Customer Reviews

NBA 2K2 PS2 DISC ONLY

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

4.95 stars:
I usually never give a 5 star rating but this game comes very close. This game replicates the best simulation of the game of basketball in ANY level : highschool/college/pro ... even amatuer. I will list the good and bad points of the game below, and help compare the game with others out on the market :

Good Points :

Gameplay :
1.The game defense AI is incredible. The cpu actually plays the passing lanes on defense. There are no cheap passes in the game. Even inbounding the ball is a challange at times.
2.Gameplay flow is true to life. For instance, if you have a hot player shooting lights out, go to him, he'll hit most of his shots, just like in real life. Vice Versa, if the cpu has a hot player, the cpu will also go to him, good AI move by sega.
In addition, the flow of the game reflects team runs more than any other. If the cpu is scoring on a streat, you MUST call a timeout or find a way to stop them or you will be blown out. And the same goes with your team as well!
3.Zone Defenses! Has a variety of zone defesnes that you can choose from that the other products out don't. This helps alot when you go up against perimieter shooting teams.
4.Challanging AI where you cannot really beat this game after a week. Whenever I play, and I have 3-4 wins in a row and think I've figured the game out, the CPU makes adjustments and beats me! Winning one game is a great satisfaction since the game is very difficult.
5.Player ratings count in this game, same as skill sets, just like the real nba.
6.Options are good :Franchise mode is adequte, and NBA STREET COURT mode is fun to play.

Cons :
1.Goaltending bugs : there sometimes are goaltending calls when the ball is clearly below the rim.
2.FreeThrows : Free throws are too easy in this game with the analog sticks. The problem is that you can make free throws regardless of who's shooting. They seem to have forgotten to implement the different player ratings in the free throw code(whereas last years NBA2K1 did). So you can be Shaq who should be terrible in the free throw department but isnt once you figure out how to make free throws.

Compared to the other games on the market, this is the best this year (I have only played the PS2 version). Nbalive2002 doesn't come close is simulating a real nba game as NBA2K2 does. Nbalive2002 is more a simulation/arcade which would probably be better suited for younger kids. NBA2K2 has a large learning curve when trying to be successful at the game.

Not being satisfied with EA's NBA Live series, I was anticipating the release of NBA 2k2 for the PS2. I'd never played it before, but the reviews of NBA 2K1 for the Dreamcast were so great that I was intrigued by the game. I thought I'd give it a shot, and I've not been disappointed.

GRAPHICS - 9
Although the graphics in NBA Live are slightly better than 2K2, in my opinion, the graphics are still strong in this effort. For the most part the animation is fluid, but as with any console game there are a few minor bugs (e.g. arms passing through other player's bodies.

SOUND - 8
The sound is very realistic, but the play-by-play isn't the best. It's still better than NBA Live, though.

INTERFACE - 8
Somewhat cumbersome, but really not a tremendous obstacle. As a player of EA Sports games it took me a while to grasp the buttons to use for which menus, but this was still a minor problem for me.

GAMEPLAY 9
I have to say that the controls in this game are much tighter than in NBA Live. In NBA Live 2002 I felt like my players were skating and sliding all over the place. In NBA 2K2 I know my players are going to go where I direct them.

The franchise mode in NBA 2K2 is solid also. I like the fact that you can trade future draft picks as well as players. I do wish, however, that Sega would use number ratings to gauge rate players. As it stands now, you're given only a bar graph on about 5-6 different physical traits. The only number you get is in the overall rating.

OVERALL 9
I've thoroughly enjoyed this game. Although I've been a fan of EA sports' products over the last few years, it's been mainly by default. There simply hasn't been strong competition in terms of sports sims. In my opinion, EA has been resting on its laurels lately, and ss Sega continues to develop its software for other consoles, I fully expect them to give EA a run.

In short, if you're looking for an NBA Game, this is the one to get.

I agree that NBA 2K2 is the best basketball game for the PS2, but it is not perfect. First, the good stuff: quite updated rosters and NBA rules, players perform well in accordance to their abilities, the gameplay is smooth, the moves are outstanding, the AI is great, and can be truly challenging at higher levels. The street play mode is also great. You can play 2 on 2, 3 on 3, etc. You can chose on multiplayer to team up together or against each other. You can customize every NBA rule. I also like the attention to detail, franchise mode, etc. Replay value is infinite. You will have lots of fun. It's just so much better than NBA live. Shoes?? I honestly don't care about shoes that much, I think this is just a trivial thing that NBA Live has.

Now for the bad things. First and foremost are the freethrows. Just terrible. Too easy on rookie levels, and impossible on higher levels. No real reflection on players FT abilities. FT's always come in clean or either miss left or right off the rim, thus very little variability. I like it much better in NBA Inside Drive 2000 (PC), much more realistic and less repetitive.

The commentary is also very bad. A shame when you compare it to NBA Inside Drive 2000's, for example. It is faulty and repetitive. For example, you will hear dozens of times during a game after a basket is made that it is only an assist if the shot is made (duh), or the commentators will comment on the 10 unanswered points you have when the computer has scored several times from the free-throw line. And they comment the same "double digit lead" whether you are losing/winning by 10 or by 50.

The automatic coaching's AI is not very good also. You can have players fouling out stupidly in the 3rd quarter, and the AI coach's timeouts, and subs don't make much sense. However, I love to hear the coaches comments from the sidelines, they really help sometimes (warns you about screens, etc.).

If you put the good versus the bad, the balance is for the good. And bad things aside, it is still the best for the PS2. However, I think that NBA Inside Drive for the Xbox is going to be better.

NBA 2k2 is the best basketball game I ever played. Its great graphicly and it has much better gameplay than its rival franchise NBA Live. In the game the player faces look just like the real person. The franchise mode is the best part of the game. You can start with an actual team or do a fantasy draft. If you are looking for a basketball game this is the one to get.

I'll just tell you this, NBA Live 2002 DOES NOT STAND A CHANCE TO THIS GAME, aside from the main game the streetball mode is a game in itself. You can customize sweet characters, you can play as old legends like Dr. J and Larry Bird (wearing short shorts), and most of all IT NEVER GETS BORING!!!!!!!!!

This is the hoop game I've been waiting for since early Live 98 and 99. This game has it all. If you just like basketball this game will make you love it. From the graphics to gameplay I cannot put this game down. The low post moves the attacks to the basket the defensive rotations and last but not least the thunderous dunks gives this game hours of enjoyment. Not only can you stay in the areans but you can take it to the park with no refs and play hard. They added more courts like the rec center so you can get the park feeling inside on wood. This is a must have of any PS2 holder. Next Madden the best sports game ever made.

I just played NBA 2K2 for the PS2 last night. I already own it for Dreamcast but I wanted it for PS2 as well, since it is my favorite game and I thought it would be even better on PS2.
However, I was very disappointed with the results:

1) The game plays much slower...this confirms my belief that PS2 is a slower system than Dreamcast. Moves are much slower, reaction time is slower, and load time is slower. This leads to a less enjoyable gaming experience.

2) The graphics are worse...This is what surprised me the most. While the player sizes in relation to the court are better, the body and facial graphics are worse. The game looks very fuzzy and the player models aren't defined as much as on the Dreamcast version. From the normal camera angle, it's hard to see the player names on the back of the jerseys.

3) The interface is not as user friendly as the Dreamcast version. It seemed very difficult to move around the options screens and make substitutions..the game as a whole is much more stiff. In fact, it reminded me more of NBA Live than NBA 2K2.

Final Comments: While NBA 2K2 is a very good game (still the best basketball game on PS2), it is not as good as it should be. If you want a great game, buy a Dreamcast and play NBA 2K2. This is just a good game. It seems Sega did not make many improvements in the game from the Dreamcast version, and what they did change was mostly for the worst.
When NBA Live first appeared on PS2, I couldnt wait for it to come out, but when it did, it was nothing like it should have been. NBA 2K2, though not as better, had the potential to be much better.

The only game with AI's crossover, NBA 2K2 hits the PS2 with more than just a port of the DC version. Actual zone defenses are available and technicals are called for defensive 3 in the key unlike other so-called basketball simulations. Choose your weapons to put the rock through the hoop; break down the defender with a well timed spin move, hit the cutting guard and throw it down hard, back down the defender and throw a fadeaway, or look for the open man and go for three. (...)Sega Sports NBA 2K2 is the only basketball simulation for the PS2.

Now normally I'm a fan of the NBA Live series, I even hung onto my little 16 Bit Sega for it and I have to say, NBA 2K2 is just awesome. It's in my opinion, it's just better than the NBA Live series on the thought that it's challenging and even very difficult in some parts such as the free throws, banging inside for a basket and even driving to the hole to throw up a cool lay up. In NBA Live, even with me picking some of the worst teams on the game, I can still score 128+ points in 10 minute quarters. When I played NBA 2K2, I actually lost and it didn't feel all that bad because it was nice to have a challenge for once.

You gotta love the Street Ball option. It's fun and a lot more diverse than on NBA Live. All in all, I give this a thumbs up and definately wait for NBA 2K3 to come out because you won't be disappointed. Happy gaming!

i've played live2002,inside drive2002, and NBA 2k2
nba 2k2 supassess all of them
the detail of the characters is superb and u can actually feel the dunks which inside drive lax
the graphics in live r horrible compared to this game

if u wunt a basketball game get this one