#6 of 2008: NBA 2K9
by 
This was the year, as we’ve seen with the sales numbers, that consumers overwhelmingly identified the NBA 2K series as the definitive choice for basketball gamers. Being #1 sometimes brings side effects and that has been seen through some dissatisfaction and growing pains. Outside of that though what NBA 2K9 offers is a familiar enjoyable gameplay experience.
With all three basketball games this year offering something different, what 2K9 stood out in was the gameplay. That includes being the best in terms of animations, presentation, and arena atmosphere. Essentially the on-the-court experience was the best.
What NBA 2K9 didn’t do is innovate. There really weren’t any new and exciting modes or features this year. Sooner or later that is going to have to change and 2K will need to provide something fresh and innovative. 2K9 also had severe problems with online play performance and design decisions which has caused a great deal of frustration and disappointment.
In terms of basketball gaming this was an exceptional year. All three titles could be enjoyed for what they offered as they all had unique strengths. Despite not really advancing the series NBA 2K9 lands at #6 in the Top 10 due to its widely recognized superior gameplay experience.
#6 NBA 2K9
#7 Madden 09
#8 Blitz: The League II
#9 NFL Tour
#10 Tiger Woods 09
December 13, 2008 at 8:36 am
agreed but nba 2k8 was actually more sim then 2k9 and had less problems. its still a fun game tho
December 13, 2008 at 8:50 am
I think this should have been the best sports game this year.
December 13, 2008 at 8:53 am
This was my favorite game of the year. The best graphics, most realistic, and most fun.
December 13, 2008 at 9:36 am
IF UR NOT 4th UR DEAD LAST
But Pasta, how can you choose NBA Live 09 over 2K9 just because of the DNA feature. NBA 2K9 feels more like a true basketball game.
December 13, 2008 at 9:37 am
How is Living Roster not innovative?
How was Re-doing the whole Association mode not an exciting feature?
How was TEAM-UP mode not an exciting feature?
Did you forget about Shot Stick 2.0
Are you kidding me Pasta? IF ANYONE thinks Pasta is not an EA Fanboy after this line "What NBA 2K9 didn’t do is innovate. There really weren’t any new and exciting modes or features this year. " then you are on drugs.
December 14, 2008 at 1:05 am
Looking at your list I think we just may have a completely different definition for innovation.
December 13, 2008 at 9:37 am
I think this is a fair place for it to be ranked. With online play so bad and how offensively based this game is I would have trouble putting it higher myself.
December 13, 2008 at 9:56 am
I love this game. It's a little low IMO, but this is a great sim game. I don't play basketball games online (only football and shooting), so the online problems don't bother me.
December 13, 2008 at 10:24 am
HA HA HA HA HA HA
EA>>>2K
ADVANTAGE LIVE AN YO BOI SWIZZY
HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA
December 13, 2008 at 10:38 am
theres actually lots of people not happy with the game this year just check out the 2k forum. i like it but it has lots of issues
December 13, 2008 at 11:06 am
No matter who you ask, whenever NBA 2K9 and NBA Live is mentioned, it's going to start World War III. It's not enough for people to just be thankful that both Take-Two and EA really stepped it up this year and pushed each other to make their respective games the best they can be. I have both and I think that each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Anyone who wants to blindly bash either game should take a step back and spend time playing each of them and then make up one's mind. At least then, the person can have an opinion that can be backed up by experience instead of just random bashing or conjecture.
December 13, 2008 at 11:27 am
can't wait for nba live to be number 1
December 13, 2008 at 11:30 am
fuck this list
December 14, 2008 at 12:38 pm
yo dat wont ME dat wrote dat
Y deez BITTIES try 2 IMPERSONATE da ICAN
dey H8 me cuz dey AINT me
December 13, 2008 at 11:59 am
I agree that all 3 major basketball titles brought something different to the table, but only 2 of them offered any longetivity. I'm suprised a war hasn't broke out here yet. I'm sure as you were writing this blog entry Pasta that you were chucklin "watch this sh*t*" You were spot on with 2K9, it was a solid game; however their online features were a bit dissapointing, and shocking coming from 2K as they were the innovators of online sports gaming.
My guess for the remaining top 5:
1: NHL 09
2. FIFA 09
3. MLB the Show 08
4. NBA Live 09
5. NCAA Football 09
December 14, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Yo Jr who actually gives a damn about hockey!!! how you can have it rated number 1!!
December 14, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Patrick, I don't follow hockey; however, the NHL Be a Pro and online experience is fun. This is by far my favorite sports game in years and many agree that this is the game of the year. Even if you're not a fan of hockey, this game is just fun to pick up and play and get into it. Be a Pro mode really gives me high hopes to see NBA Live fully implement it next season.
Patrick, expand your horizons and rent this game and play Be a Pro, I guarantee you'll enjoy it.
December 14, 2008 at 1:00 am
u fanboys need to stop crying…
December 14, 2008 at 1:26 am
if YA'LL BITTIES CAN'T SEE da SARCASM in me sayin "B-BALL GODS"
dan ya'll
STUPID STUPID
December 14, 2008 at 3:03 am
You're calling them stupid? You're the one who can't even talk right. I can't understand half your comments.
December 14, 2008 at 2:00 am
It is his ipinion but if anybody thinks that Pasta is not an EA fanboy then they are just nuts. Live improved and if this is a list of improved games then he can rank it higher. But even with the improvements then game cant touch 2k9 for overall sim experience. Maybe Pasta is more into online play where defense is not heard of and the stiff animations from the player models that look like gumby. The reason Pasta needs to not do this list is because if he wants to have a website that is his own with his data then he needs to call it for what it is and not worry that ea wont invite him to the events or send him a game a couple of days early. NBA Live is not better then 2k9 but pasta saying it is because online play is not broken means he used one thing that failed in the great overall package of 2k against it vs one great thing that live did which should not be broken but he dont speak of the broken free throw system and the fact that the broken franchise mode in live is horrible along with the horrible animations and stiff gumby looking models… Lets get real here.
December 14, 2008 at 2:12 am
yo PASTA
deez mad HO MO IMPERSONATERS needs 2 B BANNED 4 LYFE
SWIZZLE an da PADRE R EA 4 LYFE YA HERD???
December 14, 2008 at 2:38 am
o PASTA
deez mad HO MO IMPERSONATERS needs 2 B BANNED 4 LYFE
SWIZZLE an da PADRE R EA 4 LYFE YA HERD Mo Money Bitches
December 14, 2008 at 4:53 am
^^^ DIS B AN IMPERSONATER PASTA
BAN DIS FOOL 4 LYFE
December 14, 2008 at 2:43 am
I think Live and 2k could learn alot from eachother… every year for live its about features, and 2k is about improving gameplay… I would like to see one year where that is turned around and live focuses on gameplay and 2k focuses on features… IMO 2k was still the better game (mainly because i just play association and dont go online much) but I'd like to see both games work on there weaknesses. What I'd like to see is a new innovative offline feature, it seems that with this new "online gaming" phase every feature that is put out is online which doesnt have the "wow" factor to me like the team up mode (only played like 10 games then went straight back to association mode)
December 14, 2008 at 3:03 am
man my list is so different, but hey i can't argue someone's opinion
December 14, 2008 at 3:36 am
wow you can have your crappy player models and constipated faces in live. i usually can see both sides to an argument. I see why some people voted for mccain and some for obama but live sucks in every possible way in comparison to 2k. You can have your fiba because it is closer to the special olympics than anything else
December 14, 2008 at 3:53 am
Pasta, I'm going to lose all respect for your opinions if you rate NBA Live ahead of NBA 2K9. If you do, EA must being stuffing your stocking with more than just gifts.
December 14, 2008 at 4:50 am
aint no1 CAIR wut U THINK ma
LIVE=dat #1 SPOT
da BIGG SWIZZ DOGG wood knot lye 2 ya FAM
HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA
December 14, 2008 at 4:30 am
i agree this is an appropriate place to rank the game. The online is broken. There is no other way to say it. It's not going to be fixed this year. I traded y copy in and picked up NCAA Basketball 09. 2k in my opinion places he best game of offline basketball this year hands down. But when pasta is ranking these, I am assuming he is taking in the online to consideration as well. Since it is part of the package. So for you people who are ranting about you don't care about online or don't care about offline. Rank the game on the whole package that it offers. Don't complain where he puts the game in the list, its all subjective. If we all rated our top 10, the majority would be slightly different. I myself would not include Blitz or Nfl tour in my list.
My list:
1. NHL 09 didnt not expect to like be a pro as much as i do. It's the only way I want to play.
2. Fifa 09 10 vs 10 online, is sweet, and quite an accomplishment. Gameplay finally beats pro evo.
3. Ncaa football 09 online dynasty is the bread and butter. Next year high hopes for 2010. Revamped physics.
4. MLB 08 the Show I dont like baseball games, but this was great. Second best to mvp 2005. Fix the online!
5. NBA Live 09 total package is much improved, and online is good, 365 is worth the hype. Second most improved game on my list.
6. NBA 2k9 best gameplay this year, but broken non playable online. (Dont hype it if you can't deliver) Could have been a contender.
7. Tiger Woods 09 finally TW is fun to play again. Finally you are penalized for playing a bad round. Quicker online w/ buddies!!!
8. NCAA Basketball 09 most improved sports game of the year. Well done EA. Online dynasty next year. I was disappointed when I saw sales total for this game, very low. EA add be a pro, play up to 4 seasons, try to go pro.
9. Nascar 09 still needs tons and tons of work, especially on ps3. But making progress slowly. Maybe 2010 will be fun for more than a month. EA put the same amount of effort into this you did into your other sports game this year and 2010 should be alright.
10. Madden 2009 — first off, I like ncaa football better than madden yearly anyway. But this year despite the awesome graphics on madden, it seems ncaa overtook madden in terms of features and overall fun.
I owned or own the ps3 versions of these games. Biggest bust of the year mlb 2k8, shaun white snowboarding.
December 14, 2008 at 1:09 am
Finally someone who understands, that this list is his opinion.
December 14, 2008 at 5:20 am
@ FreezerBoy U think I CARE wut U can READ U CAN'T be dat
STUPID STUPID
December 14, 2008 at 6:23 am
6??? and 2k9>live wow pasta has seen the light?
December 14, 2008 at 9:40 am
what!!! thats ridiculous!!! 2k9 should be a top 3 atleast!!!! does this mean that NBA LIVE 09 will be higher?? that makes no sense!! change this now!!
December 14, 2008 at 12:02 pm
i have officially lost interest… i hate people who are all high on online, see the game for what it is not how bad your internet connection is… wait… nevermind but like Josh, i cant wait to see NBA Live at number one for being "innovative with good online"
December 14, 2008 at 12:39 pm
dats rite
LIVE iz gittin dat #1 SPOT
HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA
YA DIG???
December 14, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Offline Pasta hasn't mentioned any gripes and gives them the nod; however, online play has become a must have feature as playing offline against the CPU becomes rather simple after a while and to justify Xbox 360 users who pay $50 to play multi-player online, and PS3 users who paid a premium price for that system. The numbers are high for people who play online.
December 14, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Yo Pasta if you have nba live rated ahead of 2k9 I will be offficially done reading this website nd greta information you give us!!!! Basketball should be more than online play and dna updates!!! there is actually a game that sould be involved to make it a good game!!!
December 14, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Patrick, this shouldn't have came as a surprise as Pasta has pointed his views on both games. The gripes he has with 2K is the promising of a mode that is completely unplayable. He specifically states many times that the atmosphere, animations and arena experience is better than Live; however, Live does have a solid engine but great innovations and enjoyable online experience. He's looking at the overrall picture, vice on specific aspect of the game.
December 15, 2008 at 4:14 am
Pasta Pal
December 14, 2008 at 12:45 pm
DAMN PASTA how could U MAKE SUCH a GRAVE MISTAKE I HOPE da BASKETBALL GODS can 4GIVE U
December 14, 2008 at 12:50 pm
isn't this his damn site? It's his damn list……WTF..stop whining, guys!
December 15, 2008 at 1:10 am
You don't seem to like the 'hood' games. what are you looking to innovate in basketball? In live, the player models look silly, the moves are strange looking. I hope you have live No. 5 to save face. No way because of all that synergy information crap, useless in multiplayer, are you gonna make LIVE a better product this year. Live finally plays right. How does that make it better than NBA 2K9?
December 15, 2008 at 5:41 am
B CUZ LIVE iz 4 da GANGSTAZ an knot da BITTIES
dere aint no odda way 2 explane it
it IZ wut it IZ
December 15, 2008 at 1:19 am
how is Live innovative?All they have is the DNA thing n if you say that's innovative but not the living rosters then idk. . After that Live has nothing else. the franchise is pretty much the same as last year.
December 15, 2008 at 4:39 am
DNA, Live 365, NBA Rewind, Clubs and Leagues, Team Practice Modes, Be a Pro (even though needing some more fine tuning), EASW integration to name a few.
December 16, 2008 at 3:19 am
exactly!! the living rosters is the most innovative feature in a video game every!! I mean anyone can do what EA did and have auto updates based on stats!! But when you have a real person actually discussing it with you like the 2k insider, its just great!!
December 15, 2008 at 1:22 am
i forgot that Live has that superstar mode thingy but that crap is bare bones. it seems like they tack that on there to show you that next year it will be a bigger feature.
December 15, 2008 at 1:42 am
If you havent noticed pasta's more of an online sports gamer with all his clubs and tournements… im not surprised to see this at the bottom of pasta's list because quite frankly 2k9's online isn't even close to Lives (which is what pasta's looking for)… all in all its just a list that HE MADE based on his own preffernces… so what if he doesnt enjoy a more realistic game and likes the game with superior online play, thats his opinion… no need to bash him just make ur own list on what you feel are the top 10 titles and leave it at that
December 15, 2008 at 4:06 am
hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahaahahah. ridiculous.
December 15, 2008 at 4:11 am
what a funny guy you are Pasta…
Your Pasta Pals can defend you all they want but you've just drawn a line in the sand that will haunt you for the rest of your sports video game blogging life.
tisk tisk tisk….
December 15, 2008 at 7:08 am
Live is a good game but 2k9 is wayy better. NBA live is for the casuals and 2k9 is for the hardcore. when i rented Live it felt really simple and easy n not as realistic and sim compare to 2k9 which i like. The one thing i like about Live is that the online is lag free unlike 2k9 at times.
December 15, 2008 at 7:27 am
I just want to tell everybody DAT da BIGG SWIZZ DOGG is a fool !!!
I B Trippin Man
FO REal
December 15, 2008 at 5:43 am
yo dis mad HO MO need 2 B BANNED 4 LYFE
YA DIGG???
2 many IMPERSONATERS of da OG
HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA
December 15, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Makes no sense to repond to you on this. this game is very enjoyable. high replay value. Don't quite know what qualifies you to be making lists…when live was a no.1 seller, no way did you ever admit how bad the game played, how much it didn't represent the NBA product, no way would you ever rate it anything under top 3. Madden at 7 and NBA 2K9 at 6…You're a girlie man. I see why your gamertag has all those sucker ass games on it.You don't
December 16, 2008 at 3:18 am
i don't know how you can say that 2k didn't innovate! the living roster feature is amazing!! I mean fan input and discussion of roster updates!! thats the best thing to happen to sports games ever! the 2k insider is actually doing and incredible job! Why would 2k change a game that was almost perfect for the last 3 years?? Online issues are no reason to criticize the game!