NBA 2K10 Review for Nintendo Wii

System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Visual Concepts	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: 2K Sports	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 9, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

While you're struggling to figure out the interface, you'll be treated to some really odd music choices that range from decent, to terrible, to utterly bizarre. The sound is one of the only relatively decent parts of the game, though. The announcers aren't bad at all. The music, while bizarre, is acceptable, and it features at least a couple decent tunes.

NBA 2K10 screenshot

The only bright spot for the entire game is its online system. The game seems as though it was built with online connectivity in mind, as it features several modes, and up-to-the-minute stat tracker and roster updates.

Overall, NBA 2K10 feels like it was snatched from the developer's hands while still severely incomplete and lacking basic tuning and play testing in order to be rushed to market to coincide with the start of the NBA season. The game is flush with different modes of play, but nearly all of them are dependent on the awful core gameplay, so saying there's a lot of modes isn't much of a consolation.

Basketball is a sport that requires lightning-fast reflexes, and a high level of control over not just your own player but the entire team to execute often complex strategies. To the contrary, this game's players have extremely slow reaction times. Instead of feeling as though you're in control of the court, you never even feel fully in command of the player you're controlling.

Across the board, this game fails to live up to the good name of the series, and Wii basketball fans will be very disappointed. It dissatisfying on just about every level, and it should be avoided even if you have no other gaming console and this is your only route to basketball gaming.

By Andrew Groen
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

1.5

Graphics
Some of the worst graphics of any sports game on the system. Player faces look like they were scanned onto a blank, generic head rather than being personally crafted.

1.5

Control
It's incredibly difficult to get your player to do anything significant. Defensive maneuvers take way too long to be effective, and shooting feels completely random. You never feel in control.

2.9

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The soundtrack isn't outright horrible, though it's worth noting that some of the songs will make you scratch your head as to why they're in a basketball game. Announcers are pretty standard.

2.0

Play Value
There's a good amount of content and game modes, but it's all based on the terrible core gameplay mechanics. This series has a long way to go if future Wii games are going to be at all enjoyable, because NBA 2K10 just doesn't cut it.

1.8

Overall Rating - Avoid
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

My Player mode lets you create the ultimate NBA player and guide his every move.

Mimic real basketball motions with the Wii Remote.

Online connectivity and constant stat-tracking and roster updates.