Long before the ESPN franchise got a hold of it, the NBA 2K series was one of the leading basketball games sports fans turned to when they wanted a guaranteed great basketball title.  Well I’m happy to report that its new incarnation, ESPN NBA Basketball, is still a sports game fans can turn to when they want an excellent basketball title.  For the sake of the review, we’ll go into the reasons why.

First off, the NBA 2K series always went for the ESPN Sports Center feel and has done this rather successfully.  Secondly, while it faithfully recreates a realistic simulation of the sport, the controls give the game its addictive can’t-put-the-controller-down appeal.  In short, the ESPN name just makes a fun sports game more presentable.  Yet does mere presentation make this an altogether different game?  Sports fans, this game still has all the things we love in our Sega Sports game.

Case in point, all the classic game modes are still here.  There’s Quick Game, Tournament, Season, Franchise, Playoff, Practice and Street (where you can basically play on a half court one-on-one game in a gym or beachside court).  New to the series is the 24/7 Mode that acts as a sort of training mode with loads of challenges to build your player up RPG-style.  In this mode you create your own player and train him in free-throws or dunking (to name a few skills) while taking on real-life star players.  If your console’s date and time are current, the game sets up a realistic calendar for your created player and challenges open up to him at different dates.  It’s also in this mode that you unlock many extras such as new modes, vintage jerseys or even surprise players from yesteryear.

Also new to the series is the option to control as many as four teams in the game’s Franchise mode.  This allows you to follow more than one favorite team through the various seasons or have a few friends play along as their favorite teams as they go through the seasons with you.  Really, it just doesn’t get any better than this, sports fan.

As for the game’s controls, they somehow feel so much more smoother this year and this is thanks to the game’s “borrowing” of NBA Live 2003’s Freestyle control.  The right analog stick makes for quick crossovers or, as a defensive move; you can quickly cut in front of a player.  Whether its playing the defense or the offense, the controls are tight enough that new gamers can just pick up the controller and just start playing the game.  Of course, there are things we all wished were a bit different and, in the game’s case, it’s the free-throws.  The twin arrows of the previous games have been replaced with two forks that require you to match them with the two analog sticks.  Sounds easy?  Believe me, it’s not.

One of the best things about this game is that it hasn’t abandoned online play and this one can be played using a Broadband or Dial-Up connection.  The coolest new feature is the fact that Broadband gamers can use a USB headset to chat with other gamers while they play a Quick Game.  Using both connections, I found that the game runs smoothly and without any hiccups so be prepared to play some fast-paced b-ball.

Last year’s game was also a great-looking game but this year the improvements make for one really sharp and nicely detailed basketball title.  To begin with, the player models are astonishingly true to the real players.  Shaq just doesn’t look like an animated parody of him, this year’s game captures his facial details down to his annoyed glares he gives rival players that get in his way.  The playing court also looks great and anyone who has ever played on the courts of Venice Beach, California could tell you how accurately they captured it.  The ESPN-styled dazzling graphics also give the game its televised feel and it works great.  Really, gamers will be impressed how good this game looks on the PS2.

How do they do it?  Each year the play-by-play and color commentary just keep getting better and better and more centered on calling the plays just as they happen.  Not only is the commentary (by Kevin Frazier and Tom Tolbert) spot-on but they are also quick to point out flaws in the defense and recognize those players that are really pushing the offensive plays to the maximum.  On the court, the sounds are so wonderfully detailed that you can hear sneakers squeak and coaches bark.

ESPN NBA Basketball is the kind of game sports fans dream about at night.  It takes all the things we love about last year’s NBA 2K3 and adds so much more that the result is a basketball title that not only looks gorgeous but plays like a dream.  With great controls and game modes (including online play for both Broadband and Dial-Up) this is the game to buy right away if you’re looking for the ultimate basketball game for your PS2. 

Gameplay: 9.2
The controls are as tight as ever and I don’t think you will find a more fluid game of simulated basketball than this one.  Passing, faking shots and dunking is done smoothly to the point that gamers will not want to put down their controllers.  As for the game modes, the year’s Franchise mode will have you knee deep in an entire addictive season.  The game also uses the right analog stick for smoother crossovers.  I just wish the free-throws were handled a little differently.

Graphics: 9.0
Surprisingly, this is also one of the most gorgeous looking games that truly takes advantage of the PS2’s graphics capabilities.  Gamers will love how the player models--especially their well-detailed faces--look true to the actual ballers from your favorite teams.  While last year Allen Iverson looked good, this game, however, makes him look startlingly like his real-life counterpart.  The courts also look amazing, as does the audience.  The camera angles also give the best view of the action this time around.

Sound: 8.8
Aside from the great visuals, the sound really stands out this year with its great two-man commentary and detailed courtside sound effects.  The play-by-play and color commentary have always been good in the NBA 2K series but in the hands if the ESPN franchise the commentary has become equal to a televised even.  The sound effects are also top notch and the audience chants and cheers do a great job of keeping things realistic. 

Difficulty: Medium
One thing about the NBA 2K series is that it always keeps up with the year’s rankings.  Gamers will find it very difficulty to beat the Lakers with the Clippers but they can certainly school the New York Knicks . . . just like the real thing.  This year the opponent AI ups the challenges by tightening the defense and offense.  Also, the free-throws are still very hard to master.

Concept: 9.2
The ESPN name really does wonders for a sports series (the proof is in ESPN NFL Football and ESPN NHL Hockey) and here it works for professional basketball.  Aside from the deeper Franchise and Season mode, the 24/7 mode is a welcome addition that is just too addictive to put down.  Not only can you create your own player but you can also build him up through a series of events.  There’s also plenty of surprises to unlock during some of the game’s other modes.

Multiplayer: 9.5
This one is just a pure joy to play with a group of friends and up to eight players (using PS2 Multitap, naturally) can play through some of the game’s plentiful modes.  The game can also be played online again through either Broadband or Dial-Up.  Broadband gamers will find that you can use a USB headset (the game recommends a Logitech PS2 USB headset) so you can finally talk trash while playing with other opponents.  Ah, the beauty of online gaming, isn’t it great?

Overall: 9.5
There is no doubt about it: ESPN NBA Basketball is a masterpiece and one of the best basketball games for the PS2 this year.  There is really nothing I can personally point out that will not make a gamer or sports fan not buy this one.  Really, with its addictive gameplay and deep game modes, this one will be a fan favorite that sports fans will be playing for a really long time.  Go out and buy this one right away.