It was one thing to have the superstar moves in the game, but it's a relief to finally see the AI use these moves and play a particular style with certain players.Īlley-oops can be a problem, among a few other nuances. One other note about Signature Play is the fact that when you play against the AI, you will now see stars act more like themselves. Tyreke Evans has his one of a kind slingshot release, and you better keep a man close to Stephen Curry to stop the quick-shooting guard from launching one from deep - Monta Ellis would at least like to start with him in NBA 2K10. Higher-profile rookies have also been shown some love in this department. Shooting releases that were incorrect last year are also well done in most cases - examples include Stephen Jackson and Caron Butler.
Shaq’s whole post-move set is unique to only him, while Kobe’s ridiculous footwork is evident when he takes his signature leaner drifting to his left.
Signature Play has been a staple for the series since NBA 2K7, and this year is no different. But at the very least, the players do a better job of breaking off into sets after a play breaks down, so there are less instances of players standing around dumbfounded after a play does not work. If you were anxious to see how 2K responded to NBA Live 09’s revolutionary play-calling system then brace yourself for some disappointment. This results in way too many broken plays and a frustrated coach on the sidelines. Players still laze around while trying to to get to their spots on called plays, and to make matters worse, there seems to be a shorter time window to execute the plays. Although the play calling is done well enough in principle, the same cannot be said about the execution. In addition to the off-ball controls and quick plays, you can now assign four players to each one of the positions. But once you’ve figured the system out, the variety of animations and movies you have access to should make you want to feed your big man every time down the floor. The new controls have in many ways simplified the post-play aspect of the game for the better, but if you were a 2K9 player, you will need some time to adjust to the new system. Post moves are mostly built around the triggers now - your guy will now post-up automatically, which frees up the triggers for fakes and power moves. Similar to real basketball, you’re going to need a consistent left hand if you want to pull of the right dribble moves. The isomotion button has been switched to the left trigger, which allows you to pull off dribble moves without wasting the turbo you have at your disposal.
Isomotion is back and is better than ever, although there is a learning curve involved here. The game does a great job keeping the core aspects of gameplay together while fine-tuning and adding new elements to the experience. The presentation clearly went up a couple of notches, but the NBA 2K series is known for its authentic gameplay. But to my dismay, there’s no sign of Anderson Varejao mocking LeBron’s chalk routine –- bummer. From the player introduction lights to D-Wade sticking his head in the rim before tip-off to KG giving man-hugs to everyone in the Celtics organization, NBA 2K10 gives you Jack Nicholson-type courtside seats to the action. Once you get a hang of the awkward menu controls and hit the court, you’ll immediately notice just how much 2K Sports stepped up the presentation this year. Having to hold the left stick in one direction while pressing the "A" button to choose an option feels more suited for the Wii controller. The new layout looks good enough, but the functionality still is not exactly user friendly. Once you hit the start button you’re brought right to the totally revamped main menu. As the Black Mamba tugs on his gold and purple Lakers jersey, you hear the announcers Kevin Harlan and Clark Kellogg call an exciting in-game play, which gives you an instant feel for how impressive the commentating is this year. Once the game starts up, NBA 2K10’s confidence in its presentation oozes right through your TV.