game your offense is just as explosive as the computers...so generally you have competitive games with really high scores.
-If you want to get more than one offensive board a game you have to hit 'X' and switch to the player nearest to the basket as soon as you release the ball. Your computer player seems to naturally time his jump wrong and you have to do it for him. I don't mind this at all though because after playing 2001 and 2002 I'd be fine if there were no offensive rebounds at all. It is cool though because when you get an offensive board and lay or tip it back up, oftentimes you'll miss and have to grab it again and try to tip it back in...just like real basketball.
-I've taken to using the sideline cam. It's like the press camera but it's slightly altered view gives you nice vision on the break after the initial outlet pass.
-1-on-1 and practice modes are both useful and fun now. 1-on-1 is great because you can take the ball and go into the backcourt and the comp won't follow you...so you can practice coming down court and breaking someone at full speed.
-The Indiana Pacers throwback uniform is better than their real one.
-I haven't found much use at all for the post-up game because player's seem to automatically dunk or go for a layup as soon as you drop step. Shooting the baby hook (triangle + away from basket + shoot) is fun with Mutombo and Shaq though.
-The fancy choreographed dribble moves that the player's do in the background on the main menu can be done by hitting the old crossover button in the game...if you didn't notice yet. You still can't control which you do and where you go with those but they look nice...just like old times.
-Stealing the ball is a lot tougher this year. It's really hard to knock the ball loose and even when you do the computer beats you to it most of the time. Being able to steal with either hand in freestyle isn't that useful compared to the normal steal button because when you use that button the defender tends to use the closest hand anyway. In fact it's easier to use the normal steal button but I haven't been able to get more than 1 or 2 steals a game really.
-I've become very adept at taking charges. I manage to get around 3 per game now in 5 minute quarters. I basically am learning to have a twitch reaction to the computer doing the preprogrammed crossover moves...hitting the take charge button as soon as they do it.
-I've been using preset 2 on the controls.
-The unlocked Soundtrack players all wear #88 and have 266,662/1 year contracts in franchise mode. Don Poier and the arena announcer say their names also.
-You can enter player's Birthcity and Birthstate now also in the same way that you enter a player's name.
-There are preset ratings configurations that you can pick from when you are assigning a created player ratings...they are things like Defensive Center, Scoring Center, Passing Point guard, though I don't remember what the exact names are at this point. I think this has something to do with the realistic ratings for draft picks also.
-You can choose a nickname for your created player that the announcers will say. They are mostly Rucker Park style like ATM (because he's cash money of course) and Mad Skillz but it's better than your player being called "Number 24." Unfortunately "Blink" is the closest you'll get to hearing Yao Ming's proper name also.
-I haven't tried online play yet, but will get the modem maybe when I have some extra money.
-I'm still not sure about the fatigue/arcade mode thing, and will test it more sometime...
-The game is more Dallas Mavericks basketball than New Jersey Nets ball...with the deadeye shooting and difficult defense.
-I've played a lot of basketball games...and for now...this is the best basketball game that I've ever played.
EG
-I've been playing on All-Star and will move up to Superstar soon
-I think my favorite move right now is the step back (down on the analog stick). You can use it for setting up a jumper or getting behind the 3-line...but it's a LOT more fun on the run because it makes for a SWEET looking hesitation move and creates space for you to keep running or bust another crossover. My roommate is a 2k3 fan but he watched one of my replays with that about 10 times.
-Once you get used to the game your offense is just as explosive as the computers...so generally you have competitive games with really high scores.
-If you want to get more than one offensive board a game you have to hit 'X' and switch to the player nearest to the basket as soon as you release the ball. Your computer player seems to naturally time his jump wrong and you have to do it for him. I don't mind this at all though because after playing 2001 and 2002 I'd be fine if there were no offensive rebounds at all. It is cool though because when you get an offensive board and lay or tip it back up, oftentimes you'll miss and have to grab it again and try to tip it back in...just like real basketball.
-I've taken to using the sideline cam. It's like the press camera but it's slightly altered view gives you nice vision on the break after the initial outlet pass.
-1-on-1 and practice modes are both useful and fun now. 1-on-1 is great because you can take the ball and go into the backcourt and the comp won't follow you...so you can practice coming down court and breaking someone at full speed.
-The Indiana Pacers throwback uniform is better than their real one.
-I haven't found much use at all for the post-up game because player's seem to automatically dunk or go for a layup as soon as you drop step. Shooting the baby hook (triangle + away from basket + shoot) is fun with Mutombo and Shaq though.
-The fancy choreographed dribble moves that the player's do in the background on the main menu can be done by hitting the old crossover button in the game...if you didn't notice yet. You still can't control which you do and where you go with those but they look nice...just like old times.
-Stealing the ball is a lot tougher this year. It's really hard to knock the ball loose and even when you do the computer beats you to it most of the time. Being able to steal with either hand in freestyle isn't that useful compared to the normal steal button because when you use that button the defender tends to use the closest hand anyway. In fact it's easier to use the normal steal button but I haven't been able to get more than 1 or 2 steals a game really.
-I've become very adept at taking charges. I manage to get around 3 per game now in 5 minute quarters. I basically am learning to have a twitch reaction to the computer doing the preprogrammed crossover moves...hitting the take charge button as soon as they do it.
-I've been using preset 2 on the controls.
-The unlocked Soundtrack players all wear #88 and have 266,662/1 year contracts in franchise mode. Don Poier and the arena announcer say their names also.
-You can enter player's Birthcity and Birthstate now also in the same way that you enter a player's name.
-There are preset ratings configurations that you can pick from when you are assigning a created player ratings...they are things like Defensive Center, Scoring Center, Passing Point guard, though I don't remember what the exact names are at this point. I think this has something to do with the realistic ratings for draft picks also.
-You can choose a nickname for your created player that the announcers will say. They are mostly Rucker Park style like ATM (because he's cash money of course) and Mad Skillz but it's better than your player being called "Number 24." Unfortunately "Blink" is the closest you'll get to hearing Yao Ming's proper name also.
-I haven't tried online play yet, but will get the modem maybe when I have some extra money.
-I'm still not sure about the fatigue/arcade mode thing, and will test it more sometime...
-The game is more Dallas Mavericks basketball than New Jersey Nets ball...with the deadeye shooting and difficult defense.
-I've played a lot of basketball games...and for now...this is the best basketball game that I've ever played.
EG
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