NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Played about 45 min straight of this demo.



Holy S***!!!!

That about sums it up. This game is freaking incredible. The presentation is insane and the "little stuff" like fluid, organic animations, realistic and varied shots under the basket, blocks off the backboard.... this game is absolutely insane.

Take notes EA. You are getting schooled once again in the Basketball arena.

[ezekiel55]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Went home on my lunch break cause I was fiendin (downloaded the 360 version,which looks so much more improved visually than the PS3 version) and ended up playin as the C's.

Garnett goes up for a board and lands akwardly on his ankle and begins to limp and hobble. The camera pans to a close-up of him and I see something I have never seen in a sports game...EMOTION!

It was unbelievable how great it looked, but you could see him wincing and trying to fight off the pain. The other cool thing was is that the facial animation wasnt static...his face was chaniging the whole time from looking like he was in pain to disappointed/dejected that he got hurt.

It was awesome.

[OneBadMutha]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Still a huge problem left over from the history of 2K basketball games.

The A.I. does not know how to use Superstars. Fisher dominated the ball and the only time Kobe was used correctly is during the last possession of the quarter.

The point guards have been dominating the ball and the offensive stats for the past couple years. We were told this was fixed this year. It certainly isn't. After playing multiple games, Fisher should not be leading the Lakers in attempts in every game and Kobe was third in attempts in every game. That's not good.

This game has needed a primacy rating for years. Basically the play calling should revolve around the best players. This nearly ruins the single player game.

[Shinyhubcaps]

This will undoubtedly get lost in the shuffle, BUT, I thought you should all take time to appreciate one of the little things in this game, and that is the new touch-passing.

Basically, if you swing the ball around the perimeter and keep tapping or double-tapping X (and directional passing with the left stick), they will swing the ball around very smoothly and do quick touch-passes. It's really slick and works well with running the offense without really running plays.

Just one of the nice little improvements, and I hope you guys notice it and play around with it.

And by the way, Derek Fisher does not miss wide-open threes.

[Nodima]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Still a huge problem left over from the history of 2K basketball games.

The A.I. does not know how to use Superstars. Fisher dominated the ball and the only time Kobe was used correctly is during the last possession of the quarter.

The point guards have been dominating the ball and the offensive stats for the past couple years. We were told this was fixed this year. It certainly isn't. After playing multiple games, Fisher should not be leading the Lakers in attempts in every game and Kobe was third in attempts in every game. That's not good.

This game has needed a primacy rating for years. Basically the play calling should revolve around the best players. This nearly ruins the single player game.

Demo's on Pro difficulty, I'm waiting to see how it works on All Star or Superstar. Czar's video does a good job of showing the differences.


Just got 2 fouls on Fisher, trying out Farmar...his shot is noticeably longer than last year's, he doesn't just snap it out sort of like Marion anymore.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

I haven't seen any of that PG domination. I was giving Rondo looks by playing him loose all the time and he only took one of them (missed). I left Fisher open a few times and he'd hit the open shots probably 80% of the time, but I haven't had any issues with him taking ill-advised shots or dominating the ball. One game ended 8-8 and it was nothing but Kobe sonning me (as Ray Allen) in the post with fakes and step-throughs. The games are really varied so far in terms of who scores and the tempo of the game, but the teams still play like themselves with the Lakers primarily going through Kobe and the Celtics passing it around more and working through KG. I watched CPU vs. CPU also, and this was the case there as well... nothing raised my eyebrow at all really.

[XuanWu]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Graphics - Decent. Honestly I think we've hit the ceiling for this gen of consoles. That being said, it isn't like the graphics are bad, I just wish they'd fix these players' faces...MY GOD.

Gameplay - Perfect pace. Nice depth, lots of great spacing and player movement (the Czar is right). However, WTF happened with Isomotion? It's totally clunky and nonresponsive...hopefully this doesn't carry over to the actual version and is a "demo only" issue. The ONLY advantage Live has over 2K at this point is dribbling. In the Live demo, it was clear to me that they spent a lot of time tweaking their dribbling system...I wish 2k would do the same with Isomotion...it's just too clunky, slow, and unresponsive. I don't feel like I can actually 'break ankles' in 2k...


Conclusion - For the 9th year in a row 2k is the best basketball game available. That's not really a surprise... I just hope that 2k's dominance doesn't make them rest on their laurels. I still feel like the offensive system in 2k could use some MAJOR tweaking to make dribbling, shooting, and passing more smooth and responsive. In all fairness though, the shot stick is pretty nice this year...I might actually use it every once and a while.

[GoldenGlove]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Did they take out the directional passing? Or is it performed differently now?

[H to the G]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Everyone has pretty much summed it up as far as the pros and cons go, so I won't bother. Anyways, is there really a way to jump into your defender when they bite on the fake? I've tried it against the CPU and on a dummy controller but I still got nothing.

[Nodima]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Everyone has pretty much summed it up as far as the pros and cons go, so I won't bother. Anyways, is there really a way to jump into your defender when they bite on the fake? I've tried it against the CPU and on a dummy controller but I still got nothing.

There has to be because Kobe did it to me 3 plays in a row last night. I can't figure it out though.


Just saw another nice reaction shot where I went up with Kobe and his hip hit Rondo in the shoulder and he was getting up gingerly favoring it and it shows Rondo mouthing "you OK?".

Damn, never noticed this before, but during Odom's free throw routine Garnett is just waving his hands talking all kinds of **** at him.

[jyoung]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Anyways, is there really a way to jump into your defender when they bite on the fake? I've tried it against the CPU and on a dummy controller but I still got nothing.

I'd hope note because that should be a no-call in real life, or an offensive foul, if anything.

That type of foul is only supposed to be called when the defender jumps into the offensive player, not the other way around.

[OneBadMutha]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

I haven't seen any of that PG domination. I was giving Rondo looks by playing him loose all the time and he only took one of them (missed). I left Fisher open a few times and he'd hit the open shots probably 80% of the time, but I haven't had any issues with him taking ill-advised shots or dominating the ball. One game ended 8-8 and it was nothing but Kobe sonning me (as Ray Allen) in the post with fakes and step-throughs. The games are really varied so far in terms of who scores and the tempo of the game, but the teams still play like themselves with the Lakers primarily going through Kobe and the Celtics passing it around more and working through KG. I watched CPU vs. CPU also, and this was the case there as well... nothing raised my eyebrow at all really.

I played multiple games and there are way too many possessions where Kobe doesn't even touch the ball for a second. I was even trying to defend Fisher differently in order for him to give it up quicker but if Fisher passed the ball, Gasol was his #1 option in multiple games. There is definitely no logic in the game that tells the computer A.I. who to give the ball to the most and who to run plays for. It's been that way for years and it doesn't take long to see there was no change in that computer logic.

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Graphics - Decent. Honestly I think we've hit the ceiling for this gen of consoles. That being said, it isn't like the graphics are bad, I just wish they'd fix these players' faces...MY GOD.

I'll simply say...


"Whaaaaaaatt??!!"

The graphics are incredible on this game. I have no clue what you are complaining about.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Especially THE FACES of all things... they look nearly perfect. I can see issues with the court or textures I guess, but the faces are awesome. I thikn the game looks great and it's a noticable improvement over 2K8 even in the demo.

[Chizzypoof]

Re: NBA 2K9 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here



What a difference a year makes... and this is just the demo. So many positives. From the intro to the game, the real game clips are a simple and effective touch. Also the graphics and player models are much better. But that is just icing.

The huge differences to me is in the gameplay...

After a couple of games on the demo the animation transitions are so much better. All the shots I have taken and the animation chosen see to coincide with my position and momentum of the player on the court. The canned animation from yester-year seems to be toned down or re-worked.

Your team mates actually move. I hit Kobe on back door and off ball screens more times in this demo than all of 2k8. And spacing seems to be less of an issue because of this.

CPU AI is definately better. Ray Ray killed me one game because I wasn't gaurding him close enough. And once he got hot..that was it. They find mismatches and they find the open man. If the CPU has a step on you and an open lane to the basket, they are going strong.

Finally the little things tie up the package and puts in a shiny box with a bow on it. Miss a free-throw with Kobe, he looks in disbelief and blows on his hand to dry it. Stat overlays during the free-throws. Facial expressions...etc. etc..

The only thing that I thought was badly done, was the excessive shaking on the Slam Cam replay. It showed a replay from the other side of the court and the camera shook excessively as soon as the player dunked it. But that small irk is like complaining that landing on the moon lost its luster because of the black and white camera.

Great job 2k!