#9 of 2010: NBA 2K10

by pastapadre
Posted December 19th, 2009 at 10:33 am

The ranking of games in the best of 2009 list is based primarily on the personal amount of enjoyment had with a particular title. Some other factors include whether advertised features were fully delivered on, post-release support, community interaction and communication, overall gameplay experience, feature set, and online play performance. Again this is a personal take on the games. The analysis is weighted largely towards those which I had the most fun with while considering them as a whole and compared relatively to the others.

NBA 2K10 is the most polarizing sports game released this year. It has its strong supporters but also those disappointed by detrimental bugs and a failure to deliver advertised features. For those familiar with the series it is a game that can be enjoyed but it is primarily dependent on what each individual wants to get out of it.

NBA 2K10 has received a great deal of backlash, much of that warranted. However it still provided a satisfying offline experience and the attempt to create a compelling career mode was a step in the right direction. Association mode remains a strength, though facing its own share of bugs. It still is the most well rounded franchise/dynasty mode amongst all the basketball games on the market. Sales have reflected a confidence in the series going into this release.

The time around the release of NBA 2K10 was a tumultuous. There were numerous issues such as framerate slowdown, clones in My Player mode, and non-functioning online modes. 2K did respond quickly and provide a comprehensive patch that at least did improve on many of the things they claimed it would. A second patch is now being worked on and should be out in January.

The posters at Neogaf gave NBA 2K10 the title of “video game scam of the year“. While the statement may be explosive the sentiment is understood. Online play once again was plagued by issues such as lag, server outages, and advertised modes that either were inconsistent or have yet to work. That first patch addressed an enormous list of problems many of which consumers should never have had to wait on. Reaction to the effectiveness of the patch has been mixed.

Online leagues, which has been one of the biggest selling points for the 2K franchise in recent years, hasn’t functioned since day one. The “Living Rosters” are inconsistently updated and seem to just concentrate on changes to a handful of players. Even worse was that default rosters were used for online play until early December. Team-Up mode, Crew games, and Pick-Up games all struggle with connection issues. Ranked games are at least playable (unless the server is down) but wins and losses are frequently not recorded.

I had really been looking forward to My Player mode. Over the past few years as career modes have expanded to different games it seemed that it would be perfectly suited for basketball. Despite this I found the mode to be primarily tedious with a grading system that oftentimes resulted in major frustration and changed the way you would naturally play the game. The framerate problems prior to the first patch really took me out of it for good, and needing to re-start the mode following that patch just sealed it. This mode has the potential to be much better if they continue to put a lot of effort into it in the coming years.

Despite all the problems many will feel comfortable with the game because of the single player experience or basic head-to-head play. That is certainly understandable and I wouldn’t fault anyone for that. At the same time many have felt that they deserved a better more polished product. That is a reasonable expectation for anyone to have had.

NBA 2K10 provides a familiar experience offline while attempting to expand with the career mode. However the problems with the game ended up overshadowing that. Its why so many can enjoy the game while others are completely frustrated by it. Ultimately I can’t put a game that is only half realized above any others this year. It was a struggle between recognizing what the game does well and being upset over the state of the game at release and online play that remains fatally flawed and unaddressed.

#9: NBA 2K10
#10: Fight Night Round 4
The Worst of 2009

Tags: top 10, year in review

Keith.

Pasta may not make a good living doing this, but he sure gets paid well by EA. Ever wonder how many free games, free airplane tickets, free hotel stays, free meals EA has given Pasta over the years, or how many celebrity athletes Pasta has met at EA functions? Let me tell you…you'd be shocked at how much Pasta has been greased by the EA machine over the years.

On the other hand, Pasta has never gotten any of that from 2k or the guys from Sony. Thus, they ALWAYS get the shaft on his pseudo-sports game blog.

It's really pretty sickening when you think about it.

pasta the EA clown

no one is surprised by how much EA pays pasta…

Jumboshrimp

Seriously NBA 2K10 is 9?!
Ok I agree bugs and glitches galore but it doesn't deserve this. Post patch NBA2K10 is probably my fav (even 2nd to FIFA and this is coming from an international and soccer obsessed reader) game.

I dont see how anyone can rank Live above this.
Jumboshrimp

Seriously NBA 2K10 is 9?!
Ok I agree bugs and glitches galore but it doesn't deserve this. Post patch NBA2K10 is probably my fav (even 2nd to FIFA and this is coming from an international and soccer obsessed reader) game.

I dont see how anyone can rank Live above this.
Mr."Real Deal"

Honorable mention
1. FIFA
2. MLB THE SHOW-best game period only negative is online lagging
3. NHL 10-best team play game
4. FNR4-great post release support
5. TIGER 10-best golf game ever
6. MADDEN 10-not a bad game but as a flagship franchise needs to take that next step

Unhonorable mention
7. NCAA Football-didn't bring anything new
8. UFC-too many flash KO's, phantom punches & little variety would be a great downloadable game for $15-20 but well overpriced for $60
9. Tie. between NBA 2K10 & LIVE 10-both games got better but still are not good enough
Mr."Real Deal"

Honorable mention
1. FIFA
2. MLB THE SHOW-best game period only negative is online lagging
3. NHL 10-best team play game
4. FNR4-great post release support
5. TIGER 10-best golf game ever
6. MADDEN 10-not a bad game but as a flagship franchise needs to take that next step

Unhonorable mention
7. NCAA Football-didn't bring anything new
8. UFC-too many flash KO's, phantom punches & little variety would be a great downloadable game for $15-20 but well overpriced for $60
9. Tie. between NBA 2K10 & LIVE 10-both games got better but still are not good enough
Jcoop

NBA 2k shouldn't be on the list this year. The game hasn't taken a step forward in a few years. Live isn't perfect but at least its fun. The only reason all these 2k has going is reputation right now.
Jcoop

NBA 2k shouldn't be on the list this year. The game hasn't taken a step forward in a few years. Live isn't perfect but at least its fun. The only reason all these 2k has going is reputation right now.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1380793236 Craig Langston

If 2k10 is 9th then Live must not have made the list.

Hoss : He never mentions how Live is no where near a simulation of the NBA. That's the main bug wrong with the game. It's not the NBA. It's it's own brand of basketball but it never stops him from praising Live.

His been ripping 2k10 since it was released and it's still a better basketball game than live.

I'm upset with 2k myself. Mainly because I have seen perfection with 2k8 and they made changes which reduced the online experience of the game. That's the only place the game has failed. Far as online game play if you play someone who really knows how to play you will have a great game. Offline it's still 10 times better than Live.

I lost it with Padre after 2k8 was released. It was to me the greatest basketball game I have ever played and I go back to the Dr J vs Larry Bird on the C64 in 1983.

When you choose to play Live 08 over NBA 2k8 something is really wrong with you. It's not about playing the best game you can get your hand on.

Your spiting yourself to show loyalty to a corporation. .
For someone to deny themselves the best experience to show loyalty to a certain product maybe a mental issue. I could care less who makes the game. If Live was still the best game I would be playing it.

It's like someone at 2k took his lunch money in elementary school.

It's personal.

This ranking proves it. Despite it's flaws Live has never been a better game than 2k since it's inception.

And yes I have played them all.

Like I said. If 2k10 is 9th then Live must not have made the list.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1380793236 Craig Langston

If 2k10 is 9th then Live must not have made the list.

Hoss : He never mentions how Live is no where near a simulation of the NBA. That's the main bug wrong with the game. It's not the NBA. It's it's own brand of basketball but it never stops him from praising Live.

His been ripping 2k10 since it was released and it's still a better basketball game than live.

I'm upset with 2k myself. Mainly because I have seen perfection with 2k8 and they made changes which reduced the online experience of the game. That's the only place the game has failed. Far as online game play if you play someone who really knows how to play you will have a great game. Offline it's still 10 times better than Live.

I lost it with Padre after 2k8 was released. It was to me the greatest basketball game I have ever played and I go back to the Dr J vs Larry Bird on the C64 in 1983.

When you choose to play Live 08 over NBA 2k8 something is really wrong with you. It's not about playing the best game you can get your hand on.

Your spiting yourself to show loyalty to a corporation. .
For someone to deny themselves the best experience to show loyalty to a certain product maybe a mental issue. I could care less who makes the game. If Live was still the best game I would be playing it.

It's like someone at 2k took his lunch money in elementary school.

It's personal.

This ranking proves it. Despite it's flaws Live has never been a better game than 2k since it's inception.

And yes I have played them all.

Like I said. If 2k10 is 9th then Live must not have made the list.
ghost

nba 2k10 as the 9th best sports game this year is pretty rediculous. IMO there were not 8 sports games that were better than 2k10.
ghost

nba 2k10 as the 9th best sports game this year is pretty rediculous. IMO there were not 8 sports games that were better than 2k10.
jusmegamer

Even to someone with biases there are not 8 sports games better than 2K. This guy is beyond biases he is a down on his knees begging to blow.
jusmegamer

Even to someone with biases there are not 8 sports games better than 2K. This guy is beyond biases he is a down on his knees begging to blow.
GURU

If this joke of a list does not show that Pasta is a ea lacky then you guys are just dumb. To put 2k behind the joke that is Live is beyond me. 2k has issues but even with those issues it is still much better then 2k.

If you are going to talk about not working features then live has a horrible feature called dynamic roster update which does not even work right.

2 patches and the game is still garbage. I am glad that Pasta always finds away to show his true colors.

EA says the check is in the mail PastaEA Padre
GURU

If this joke of a list does not show that Pasta is a ea lacky then you guys are just dumb. To put 2k behind the joke that is Live is beyond me. 2k has issues but even with those issues it is still much better then 2k.

If you are going to talk about not working features then live has a horrible feature called dynamic roster update which does not even work right.

2 patches and the game is still garbage. I am glad that Pasta always finds away to show his true colors.

EA says the check is in the mail PastaEA Padre
Pssd off!

Anyone who says 2k10 is a good game must be on fuckin drugs! Worst, most frustrating game I have ever played. And I have been playin NBA video games since NBA Live 95! I have smashed 2 controllers and shattered multiple back-up discs playing this crap! If I could get my hands on the makers of this game I would murder the mother fuckers!

Signed, Angry and Frustrated gamer.
Pssd off!

Anyone who says 2k10 is a good game must be on fuckin drugs! Worst, most frustrating game I have ever played. And I have been playin NBA video games since NBA Live 95! I have smashed 2 controllers and shattered multiple back-up discs playing this crap! If I could get my hands on the makers of this game I would murder the mother fuckers!

Signed, Angry and Frustrated gamer.
smokez4dayz

dude every mode works in 2k, i do ALL the modes. online/offline. listening to anyone who would rate NBA 2K anything less than #2 behind Madden or No1 over Madden is just trying to hard. MLB SHOW was horrible. Slow garbage of a game. MLB 2K9 had real baseball, not washed out colors and boring gameplay with sluggish online delays (MLB Show).
Your end of the year lists are always backwards ass logic. Really? Cuz you suck at 2k10 you rate LIVE over it. you had more fun with the POS game? You must be a POS. thats Piece of Shit for you slow followers. Madden1 nba2k10 2 NHL10 3 Fifa 4 Tiger Woods 5. thats it
smokez4dayz

For all but a small few, basketball is just highlights on ESPN. Alot of NBA fans play NBA games and don't know what they're doing, but they want Lebron to Dunk and Mo Williams to hit threes. Thats it. No structure, no understanding and they think thats bball. Go play LIVE(not)for that rendition, when you want the real, visit 82games.com or HoopsWorld. and then play NBA2K10
smokez4dayz

and out of his ass. He's a double dicker. He hangs on their nuts like tighter than vice grips. I cant wait till he starts the EA MMA is better than UFC…right now he cant say anything. He has used UFC to showcase his website when Madden and 2KBBall isn't his strong suit. But when his idols at EA hand him his free copy of MMA, he'll be compeled to say it the best thing since sex. Watch it. it will happen. He's a dickriding turncoat.
smokez4dayz

I showed this list to some gamers at a gamestop in brooklyn. they laughed really hard. thank god everyone doesn't visit this POS game site. lmao.
smokez4dayz

dude every mode works in 2k, i do ALL the modes. online/offline. listening to anyone who would rate NBA 2K anything less than #2 behind Madden or No1 over Madden is just trying to hard. MLB SHOW was horrible. Slow garbage of a game. MLB 2K9 had real baseball, not washed out colors and boring gameplay with sluggish online delays (MLB Show).
Your end of the year lists are always backwards ass logic. Really? Cuz you suck at 2k10 you rate LIVE over it. you had more fun with the POS game? You must be a POS. thats Piece of Shit for you slow followers. Madden1 nba2k10 2 NHL10 3 Fifa 4 Tiger Woods 5. thats it
smokez4dayz

For all but a small few, basketball is just highlights on ESPN. Alot of NBA fans play NBA games and don't know what they're doing, but they want Lebron to Dunk and Mo Williams to hit threes. Thats it. No structure, no understanding and they think thats bball. Go play LIVE(not)for that rendition, when you want the real, visit 82games.com or HoopsWorld. and then play NBA2K10
smokez4dayz

and out of his ass. He's a double dicker. He hangs on their nuts like tighter than vice grips. I cant wait till he starts the EA MMA is better than UFC…right now he cant say anything. He has used UFC to showcase his website when Madden and 2KBBall isn't his strong suit. But when his idols at EA hand him his free copy of MMA, he'll be compeled to say it the best thing since sex. Watch it. it will happen. He's a dickriding turncoat.