The right stick, known as the ShotStick, also opens up dozens of possibilities. Time it right and you can burn defenders, back them down, or perform several other movements, all with the proper timing.
Add in a half circle and he will dribble behind the back. For example, while you are dribbling, you hold the left trigger and press the opposite direction for the ballhandler to switch hands. The IsoMotion movements with the left stick have also been improved, which allows for better ball control and a more natural feel to the game. The controls have been tightened over previous games, making it surprisingly easy to switch strategies on the fly and set up plays with the push of a few buttons. While the inclusion of Jordan into the game makes it a story worthy of headlines, his role would be seen as little more than a gimmick designed to sell games if gameplay were just average. Once you do, you can assign him to the team you want. He starts out as a top-rated rookie, but you will need to build him into the behemoth he is destined to be. But completing them rewards you with the ability to start a career with a young Michael Jordan. In fact, they can be positively annoying at times, unless you are a veteran of NBA2K games, and even then they are hard. The Jordan Challenges let you relive those moments, and they do so in style. Even if you hate basketball, it is hard to forget the iconic image of Jordan simply shrugging after making six three-pointers against the Trailblazers in the ’92 Finals- which as a Portland resident was tough to relive. The stories being retold are the legends of our youth. They were bigger than life- modern day heroes that belonged on cereal boxes. They ask you to play through the games and match Jordan’s impressive feats, such as dropping more than 63 on Larry Bird’s Celtics or better FG average against the Knicks after Jordan’s return from baseball, or outscoring Dominic Wilkins while holding him under 25 points.įor those of us who grew up watching Jordan, it is a nostalgic tour through our childhoods, where Jordan was king, and the NBA was in a golden age where players like Magic and Isiah Thomas helped define the era. The Jordan Challenges comprise 10 moments from Jordan’s history, from his early days to his return from retirement. You then run out onto the court and begin your NBA2K11 experience by facing off against Magic Johnson and the ‘90-‘91 Lakers in the first game of the 1991 NBA Finals. When you start the game for the first time, you will find yourself standing in the tunnel behind Jordan. But since it is just one part of an incredibly deep game, it makes NBA2K11 the best value in terms of basketball video games on the market, and arguably in terms of sports games on the market, too.
It is too short to justify a full price tag, but 2K could have simply released the Jordan Challenges as a download, and it would be a hit. And then of course there is Michael Jordan.Īdding Michael Jordan to NBA2K11 is much more than a gimmick it is a complete section of the game that could stand on its own. Everything in it exists for a reason, and while in most yearly franchises you simply get a newer version of the same thing, NBA2K11 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. The game isn’t without a few minor flaws, but 2K Sports put a lot of care and thought into this game. So please understand that I am not exaggerating when I say that NBA2K11 is without question, the best basketball video game I have ever played. I have played several basketball games over the years, both college and pro, and on all the systems that I have owned throughout the years - of which there have been many - I enjoyed many basketball games, but generally played them and forgot about them. I went to the University of Kansas, where basketball is a religion, and figures like James Naismith are legends that have streets named after them. I have never been a fan of basketball video games, but I really, really wanted to be. I don’t typically begin a review by discussing my personal biases, but in this case I think it is important to frame the man-crush I have for NBA2K11.