NBA 2K11 Review

[SteelerSpartan]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

When I look at the Reviews section, the things that are most visible are the name of the game, the OS review score, and R.S. (which I guess is Reader Score). No captions on the content of the reviews or opinions. It would seem the site is making the review score prevalant, then saying "don't pay attention to it"...? It would be ideal to have a person read a review and gauge themselves if the game is good or bad. But by listing reviews this way you seem to be acknowledging that most people are looking for a quick way to judge the games.

Most of us have been to school and understand there's a difference between getting an "A" in Gym versus getting an "A" in Geometry. So I don't understand the Trials argument - most people understand there's a huge difference between what's expected of an arcade title, a handheld title, or a title purporting itself to be a simulation of a sport. If NBA Jam rates a 9 I'd think most people are smart enough to know that NBA Jam doesn't have the same expectations a NBA2K11 would have, and vice versa. And I think most people would be smart enough to group games like Trials and NBA Jam in one category, and games like The Show, Madden, NCAA, NBA2K, etc. in another.

I agree with you....Madden 11 and this game do not have the same depth or polish.........One clearly outclasses the other

and its sad that 2k doesn't get the full on props they deserve

[bkrich83]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

I agree with you....Madden 11 and this game do not have the same depth or polish.........One clearly outclasses the other

and its sad that 2k doesn't get the full on props they deserve

I love the Anti-Madden agenda fueled posts as much as the next guy.

You and Spanks argument seems to be not so much that 2k11 got a 9 (I really don't see how you can complain when a game get's a 9) but the fact that Madden got a 9. In which case you are in the wrong thread.

Seriously arguing about a review score? Wow.

[Rimfro]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

I'm not saying that there should be tons of easy lay-ups, and dunks, what I am talking about is when the lane is wide open, a guy like D Wade would undoubtedly hit the seam quickly, and finish. There are many times when the lane is unguarded, that you have to fight a guy like D Wade to quickly go right to the basket. There is nonreason why he should be side stepping, or making some awkward turn towards another direction (other than where I am pointing the left stick) that ends up costing me what should be an easy basket.

The same with the contact, back down issue. I'm not talking about getting cut off on my cut, I'm saying that when I am just trying to face-up the defender to use my dribble, having my user controlled player constantly turning around to try a backdown move, on his own. No LT or RT is being pressed. How many times would you see Jordan being dissuaded from using his dribble against an obviously outmatched defender? That is why I said that I only agree in part. Sometimes it just feels like the same, nearly out of control, skating experience. Not always, but it is becoming more noticeable the more I play. If I have a wide open lane with a speed guy like Rose, Rondo, Wade, whomever, it should result in an automatic two. That's what happens in basketball in reality. You shouldn't have to fight the controller to get a player to just run straight to the basket when there is nobody in the paint!

I don't see why some people fail to grasp what some are saying their particular issue is. I can't stand when the simple fundamentals become unnecessarily muddled by less than perfect input response. That's why I made the comment earlier; if this is what I saw in the actual NBA, then I am in the wrong line of work. Because, if I have a wide open lane, unguarded, I will get a quick, easy score...everytime.

This problem carries over into the fast break issue some are experiencing. The same issue, where your players don't feel the need to run a straight line on a fast break, they pause, sidestep, turn around, pull a semi-truck wide right turn, which results in them losing the open opportunity completely. You won't see a guy like Rose, or D Wade, get rundown or take some unnecessary movement that would cost them those easy points, or slow them down. Speed, and those first step killers barely have an advantage over a normal guy that isn't known for his speed or slashing ability. I don't really feel that the gameplay has improved as much as people are giving it credit for. To me, a lot of these problems have been in the game for years.

[myownsun]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

Great review and i agree with the score and this is the best sports game this gen and possibly ever.

[SeerMagicX]

another overrated 2k game. putting jordan in the game doesn't hide the same problems that have plague the series for years... atleast not for me.

[clipperfan811]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

I get what you're saying Rimfro:

It definitely should be easier to make a quick straight line dash. The culprit in my eyes is the clunky little animation you get every time you hit the turbo. Definitely not everyone but the elite quick guys should definitely have it easier.

I'm going to look for how quickly wide open lanes close up and how much fighting the controls I have to do. But to be honest I've been playing the game non-stop almost since it came out and it hasn't jumped out at me as an issue; I'll take a closer look.

We all wish a video game could capture the trill of playing actual basketball, the speed, the contact, ect but I honestly don't see any game capturing it any better up to this point.

Given enough time everything in life will show it's flaws, I just try to enjoy the positive aspects, especially so soon after release. I mean lets be real here, this is a great playing basketball game.

[swaldo]

OS has reviewed a total of 530 games and only 3 were rated a 9.5, so for those who feel 2k11 should get that extra half point apparently it's a rare bird here.

There are a ton of 9.0 and 8.0 scores but not many 8.5's either. No real point to this and it's not a complaint, just sayin'.

[Rimfro]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

I get what you're saying Rimfro:

It definitely should be easier to make a quick straight line dash. The culprit in my eyes is the clunky little animation you get every time you hit the turbo. Definitely not everyone but the elite quick guys should definitely have it easier.

I'm going to look for how quickly wide open lanes close up and how much fighting the controls I have to do. But to be honest I've been playing the game non-stop almost since it came out and it hasn't jumped out at me as an issue; I'll take a closer look.

We all wish a video game could capture the trill of playing actual basketball, the speed, the contact, ect but I honestly don't see any game capturing it any better up to this point.

Given enough time everything in life will show it's flaws, I just try to enjoy the positive aspects, especially so soon after release. I mean lets be real here, this is a great playing basketball game.

That is pretty much my only issue; the way the respond on that first step. I've improved that a little by adjusting the camera, and it's only costing me 8-10 points, but when you are playing with the Grizz its the difference between winning and losing.

[clipperfan811]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

I get what you're saying Rimfro:

It definitely should be easier to make a quick straight line dash. The culprit in my eyes is the clunky little animation you get every time you hit the turbo. Definitely not everyone but the elite quick guys should definitely have it easier.

I'm going to look for how quickly wide open lanes close up and how much fighting the controls I have to do. But to be honest I've been playing the game non-stop almost since it came out and it hasn't jumped out at me as an issue; I'll take a closer look.

This is what I did:
I created two players

1. "quick guy" 6'3" athletic pg 99 speed, 99 quickness, 99 handles, 99 on ball D

2. "avg joe" 6'3" athletic pg: 80 speed, 80 quickness, 80 handles, 80 on ball D

*test victim Jason Kapono: 64 speed, 58 quickness 58 on ball D

I put them both on the 76ers, and I went into scrimmage mode. 76ers vs 76ers.

I played for a bit on different difficulty settings using "quick guy" and "avg joe" being guarded by Kapono. I messed around looking for situations where I had space to get to the rim, when I found those gaps I'd hit sprint and try to get to the rim in the straightest line possible. This is what I found out:

-There's a noticeable difference in how smoothly quick guy and avg joe got to the hoop. -Difficulty affected how help D reacted more than how quickly the guy I beat recovered.
-Even with better defenders, <b>once I found a open gap</b> I still got to the rim.

I took a few quick clips and put them on my youtube site. Take into account my goal was hitting the open space and getting to the rim, most of the time help D comes and forces a difficult shot or miss. The point is getting to the hoop in as straight a line as possible.

here's the link http://www.youtube.com/user/bigballer811?feature=mhum

**edit**I was playing using broadcast camera, the replays however are showing the 2k cam angle**

[TombSong]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

I love the Anti-Madden agenda fueled posts as much as the next guy.

You and Spanks argument seems to be not so much that 2k11 got a 9 (I really don't see how you can complain when a game get's a 9) but the fact that Madden got a 9. In which case you are in the wrong thread.

Seriously arguing about a review score? Wow.

Everybody that don't agree with you has an agenda. You always try to belittle people for their point of view and drag people into debates about why they think the way they think as though you the only one with the right answers. Then on top of that act like you are Mrs. Cleo and can read minds and gonna post why someone is posting what they are posting. BK said it so it must be true ?

You "wowing" him for debating a review score. If its so trivial why are you in the thread bugging out over it ? You can agree or disagree with whatever anyone says, but how you gonna try and trash someones opinion and then
make them feel like they shouldn't express it ?

As for the review score. I think most people are gonna clump sports game scores together to some degree and then apply whatever logic runs through their minds about games in general to it all.

First thing I thought after seeing the score is after all the NBA2K game brought to the table this year, it gets a 9. 9 ain't a bad score. Then you think about Madden. It also got a 9. Madden from game play to features to presentation does not stack up to older games in its own sport and certainly does not measure up to what NBA2k11 has produced in some peoples opinions. So naturally flags are gonna rise on the scores. How can a game that is still trying to catch up to 5 years ago get a 9 and a game that just raised the bar for sports games in general get the same score ?
I think any reasonable person would look at that question no matter what game we are talking about. It could be Halo, Call of Duty, whatever.

You ever stop to think maybe its you with the "agenda" always trying to point out why people post what they post ?


People judge these games against the games own history and other games(even games not in the same genre). That's fact not "agenda". To act like its otherwise or trivial because you don't agree with it is IMO silly. However I unlike you wont try and demean people or make them feel like they shouldn't be posting what they think.

That sounds like an "agenda" to rid the board of anyone who don't agree with everything you have to say.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

It's a review score. It's totally subjective. No need to bring the same tired compared to Madden argument in to it.

The review is what matters. Arguing over fractions of a point in a completely subjective review score is quite frankly stupid.

Of course it's subjective. But we were debating the merits of 2K's efforts some of us felt needed to be appropriately recognized. It's all about perception. Trying to act as if it's the review that "matters" versus the score is the same as trying to trivialize "fractions of a point" as not meaning anything. As with the score, if they don't mean anything then they shouldn't be used. When IGN gave 2K11 a 9.5, what was the first thing they did? Splashed it on a commercial. They didn't layout the text of the review; it was the score and the site. Because of perception.

And it's not necessarily about Madden although I used it in trying to state my case. It shouldn't even be part of the discussion because most would argue it came no where near deserving the score it received - but that's another argument. I'm more familar with Madden than I am NHL, FIFA, or The Show, which are games I consider a legitimate 9 based on what I've read. Even in that company, I feel 2K11 is a effort/product apart from those titles - and I simply stated my reasoning as to why. Unfortunately you see *someone's picking on Madden!* and go into immediate agenda mode [as Tombsong said]. Again your first comment wasn't about the merits of what I was saying, it was a silly broad-reaching comment because I was the one saying it.

Either way, scores matter. And I don't see how reviewers can on one hand place a review with a score, then go back and say "don't look at the score, it doesn't matter". It DOES matter, because it's going to affect a person's perception of that product.

[stillfeelme]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

This is a great game and deserves the praise it gets. Is it perfect no but what game is and this game is sick. The amount of detail put into this game is astounding to me.

[dredre]

2k11 = a 10 to me

[Valdarez]

Haven't played NBA 2K11 yet myself, but I've been reading a lot of posts with many people saying it's the greatest sports game this generation. Does it outshine MLB The Show? If so, why only a 9, and not a 9.5 to 10? If it's truly the greatest? If the greatest only earns a 9.0 at OS, then what does that say about the rating system?

[DaReapa]

Re: NBA 2K11 Review

I agree with BlackRome, in part, on the issue of controls. I played PG in JH, JV, and Varsity levels in school, and can tell you with all certainty, that when the lane opened up in front of me, like Moses parting the Red Sea, I could fly straight to the basket for an easy lay-up. I can't tell you how many times I have seen the defense blow their coverage of the paint, and I immediately go to move straight at the basket, for what should be an easy two points, only to have my player do some weird u-turn maneuver, or hesitate, instead of finishing the play. Then the defense gets time to fill the paint, and my player gets contacted by the D, and the basket is blown. Sometimes it just feels like you are playing in a foot of water.

If Wade has an open lane, he will use his speed, and finish every time. He was called flash for a reason, after all. The were times in the Jordan challenge that I couldn't beat Danny Ainge, because out of nowhere, Jordan lost the ability to size-up his defender, but felt it necessary, without me pushing the LT button, to try to back him down from the three-point line. That happens constantly. There is no benefit to having a speed guy. Basketball is a game of quickness, yet Derrick Rose, at times, handles like a Hummer when attacking the basket. I never had to do a wide turn to make a quick cut. If this game is a realistic interpretation of the NBA, then I chose the wrong Career path. I should quick everything I am doing now, and get to the nearest NBA practice facility, and see if I can walk on.

That animation that forces the bump, and you to bounce off, and turn your back to the guy, while tryin to face him to use a crossover, or cut, is making me want to shelf this game. They did nearly everything right, but there is no way that Steve Blake could keep D Wade in front of him. The controls are sluggish, not always, but an open lane, with a guy like Lebron holding the ball would always result in a quick, easy basket. In 2k11 it isn't the case. You can hold the stick in one direction, and watch the guy zig-zag on his own. It is a little disappointing to see this again this year.

I completely agree. It's somewhat frustrating when I get someone to bite on a pumpfake, and instead of taking a clean cut to the basket, my player goes through this sluggish wide turn animation and causes the original defender (not the help defense, mind you) to recover and regain position. This doesn't happen all the time, but it happens more times than not.